The European Accessibility Act aims to ensure more products and services are accessible for elderly people and people living with a disability.  On 13 March Parliament approved the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The new rules are a step towards a fairer and more inclusive Europe and will improve the daily lives of the elderly and people with disabilities across the EU. The final text will still need to be approved by the Council before it can enter into force. Once the legislation has been published...

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The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published today joint draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) to amend the Delegated Regulation on the risk mitigation techniques for non-cleared OTC derivatives (bilateral margining) as well as a joint statement on the introduction of fallbacks in OTC derivative contracts and the requirement to exchange collateral. BothRTS and the statement were developed to facilitate further international consistency in the implementation of the global framework agreed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the International Organisation...

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Today the von der Leyen Commission revealed its working methods which will be the basis for the new College to deliver on the President's Agenda for Europe during the next five years. They put collegiality, transparency and efficiency first. The Working Methods introduce a number of novelties to the way the Commission works, notably with regards to the role of the Executive Vice-Presidents, the High Representative/Vice-President, the Vice-Presidents and Commissioners' Groups. They also set up a new body for coordinating external relations...

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On 1 December, Josep Borrell assumed the post of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. Josep Borrell, former Foreign Minister of Spain, assumed the post as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission, headed by new President Ursula von der Leyen.   In the next 5 years, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will be at the helm of the EU's foreign policy. The need for European...

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The von der Leyen team voted into office by the European Parliament On 27 November during the plenary session in Strasbourg, a large majority of members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the von der Leyen Commission. Ahead of the vote, the President-elect presented her team of Commissioners to the European Parliament. She reaffirmed her strong commitment to working closely with the European Parliament on the defining issues of our generation: fighting climate change, harnessing digitalisation, building a...

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For the period from April to September 2019 the net percentage of euro area small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) turnover remained broadly stable at robust levels (20%, down from 21% for the previous period). For the first time since mid-2016, euro area SMEs reported a deterioration in profits in net terms (-1%, down from 0%), as SMEs continued to report growing labour costs (50%, down from 52%), increases in other costs (i.e. material and energy) (53%, down from 57%),...

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At the COP 25 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU bank, will be discussing how its new climate action roadmap and recent decision to phase out support for unabated fossil fuel energy projects can support European Union leadership on international climate action. The EIB delegation will engage with national governments, the private sector and civil society as well as fellow financial and European institutions to debate how more climate finance can be...

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Downside risks to global and euro area economic growth have increased and continue to create financial stability challenges, according to the November 2019 Financial Stability Review (FSR) of the European Central Bank (ECB). Low interest rates should support economic activity in the euro area, but may also encourage excessive risk-taking by some non-bank financial institutions and highly leveraged non-financial corporations, and in some real estate markets. “While the low interest rate environment supports the overall economy, we also note an increase...

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Ian Steff, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, Performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary of Global Markets and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, recently led the U.S. delegation to Berlin, Germany for the U.S.-Germany Informal Commercial Exchange (ICE). The talks were held with senior German officials to discuss ways to further strengthen the substantial U.S.-German economic ties and expand cooperation on the investment environment. The delegation was hosted by Dr. Eckhard...

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The European Commission published today its proposal for an EU-US agreement on conformity assessment for industrial products, in line with its commitment to enhanced transparency in trade negotiations. A product exported between the two sides often has to undergo an assessment to demonstrate that it complies with the technical and safety requirements of the importing party, a so-called 'conformity assessment'. This often means additional costs for exporters, which is especially burdensome for smaller companies, who often decide not to export...

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