--  Executive Summary -- The ECB welcomes the opportunity to provide its views on the review of EMIR. While it should be recognised that many EMIR requirements have been in force for only a limited period of time, and that others have not yet entered into force, the ECB believes that certain important conclusions can already be drawn. This response puts forward the ECB’s proposals for a future revision of the Regulation, with the main points in this regard summarised...

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The agriculture committee on Thursday rejected the Commission's draft law that would give member states the power to restrict or prohibit the use of EU-approved GM food or feed on their territory. It fears that arbitrary national bans could distort competition on the EU's single market and jeopardise the Union's food production sectors which are heavily dependent on imports of GM feed. The agriculture committee's opinion, adopted by 28 votes in favour to eight against, with six abstentions, will...

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At today’s meeting the Governing Council of the ECB decided that the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 0.05%, 0.30% and -0.20% respectively.   Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice-President and I are very pleased to welcome you to our press conference. We will now report on the outcome of today’s meeting of the Governing Council. As usual, let me start with the decisions...

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Sustainable development policy aims to achieve a continuous improvement in citizens’ quality of life and well-being. This involves the pursuit of economic progress, while safeguarding the natural environment and promoting social justice. The economic, environmental and social dimensions are all part of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) adopted in 2001 and renewed in 2006. The EU SDS also includes an institutional and a global dimension, with the adoption of good governance practices in the EU as well as...

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The President of the Committee of Regions (CoR) - Markku Markkula - met with European Investment Bank (EIB) President Werner Hoyer in Luxembourg today to discuss joint efforts to enhance private investment and recovery across Europe. In this context, EIB President Hoyer said: "Cooperation between our institutions is of great benefit for the citizens in Europe. Within the European Union, the Committee of Regions has a very good understanding of local needs and challenges “on the ground”. This helps the...

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Euro area1 annual inflation2 is expected to be 0.2% in August2015, stable compared to July20153, according to a flash estimate4 from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Looking at the main components of euro area inflation, food, alcohol & tobacco (1.2%, compared with 0.9% in July) andservices (1.2%, stable compared withJuly) are expected to have the highest annual rate in August, followed by non-energy industrial goods (0.6%, compared with 0.4% in July) and energy (-7.1%, compared with -5.6%...

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Counterparty eligibility assessment to take into account information on capital, leverage and liquidity ratios New category of assets added as eligible collateral Today the European Central Bank (ECB) has published a new Guideline (ECB/2015/27) amending the General Documentation (GD) on the implementation of the Eurosystem’s monetary policy. The new Guideline introduces some changes to the monetary policy implementation framework: First, the provisions on counterparty eligibility have been revised in light of recent legislative developments in the implementation of the Banking Union. In...

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The European Union supports entrepreneurs and businesses with a wide range of EU programmes providing financing through local financial institutions. Every year the EU supports more than 200.000 businesses. Who is eligible for EU funding? Funding is available for start-ups, entrepreneurs and companies of any size or sector. A wide range of financing is available: Loans, guarantees, equity funding and other. How it works The decision to provide EU financing will be made by the local financial institutions such as banks, guarantee societies...

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