The Regulation on Interchange Fees for Card-based payment transactions entered into force in June 2015. It is aimed at addressing the widely varying and excessive hidden interchange fees which are an obstacle to the Single Market and a barrier to innovation. The Regulation caps the interchange fees for the most widely-used cards and imposes transparency obligations on banks and retailers to improve the functioning of the payment market for all cards. The rules on interchange fee caps have applied since...

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Many European countries are realising the economic benefits of making more efficient use of material resources like metals, fossil fuels and minerals. But more action is needed to underpin this trend in resource efficiency with stronger policies on energy, material resources, waste management and on circular economy. These are the findings from a new European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today. The EEA report More from less – material resource efficiency in Europe, takes an in-depth look at national approaches and policies...

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International trade in services - EU trade in services continued to rise strongly in 2015… ... but total surplus down for a second consecutive year The international trade in services of the European Union (EU) has increased steadily and significantly over the last six years. EU exports of services to the rest of the world rose by 42%, from €569.5 billion in 2010 to €811.2 bn in 2015, while imports grew slightly more rapidly (+43%) from €461.6 bn to €660.5...

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What do you actually know about one of the most important political institutions in the world? Take a Washington Post test and find out. Click on the image below to get to the test. By Adam Taylor June 7 at 1:04 PM | Washington Post

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MEPs debate on Wednesday morning whether the EU's €315 billion investment plan to fuel Europe's economic recovery by mobilising public and private investment is delivering. According to the European Commission, the first year of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has been promising. Follow the discussion with Commissioner Jyrki Katainen live online from 9.00 CET. How it works The aim of EFSI, run by the European Investment Bank (EIB), is to provide public support for projects that are economically viable,...

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The European Commission adopts a Strategy for international cultural relations which will contribute to making the EU a stronger global actor. The Strategy aims at encouraging cultural cooperation between the EU and its partner countries. The Strategy for international cultural relations presented by the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini proposes a strategic framework for deeper and more effective international cultural relations. The Communication adopted also puts forward  a new model for...

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MEPs urge the EU Commission to put forward proposals against unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, so as to ensure fair earnings for farmers and a wide choice for consumers, in a resolution voted on Tuesday. The aim should be to ensure fair and transparent trade relations among food producers, suppliers and distributors. Fair trading should in turn help to prevent overproduction and food waste, they add. "The initiatives taken so far have not been effective. That's why...

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On 8 June 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed, on behalf of the Council, a negotiating stance on new rules on prospectuses for the issuing and offering of securities.  The draft regulation is aimed at reducing one of the main regulatory hurdles that companies face when issuing equity and debt securities. It sets out to simplify and alleviate administrative obligations related to the publication of prospectuses in a manner that still ensures that investors are well informed. "This is an important...

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According to the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Ronald Plasterk, ‘Digitisation offers unprecedented opportunities, especially in terms of the relationship between the government, citizens and businesses.’ However, the minister and other speakers at the Digital and Open Government conference were keen to stress that digital information must strike a balance between government interests and those of citizens. Confidence in digital government In the group sessions held on the first day of the conference, the opportunities were clearly outlined. Decision...

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Tax avoidance by companies cost EU countries €160-190 billion in lost revenue a year. MEPs will discuss new measures to fight the most common practices on Tuesday 7 June and vote on them the following day. Read more about the legislation and check our infographic that shows corporate tax rates and respective tax income by member state. The proposal The directive that has been proposed by the European Commission is based on the principle that taxes should be paid where profits...

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