The EU’s new trade and investment strategy, launched October 14, is designed to be more effective, transparent, and reflective of EU values, including sustainable development, human rights, fair and ethical trade, and the fight against corruption. It is intended to benefit as many people as possible—including workers, consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and  trading partners in developing countries. As the world’s largest exporter and importer of total goods and services, the largest foreign direct investor, and premier destination for foreign direct...

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Europe's Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is in much better shape today than it was before the financial crisis. However, despite progress, particularly as regards reinforcement of the economic governance and the launch of the Banking Union, the EMU remains incomplete. Divergence in economic performance across the euro area is significant. With close to 18 million unemployed and many within our societies exposed to risks of social exclusion, more needs to be done to turn the euro area into a...

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Joint press release: European Commission - European Environment Agency on the "Trends and projections in Europe 2015" report The European Union is on track towards meeting and overachieving its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse emissions by 20%, according to a report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The "Trends and projections in Europe 2015" report reveals that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe decreased by 23% between 1990 and 2014 and reached the lowest levels on record. Latest projections by...

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In the October 2015 bank lending survey (BLS), euro area banks reported a net easing of credit standards on loans to enterprises in the third quarter of 2015 (a net percentage of -4% of banks reported that credit standards had become tighter, after -3% in the previous quarter), which was stronger than banks’ expectations in the previous survey round. Competitive pressures were the main factor behind the easing of credit standards on loans to enterprises. Banks reported a net tightening...

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IMF European Department Press Briefing | Washington D.C., October 9, 2015 MR. ADRIANO: Good morning. Thank you all for coming to this Press Briefing of the IMF’s European Department. With us today, is Poul Thomsen, Director; Jörg Decressin, and Philip Gerson Deputy Directors, European Department. Mr. Thomsen will have some opening remarks and then we'll ready for your questions. Poul? MR. THOMSEN: Yes. Good morning and thank you for joining us this morning. Let me start by giving you a few...

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For the first time, an unprecedented alliance of Heads of State, city and state leaders, with the support of heads of leading companies, have joined forces to urge countries and companies around the globe to put a price on carbon. The call to price carbon comes from the Carbon Pricing Panel – a group convened by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde - to spur further, faster action ahead of...

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The European American Chamber of Commerce had the distinct honor to ring the October 16, 2015 Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange NYSE | A new Milestone for the organisation and its members.   

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The European Commission welcomes yesterday's signature of the Jobs and Growth Plan for Greece by the European Parliament and by the Council. The exceptional measures presented by the Commission for Greece can thus enter into force tomorrow. Greece is set to receive over €35 billion already earmarked from the EU budget over 2014-2020, with €20.6 billion from the European Structural and Investment Funds. €800 million will be paid next week. Overall, almost €1.4 billion will be released in 2015 and €1 billion in 2016;...

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