The European Commission has approved the merger between Essilor and Luxottica...
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A Co-Working Site In Valletta Is Now Accepting Payment In Bitcoin
“Cryptocurrencies have had a very volatile year but by partnering with bitpay we can accept bitcoin without the risk."
Grand Central, a co-working, serviced office and hot-desk centre, is now accepting payments in bitcoin, making it the first company of its sort in Malta to do so.
The announcement was made at the end of last week’s evening event hosted at Grand Central and featuring guest speaker Ravinder Deol, an international producer of cryptocurrency training courses.
Malta's Gdp Growth Continues To Surprise – European Commission
Private consumption is expected to become the main driver of growth on the back of strong employment growth, improved consumer confidence and growing disposable income.
In its Winter 2018 Economic Forecast, the European Commission stated that growth rates for the euro area and the EU beat expectations last year, and stated that Malta’s growth was continuing at a ‘sustained pace’.
Mergers: Commission approves Discovery's acquisition of Scripps, subject to conditions; rejects referral request by Polish competition authority
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Scripps by Discovery, both US based global media companies. The decision is conditional on full compliance with commitments offered by Discovery.
Discovery and Scripps are both active as providers of basic pay-TV channels to TV distributors in the European Economic Area (EEA). Scripps is particularly active in the UK, where it operates UKTV jointly with the BBC; and in Poland, via TVN, a Polish media company acquired by Scripps in 2015.
Mergers: Commission approves the proposed acquisition of Abertis by Hochtief
The European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Abertis by Hochtief. Abertis manages and operates toll road infrastructure. Hochtief, ultimately controlled by the ACS Group, is mostly active in the construction sector.
Smarter use of EU resources: financial instruments in EU funds already halfway to target
New data uploaded on the Cohesion Open Data Platform show that half of the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds envelope planned to be invested via financial instruments over the 2014-2020 budget period has already been allocated to generate additional investment through financial products such as loans, guarantees or equity.
State aid: Commission approves six electricity capacity mechanisms to ensure security of supply in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland
The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules electricity capacity mechanisms in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland. The Commission found that the measures will contribute to ensuring security of supply whilst preserving competition in the Single Market. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Capacity mechanisms can help to safeguard security of electricity supply, but they must be designed so as to avoid distortions of competition in energy markets.
António Costa highlights importance of investment in culture
Prime Minister António Costa highlighted the importance of the Portuguese state's investment in culture during the ceremony that marked the acquisition of six paintings by Maria Helena Vieira da Silva.
Financial Industry Bodies Divided On Benefits Of MIFID II/MIFIR
The wide-ranging changes instituted by the new MiFID II rules, and its accompanying regulation (MiFIR), have raised concerns among some industry bodies who say its costly implementation will be passed on to unprepared investors.
The wide-ranging changes instituted by the new MiFID II rules, and its accompanying regulation (MiFIR), have raised concerns among some industry bodies who say its costly implementation will be passed on to unprepared investors.
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of De Nederlandse Energie Maatschappij by Waterland
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of De Nederlandse Energie Maatschappij B.V. by Nuts Groep B.V, ultimately controlled by Waterland Private Equity Investments B.V. ("Waterland"), all of the Netherlands. Nederlandse Energie Maatschappij supplies electricity and gas to small customers in the Netherlands. Nuts Groep is active in the supply of electricity and gas to small customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Waterland is an independent private equity firm.
Canadian Canabis Company Plans To Open Lab In Malta
“Nuuvera has developed strategies to expand in several foreign cannabis markets, including Germany, Israel, Italy and Malta,” the company said in its most recent company filing.
Nuuvera, a Canadian medical cannabis manufacturer, has earmarked Malta as a location for its $5 million business expansion into Europe.
Commission announces dual quality of food testing campaign
The question of dual quality of food products is one that the Commission takes very seriously. President Jean-Claude Juncker said on the occasion of the State of the Union speech: "I will not accept that in some parts of Europe, people are sold food of lower quality than in other countries, despite the packaging and branding being identical. We must now equip national authorities with stronger powers to cut out any illegal practices wherever they exist".
