Following the Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe presented on 1 March, the Commission now sets out possible ways forward for deepening Europe's Economic and Monetary Union. Today's reflection paper builds on the Five Presidents' Report of June 2015 and is intended both to stimulate the debate on the Economic and Monetary Union and to help reach a shared vision of its future design. Paying due attention to the debates in Member States and to the views of...

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission (EC) have pledged their stronger commitment to the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy sectors in Europe through a set of actions aimed at facilitating access to finance. The announcement was made today on the occasion of the "Innovative Enterprise Week – Access to Finance for Research, Innovation and SMEs" conference taking place in Valletta and hosted by the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. During the conference an InnovFin...

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A scheme for more than 5000 wireless internet connections in public areas across the EU were agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators on Monday evening. This informal deal includes: • the creation of a single authentication system valid throughout the EU; • funds to be deployed in a “geographically balanced manner” across member states and on a “first come, first served” basis; • at Parliament’s insistence, public wireless access points (libraries, public administrations, hospitals) may be funded only if users are allowed to...

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The Commission has today adopted new initiatives on school and higher education, including a proposal on graduate tracking to help Member States collect information on what graduates do after their studies. The overall aim of these initiatives is to help Member States provide high quality and inclusive education for all young people through a series of concrete actions, so they acquire the knowledge and skills needed to participate fully in society, are able to respond to new opportunities and challenges...

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We are saddened by the attack against our former colleague, Lucas Papademos, a brave public servant of Greece and Europe. I wish to say, on behalf of the Governing Council and staff of the ECB: our thoughts are with Lucas, his family and his colleagues. Past and present colleagues from the Executive Board wish to express their deep affection for Lucas. Compliments of the European Central Bank

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The investment outlook in Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe is positive, but companies need to invest more in state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, and in research and development. These were the findings of the Survey of Investment and Investment Finance that the European Investment Bank published on 26 May at the GLOBSEC Forum 2017 in Bratislava. The presentation of this unique, EU-wide annual survey involving more than 12 000 firms was focused on the investment environment in Central, Eastern and South-eastern...

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During my meeting with President Trump, we discussed foreign policy, security, climate and trade relations.  My feeling is that we agreed on many areas. First and foremost, on counterterrorism, and I am sure that I do not have to explain why. But some issues remain open, like climate and trade. And I am not 100 per cent sure that we can say today -we meaning Mr. President Trump and myself- that we have a common opinion about Russia, although when...

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Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Buongiorno, As you are, I am happy to be here in Taormina for this 43rd G7 Summit, the sixth in fact taking place in Italy. And I would like to thank Prime Minister Gentiloni for his hospitality and wish him all possible luck to have a successful Italian Presidency of the G7. We will meet in a few moments from now – and there are four new leaders around the table. So Donald and myself, we are the...

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The College today held an Orientation Debate to prepare the Reflection Paper on the future of European Defence by 2025, which is due to be adopted on 7 June. The Paper will open up discussions on how to better use the existing opportunities under the EU Treaties to create improve the security of our citizens. Defence and security is a field that is a top priority for European Union citizens. A stronger Europe when it comes to security and defence...

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