Business – Euro Weekly News

Business – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com News and views in English since 1998 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:37:07 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://euroweeklynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-EuroWeeklyNews-Favicon-2-60x60.png Business – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com 32 32 Europe built the world’s greatest sports brands. Did it forget to protect the supply chains behind them? https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/08/europe-built-the-worlds-greatest-sports-brands-did-it-forget-to-protect-the-supply-chains-behind-them/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:55:55 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=578470 As manufacturers evolve into brands, Europe’s sporting goods industry may be confronting the most important supply-chain governance question since globalisation. When Adidas was founded in Herzogenaurach in 1949, competitive advantage was defined by innovation, craftsmanship and athletes. Seventy-five years later, competitive advantage looks very different. Today’s sporting goods industry is…

]]> How UK small businesses are meeting the demand for always-on customer service https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/07/22/how-uk-small-businesses-are-meeting-the-demand-for-always-on-customer-service/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:23:32 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=574589 The nine to five is losing its grip on customer service. Someone orders a lamp at 11pm, spots the wrong delivery address at midnight, and wants it sorted before breakfast. The big retailers taught people that this is normal, and the expectation does not shrink just because the seller is a two-person firm in Leeds rather than a national chain. The habit has numbers behind it. Ofcom found that UK…

]]> Future of European banking: Tech trends to watch https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/12/future-of-european-banking-tech-trends-to-watch/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:06:32 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=571390 European banks are under pressure from all sides. Neobanks keep pulling customers. Regulators keep updating the rulebook. And the technology that was “experimental” three years ago is now quietly running in production. The question in 2026 isn’t whether banks should modernise, it’s how fast, in which direction, and who gets to set the pace. This piece looks at the technologies reshaping European…

]]> Building New York’s EV future starts with building the workforce https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/10/building-new-yorks-ev-future-starts-with-building-the-workforce/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:49:16 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=571265 Billions of dollars are flowing into New York’s clean energy transition. Electric vehicle charging stations are expanding, new regulations are pushing buildings toward electrification, and policymakers are mapping out an ambitious vision for a greener future. But beneath the headlines and funding announcements lies a question that receives far less attention: Who is actually going to do the work?

Source

]]> What customers expect from businesses in 2026 https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/10/what-customers-expect-from-businesses-in-2026/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:48:20 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=571222 There was a time when it took a bit of effort for someone to stop buying products or services from one company and move to another. That’s no longer the case, and that means that the relationship has changed. Customers are a lot more sophisticated and look at more than just one factor like price or convenience. Going into 2026, you’re looking at higher, layered expectations. The downside is that…

]]> What Is an LEI code and does your business need one? https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/04/what-is-an-lei-code-and-does-your-business-need-one/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:15:49 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=570857 As financial markets rely more heavily on verified legal-entity data, British LEI explains why UK companies may encounter LEI requirements during securities trading, UK MiFIR or UK EMIR reporting, broker onboarding, or cross-border dealings with regulated financial institutions. For many UK business owners, the first encounter with an LEI code comes at the least convenient moment.

]]> Work contracts in Spain explained: Permanent, temporary and seasonal jobs https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/03/07/work-contracts-in-spain-explained-permanent-temporary-and-seasonal-jobs/ Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:01:50 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=563321 Spain’s labour market offers several types of employment contracts, each designed for different working arrangements and business needs. The system is governed primarily by the Workers’ Statute (Estatuto de los Trabajadores), which outlines the rights and obligations of both employers and employees. While recent labour reforms have simplified the structure of contracts, several distinct forms of…

]]> Spain sees unemployment drop below 10% for first time in nearly 18 years https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/27/spain-sees-unemployment-drop-below-10-for-first-time-in-nearly-18-years/ Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:42:25 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=559764 Spain ended 2025 with its unemployment rate below 10% for the first time since 2008, marking a major milestone in the country’s long‑running struggle with high joblessness. The latest figures from the Instituto Nacional de Empleo (INE) or National Employment Institute show the jobless rate stood at 9.93% in the final quarter of 2025, a significant drop from 10.45% three months earlier and the…

]]> Yolanda Díaz proposes 3.1% pay hike: Foreign residents set to benefit https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/07/yolanda-diaz-proposes-3-1-pay-hike-foreign-residents-set-to-benefit/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:31:26 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557817 Spain’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz has proposed a 3.1 per cent increase in the national minimum wage, lifting it to €1,221 per month. The proposal forms part of ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Labour, trade unions and employers’ organisations and would apply retroactively from the start of the year once approved. The figure corresponds to €1,221…

]]> Verifactu delay leaves expat business owners facing fresh uncertainty in Spain https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/04/verifactu-delay-leaves-expat-business-owners-facing-fresh-uncertainty-in-spain/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:56:51 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=554908 The decision by the Spanish Government to postpone the launch of the Verifactu electronic invoicing verification system by a full year has triggered deep concern among tax specialists, business groups and foreign residents running companies in Spain. Miguel Ángel Vázquez Taín, president of the General Council of Economists of Spain (CGE), and Agustín Fernández, president of the Registry of Tax…

]]> Restorative dismissal set to transform workplaces https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/03/restorative-dismissal-set-to-transform-workplaces/ Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:28:56 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=554845 Spain faces fresh pressure from European authorities to overhaul its rules on unfair dismissal. The European Committee of Social Rights (CEDS) has called on the government to introduce “despido restaurativo” (restorative dismissal), a system designed to provide dismissed workers with compensation that reflects the actual harm they have suffered, rather than a fixed severance formula.

