On 2 December 2015, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) approved, on behalf of the Council, a negotiating stance on proposals aimed at facilitating the development of a securitisation market in Europe.  The agreement, brokered by the Luxembourg presidency, comes just nine weeks after the Commission made its proposal. It will enable the incoming presidency to start talks with the European Parliament as soon as possible in 2016. “These proposals aim to relaunch the securitisation market, by promoting simple, transparent and standardised securitisations. The objective is to contribute to the financing...

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The climate is changing, as it has periodically over the millennia. But in the 21st century and the latter part of the 20th century, human activities— particularly the combustion of fossil fuels—are primarily responsible for the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are accelerating the rate of climate change, heating the earth’s surface and atmosphere sufficiently totrigger potentially catastrophic consequences for the planet and its populations. Unless global emissions are reduced by at least half of the 1990 levels by 2050, a temperature rise of 2° C (3.6°...

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The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.7% in October 2015, down from 10.8% in September 2015, and from 11.5% in October 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since January 2012. The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.3% in October 2015, stable compared to September 2015, and down from 10.1% in October 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office...

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The EU's single resolution mechanism will enter into force as foreseen on 1 January 2016. This  signals completion of the second pillar of Europe's banking union. As of 30 November 2015, a sufficient number of member states has ratified an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) on the transfer and mutualisation of contributions to a single resolution fund (SRF). This will allow full operationalisation of the SRF. Single resolution mechanism The single resolution mechanism (SRM) is aimed at ensuring the orderly resolution of failing bankswithout recourse...

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The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.7% in October 2015, down from 10.8% in September 2015, and from 11.5% in October 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since January 2012. The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.3% in October 2015, stable compared to September 2015,and down from 10.1% in October 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European...

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Small and medium-sized companies in particular will find it easier to raise funding when issuing shares or debt. Companies already listed on public markets will also benefit when they want to list additional shares or issue corporate bonds. As part of its Capital Markets Union action plan, the European Commission has today proposed an overhaul of the rules that allow companies to raise money on public markets or by means of a public offer with potential investors. The prospectus rules proposed...

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Euro Retail Payments Board tasks payment service industry with the development of scheme for pan-European instant payments in euro Foundation for innovative payment methods such as mobile person-to-person payments The Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB), a group chaired by the European Central Bank that brings together associations of providers and users of payment services, has invited the European Payments Council, a body representing the payment service providers in Europe, to develop a scheme for instant payments in euro by November 2016...

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On 24 November 2015, the Council by unanimity approved the 2016 EU budget deal agreed by the Conciliation Committee on 14 November. If the agreement is also confirmed by the European Parliament on 25 November the EU budget for 2016 is adopted.  The 2016 EU budget provides for €155.00 billion in total commitments. This leaves a margin of €2.3 billion under the expenditure ceiling of the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, allowing the EU to react to unforeseen needs. The level oftotal...

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1. Introduction The recent Five Presidents' Report set out a number of steps to further strengthen the EU's Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). One of the key deliverables under the first stage of the Completion of the EMU is to move towards a European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) as a further step to a fully-fledged Banking Union. EDIS would mark an important step towards reinforcing financial stability by further weakening the link between banks and their national sovereigns and by...

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