From housing to infrastructure to healthcare, the steady return of essential services has proven irresistible for pension funds looking for a stable return – breaking the welfare state along the way.

The European Commission will work with EU member states and the chemicals sector to support production of chemicals identified as critical for Europe's industrial supply chains, the EU executive said on Tuesday.

The next EU budget is shaping up to be a “Big Ugly Bill,” said the head of the Committee of Regions.