Chapter News

European Council, 23-24 June 2022

On 23-24 June 2022, the European Council adopted conclusions on Wider Europe, Ukraine, the membership applications from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, Western Balkans, economic issues, Conference on the Future of Europe and external relations. European Council conclusions, 23-24 June 2022 Remarks by President Charles Michel following the second session of the European Council, 24 June 2022 Ahead of the European Council meeting, EU and Western Balkan leaders met in the morning of 23 June 2022 in Brussels. ...

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ESMA publishes results of its Call for Evidence on ESG ratings

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, today publishes a letter to the European Commission (EC) providing its findings from the Call for Evidence to gather information on the market structure for ESG rating providers in the European Union (EU). Key findings ESMA received a total of 154 responses and found 59 ESG rating providers currently active in the EU. The analysis of the responses further indicated several characteristics and trends as follows: ESG rating providers...

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Joint Statement by President von der Leyen and President Biden on European Energy Security

Following the further invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to use natural gas as a political and economic weapon. Russia's energy coercion has put pressure on energy markets, raised prices for consumers, and threatened global energy security. This was most recently demonstrated by the politically motivated acute disruptions of gas supplies to several European Union Member States. These actions only underscore the importance of the work both the United States and the European Commission are doing to end our reliance...

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Joint statement by Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maroš Šefčovič, and Jan Christian Vestre, Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry

Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič, and Jan Christian Vestre, Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry, have released the following joint statement on enhanced political and industrial cooperation on the strategic value chains of batteries and raw materials. The European Union and Norway enjoy a deep and long-standing relationship as neighbours and partners, sharing common political objectives and fundamental values, while being part of the Single Market through the European Economic Area (EEA). Given the urgent need to tackle...

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Member News

Re-assessing the Technology Risk Mosaic

By R.K. Gardner, New World Technology Partners | Digital technology, often expressed as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) embodies a more expansive and vulnerable array of elements than has been considered in traditional cyberspace. The pace of introduction and (often hasty) adoption of new and emerging technologies, applications and information artifacts, upon which enterprises and government institutions/agencies rely to conduct business, has become a global system-of-systems, composed of numerous interdependent components and myriad channels. They operate in a rapidly changing...

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European Council conclusions on Ukraine, the membership applications of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, Western Balkans and external relations, 23 June 2022

II. UKRAINE 4. The European Council discussed the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in its different dimensions. The European Council reiterates that it firmly stands with Ukraine and that the European Union will continue to provide strong support for Ukraine’s overall economic, military, social and financial resilience, including humanitarian aid. 5. The European Council resolutely condemns Russia’s indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and urges Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the...

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Hydrogen & electric-powered aircraft: Towards Zero-Emission Aviation – Blog of Commissioner Thierry Breton

The aviation sector, like many others, has been heavily impacted by the COVID shock. It is now confronted with the fall-out of Russia's military actions against Ukraine. But we must look ahead. Gone are the days when the aviation sector ignored its responsibility for global warming. Just recall the commitments taken as part of “Destination 2050”. For the first time, the sector presented a pathway for a climate neutral sector that combines new technologies, improved operations, sustainable aviation fuels and economic...

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Member News

Arendt & Medernach | Cross-border home working: different taxation rules starting 1 July 2022

What does this mean for your company? The special bilateral agreements signed between Luxembourg and the Belgian, French and German authorities concerning cross-border workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end on 30 June 2022 – including, in principle, their social security exemptions (unless the relevant agreements are once again extended). As a consequence, from 1 July 2022, the general rules on the taxation of employment income received by Belgian, French and German cross-border commuters (i.e.,...

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Member News

Littler | The Netherlands: Monitoring Discrimination When Recruiting and Selecting Employees

Equal opportunity in the job market is not yet a given for everyone in the Netherlands; discrimination when recruiting and selecting new employees still occurs. The bill to oversee equal opportunities for recruitment and selection (Wetsvoorstel toezicht gelijke kansen voor werving en selectie) seeks to change this. The bill aims to create equal opportunities in the recruitment and selection process and to prevent discrimination in the labor market. The most important part of this bill is that employers and...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | Historic EU Summit reveals frustrations in the Western Balkans

On Thursday, the leaders of the 27 member states gathered in Brussels for the European Council summit where the most high-profile topic undoubtedly was the potential candidate status to the large, war-torn Ukraine and its small neighbor Moldova. As expected, history was indeed made at the summit when EU leaders granted Ukraine and Moldova candidate status in the late evening of Thursday, leaving Western Balkan leaders in an intense fury and disappointment. The rapid decisions on Ukraine and Moldova have consequently increased...

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