The EU–India Free Trade Agreement is being described as the “Mother of all Deals” and with good reason. Concluded after nearly two decades of negotiations, this landmark agreement between two major economic blocs is set to reshape how goods, services, capital, and technology move between India and Europe.
What’s happening this week in economics? Deloitte’s team of economists examines news and trends from around the world.
The coalition parties that will form the next Dutch government published the coalition agreement, including their strategic priorities, on 30 January 2026. Notably, the ACM will be granted new merger‑control enforcement tools and the so-called new competition tool, FDI screening will be tightened, and additional instruments will be granted to temporarily halt mergers in the healthcare sector.
Legislative proposal to limit the transition payment compensation scheme for dismissal due to long-term illness for small employers
The EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), also dubbed the “trade bazooka”, has recently made headlines due to heightened geopolitical tensions. This instrument, designed to deter and counter economic coercion, has not yet been deployed. However, the increasing reliance on trade and investment measures to achieve foreign policy objectives and apply pressure on counterparts suggests that such instruments will be tested. It may only be a matter of time before a confrontation between the EU and a third country prompts its first application.
Dutch tax regulations concerning energy, sustainability and climate continue to evolve rapidly. We periodically publish an overview of these developments, and are happy to present our latest edition. This edition reflects legislative and policy changes up to 1 January 2026. It includes, among other updates, the latest measures introduced as part of the 2026 Tax Plan.
Der Bundestag hat am Donnerstag, 29. Januar 2026 das KRITIS-Dachgesetz beschlossen. Damit setzt Deutschland die EUCER-Richtlinie in nationales Recht um und führt erstmals sektorenübergreifende Mindestvorgaben für den physischen Schutz kritischer Anlagen ein. Für Betreiber bedeutet das: Registrierung, Risikoanalysen, Resilienz-Pläne, Melde und Nachweispflichten – mit klaren Fristen und Aufsicht.
Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of February 2
Welcome to the latest edition of our international employment news update.
December saw a number of important developments in the field of competition law. This month, we highlight rulings by the Court of Justice on the application of the Bronner criteria and vertical margin squeeze, the abuse of a dominant position in connection with fees charged by collective management organisations for copyrights, and the ACM’s response to the critical opinion of the Council of State on the bill concerning the ACM’s power of intervention.
