EU

Comuniq.EU – Banking

by Keith Zahra The European Central Bank has told banks not to pay any dividend payments until at least January and urged them to be “extremely moderate” when setting…

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Comniq.EU – Health

by Keith Zahra European regulators could be in a position to approve the first vaccine against Covid-19 this year, after a flurry of trials by pharma companies leading the…

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EU welcomes Israel – UAE agreement

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed a deal to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates partly brokered by the United States, Politico reports. But Borrell also…

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EU to impose new sanctions on Belarus

Germany's foreign minister said on Friday the European Union will impose new sanctions on Belarusian officials responsible for cracking down on protests triggered by a disputed election last Sunday. President…

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EU commission to support 23 new research projects on coronavirus pandemic

The Commission will support 23 new research projects with €128 million in response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic. The funding under Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation programme, is…

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EU Governments rolling back wage support despite cloudy outlook

Government around Europe have generally continued to push for a re-opening of the economy, insisting that they can no longer afford to pay the same levels of wage support as…

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CiNext – Five days of Europe

There was courtship and accusations of betrayal, there were confessions to the camera and off-mic dealings. It may sound like the latest episode of a reality show, but the dramatic…

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Top EU, US female politicians push Facebook to protect women from threats on social media platform

Facebook must step up and protect women in politics from threats of violence and sexism and hate on its platform, said a letter to the company from female members of…

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Greening Aviation: Commission launches public consultation on sustainable aviation fuels

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector. The Commission is currently assessing different policy options to boost the development…

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Euro zone retail sales return to pre-pandemic levels

The volume of retail sales in the euro zone rebounded in June to levels recorded in February before lockdowns, official estimates showed on Wednesday, completing a recovery that began in…

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EU Budget: what’s in it for Europe and Malta

by Keith Zahra European Union leaders reached a deal on a package of measures to boost their economies after the coronavirus pandemic, agreeing to borrow and spend hundreds of…

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EU-Vietnam trade agreement enters into force

EU exports to Vietnam will be taxed less of this month. This is the immediate effect of the entry into force of the EU-Vietnam trade agreement that will ultimately scrap…

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Germany objects to border closures but considers testing returnees from high-risk areas

Despite growing concerns on holiday-makers returning to Germany infected with coronavirus, top German officials remain opposed to closing the EU's internal borders for tourist travels. Following an increase in cases…

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China and EU to speed up negotiation on investment agreement

China and the European Union will accelerate negotiations in order to conclude a China-EU investment agreement by the end of this year, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said on Tuesday. China and the EU will also continue…

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EU stimulus package to slightly improve growth prospects

Euro zone economic growth next year will be slightly stronger than previously thought, according to a Reuters poll of forecasters taken after European Union leaders agreed on 750 billion euros to support economies…

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European efforts to secure potential COVID-19 vaccines hit snag over price and payment methods

European efforts to secure potential COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson are mired in wrangles over price, payment method and potential liability costs, three EU officials told Reuters.…

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Joint European debt must not become a common thing – Bundesbank President

A decision by European leaders to issue joint debt to finance coronavirus aid for weaker member states should remain an exemption and not serve as a blueprint for future budget challenges, Bundesbank…

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Was there a Plan B if EU budget talks failed? – Charles Michel talks to POLITICO

Sitting once again on the Terrace Where It Happened, Charles Michel confessed he had no Plan B if leaders had failed to reach a budget deal, according to POLITICO, It transpires,…

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EU eyes COVID-19 vaccines at less than $40, shuns WHO-led alliance

The European Union is not interested in buying potential COVID-19 vaccines through an initiative co-led by the World Health Organisation as it deems it slow and high-cost, two EU sources told Reuters, noting…

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EU Council deal restricts Europe’s ability to step into the next decade – EPP

The deal reached by European leaders earlier this week will not be enough to strengthen the EU's role in the coming decade. According to the centre-right EPP Group, the EU…

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EU recovery plan will stimulate mergers between European banks – Santander

The European leaders' agreement on a massive stimulus plan for their coronavirus battered economies should help kick-start cross-border consolidation in Europe and complete the European banking union, Santander Chairman Ana Botin said. "What…

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Historic EU deal was all about European solidarity – French Foreign Minister

France's foreign minister dismissed accusations by far-left lawmakers that President Emmanuel Macron had struck an EU economic recovery deal that sold Paris short, saying on Tuesday (July 21) it was "historic" and showed European solidarity.…

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European Parliament negotiators react to EU Summit compromise: a positive step for recovery, more need in long-term

Commenting on the conclusions of the 17-21 July EU summit, EP negotiators welcome the recovery fund but warn that their agreement to the long-term EU budget cannot be taken for…

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Malta: Malta secures €2.25 billion in EU budget and coronavirus recovery funds

Malta has received its largest ever EU funds allocation, €2.25 billion, for the financial period of 2021-2027. Abela negotiated a package worth €2.25 billion that includes €1.923 billion from the…

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First Covid-19 vaccine could be available by year-end, says EU Medicines regulator

European regulators could approve the first vaccine against Covid-19 this year, after a flurry of trials by pharma companies leading the race showed promising results, Bloomberg said. The portal quotes…

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Historic EU deal: What does it mean for the future of the Union and its Member States

European Union leaders reached a deal on Tuesday on a package of measures to boost their economies after the coronavirus pandemic, agreeing to borrow and spend hundreds of billions of euros in the next few…

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Brexit will split financial markets, says Bank of England appointee

Brexit will make markets less efficient but it won't be disastrous for Britain's economy, an appointee to the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said on Monday. Britain left…

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EU approves renewable energy generation in Ireland

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a scheme to support electricity production from renewable sources in Ireland. The measure will contribute to the EU environmental objectives…

