The European Commission has put forward its proposals to the Council for the signature and conclusion of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA). These landmark deals form a critical part of the EU's strategy to diversify its trade relations and strengthen economic and political ties with like-minded partners around the world. These partnerships will create billions of euro's worth of export opportunities for EU companies of all sizes, contribute to economic growth and competitiveness,...

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Today, the Commission has adopted a second package of seven sectoral proposals completing the framework for the next long-term EU budget for 2028–2034. These legal acts complete the MFF 2028-2034 proposal, and cover the following areas: • The Single Market and Customs Programme; •  The Justice Programme; •  The Euratom Research and Training Programme; •  The Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Decommissioning; •  The Nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania (Ignalina programme); •  The Decision on the Overseas...

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Dinner speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at 2025 ECB Legal Conference “Building Europe’s Autonomy: Law, Institutions, Cooperation” in Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt, 1 September 2025 It is a real pleasure to join you tonight at the 2025 ECB Legal Conference. This year’s theme raises one of the defining questions of our time: how can Europe advance its autonomy while remaining committed to multilateral cooperation and the rule of law? Throughout the day you have been discussing the many ways in which...

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Following its stress test earlier this year, the Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced final individual capital requirements for large banks, effective on October 1. Large bank capital requirements are informed by the Board's stress test results, which provide a risk-sensitive and forward-looking assessment of capital needs. In April, the Board proposed a rule to average stress test results over two consecutive years to reduce year-over-year volatility from the stress test when calculating a firm's capital requirement. If the Board...

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Safeguarding natural resources generates high returns in some sectors. WASHINGTON, September 1, 2025—Ninety percent of the world lives with either degraded land, unhealthy air, or water stress, according to a new World Bank report, however, restoring natural systems is possible and can yield high returns. In low-income countries alone, eight of out ten people live without all three – healthy air, water, and land – according to the report, Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet. This poses major constraints to...

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