Chapter News

EU Commission puts forward new strategy to make the EU’s financial system more sustainable and proposes new European Green Bond Standard

The European Commission has today adopted a number of measures to increase its level of ambition on sustainable finance. First, the new Sustainable Finance Strategy sets out several initiatives to tackle climate change, and other environmental challenges, while increasing investment – and the inclusiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – in the EU's transition towards a sustainable economy. The European Green Bond Standard proposal, also adopted today, will create a high-quality voluntary standard for bonds financing sustainable investment. Finally, the Commission adopted...

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Chapter News

OECD | 130 countries and jurisdictions join bold new framework for international tax reform

130 countries and jurisdictions have joined a new two-pillar plan to reform international taxation rules and ensure that multinational enterprises pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate. 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 90% of global GDP, joined the Statement establishing a new framework for international tax reform. A small group of the Inclusive Framework’s 139 members have not yet joined the Statement at this time.  The remaining elements of the framework, including the implementation plan, will be finalised in...

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Member News

RSM | Accounting for cloud based software

Cloud computing arrangements often packaged as ‘Software as a Service – SaaS’ are increasingly used by businesses due to their flexibility and scalability. A recent IFRIC agenda decision addressed the accounting for configuration or customisation costs from cloud computing arrangements. The article explains the implications of the agenda decision for IFRS preparers that have incurred significant implementation costs in relation to cloud-based application software. DOWNLOAD Compliments of RSM LLP - a member of the EACCNY.

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Member News

Loyens & Loeff | Further reliance on financial intermediaries to prevent tax abuse

Earlier this week, the Act of 2 June 2021 providing for various financial provisions relating to the combat against fraud has entered into force. This Act further enhances the combat against specific tax mechanisms by providing new criminal sanctions and by broadening reporting obligations of the FSMA and of the NBB. Context Earlier this week, on 28 June 2021, the Act of 2 June 2021 providing for various financial provisions relating to the combat against fraud has entered into force (the...

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Chapter News

ECB Speech | Escaping low inflation?

Speech by Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Petersberger Sommerdialog | Frankfurt am Main, 3 July 2021 | After having lived through the deepest contraction in post-war times, the euro area economy has embarked on a strong recovery from the pandemic. Confidence indicators are at their highest level in more than two decades, reflecting surging optimism among firms and consumers. According to the June 2021 Eurosystem staff projections, the euro area is expected to grow...

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Chapter News

Defence Industry: the EU Commission kick-starts the European Defence Fund with €1.2 billion and awards 26 new industrial cooperation projects for more than €158 million

The Commission adopted today a package of decisions supporting the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the EU defence industry. The adoption of the first European Defence Fund (EDF) annual work programme paves the way to the immediate launch of 23 calls for proposals for a total of €1.2 billion of EU funding in support of collaborative defence research and development projects. Furthermore, under the EDF's precursor programme, the European Defence Industry Development Programme (EDIDP), 26 new projects with a budget of more than €158 million were selected for funding....

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | EU proposes updates to product safety and consumer credit rules

This week, the European Commission presented its legislative proposals for the revisions of the General Product Safety Directive and of the Directive on consumer credits. According to the Commission, the updates will be vital in “enhancing consumer rights in a world reshaped by digitalisation and the COVID-19 pandemic.”  Since its inception in 2001, the General Product Safety Directive has become the EU’s key instrument of ensuring the safety of consumer products being placed on the internal market. Under the Directive, which complements other sector-specific legislation such as...

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Member News

Houthoff | European Commission proposes regulatory framework for AI

The European Commission published a proposal for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation, aiming to set rules governing the use of artificial intelligence whilst fostering innovation across the European Union. The development and use of artificial intelligence have skyrocketed, seeing unparalleled advances in the technology's appearance in day-to-day life. Artificial intelligence can be found in everyday services such as Netflix and Spotify (allowing applications to learn users' preferences), self-driving cars, and notably, – in more recent times – disease mapping. Simultaneously, these developments...

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Chapter News

Eastern Partnership: a renewed agenda for recovery, resilience and reform underpinned by an Economic and Investment plan

Today the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy outlined a proposal on how to take forward priorities for cooperation with our Eastern partners in the years to come. This agenda is based on the five long-term objectives, with resilience at its core, as defined for the future of the Eastern Partnership in March 2020. It will be underpinned by a €2.3 billion Economic and Investment plan in grants, blending and guarantees, with a potential to mobilise up...

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Chapter News, Financing for Development/UN SDG's

The UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals should guide the European Recovery

The absence of clear references to SDGs and the lack of involvement of cities and regions in the national recovery plans could compromise the capacity to overcome the pandemic crisis European local and regional leaders are calling for the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs) to be put back on the top of the European Union's agenda, asking the EU institutions and Member States to ensure their implementation by 2030. In an opinion adopted today by its plenary, the European...

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