Chapter News

Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

World Trade Month: The Importance of Global Trade

Every year, World Trade Month—designated for the month of May—gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of global trade, and look back at the economic advancements we have made as a result. This World Trade Month, we can look back and appreciate the success we have accomplished. In 2015, our exports totaled $2.23 trillion, we increased our exports to 58 international markets, and we achieved record exports with 20 global partners. Our export success was one aspect of a...

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Chapter News

Joint Statement: U.S.-EU Energy Council

Joint Statement U.S.-EU Energy Council 1. The seventh United States-European Union Energy Council met today in Washington, D.C., chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, EU High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič and European Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete. Minister for the Environment of the Netherlands Sharon Dijksma represented the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.  The Energy Council, a forum on U.S.-EU energy priorities, promotes transparent,...

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Chapter News

European Report Card: Worries Over Eurozone Growth, Greece and ‘Brexit’

With growth slowing and the region facing a wide array of challenges — from the long-running Greek debt crisis to the possibility of a British exit from the European Union — the European Commission, the 28-nation bloc’s executive arm, warned on Tuesday of “high risks” and “substantial uncertainty” in the economy. Here are some highlights from the commission’s latest forecast: The European Economy “The recovery in the euro area remains uneven, both between member states and between the weakest and the strongest...

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Capital Markets Union: Commission supports crowdfunding as alternative source of finance for Europe’s start-ups

The European Commission is today publishing its report on the EU crowdfunding sector, part of the Capital Markets Union Action Plan. Supporting innovative ways of connecting savings to growth and diversifying the funding sources for European businesses is crucial to improving growth and job creation in Europe. The report finds that crowdfunding remains relatively small but is developing rapidly. If appropriately regulated, it has the potential to be a key source of financing for SMEs over the long term. EU Member...

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ECB publishes legal acts relating to the second series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO-II)

The European Central Bank (ECB) today publishes a legal act adopted on 28 April 2016 relating to the second series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO-II). TLTRO-II is intended to reinforce the ECB’s accommodative monetary policy stance and to strengthen the transmission of monetary policy by further incentivising bank lending to the real economy. Decision ECB/2016/10 of 28 April 2016 on the second series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations defines the conditions for participation in TLTRO-II and other operational aspects. In line...

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Chapter News

Spring 2016 Economic Forecast: Staying the course amid high risks

Economic growth in Europe is expected to remain modest as key trading partners' performance has slowed and some of the so far supportive factors start to wane. As a result, GDP in the euro area is forecast to continue growing at modest rates over the 2015-2017 period. According to its spring forecast, the Commission expects euro area GDP of 1.6% in 2016 and 1.8% in 2017 after 1.7% in 2015 (Winter forecast: 2015: 1.6%, 2016: 1.7%, 2017: 1.9%). GDP...

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Overview: the European Parliament’s work on taxation

The fight for fair taxation in the EU is high on Parliament's agenda following the revelations as a result of LuxLeaks and the Panama papers. At a time when EU countries are struggling to recover from the crisis, MEPs are pushing for greater transparency and an end to tax unfair practices. Read on for our overview of Parliament initiatives. The new committees dealing with tax issues Parliament has set up two special committees to look into tax rulings and is in...

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Chapter News, New York Related News

New York City Casts a Net to Catch the Next Big Start-Up

For years, New York — a city not accustomed to being second banana — has looked on as Silicon Valley has solidified its influence over the technology industry. Sure, New York has added tens of thousands of good-paying tech jobs while the Wall Street job engine has sputtered. And the city’s start-ups pulled in $1.94 billion in venture funding in the first three months of this year, the most for any quarter in five years and second only to Silicon...

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Lobbying at EU level: Parliament hosts conference on mandatory transparency register

An upgrade of the EU lobbyist register is in the works after the European Commission launched a public consultation on switching from voluntary to mandatory registration for anyone interested in speaking to EU institutions to influence their work. EP Vice-President Sylvie Guillaume holds a debate with experts together with Commission’s First Vice-President Frans Timmermans on 2 May at 15.00 CET in Parliament’s premises in Brussels. Follow it online and watch our video to learn more. The European Transparency Register was...

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