]]> Hacienda delays Verifactu by one year https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/02/hacienda-delays-verifactu-by-one-year/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:37:17 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=554634 Verifactu is Spain’s new electronic invoicing system, developed by Agencia Tributaria to strengthen fiscal oversight and tackle tax fraud. The system requires that invoices issued by companies, SMEs, and self‑employed professionals using certified invoicing software are fully traceable, immutable, and electronically verifiable. Each invoice leaves a secure digital record that cannot be altered…

]]> UK budget watchdog chief resigns after early leak https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/01/uk-budget-watchdog-chief-resigns-after-early-leak/ Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:42:08 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=554553 On November 26, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) mistakenly published its November Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) more than 40 minutes before the official presentation of the budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in Parliament. This unprecedented error exposed the government’s key tax, spending and economic forecasts ahead of public release, prompting immediate political and market…

]]> Joint bank accounts in Spain: Everything expats need to know https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/29/joint-bank-accounts-in-spain-everything-expats-need-to-know/ Sat, 29 Nov 2025 20:45:21 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=554316 A joint bank account (in Spanish, often “cuenta mancomunada” or “cuenta conjunta”) is an account held by two or more people, where all named holders share equal rights over the funds. It is often used by partners, family members, or business associates who want easy access and shared control over money. The main advantage is convenience: any account‑holder can deposit or withdraw money, pay bills…

]]> VERIFACTU: The new invoicing reality every expat in Spain needs to understand https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/20/verifactu-the-new-invoicing-reality-every-expat-in-spain-needs-to-understand/ Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:04:18 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=553217 If you’ve worked in Spain long enough to memorise the smell of your local gestor’s office, you’ll know that tax updates tend to arrive with the drama of a summer storm: sudden, slightly chaotic, and impossible to ignore. VERIFACTU, landing in 2026, is very much one of those changes — albeit wrapped in surprisingly neat digital packaging. VERIFACTU is Spain’s new invoicing structure — a…

]]> ECB: Green firms and homes now get better bank loans https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/11/ecb-green-firms-and-homes-now-get-better-bank-loans/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:38:56 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=551453 The European Central Bank (ECB) says that how “green” a company or home is can now influence how easily and cheaply it gets a bank loan. According to the latest ECB blog post (November 10), banks across the euro area are offering better lending terms to eco-friendly firms and energy-efficient homes – and tougher ones to polluting businesses or older, inefficient properties.

]]> Zadarma expands in Europe with acquisition of Malaga-based Megacall https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/11/zadarma-expands-in-europe-with-acquisition-of-malaga-based-megacall/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:38:48 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=551434 European cloud communications leader Zadarma has announced the acquisition of Megacall, a Malaga-based VoIP provider. The move marks Zadarma’s second major acquisition, following its purchase of US company VoIPVoIP in 2024. Founded in 2006, Zadarma operates across Europe with offices in Bulgaria, the UK, Poland and Spain, and runs six data centres across three continents.

]]> UK Shocked by unexpected EU budget demand https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/08/uk-shocked-by-unexpected-eu-budget-demand/ Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:41:25 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=551060 The European Union is discussing whether the United Kingdom should contribute financially to the EU budget as part of a post-Brexit “reset” of relations. The discussions follow a summit in May 2025 between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at which both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on several issues. The reset deal included…

]]> Who ISN’T using ChatGPT? OpenAI hits 1 MILLION business customers https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/05/who-isnt-using-chatgpt-openai-hits-1-million-business-customers/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:22:33 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=550725 It seems everyone’s jumping on the AI bandwagon – and OpenAI has just proved it. The company behind ChatGPT has announced that more than one million businesses are now paying customers, making it the fastest-growing business platform in history. From Cisco and Morgan Stanley to Booking.com, Lowe’s, and Target, global firms are putting AI to work in everything from customer support to software…

]]> “Stop making autónomos fear Hacienda,” says Feijóo https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/05/stop-making-autonomos-fear-hacienda-says-feijoo/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:17:04 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=550693 Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of Spain’s Partido Popular (PP), has pledged to “let the self-employed work”, arguing that autónomos should “not have more fear of the tax authorities than of the corrupt”. The remarks were made during an address focused on economic confidence and the role of small businesses within Spain’s labour market. His comment was reported by Spanish news media 20 minutos…

