The European Union’s Commission laid out a proposal for the liberalisation of the European inter-city bus market. As a part of the second phase of the Commission’s mobility pack, Brussels will allow bus operators to organise inter-city travels for journeys longer than 100 kilometers.
An imaginably large part of the European population would be unwilling to donate to causes that are antithetical to their personal beliefs. This has pushed many non-governmental actors to appear relatively neutral in the public eye. The European Union, however, is largely sponsoring organisations which are actively lobbying Brussels.
In a recent ruling, the British Supreme Court ruled that Scotland is indeed allowed to impose minimum alcohol pricing on its market. After a decade-long feud with producers, the Scots now intend to crack down on alcohol consumption. The legislation, which the Scottish Parliament passed in 2012, sets a minimum price of 50 pence per […]
2017 has seen yet another increase in lifestyle regulations and sin taxes in Europe, with both national governments and Brussels imposing new rules. While countries adopt varying degrees of economic interventionism, different standards over fiscal consolidation, or alternating positions in reaction to climate change, lifestyle regulations seem to be popular across the board.
Together with other classical liberals in Switzerland, Frédéric Jollien is fighting against the royalties imposed by the government for media consumption. 450 Swiss Francs, the equivalent of €382, is the annual fee that consumers need to pay, regardless if they want state-run TV and radio channels or not. “We are not trying to abolish anything. […]
The Irish government recently decided to levy a so-called ‘soda tax’ on sugary drinks. Officials are introducing this measure as a way of tackling obesity, which many people consider as having run rampant in Europe for a while now.
For a politician of Angela Merkel’s grandeur, it seems like nothing should come as a shock. Over 16 years as German chancellor, Merkel has weathered a financial crisis and the subsequent chaos of the European common currency, as well as the bank and Greek bailouts; a massive refugee influx; multiple political turmoils within the EU, […]
In a renewed effort to get the issue of “dual food standards” back on the table, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary have urged the European Commission to regulate on the problem. The concern from the Visegrad Group, as they are known in Europe, is that companies might be deliberately providing supermarkets with food […]
In yet another move to crack down on fun public health hazards, the French government reached an agreement with the parliament for a new tax on sugary drinks. How long are people going to continue to accept the modern Nanny State?
“You’re joining outside for a smoke?” The look of utter disgust on the faces of many non-smokers when hearing this sentence is often very telling. Unimpressed by the change in social norms which made it so that people actually go outside to smoke in the first place, which wouldn’t have happened 50 years ago, numerous […]
Bill Wirtz 