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EU Summit enters record 5th Day (Updated)

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said that European citizens are waiting for a strong recovery plan. The world is watching us. After 4 days of intensive negotiations, it’s…

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Malta: Institutional reform giving Malta moral authority in EU budget negotiations – Abela

The institutional reforms implemented by the government in the past months are giving Malta a stronger moral authority in difficult EU-level negotiations on a €1 trillion budget, Robert Abela said.…

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Dutch PM singled out for stalling negotiations at EU Summit

As EU negotiations over a coronavirus recovery fund and a new budget for the bloc ran into an impasse, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte was singled out by one leader this weekend…

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EU needs ambitious financial deal more than fast one

It is better for European Union leaders to agree an ambitious financial aid package for the bloc rather than to have a quick deal at any cost, European Central Bank…

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Malta: Institutional reform giving Malta moral authority in EU budget negotiations – Abela

The institutional reforms implemented by the government in the past months are giving Malta a stronger moral authority in difficult EU-level negotiations on a €1 trillion budget, Robert Abela said.…

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Apple tax win flags EU problem of enemies within

by Aimee Donnellan via Reuters Breakingviews The victor of a battle can still end up losing the war. But Apple’s win in a legal case over $15 billion of…

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Deadlock- Eu Council Update

Update 0000h : A stand-off between EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Saturday threatened to derail plans for a massive stimulus fund to breathe life into their coronavirus-hammered…

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Top EU court ditches transatlantic data transfer deal

Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday that a transatlantic data transfer deal is invalid because of concerns about U.S. surveillance in a decision that could disrupt thousands of companies that…

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EU plans clampdown on pro-corporate tax systems to aid recovery

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled plans to clamp down on tax regimes seen as unduly beneficial to big corporations in a move it said would aid Europe's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. European…

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Time is pressing on EU leaders to agree budget, recovery fund -Merkel

Time is pressing on EU member states to reach a deal on proposals for a long-term budget and a stimulus plan, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday, adding that Germany would push for a…

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EU Council President proposes 5 billion euros Brexit emergency fund

European Council President Charles Michel said that EU talks with Britain on their new relationship were "not easy" and countries, regions and industries will face disruptions from 2021 whether there is a…

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EU must step up efforts to tackle medicine shortages – EP

In a report on the shortage of medicines, adopted by 79 votes to 1, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parlaiment addressed the root…

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EU approves KLM’s bailout by Dutch government

The European Commission said it had approved the 3.4 billion euros ($3.85 billion) bailout package promised by the Dutch government to airline KLM last month. After months of wrangling with…

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EU recommends Member State not to grant state-aid to companies linked to tax-havens

The European Commission has today recommended that Member States do not grant financial support to companies with links to countries that are on the EU's list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.…

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EU removes Serbia and Montenegro from safe list of ‘non-essential travelling’

The European Union has decided to drop Serbia and Montenegro from its safe list of countries from which non-essential travel is allowed, and did not even discuss including the United…

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Positive developments in the efficiency of justice systems in the EU while trust in judicial independence decreases

The EU has seen a continued improvement in the efficiency of justice systems in a large number of Member States. At the same time, according to the results of a…

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European Parliament to allow COVID-19 vaccines to be developed more quickly

As part of the EU's efforts to hasten the availability of a vaccine against the novel corinavirus, the European Parliament has adoped a regulation allowing such vaccines and treatments be…

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Let’s get going’: UK tells businesses to prepare for Brexit crunch

Britain is urging businesses and individuals to prepare for the Dec. 31 end of the Brexit transition period with an information campaign titled: "The UK's new start: let's get going."…

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India in talks with EU for trade deal, open to pact with UK

India has started trade talks with the European Union (EU) and is open to dialogue with the United Kingdom for a free trade agreement, the trade minister said on Saturday,…

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European Council head suggests tweaked EU Covid-19 recovery package

European Council President Charles Michel on Friday sought to offer concessions to countries across the EU in plans for the EU's long-term budget and economic recovery, hoping to bridge differences…

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No EU money for countries breaching rule of law – EPP

"Every Member State that wants to receive EU money must stick to the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law. There must be conditionality. The EU is not…

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Recovery plan, Brexit and Russia on agenda of EU leaders meeting today

EU leaders convene today for a virtual summit focused on the bloc's budget for the next seven years, coupled with a proposed 750 billion euro ($842 billion) fund to support…

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Paschal Donohoe elected Eurogroup President

The Eurogroup - the intergovernmental EU institutions of all euro area Finance Ministers, elected Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform of Ireland, as President of the…

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Merkel presents German Presidency priorities to MEPs, calls for swift agreement on economic response

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called for a swift agreement on the European Union's mass economic stimulus to advance unity that would strengthen the bloc as it recovers from the coronavirus…

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Towards a climate-neutral economy: EU Commission sets out plans for the energy system of the future

To become climate-neutral by 2050, Europe needs to transform its energy system, which accounts for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. The EU strategies for energy system integration and…

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Maltese MEPs to propose amendments to EU trucking reforms in bid to protect local industry

Maltese Members of the European Parliament are expected to unanimously support a number of amendments to the so-called Mobility Package during today's Plenary Session in Brussels. Addressing local members of…

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Dismantling of an encrypted network sends shockwaves through organised crime groups across Europe

Europol and Eurojust have supported the French and Dutch law enforcement authorities in a joint effort to dismantle EncroChat, an encrypted phone network widely used by criminal networks. Over the…

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EU sees an even deeper recession with wider divergences

The EU economy will experience a deep recession this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, despite the swift and comprehensive policy response at both EU and national levels. Because the…

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Competition rules should not stand in the way of collective bargaining – EU

The European Commission has launched a process to ensure that the EU competition rules do not stand in the way of collective bargaining for those who need it. The initiative…

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