Chapter News

Chapter News, News

75 Countries Launch WTO Talks on E-Commerce

Brussels, 25 January 2019 At the World Economic Forum in Davos today, 75 countries - the European Union and 47 other members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) - decided to start negotiations to put in place global rules on electronic commerce. Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: “It is encouraging to see so many partners joining this important trade initiative. Electronic commerce is a reality in most corners of the world, so we owe it to our citizens and companies...

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Brexit News, Chapter News, News, Uncategorized

Speech by Michel Barnier at the European Economic and Social Committee on 23 January 2019

Mr President, dear Luca Jahier, Dear Members of the European Economic and Social Committee, On 6 July 2017, at the very start of the negotiations with the UK, I had the pleasure of addressing you. At the time, I said that everybody needed to prepare for Brexit. I also said that, given the consequences of Brexit, it would not be business as usual: there can be no frictionless trade outside the Single Market and the Customs Union. And finally, I also said to you...

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Chapter News, News

Strong Europe, Better World: Defending Global Cooperation, Multilateralism and Democracy in Turbulent Times

In a world in flux, Europe has become the standard-bearer for global cooperation, multilateralism and democracy. This is because working together in a spirit of solution and compromise lies at the heart of the European project. While ‘giving in’ is now often portrayed as a weakness, finding – and accepting – the ‘common denominator’ between varying interests is the European Union's tried and tested way of policymaking. As some call for ‘Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the...

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Chapter News

Congressman Gregory Meeks on EU-US relations: “The relationship with the EU is probably the most important one that we have, by any measure”

Congressman Gregory Meeks on EU-US relations under the 116th Congress. Two weeks after the inauguration of the 116th US Congress and a day after the reception celebrating the relaunch of the bipartisan Congressional European Union Caucus, Senior Communications Officer Martin Caudron sat down with Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) to talk about the state of the EU-US relationship, the priorities of the EU Caucus, and the nature of his dialogue with EU counterparts. Listen the interview HERE Compliments of the E.U. Delegation...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

The problem is Brexit itself, not the backstop.

BY JOHN BRUTON  Brexit, of its nature, means hard barriers between the UK and the EU. This is because it means the UK having different standards, and, sooner or later, different trade arrangements and tariffs than the EU.   Whether these barriers are at the geographic boundary, or a few miles away, makes little difference. These new barriers will bring delays, extra bureaucracy, and eventually bankruptcies, in their wake.This is what Brexit means, and was always going to mean. Taking back control, by its...

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Chapter News

World Economic Forum recognises European Commission as champion in the circular economy

Yesterday evening in Davos, the European Commission was awarded the 2019 Circular Economy prize by the World Economic Forum and the Forum of Young Global Leaders as recognition of the work done to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy that protects the environment and reduces greenhouse gas emissions while delivering opportunities for jobs, growth and investment. In 2015, the Commission established a unique comprehensive strategy, the Circular Economy Package, aiming to close the resource loop by introducing measures covering the whole lifecycle of products...

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Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

EU-U.S. Trade Talks: European Commission presents draft negotiating mandates

The European Commission has today adopted proposals for negotiating directives for its trade talks with the United States: one on conformity assessment, and one on the elimination of tariffs for industrial goods. These negotiations follow the Joint Statement agreed by President Juncker and President Trump last July.  As part of its commitment to transparency, the European Commission is publishing the draft mandates at the same time as submitting them to the EU Member States. The Member States must now give their green light...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Brexit: EU officials ask the UK to clarify its position

In the debate following the UK House of Commons’ meaningful vote, MEPs underlined that Europeans will remain united and that citizens’ rights are still the EP’s priority. Following the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration in the UK’s House of Commons yesterday evening, it is now up to the UK government and UK Parliament to let the EU know where a positive majority lies and what type of relationship they want with the European Union, MEPs stressed. The...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

EU tax policy and Competition; EU-US trade relations and update on Brexit

Commission launches debate on a gradual transition to more efficient and democratic decision-making in EU tax policy EU tax policy The Commission has today kick-started the debate on reforming decision-making for areas of EU taxation policy, which currently requires unanimity among Member States. This unanimity often cannot be achieved on crucial tax initiatives, and can lead to costly delays on sub-optimal policies. The Communication published today suggests a roadmap for a progressive and targeted transition to qualified majority voting under the ordinary legislative...

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