The priorities for Finland’s Presidency are to strengthen common values and the rule of law to make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive to strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action to protect the security of citizens comprehensively  The European Union faces an increasingly complex and unpredictable global operating environment: great power competition and assertive unilateralism are on the rise, and the international rules-based system and its norms and principles are being challenged. We have also seen the EU’s...

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Never before did the Belgian food industry record greater sales abroad than in 2018. Hardly surprising, when you consider that for us, the quality of our products comes first. Chocolate traditionally continues to do well, but our frozen potatoes and vegetables, along with meat and dairy, are also in great demand internationally. Exports rose by no less than 3.5% in 2018 compared to 2017, a historic record. On a national level, it boasts a turnover of more than 27 billion...

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Offit Kurman, one of the fastest-growing law firms in the mid-Atlantic, is strategically expanding into the Southeast by affiliating with one of Charlotte’s oldest and most respected law firms. Starting September 1, 2019 the attorneys and staff of Horack Talley will be joining Offit Kurman. The affiliation extends Offit Kurman’s geographic footprint to encompass roughly half of the East Coast and lays the foundation for further expansion for the firm. Fifty-one employees of Horack Talley, including 27 lawyers, will become...

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We spend a lot of time at work. For a typical 9 to 5 worker, over the 45 years from college graduation to retirement, with a little held back for vacation, illness, and holidays, the total time spent working is around 90,000 hours. Add in a few thousand hours of commuting, a few late-night crises, and a weekend email check or two, and it becomes clear that we spend a significant part of our life in the work environment....

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Key Events This Week Boris Johnson wins race to become UK’s next Prime Minister Boris Johnson was elected leader of the British Conservative Party and became the seventy-seventh Prime Minister of the UK on Tuesday. The former Mayor of London was a clear favourite from the outset and beat rival, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, by 92,153 votes to 46,656 – an overwhelming 66% of the vote. In his acceptance speech, Johnson reiterated his campaign mantra: “Deliver Brexit, unite the country and...

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CJ rules that the concept of final losses of a non-resident subsidiary does not apply to a sub-subsidiary unless all the intermediate companies between the parent company applying for group relief and the sub-subsidiary sustaining losses that could be regarded as final are established in the same Member State (Holmen) On 19 June 2019, the CJ issued its judgment in the case Holmen (C-608/17). This case deals with the question whether a Swedish parent company has the right, on the basis...

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On Friday, August 2, Empire Global Ventures will be hosting a wellness panel in partnership with the Southampton Arts Center.  Alexandra Stanton, CEO of Empire Global Ventures, will lead the discussion about innovations in cognitive health and maternal care. The featured speakers will Dr. Wendy Suzuki, NYU neuroscientist, TED Speaker, and founder of BrainBody; and Dr. George Mussalli, Mt. Sinai obstetrician, co-founder of Village OB, and co-founder of Manhattan Maternity.   The event will be from 5:00-7:00 PM. If you would like to attend, please...

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The EACC, in partnership with the International Property Tax Institute (IPTI), wants to keep its members up to date with the latest developments in property taxes in the USA and Europe. IPTI has put together a selection of brief reports from articles contained in IPTI Xtracts which can be found on its website (www.ipti.org).   USA California: LA County Hauls In Record $1.6 Trillion In Property Tax Assessments Los Angeles County brought in a record $1.6 trillion in property tax assessments this year...

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During her five-year term as European commissioner for competition, Margrethe Vestager has earned a reputation for going hard after U.S. tech companies. This position had traction in certain European political circles and, with the support of the French government, meant she was a leading candidate for the position of commission president. Nevertheless, it was the German Ursula von der Leyen who was confirmed by the European Parliament on July 16, 2019 as new president of the commission, taking office...

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The UK’s universal language of business, highly skilled employees and wealth of opportunities across many thriving industry sectors position it as a hotbed for foreign investment. After opening our first office in London over 150 years ago, the UK has become home to the global headquarters of the HSBC Group, where an extensive branch network supports the needs of personal and business customers. The shape of this business in the UK continues to evolve, as our UK head office gets...

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