]]> Novo Nordisk’s new CEO says the fight for obesity drugs is “a marathon not a sprint” https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/05/novo-nordisks-new-ceo-says-the-fight-for-obesity-drugs-is-a-marathon-not-a-sprint/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:26:08 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=550592 Novo Nordisk’s newly appointed chief executive Mike Doustdar has described the fight for dominance in the global obesity-drug market as “a marathon, not a sprint,” as the maker of Ozempic guided investors to the lower end of its 2025 sales and profit forecasts and highlighted the cost of a major restructuring. In results published on November 5, the Danish pharmaceutical group said it now…

]]> Workers to choose from overtime pay or rest https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/04/workers-to-choose-from-overtime-pay-or-rest/ Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:19:28 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=550496 Spain’s government has announced a reform to the national work‑hour registration system. Under draft rules issued by the Ministry of Labour, companies will be required to digitally log start and finish times, breaks, and overtime for each employee. Each extra hour must indicate whether it will be paid or compensated with rest days, ensuring clear records and enhanced transparency.

]]> Seasonal job surge: searches soar but openings stall https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/27/seasonal-job-surge-searches-soar-but-openings-stall/ Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:00:45 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=549262 WITH Halloween just a few days away, and the Christmas season approaching fast, job searching platform Indeed has released statistics on seasonal job searches: interest in holiday jobs is spiking considerably, but finding one is becoming more and more difficult. The searches for seasonal positions are the highest they have been since Indeed began their records in 2018. According to Indeed…

]]> Malaga to be at forefront of clean energy for aviation – jobs & economic boom around the corner https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/26/malaga-to-be-at-forefront-of-clean-energy-for-aviation-jobs-economic-boom-around-the-corner/ Sun, 26 Oct 2025 12:03:47 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=549190 Two green hydrogen plants in Malaga, Spain, will start producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2029, a huge step towards cleaning up air travel. Repsol leads the €1.5 billion project, backed by EU funding, to deliver 200,000 tonnes of SAF yearly and cut aviation emissions by up to 90 per cent. Located in Axarquía, near Malaga’s airport, the facilities fall in line with Spain’s hydrogen…

]]> Steven Bartlett steps down from his podcast firm https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/25/steven-bartlett-steps-down-from-his-podcast-firm/ Sat, 25 Oct 2025 09:12:34 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=549079 British entrepreneur and TV star Steven Bartlett has quietly resigned as a director of the company behind his hit podcast, The Diary of a CEO. Bartlett, best known for his role on the BBC show Dragons’ Den and for founding the social media marketing group Social Chain, co-founded Flight Story Group, the media business that produces The Diary of a CEO podcast. The show has grown into one of the…

]]> Spain loses €45 billion to absenteeism crisis https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/23/spain-loses-e45-billion-to-absenteeism-crisis/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 19:27:49 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=548928 Workplace absenteeism has become a costly and persistent problem for Spain’s economy. New data shows that lost productivity linked to sick leave and other absences cost the country more than €45 billion in 2024 alone. The figures reveal that absenteeism now accounts for roughly 7 per cent of all agreed working hours, a proportion that continues to rise across most regions despite the broader…

]]> Foreign Minister Albares strengthens bilateral relations with China https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/15/foreign-minister-albares-strengthens-bilateral-relations-with-china/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 19:45:29 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=547932 Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Hangzhou today (October 15) to deepen bilateral relations and announce new diplomatic and educational initiatives between Spain and China. During the meeting, both leaders agreed to create a new structured intergovernmental meeting format to formalise bilateral cooperation at the highest level.

]]> EasyJet stock jumps following buyout speculation https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/14/easyjet-stock-jumps-following-buyout-speculation/ Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:41:18 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=547715 Shares of EasyJet jumped sharply on October 14 after reports emerged that Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was considering a potential takeover. The airline’s stock rose by around 12% in early trading, marking its largest single-day gain in nearly three years. Investor optimism was reflected in trading volumes, with approximately 7.8 million shares exchanged in the first two hours.

]]> Goldman Sachs Spain and Portugal co-head Alvaro del Castaño retires after 30 years https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/13/goldman-sachs-spain-and-portugal-co-head-alvaro-del-castano-retires-after-30-years/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:25:00 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=547591 Goldman Sachs Group Inc. announced that Alvaro del Castaño, its co-head for Spain and Portugal and head of private wealth management, will retire after more than three decades at the bank. According to Reuters, del Castaño’s departure follows reports that he had authored political opinion pieces criticising both Donald Trump and Pedro Sánchez. The articles, published under his name in The…

]]> Government proposes higher wage amid tax debate https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/10/01/government-proposes-higher-wage-amid-tax-debate/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:55:07 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=546188 The Spanish Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz, has proposed a potential increase to the Salario Mínimo Interprofesional (SMI) that would vary depending on whether it becomes subject to income tax. Díaz has stated that if the Ministry of Finance (Hacienda) requires SMI recipients to pay IRPF (Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas), Spain’s personal income tax. It is a progressive tax…

]]>