Chapter News

Renovation Wave: doubling the renovation rate to cut emissions, boost recovery and reduce energy poverty

The European Commission has published today its Renovation Wave Strategy to improve the energy performance of buildings. The Commission aims to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. This will enhance the quality of life for people living in and using the buildings, reduce Europe's greenhouse gas emissions, foster digitalisation and improve the reuse and recycling of materials. By 2030, 35 million buildings could be renovated and up to 160,000...

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Chapter News

Boeing subsidy case: World Trade Organization confirms EU right to retaliate against $4 billion of U.S. imports

Today, the World Trade Organization (WTO) allowed the EU to raise tariffs up to $4 billion worth of imports from the U.S. as a countermeasure for illegal subsidies to the American aircraft maker, Boeing. The decision builds upon the WTO’s earlier findings recognising the U.S. subsidies to Boeing as illegal under the WTO law. Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “This long-awaited decision allows the European Union to impose tariffs on American...

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Member News

Loyens & Loeff | OECD releases updated Pillar Two proposal for global minimum effective taxation

On 12 October 2020, the OECD released for public consultation updated reports on its two-pillar proposal to address the tax challenges of the digitalisation of the economy. The Pillar One proposal focuses on new nexus and profit allocation rules for certain business models, whereas the Pillar Two proposal pursues more broadly a global minimum effective taxation. The reports identify key issues, both political and technical, where divergences remain to be solved. The goal is to reach consensus amongst the 137 participating jurisdictions by mid-2021....

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Member News

Loyens & Loeff | OECD releases updated Pillar One blueprint on new taxing right for market jurisdictions

On 12 October 2020, the OECD released for public consultation updated reports on its two-pillar proposal to address the tax challenges of the digitalisation of the economy. The Pillar One proposal focuses on new nexus and profit allocation rules for certain business models, whereas the Pillar Two proposal pursues more broadly a global minimum effective taxation. The reports identify key issues, both political and technical, where divergences remain to be solved. The goal is to reach consensus amongst the 137 participating jurisdictions by mid-2021....

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Chapter News

OECD | International community renews commitment to address tax challenges from digitalisation of the economy

The international community has made substantial progress towards reaching a consensus-based long-term solution to the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy, and agreed to keep working towards an agreement by mid-2021, according to a Statement released today. The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS, which groups 137 countries and jurisdictions on an equal footing for multilateral negotiation of international tax rules, agreed during its 8-9 October meeting that the two-pillar approach they have been developing since 2019 provides a solid foundation...

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Member News, Trade & TTIP Related

GDLSK | Petition for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on thermal paper from Germany, Japan, Korea and Spain

I.  Type of Action: Antidumping Duty (“AD”): Thermal Paper from Germany, Japan, Korea and Spain II.  Product: Thermal paper is a paper coated with chemicals that react to form images when exposed to heat. Thermal paper can be used in special printers to create an image without ribbons or other consumables (other than the paper itself). When imaging, the thermal paper containing the dye is passed between the thermal print head and the platen roll in the printer. The thermal head...

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Member News

EIB | The EU Bank supports European regions and cities in their response to the Covid-19 crisis and for a green recovery

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Investment Bank (EIB) makes lending more flexible and faster for cities and regions in order to meet urgent financing needs New financing support to regions and cities announced for health sector, infrastructure, urban regeneration, SMEs and climate action and more to come In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the EIB quickly deployed a support plan to support the European economy and help meet the most urgent financing needs of regions and municipalities. Recognizing...

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Chapter News, COVID-19 News

Coronavirus Dashboard: EU Cohesion Policy response to the coronavirus crisis

Today, the Commission announces the first provisional results of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). From the beginning of the crisis, and thanks to the flexibility introduced in the Cohesion Policy, the EU mobilised over €13 billion in investments to tackle the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF). The EU funds helped national, regional and local communities in countering the...

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Chapter News, COVID-19 News

COVID-19: EU Council adopts a recommendation to coordinate measures affecting free movement

Today the Council adopted a recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restrictions of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This recommendation aims to avoid fragmentation and disruption, and to increase transparency and predictability for citizens and businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives in many ways. Travel restrictions have made it difficult for some of our citizens to get to work, to university or to visit their loved ones. It is our common duty to...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | European Parliament defies EU Commission to raise emissions reduction ambition

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted to raise the EU’s CO2 emissions reduction targets from the original 40% to 60% by 2030, as part of a EU Climate Law package, a series of laws to help Europe achieve the climate targets set out in the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement – which aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C. Despite the opposition from conservative (EPP) and right-wing groups (ECR and ID), the Parliament successfully adopted its position, led by...

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