EU News

Celent Survey Forecasts Insurers to Spend $140.6 Billion on Technology in 2012

Global information technology spending by insurance companies is expected to reach $140.6 billion in 2012, an increase of 6.3 percent over 2011, according to a new report from Celent, part of the Oliver Wyman (MMC) group. The figure is substantially …

U.S. Exempts 11 Countries from Iran Oil Sanctions; China, India Exposed

The United States exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from financial sanctions because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian oil, but left Iran’s top customers China and India exposed to the possibility of such steps. The decision means banks …

IMF Head Sees Global Economy on Recovery Path, but Risks Remain

The global economy has stepped back from the brink of danger and signs of stabilization are emerging from the euro zone and the United States, but high debt levels in developed markets and rising oil prices are key risks ahead, …

EU Foreign Ministers Set Talks on Tanker Insurance for Iran Oil Embargo

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss how the bloc’s Iran oil embargo will impact shipping insurance when they hold a scheduled meeting next week, an industry source said on Friday. The ministers are due to meet in Brussels next …

Greece Averts Immediate Default with Bond Swap Deal Success

Greece averted the immediate risk of an uncontrolled default, winning strong acceptance from its private creditors for a bond swap deal which will ease its massive public debt and clear the way for a new international bailout. The finance ministry …

Bondholder Group Sees Over $131.8 Trillion Greek Default Risk

A disorderly Greek default would probably leave Italy and Spain needing outside help to stop contagion spreading and cause more than €1 trillion ($1.318 trillion) of damage to the euro zone, the group representing Athens’ bondholders warned. Greek private creditors …

ABI Head Warns EU Solvency Rules Must Not Deter Growth, Investment

Otto Thoresen, Director General of the Association of British Insurers, has called for European Union policy makers to ensure that draft EU Solvency II rules do not prohibit insurers from driving growth in the UK and making long term investments …

EU Seeks Legal Opinion on Global Copyright Pact

The European Union’s executive said on Wednesday it would refer a disputed global agreement to tackle online piracy to the bloc’s highest court to check whether it complies with EU fundamental rights. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, which also aims to …

Analysis of New EU Data Protection Laws Command the Tide but Not the Cost

New data-protection proposals from the European Union to help people regain control of personal information from sites like Facebook could prove as effective as commanding the tide, while hurting small firms and Web giants alike. The new legislation, which European …

Euro Zone Ministers Reject Private Bondholders’ Offer on Greek Bonds

Euro zone finance ministers on Monday rejected as insufficient an offer made by private bondholders to help restructure Greece’s debts, sending negotiators back to the drawing board and raising the threat of Greek default. At a meeting in Brussels, ministers …