The PyTorch Foundation, now an independent non-profit, plays a central role in Europe’s open-source AI ecosystem. It supports projects like Safe Tensors and fosters collaboration among European AI startups and researchers to advance AI sovereignty and open infrastructure.
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, definitively lost a legal case against the European Union’s highest judicial authority, marking the end of a multi-year battle.
The European Commission introduced a 3 euro customs tax on small-value packages (under 150 euros) from outside the EU to create fairer competition for European businesses, combat customs fraud, and protect consumers. The tax applies per customs declaration line, not per item or shipment, and is part of a broader customs reform. Romanian entrepreneurs and consumers will be affected, as the tax replaces previous exemptions and may increase costs for imported goods.
Poppins, a video game designed to assist children with dyslexia, has received official approval for reimbursement as a therapeutic tool.
Ascendex Technology SRL, a Bucharest-based crypto platform, was fined 11,000 EUR by Romania’s Data Protection Authority for violating GDPR rules. The case originated from a French citizen’s complaint about delayed data deletion requests, with the Romanian authority finding the company took up to 37 months to resolve similar requests for other users.
Swedish fintech company Klarna won a $1.97 billion antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging Google’s preferential treatment of its own shopping service harmed PriceRunner, a Klarna subsidiary. The court ruled in favor of Klarna, ordering Google to pay damages.
Pricerunner, a price comparison site owned by Klarna, secured a partial victory in its legal dispute with Google, which was ordered to pay 14.3 billion SEK in damages and an additional 5 billion SEK in interest.
Exonia, a Romanian packaging company, faces rising costs for plastics and energy due to the Middle East conflict. CEO Tiberiu Stoian highlights the industry’s shift from price competition to value-added solutions like Biolin (plastic-free food packaging) and Thermatika (temperature-controlled packaging) to maintain competitiveness amid supply chain disruptions.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Office (OM) has requested the court to declare Knaken Cryptohandel B.V. and Stichting Knaken Payments bankrupt after the Financial Markets Authority (AFM) raised concerns about the unlicensed provision of cryptocurrency services. The company allowed clients to convert fiat currency to cryptocurrency and vice versa without the required AFM license. The OM is concerned about the improper winding down of the company and potential risks to clients.
Defacto, a fintech company, has applied for a European banking license to expand its SME credit services across the EU.