European Investment Bank agrees first Juncker Plan project in Cyprus
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed the first infrastructure project in Cyprus under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe. The EIB will provide €35 million to the Cyprus Organisation for Storage and Management of Oil Stocks (COSMOS) to build a 210,000 tonne privately-owned storage facility. The Juncker Plan-backed project will focus on enhancing energy efficiency and it will improve Cyprus's energy security by increasing the amount of reserve oil stocks held in the country.
Future of EU finances - Commissioner Oettinger visits France and Hungary
Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger, in charge of Budget and Human Resources, is visiting France and Hungary on 1 and 2 February, respectively, as part of his tour across EU Member States (#MFFtour27) aimed at gathering views on the future of EU finances and the EU's multiannual budget post-2020 (#EUbudget). In France, the Commissioner will attend the European Affairs and Finance Committee at the Joint Hearing Assemblée nationale and will have a meeting with Ms Sabine Thillaye, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee, Assemblée nationale.
€50 million pilot project launched to support network of cybersecurity competence centres
The Commission launched today acall for proposalsfor a €50 million pilot to support the creation of a network of cybersecurity competence centres across the EU. The winning consortia, including also university labs and research centres, should scale up existing research for the benefit of the cybersecurity of the Digital Single Market, with solutions that can be marketable.
Key railway connection modernised in Bulgaria thanks to Cohesion policy investments
€471.5 million from the Cohesion Fund is invested in the development of the railway section between the towns of Elin Pelin and Kostenets, in western Bulgaria.
European Commission launches the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum
The Commission launched today the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum with the support of the European Parliament, represented by Jakob von Weizsäcker responsible for the recent report on virtual currencies.
The Blockchain Observatory and Forum will highlight key developments of the blockchain technology, promote European actors and reinforce European engagement with multiple stakeholders involved in blockchain activities.
Young people put forward their ideas for the future of Europe
Commissioner Tibor Navracsics receives young people to discuss their views on the future of Europe, and how to better take their priorities into account.
Sustainable Finance: High-Level Expert Group delivers roadmap for greener and cleaner economy
The European Commission welcomes the final report by its High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (HLEG), which sets out strategic recommendations for a financial system that supports sustainable investments.
Valletta's Embassy Complex Set To Become Four-Star Hotel
Embassy’s Managing Director, Bettina Azzopardi, said that the complex’s beloved cinemas will be relocated to the lower part of the building.
Valletta’s Embassy Shopping Complex is set to be transformed into a four-star hotel, the first of its kind in the city.
The Planning Directorate will be recommending the approval of the application to transform the complex by the Planning Authority. The PA will be discussing the application later on this week.
Danish employees among the happiest in the world
When Danes go to work, it is often with a smile on their faces. According to a new survey by consulting company Ennova, job satisfaction in Denmark ranks among the highest in the world.
Denmark is often ranked as one of the happiest nations in the world and we have a well-known great work-life balance, which seems to be part of the reason why a new survey concludes that job satisfaction in Denmark ranks among the highest in the world.
Brexit: European Commission receives mandate to begin negotiations with the United Kingdom on transitional arrangements
The European Commission welcomes today's decision by the General Affairs Council (Article 50) to allow negotiations to begin on possible transitional arrangements following the United Kingdom's orderly withdrawal from the European Union.
Betsson Employees Who Lose Their Jobs Will Quickly Find New Ones, Government Says
Government rushed to reassure Betsson employees who might be affected by the restructuring that “any redundancies in Malta will be immediately absorbed by other operators in the industry.”
Betsson Employees Who Lose Their Jobs Will Quickly Find New Ones, Government Says
Government rushed to reassure Betsson employees who might be affected by the restructuring that “any redundancies in Malta will be immediately absorbed by other operators in the industry.”
State aid: Commission concludes that the introduction of the Road Act Amendment in the Czech Republic does not involve State aid
The European Commission has found that the prohibition of outdoor advertising such as roads and motorways, which was introduced by the Czech Republic through the "Road Act Amendment" and entered into force on September 1, 2017, does not involve State aid. In October 2017, the Commission received a complaint from the United States Act No.