Chapter News

Chapter News

The outlook for the Global Economy: Remarks by Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the ECB, at City Week, London, 9 May 2016

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank the organisers for inviting me to participate in this event. In my remarks today, I intend to outline my assessment for the euro area outlook against the backdrop of developments in the rest of the global economy. In doing so, I will discuss the prospects of the euro area’s recovery as well as some of the policy initiatives which are required to make it more lasting and vigorous. The main point that I want...

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Chapter News

Europe Day: “Europe of the future is built together with our citizens”

The vital role of citizens and the importance of engaging them in building a better Europe is the key message from Europe's local leaders on the occasion of Europe Day on 9 May. Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, stressed that the European project has brought and is bringing also in the future so much good for the citizens that it must be defended even during turbulent times when it could be easy to succumb...

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Chapter News

Investment Plan for Europe: First EFSI deal signed in Greece by EIF and ProCredit Group to provide loans for innovative SMEs

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and ProCredit group have signed a guarantee agreement to increase lending to innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small mid-caps in Greece. This transaction benefits from the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe. Under the new agreement ProCredit group will provide EUR 20 million of loans to innovative companies in Greece over the next two years. The loans will be supported by an EIF...

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Chapter News

Remarks by President Jean-Claude Juncker at the Panel discussion on the “State of the European Union” with European Parliament President Schulz, European Council President Tusk and Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi

Dear friends, I was a member of the Council of Ministers for 30 years. I was Prime Minister of my country for 19 years and so I can say, without being arrogant, that I have experienced European daily life in different functions. Why is it so difficult now? It was never easy. But what has changed is the general atmosphere and the personal beliefs and convictions of those being in charge of the European projects. In former times, we were working together,...

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Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

The State of the TTIP Talks

The below graphic outlines the status of the various areas of negotiation being addressed by TTIP. Among them: Agriculture, Anti-Corruption, Competition, Cross border Trade Services, Customs, Trade Facilitation, eCommerce, Energy & Raw Materials, Investment Protection, IP, Legal & Institutional, Procurement, Market Access for Industrial Goods, Regulatory Coherence & Cooperation, Rules of Origin, SME's, State Owned Enterprises, Sanitary & Phytosanitary Measures, State-to-state dispute Settlements, Subsidies, Sustainable Development, Technical Trade Barriers, Textiles & Apparel, Trade Remedies... Click on the graph to see a...

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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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Chapter News

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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Chapter News

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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