Member News

Member News

Update on Property Tax Issues: March 2019

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). The first article below covers both the USA and Europe.   If a Wealth Tax is Such a Good Idea, Why Did Europe Kill Theirs? In late January, Senator...

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Member News

HSBC International Business Guides: Germany

At the heart of Europe and an intrinsic part of the European Union, Germany is an economic powerhouse. Famed for its industry, manufacturing and engineering, it is Europe’s greatest exporter. Its people are highly educated, skilled and motivated, making it a core market for growing businesses. Founded in Germany in 1785, HSBC Germany offers in-depth local knowledge and financial expertise from its base in Düsseldorf and 11 other locations across the country. With almost 3,000 employees in Germany, backed by...

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Member News

More Affordable and Innovative Medicines and Treatments in Europe – Has the Competition Enforcement Met the 2009 Objective?

By Marie-Laure Combet and Lena Boucon | Orrick  A decade ago, the European Commission conducted a thorough sectoral inquiry into the European pharmaceutical sector that identified antitrust shortcomings impeding access to more affordable and innovative medicines and treatments. Concluding this inquiry by setting priority actions for the years to come, former Competition Commissioner Kroes called for “… more competition and less red tape …” (sic). Since this statement, there has been intense enforcement activity in the sector not only by the European Commission itself,...

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Member News

5 Ways to Improve Candidate Experience

By Len Adam, CEO | ACG Resources The candidate experience is essential to a company’s ability to attract top talent. Unemployment is low and the competition for talent is tough, so it’s vital to get off on the right foot and create a positive impression. A lot can go wrong during the interview process, so striving for positive candidate experience is key.    Be Expedient One of the quickest ways to lose a candidate’s interest is by taking too long. The hiring...

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Member News

ING Italy to strengthen compliance

ING has been informed by the Banca d'Italia of their report with conclusions regarding shortcomings in AML processes at ING Italy. ING will analyse the findings from an inspection conducted from October 2018 until January 2019 and will discuss them further with the Banca d'Italia. In line with the enhancement programme announced last year, it is taking the necessary steps to improve processes and management of compliance risks as required by the Banca d'Italia. In close consultation and in agreement...

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Brexit News, Member News

British Parliament likely to vote again on the Withdrawal Agreement in last push to get Brexit over the line

By Mike Archer, Director Public Affairs, Strategic Communications | FTI Consulting On Wednesday 20th March 1,000 days will have passed since the UK held an historic vote to leave the European Union. 1,000 days filled with accusations and counter-accusations; procrastination followed by sudden acceleration; anger, frustration and despair; and, of course, soundbite after soundbite. But perhaps most of all, 1,000 days of uncertainty for business and citizens across the European continent. When the headlines are written this week, will they...

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Brexit News, Member News

The Weekly Vulcan View For March 11th – March 15th 2019 Featuring Analysis Of The Latest EU Developments

Key Events This Week: Third time lucky for the PM’s deal? In what was another dramatic week in the House of Commons MPs decisively rejected the Prime Minister’s deal and on Wednesday moved to rule out a No Deal scenario in all eventualities. However, the latter was non-binding as the legal default remains that a No Deal outcome can only be removed by Westminster either voting for a Withdrawal Agreement, choosing to unilaterally revoke Article 50 or extending the negotiating...

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Member News

EU: Parent Companies Are Liable for Cartel Damages Caused By Their Liquidated Subsidiaries

By Till Steinvorth and Boris Marschall | Orrick In a landmark judgment (Case C‑724/17, Vantaa vs. Skanska Industrial Solutions and others), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decided on March 14, 2019 that companies cannot use corporate restructuring to escape their liability for cartel damages. Background The Skanska case concerned a cartel in the asphalt market in Finland. Seven companies were ultimately fined for their participation in the cartel. After the cartel became public, the municipality of Vantaa, which had bought asphalt during the cartel...

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Member News, Trade & TTIP Related

U.S. Trade Representative Releases 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and 2018 Annual Report

By TH International Trade The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released President Donald Trump’s 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and 2018 Annual Report, detailing how the Trump administration’s trade policies “are benefitting American workers and contributing to the strongest economy in decades.” Claiming that the Trump administration “inherited a significantly flawed trading system,” the report states that the administration “took immediate and decisive action to implement a new trade agenda.” The USTR indicated that it “and other parts of the Administration...

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Member News

U.K. Employment Law Update: Accrued Holidays, Disability Benefits and Age Discrimination

By Alex Denny, Emma Vennesson, Katherine E. Newman, Philip Novak | Faegre Baker Daniels LLP If Accrued Holidays Are Not Used, Will They Be Lost? In the cases of Kreuziger v Berlin (C-619/16) EU:C:2018:872 and Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften eV v Shimizu (C-684/16) EU:C:2018:874, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) considered the right to payment for accrued but untaken holidays on termination of employment under EU law. As a current EU member state, the U.K. must interpret national legislation as...

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