European Union

FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the G20 leaders and placed football at their disposal as a powerful tool to help them address the challenges facing the world today.

Curvy cucumbers, Turkey in the EU, uncontrolled migration: all debunked lies exploited by the pro-Brexit campaign. But there’s one aspect of the EU that Leavers could've legitimately painted on the side of their bus. And it reared its monstrous head again today.

France and Germany presented on Tuesday (4 December) revised plans for the EU's proposed digital tax reforms under which large firms would pay a levy only on advertising sales and not on total revenues, representing a significant reduction of the Commission's original scope.

When adopting new rules for Europe’s electricity market, EU policymakers shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture which involves an increasingly integrated energy system with multiple links between electricity, heat and gas, writes Hans Korteweg.

Faced with the opposition of member states from the Visegrad group, the Juncker Commission made it plain on Tuesday (4 December) that it has given up on one of its declared goals: completing the reform of the Common European Asylum System.

On 4 December, the Council endorsed the agreement reached with the Parliament on key risk reduction measures in the banking sector, implementing reforms agreed internationally after the 2007-08 financial crisis.

The Council today adopted a directive which will bring the enforcement of competition rules in line with the digital age and tackle illegal competition practices in the EU. This adoption follows an agreement reached with the European Parliament at first reading.

The EU is setting up a new funding programme, Digital Europe, to be launched in 2021 to support the digital transformation of Europe's societies and economies.

Rapid 5G roll-out, cutting-edge innovation and stronger consumer protection are part of the EU's new telecoms rules.

The Council adopted adjustments to the EU's VAT rules to fix specific issues pending the introduction of a new VAT system.

The Council adopted conclusions on an action plan to better tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.

By 2030, the EU will have to get 32% of its energy from renewable sources and reach an energy efficiency headline target of 32.5%.

On 4 December 2018, the Eurogroup adopted a report on EMU deepening ahead of the Euro Summit of 14 December 2018.

Remarks by President Centeno following the Eurogroup meeting of 3 December on draft budgetary plans, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and EMU reform.

On 3 December, the Eurogroup adopted a statement on draft budgetary plans of euro-area member states for 2019.

Written by Ioannis Zachariadis (1st edition),

© andranik123 / Fotolia

Making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access financing through public markets lies at the heart of the capital markets union – the plan to mobilise capital in Europe. Among the various reasons for going ahead with this union is the fact that existing requirements and listing costs in both regulated and multilateral trading venues continue to be disproportionate to the size and level of sophistication of SMEs. To further respond to this situation, the Commission has proposed adopting a regulation to address the administrative burden placed on SMEs when listing or issuing equity and bonds, with the aim to increase liquidity on SME growth markets. The latter are a new category of multilateral trading facilities, which was established under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II. To this end, the proposal provides for targeted amendments to two key pieces of financial services legislation, namely the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and the Prospectus Regulation.

• December 2018: ‘Enabling SMEs’ access to capital markets‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 and (EU) 2017/1129 as regards the promotion of the use of SME growth markets Committee responsible:

Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

COM(2018) 331
24.5.2018 Rapporteur: Anne Sander (EPP, France) 2018/0165(COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Neena Gill (S&D, UK);
Kay Swinburne (ECR, UK);
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE, Spain);
Paloma Lopez Bermejo (GUE/NGL, Spain);
Philippe Lamberts (Greens, Belgium) Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Vote on draft report in committee

EU finance ministers concluded a deal on Tuesday (4 December) to bolster the region with new tools to save ailing banks and member states but postponed Europe-wide instruments to protect depositors or stabilise national economies.

In order to face the rising cancer incidence across Europe, governments should prioritise prevention policies, as well as access to innovative medicines under an EU-wide plan, Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

Under President Trump, Washington is not abandoning international leadership or its friends in the international system, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told diplomats in Brussels on Tuesday (4 December). Addressing an event organised by the German Marshall Fund in...

After an all-night, 18-hour negotiation, finance ministers take steps to reinforce the defence of the euro, the single currency which celebrates its 20th birthday next month. However, the reform measures still need to be agreed by EU leaders.