Brexit News, Chapter News

Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: a Contingency Action Plan

The United Kingdom has decided to leave the European Union, invoking the procedure foreseen by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The Commission regrets this decision, but respects it. On 30 March 20192, the United Kingdom will become a third country. All Union primary and secondary law will cease to apply to the United Kingdom from that moment, unless a ratified withdrawal agreement establishes another date. As emphasised in the Commission’s first Brexit preparedness Communication of 19 July...

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Brexit News, Member News

Brexit: no cause for celebration

By Kevin Butler | Managing Director Ireland and the United Kingdom | TMF Group Businesses are deeply concerned about the UK’s future relationship with the EU, and with the Brexit deadline now fast-approaching, it’s time to start making contingency plans. You know the breathless media hype about Brexit has gone into overdrive when the countdown clock makes an appearance. Businesses don’t need a constant reminder of the impending deadline. They are not finding much reason to celebrate. In fact they are deeply concerned...

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Member News

GDPR and NIS: Is Your Business Subject to Additional Breach Reporting Obligations?

By Áine Cadogan | +353 1 614 7728 | acadoganmhc.ie Just as businesses have begun to come to terms with the GDPR, another regulatory regime has come into force, its arrival having gone largely unnoticed by many businesses. This incoming regulatory regime is called the Network and Information Systems Directive (“NIS Directive”) and the Irish legislationimplementing the NIS Directive (“NIS Regulations”) was signed into law in September of this year. The GDPR was designed to reshape the way that businesses approach data privacy...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

UK Labour Stance on Brexit with be critical

BY JOHN BRUTON The worst possible outcome of Brexit for Ireland would be the UK crashing out of the EU, without a deal, next March because the UK Parliament cannot make a decision. The key to avoiding this disaster is in the position of the British Labour Party. So far, the focus of discussion in regard to Brexit has been on whether the minority Conservative Government can reach sufficient consensus internally, to make a deal to withdraw the UK from the EU. But...

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Chapter News, Financing for Development/UN SDG's

The Single Market as a Driver of Investment in Europe

As we celebrate the EU Single Market’s 25th anniversary, it is important to take stock of the enviable economic growth and welfare it has brought to Europe, while also acknowledging that new areas need to be prioritised so that the Single Market can remain fit for purpose in the 21st century. Furthermore, sustaining higher rates of investment and improving the business environment in complementarity to the Single Market is an integral part of the EU’s ambitious Investment Plan for Europe – widely...

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Member News

Court of Justice of the European Union: VAT on share disposal costs recoverable in certain cases

VAT on costs incurred in connection with an envisaged share disposal is in principle not recoverable. However, if the reason for the disposal lies in the VAT taxed activities of the parent company, VAT on the disposal costs may be recoverable. Proper and timely documentation of such reasons will play a deciding role. This follows from the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) in the C&D Foods case (C-502/17) on 8 November 2018. Facts of...

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Brexit News, Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

EU and US Sanctions: Which Sovereignty?

This text is the outcome of a workshop with MARIEHÉLÈNE BÉRARD, investment banker, FARID FATAH, Ph.D. candidate in Law, PASCAL LAMY, President emeritus of the Jacques Delors Institute, LOUIS SCHWEITZER, Honorary Chairman of Renault, and PIERRE VIMONT, Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe. If one accepts Jean-Claude Juncker’s last State of the Union speech in September 2018, “the time for European sovereignty has come.” As if to prove his case, Donald Trump affirmed this before the UN General Assembly a couple...

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Chapter News

Autumn 2018 Economic Forecast: sustained but less dynamic growth amid high uncertainty

Growth in the euro area is forecast to ease from a 10-year high of 2.4% in 2017 to 2.1% in 2018 before moderating further to 1.9% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020. The same pattern is expected for the EU27, with growth forecast at 2.2% in 2018, 2.0% in 2019 and 1.9% in 2020. Autumn 2018 Economic Forecast: sustained but less dynamic growth amid high uncertainty Brussels, 8 November 2018 Growth in the euro area is forecast to ease from a 10-year...

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Member News

The weekly Vulcan View for the 5th to the 9th of November featuring analysis of the latest EU developments

VULCAN VIEW-KEY EVENTS THIS WEEK: BREXIT  Theresa May pushes for consensus on current Brexit deal as negotiations continueThis week, Theresa May’s government has largely focused on stepping up preparations for a Brexit deal, which they claim is “95% completed,” as cabinet ministers were allowed for the first time to inspect the draft withdrawal treaty. The intention was undoubtedly to inspire consensus on the deal as it stands, which is still notably missing any workable solution for Northern Ireland. Their strategy to...

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Member News

Efficiency Is Money: Techniques for Improving International Arbitration

By Greig Taylor| Managing Director | Alix Partners In September 2018, I spoke at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) New York conference on a panel titled Efficiency Is Money: Techniques to Improve International Arbitration. The large number of actors involved in any given international arbitration, coupled with the differing interests in desired outcomes, makes the process highly complex. AlixPartners is experienced in working with clients and counsel to help them overcome such challenges, and in this article I summarize some of...

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