Corporations, M&A, leadership, industries
Strasbourg – The European Parliament debates this week with representatives of the Commission and Council a comprehensive plan to remove barriers in the single market, improve conditions for European businesses, and ensure their competitiveness in the global arena. The debate is one of the most anticipated of the 18-21 May plenary session and follows the…
In short: Anglo American announced on Monday 18 May 2026 that it has agreed to sell its Australian steelmaking coal portfolio to UK-registered Dhilmar Limited for cash consideration of up to US$3.875 billion. The deal comprises a US$2.3 billion upfront payment and a price-linked earnout of up to US$1.575 billion over five years. Completion is…
Two and a half decades after negotiations first began, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement entered provisional application on 1 May 2026, immediately cutting tariffs on key European exports to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — a combined market of 260 million people and the world’s fifth-largest economic bloc by GDP. From day one, EU exporters of…
President Donald Trump threatens to impose a ‘big tariff’ on the UK unless it scraps the 2% digital services tax on US tech companies. EU member states with similar taxes (France ‘GAFA tax’, Italy, Spain) watch closely as transatlantic strain deepens.
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement entered provisional application on 1 May 2026, opening EU exporters to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay. Cars, pharma and agri-food tariffs cut. Von der Leyen calls it ‘the largest free trade zone in the world’.
EU-Mercosur trade agreement starts being provisionally applied 1 May 2026 after 25 years of negotiation. Cuts tariffs on cars, pharmaceuticals, most agri-food. Opens Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay markets to EU exporters from day one.
The 26th Brussels Economic Forum on 7 May 2026 focuses on The EU’s AI Economy in the Global Race, with PM Luc Frieden, Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion and Commissioner Dombrovskis.
The One Europe One Market roadmap signed in Cyprus on 24 April 2026 sets concrete legislative measures and timelines across five areas with implementation by end-2027 at the latest.
Sixteen months after DORA entered full application, the European Banking Authority is preparing its first horizontal review. What financial institutions have learned about cyber operational resilience.
The 26th Brussels Economic Forum focuses on the EU’s strategic role and ambitions in the global AI race. The Commission’s flagship economic event runs in the week of 4-9 May 2026.