Chapter News

Brexit News, Chapter News

ESMA updates statements on the impact of Brexit on MIFID II/MIFIR and the benchmarks regulation

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has updated two statements on its approach to the application of key provisions of MiFID II/MiFIR and the Benchmark Regulation (BMR). The Impact of Brexit on MiFID II/MiFIR The Impact of Brexit on the BMR Today’s statements update previous ones issued in March 2019 and October 2019 reflecting ESMA’s approach, should the UK have left the EU under a no-deal Brexit. However, as the Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Withdrawal Agreement: European Commission sends letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom for breach of its obligations

The European Commission has today sent the United Kingdom a letter of formal notice for breaching its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. This marks the beginning of a formal infringement process against the United Kingdom. It has one month to reply to today's letter. Article 5 of the Withdrawal Agreement states that the European Union and the United Kingdom must take all appropriate measures to ensure the fulfilment of the obligations arising from the Withdrawal Agreement, and that they must...

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Chapter News

ECB publishes statement of compliance of €STR with IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks

Statement explaining how ECB administers €STR Compliance of the ECB with IOSCO Principles, and therefore with international best practice, in its administration of €STR Independent assurance by external auditor The European Central Bank (ECB) today published its statement of compliance with the Principles for Financial Benchmarks developed by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). This statement shows how the ECB complies with these principles, and therefore with international best practice, in its administration of the €STR. The statement...

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Chapter News

EU Competitiveness Council (Research and innovation), 29 September 2020

Main results The Council adopted general approaches regarding the draft regulation establishing Horizon Europe, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation for the years 2021-2027, and the draft decision establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe. Today’s agreement is an important step forward towards final adoption of Horizon Europe. We now need to make sure with the European Parliament and the Commission that our forward-looking EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation can enter into force in the beginning of...

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Chapter News

Rule of law: First Annual Report on the Rule of Law situation across the European Union

The European Commission has today published the first EU-wide report on the rule of law. Today's report includes input from every Member State and covers both positive and negative developments across the EU. It shows that many Member States have high rule of law standards, but important challenges to the rule of law exist in the EU. It also reflects relevant developments stemming from the emergency measures taken by Member States due to the coronavirus crisis. The report covers four main pillars with a...

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Chapter News

‘Strategic autonomy for Europe – the aim of our generation’ – speech by President Charles Michel to the Bruegel think tank

It is a pleasure and a privilege to speak to you today under the aegis of the Bruegel Institute. Your contributions to the debate on Europe do not go unnoticed; they have an impact. European strategic autonomy. Or sovereignty? Or strength? We all know that concepts and words can take on different connotations depending on the context. Today I’d like to concentrate on the substance behind the words. But first of all, I’d like to avoid laying myself open to...

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Chapter News

Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement

The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world. Economic activity and employment have picked up in recent months but remain well below their levels at the beginning of the year. Weaker demand and significantly lower oil prices are holding down...

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Chapter News

EACC COVID-19 Return To Work & Travel Attitudes Survey September 2020

The EACC chapter network recently asked its members across the network in Europe and the United States a series of questions to gauge how the pandemic was impacting their willingness to gauge in a range of activities. This repeated a survey we did a few months ago. We found some significant differences between Europe and the U.S. For example – overall, 57 percent of respondents said they had already or were prepared to return to their normal workplaces.  However, 73...

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Chapter News, COVID-19 News

COVID-19: Council approves €87.4 billion in financial support for member states under SURE

The Council on September 25, 2020 approved €87.4 billion of financial support to 16 member states in the form of EU loans under SURE – a temporary EU instrument to mitigate unemployment risks during the COVID-19 crisis. The support will help the member states finance the severe increase in public expenditure incurred as of 1 February 2020 as a result of the use of national short-time work schemes and similar measures, including for self-employed persons, and some health-related measures in...

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Chapter News

Customs Union: New Action Plan to further support EU customs in their vital role of protecting EU revenues, prosperity and security

The European Commission has today launched a new Customs Union Action Plan setting out a series of measures to make EU customs smarter, more innovative and more efficient over the next four years. The announced measures will strengthen the Customs Union as a cornerstone of the Single Market. They also confirm its major role in protecting EU revenues and the security, health and prosperity of EU citizens and businesses. In her political guidelines, President von der Leyen announced that the Customs Union...

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