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The European Commission has formally adopted the Work Programme for the 2026 and 2027 Euratom Research and Training Programme, marking a decisive step forward in Europe’s pursuit of advanced nuclear technologies. Designed to complement Horizon Europe, the programme covers an extensive range of nuclear research and innovation activities, with the overarching goals of strengthening the EU’s energy independence, boosting competitiveness, enhancing technological leadership, and a

The European Commission has unveiled its proposal for EU Inc., a new unified corporate framework intended to serve as the foundation for the EU’s 28th company law regime. The initiative introduces an optional, digital-by-default European corporate structure aimed at making it easier for businesses to start, operate, and expand across the EU. According to the Commission, the proposal is designed to encourage companies to remain in Europe while attracting businesses that might

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has released its second Impact Assessment Report on the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), examining how the framework has affected banks across the European Union, as well as its influence on markets and funding structures. According to the findings, banks within the EU have continued to strengthen their MREL positions while also improving their access to financial markets, with minimal disruption to their

The euro area recorded a trade deficit of €1.9 billion in January 2026, according to data from Eurostat, while Cyprus posted a notably improved trade balance over the same period. The deficit for the euro area widened from €1.40 billion in January 2025, reflecting shifts in trade dynamics across key sectors. Exports fell to €215.30 billion in January 2026, down 7.6 percent from €232.90 billion a year earlier, while imports also declined to €217.20 billion, a drop of 7.3 perce

The European Banking Authority has released its final report on draft implementing technical standards for the supervisory reporting of third-country branches under the Capital Requirements Directive VI. The authority said the new reporting package is designed to provide supervisors with high-quality information while ensuring proportionality, clarity, and operational feasibility for reporting institutions. The framework introduces uniform reporting formats, harmonized defini

The Austrian Financial Market Authority has levied a fine of 127,500 EUR against NOTARTREUHANDBANK AG after uncovering substantial shortcomings in the institution’s compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations. The enforcement action follows findings that the bank failed to implement sufficient strategies and internal controls to mitigate the risks of illicit financial activity. According to regulators, the institution did not adequately m

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued its first risk monitoring report of 2026, cautioning that European Union financial markets remain exposed to high levels of systemic stress and potential price swings, despite resilient market performance in the latter half of 2025. The report underlined that strong recent market returns have not eliminated underlying structural vulnerabilities across the EU’s financial system. ESMA noted that its risk assessment

Several committees within the European Parliament have approved proposals aimed at creating a new classification for companies known as small mid-cap enterprises, a move designed to expand regulatory exemptions and support firms that have outgrown traditional small and medium enterprise (SME) status.   Lawmakers say the initiative is intended to stimulate business growth across the European Union by addressing regulatory hurdles faced by companies transitioning to larger oper

Investment across the European Union weakened in 2024, with fresh data showing a broad-based cooling in capital spending as economic momentum slowed.   According to figures published by Eurostat, gross fixed capital formation in the EU fell by 1.9 per cent compared with 2023. The measure is a central pillar of gross domestic product, tracking how much businesses and governments invest in fixed assets such as infrastructure, buildings, machinery, equipment, and research and de

As of February 20, 2026, travelers requiring a French visa are now obligated to secure their appointments exclusively through an online system, with walk-ins and informal booking channels officially discontinued. The reform applies globally and covers both short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national visas. The shift is aimed squarely at long-standing frustrations within the visa application process, including overcrowded service counters, extended queues, and the prolife

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has underlined the substantial export potential arising from the newly concluded free trade agreement between the European Union and India, noting that the arrangement is expected to open important new pathways for European exporters, including businesses in Cyprus.   According to the chamber, the agreement, finalised in January 2026 and anticipated to take effect in the coming years, will make India’s vast market of around 1

The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a penalty order against Polymarket, instructing the cryptocurrency-based prediction platform to halt its operations in the Netherlands or face fines that could reach as much as €840,000 ($994,147).   The regulator determined that the platform had violated national regulations by making its services available to Dutch users without the required gambling licence.   According to the KSA, the company responsible f

European Central Bank and European Systemic Risk Board have jointly released a detailed analysis warning that expanding connections between traditional banks and the non-bank financial intermediation sector could create structural vulnerabilities capable of intensifying financial stress during adverse market environments. The joint publication, titled “Financial stability risks from linkages between banks and the non-bank financial intermediation sector”, concludes that while

The European Union is considering a sweeping prohibition on all cryptocurrency transactions involving Russia as part of efforts to restrict Moscow’s ability to use digital assets to bypass existing sanctions, according to a document obtained by FT. The proposed measures would specifically target efforts to prevent sanctioned Russian crypto infrastructure from re-emerging under new guises. Officials are seeking to block "copycat Russian crypto entities spun out of already sanc

Italy’s financial police have carried out a search operation targeting the offices of Triestina Calcio, a third-tier football club currently owned by U.S.-based cryptocurrency firm House of Doge. Investigators are examining allegations involving money laundering, falsified accounting records, and the use of fake invoices. The operation included searches at the club’s headquarters in Trieste, a city in northeastern Italy, as well as inspections at the private residences of 15

A 25-year-old woman from St Paul’s Bay has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to charges accusing her of scamming roughly 200 individuals by allegedly pretending to be a bank. Tammy Caruana, who informed the court that she is currently unemployed, was arraigned following a large-scale online fraud probe conducted by the Malta Police Force’s Financial Crimes Investigations Department. The investigation was carried out in collaboration with Europol as well as la

Euro area net saving declined to €863 billion in the four quarters to the third quarter of 2025, down from €877 billion recorded in the four quarters to the previous quarter, according to data published by the European Central Bank. The latest figure represented 6.9 per cent of euro area net disposable income. Over the same period, net non-financial investment across the euro area rose to €590 billion, equivalent to 4.7 per cent of net disposable income, with the ECB noting t

A recent survey conducted by the European Central Bank indicated a modest increase in how consumers perceive past inflation, alongside notable movements in expectations related to inflation, income, growth, housing and credit conditions. According to the ECB, the median rate of inflation perceived by consumers over the previous 12 months edged up to 3.2 per cent, compared with 3.1 per cent recorded in November. At the same time, median expectations for inflation over the comi

Household real consumption per capita in the euro area rose by 0.4 per cent during the third quarter of 2025, maintaining the same pace of growth recorded in the previous quarter, according to data released by Eurostat.   Over the same three-month period, household real income per capita in the euro area increased by a more modest 0.1 per cent, following a stronger rise of 0.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2025.   Across the European Union as a whole, household real consu

German federal police, together with investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office, carried out wide-ranging searches at Deutsche Bank’s corporate offices in Frankfurt and Berlin on January 28, 2026. The operation was ordered by prosecutors in Frankfurt and is directed at unidentified managers and employees suspected of breaching national financial laws. Investigators are examining whether the bank enabled transactions for foreign entities connected to individuals und