European Commission news and archive

European cities sign declaration to counter fast fashion

Mayors from more than 30 global cities convened at ChangeNow, a prominent event focused on solutions for the planet, to raise concerns about the detrimental impact of fast fashion on their cities and the environment. Signifying a collective population of 6.5 million citizens, representatives from ten European cities, including Dublin, Paris,...

BusinessFeatured

European parliament outlines measures to ‘drive fast fashion out of fashion’

The European parliament’s Environment Committee has outlined a series of recommendations and measures that hope to encourage countries in the European Union to produce circular, sustainable and socially responsible textiles. Members of European Parliament (MEPs) stated that products sold in the region “should be more durable, easier to use,...

Business

Gucci raided in EU antitrust probe

Paris - EU investigators have searched Gucci's offices in Italy as part of a probe into suspected anticompetitive practices, the fashion house's parent company Kering and the European Commission said Wednesday. Kering said it "is fully cooperating with the Commission in the context of this investigation", adding that the inspections had begun on...

Fashion

EU strikes antitrust pose with raids on fashion firm

EU antitrust investigators raided several companies across Europe on Tuesday over suspicions of a secret cartel in the fashion industry, the European Commission said. The European Commission said its teams had carried out unannounced inspections "at the premises of companies active in the fashion industry in several member states". It did not...

Business

The European Commission proposes a price cap on wholesale gas at 275€/MWh that is disappointing for European textiles and clothing manufacturers

On Tuesday, EURATEX stated in a letter to EC President, Ursula von der Leyen, that any price cap above the level of 80€euro/MWh would not help the EU industry – the textile sector in particular – to survive the current crisis. Indeed as early as July 2021, the wholesale gas price in the EU was below 30€/MWh. Now, the EU industry is facing gas...

Business

European Commission proposes to ban products made under forced labour

The European Commission has revealed a proposal that could see products made with forced labour prohibited from entering the EU market. If approved, national authorities will be able to withdraw relevant products made for both domestic consumption and exports or imports following an investigation. EU members will have to implement the...

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European fashion organisations come together to form European Fashion Alliance

A total of 25 European fashion councils and organisations have come together to co-found a new alliance that is aiming to “empower a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive European fashion ecosystem”. The ‘European Fashion Alliance’, which was formed during a two-day summit in Frankfurt organised by Fashion Council Germany, is calling for the...

RetailFeatured

European Union updates legal framework of online sales

The legal framework of online sales in Europe has been updated and implemented from June in order to protect brand owners, wholesalers and resellers. Revenue from online sales is crucial to most fashion brands but many grey areas exist concerning laws and regulations. For most fashion brands, and especially luxury, online sales is curbed by...

Business

European Commission launches antitrust investigation into several fashion companies

The European Commission has announced it will be carrying out unannounced inspections of the premises of several unnamed companies in the fashion industry located in its Member States. Additionally, the commission also stated that it had sent out formal requests for information to further fashion firms. In a release, the organisation said that...

Business

Selfridges sale gets green light from European Commission

The sale of iconic department store chain Selfridges has been approved by the European Commission after it was concluded it “would raise no competition concerns”. Last year, the former owner of the iconic retailer, the billionaire Weston family, agreed to sell the business to Thailand’s Central Group and Austrian-based property company Signa...

BusinessFeatured

EU finds UK ‘failed to fulfill’ obligations to combat undervalued Chinese imports

The EU Court of Justice is set to enforce a hefty fine against the UK after it found negligence in the imposing of EU obligations to combat fraud and enter the correct amount of customs duties and VAT. Following an investigation by the court, it was ruled that the UK had “failed to fulfill” related EU laws, resulting in an import overflow of...

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EU publishes proposal for sustainable and responsible due diligence law

The European Commission has announced it will be pushing a due diligence law that will require companies to adopt sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout their production chain. The proposal, which the commission voted in favour of last year, will oblige companies to identify, prevent and end any negative impact they may have...