The Commission is proposing new legislation to ensure stronger privacy in electronic communications, while opening up new business opportunities. The measures presented today aim to update current rules, extending their scope to all electronic communication providers. They also aim to create new possibilities to process communication data and reinforce trust and security in the Digital Single Market – a key objective of the Digital Single Market strategy. At the same time, the proposal aligns the rules for electronic communications with...

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Today the Commission is presenting an ambitious and balanced package of measures that will make it easier for companies and professionals to provide services to a potential customer base of 500 million people in the EU. A fresh boost to the services sector will benefit consumers, jobseekers and businesses, and will generate economic growth across Europe. As part of the roadmap laid out in the Single Market Strategy, today's proposals deliver on President Juncker's political commitment to unleash the full potential...

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The net wealth of euro area households fell by about 10 percent between 2010 and 2014, mainly due to lower house prices, according to the results of the second wave of the Eurosystem’s Household Finance Consumption Survey (HFCS). Overall, real estate prices fell during the financial and economic crisis. The survey also shows that inequality in the euro area had increased slightly since the first wave of the HFCS, which was conducted in 2010. The second wave of the HFCS...

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Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce released the 2016 National Export Strategy (NES), a report that details the U.S. government’s efforts to help U.S. companies conduct business abroad. The document serves both as a review of results and as a path forward, highlighting how U.S. businesses and workers have benefited during the past eight years. “Demonstrated through reports like the National Export Strategy, the U.S. government remains committed to supporting American businesses and jobs through trade opportunities,” said U.S. Secretary...

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Ambassador David O’Sullivan shares his thoughts on 2016 & how 2017 will again require close EU-US cooperation. https://youtu.be/7MPRhm8nlzs Compliments of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States

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The European Commission today adopted its long-term plan to give fresh impetus to the management of the Customs Union, a basic pillar of the European Union which supports and protects the Single Market. The role of customs authorities in ensuring our safety and security in the EU is increasing. A strong and well managed system helps to protect the public against terrorist, health, and environmental threats while at the same time fostering and developing competitive businesses. Today'sCommunication sets out a...

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On 20 December 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee approved, on behalf of the Council, an agreement with the European Parliament on prospectuses for the issuing and offering of securities.  "This regulation will help companies gain access to European capital markets by reducing some of the administrative formalities", said Peter Kažimír, Slovak minister for finance and president of the Council. "Our aim is to reinforce the role of market-based finance, alongside bank finance, in the European economy."  The draft regulation is aimed at...

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Malta has taken over the rotating presidency of the EU Council from Slovakia. This means that for the next six months the small island state plays a key role in setting the agenda, finding compromises and addressing a range of challenges such as the migration crisis and the expected start of the Brexit negotiations. We asked Maltese MEPs what their hopes and expectations were for their country's firs- ever presidency of the EU Council. David Casa (EPP) Malta´s presidency comes at...

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The Commission has welcomed the entry into force of new rules to ensure that Member States have all the information they need on tax rulings given to multinational companies in other EU countries. As of 1 January 2017, Member States are obliged to automatically exchange information on all new cross-border tax rulings that they issue. This will be done through a central depository, accessible to all EU countries. Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: "We...

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