Chapter News

EU Commission | October infringements package: key decisions

This document was updated with additional contributions on 30 October 2020, at 15h30, which are marked with an asterisk * Overview by policy area In its regular package of infringement decisions, the European Commission pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law. These decisions, covering various sectors and EU policy areas, aim to ensure the proper application of EU law for the benefit of citizens and businesses. The key decisions taken by the Commission...

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Chapter News

OECD | 2020 Ministerial Council Statement: A strong, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery from COVID-19

OECD Ministers have closed two days of discussions on measures to strengthen international co-operation and ‘build back better’ from the COVID-19 crisis. Chaired by Spain, the annual OECD Ministerial Meeting at Council Level discussed macroeconomic policies and recovery plans, employment and social protection, trade and investment, resilient global value chains and the actions needed for a green recovery. Read the final statement from the Ministerial meeting. The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed the worst health, economic and social crisis in the 60-year...

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Chapter News

Results of the ECB Survey of Professional Forecasters in the fourth quarter of 2020

HICP inflation expectations for 2020 and 2021 revised down slightly, while longer-term inflation expectations broadly unchanged Expected profile of real GDP revised up slightly, with slightly milder downturn in 2020 and rebound in 2021 Unemployment rate expectations revised down across all horizons Respondents to the European Central Bank (ECB) Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) for the fourth quarter of 2020 reported point forecasts for annual HICP inflation averaging 0.3%, 0.9% and 1.3% for 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. These...

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Brexit News, Member News

Vulcan Insight | Progress, but critical issues remain in Brexit Negotiations

In her most optimistic comments yet on the ongoing post-Brexit future relationship negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that negotiations had intensified since last week’s very public falling out and that they were making “good progress”. However, speaking to press following a videoconference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, she conceded that more progress was needed on the two remaining critical issues of the level playing field and fisheries. While she did not specifically mention governance, an agreement...

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Member News

Houthoff | CJEU rules that expiration of marketing authorisation of reference does not affect associated parallel import licence

The Court of Justice of the European Union (the "CJEU") has issued a judgment clarifying the rights of parallel import licence holders. It ruled that the mere expiration of a marketing authorisation of reference does not affect the associated parallel import licence. The parallel importers rights may only be restricted if justified by specific circumstances relating to protecting public health. Authorities refuse to adjust dosage instructions Kohlpharma, a German pharmaceutical company, obtained a parallel import licence to import a medicinal product in tablet...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

IMF Managing Director’s Opening Remarks at United Kingdom Article IV Press Conference

Kristalina Georgieva, October 29, 2020 | Chancellor, thank you very much for your kind introduction. Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Over the last week we have been having virtual meetings for our Article IV consultation for the British economy. We meet at a time when the UK and the world are in the grip of the worst pandemic in a century. It has already taken an enormous human toll and caused unprecedented economic disruption, including in the UK, and unfortunately we are seeing...

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Member News

AXA-IM | COVID-19: Accelerating the energy transition and driving climate-friendly investment opportunities

Below four AXA IM ESG experts assess whether the crisis will help accelerate the energy transition, and outline what they think the investment implications could be. Access the full publication: AXA Investment Managers - Accelerating the energy transition - Oct 2020. | The decade of transition got off to a start nobody could have predicted – or wanted. Less than year into the 2020s, the world is reeling from the shock of COVID-19, a pandemic which has taken both lives and...

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Chapter News, COVID-19 News

Coronavirus resurgence: EU Commission steps up action to reinforce preparedness and response measures across the EU

Today, the European Commission is launching an additional set of actions to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, save lives and strengthen the internal market's resilience. Concretely, the measures aim to better understand the virus' spread and the effectiveness of the response, ramp up well-targeted testing, bolster contact tracing, improve preparations for vaccination campaigns, and maintain access to essential supplies such as vaccination equipment, while keeping all goods moving in the single market and facilitating safe travel. This...

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Member News

CEA Legal | How to start an e-commerce business while complying with legal regulation

The already increasing number of E-commerce economic activities skyrocketed in the wake of the recent pandemic. More than ever, a savvy entrepreneur should be aware of the legal implications and issues of an e-commerce venture. Legal Entity When the e-commerce business is started as secondary or simply subsequent to one operated from physical premises, it might be time and cost-effective to operate the e-commerce with the existing legal entity; however, in order to ensure more legal protection and accurate bookkeeping, it...

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Chapter News

ECB | Monetary policy decisions

In the current environment of risks clearly tilted to the downside, the Governing Council will carefully assess the incoming information, including the dynamics of the pandemic, prospects for a rollout of vaccines and developments in the exchange rate. The new round of Eurosystem staff macroeconomic projections in December will allow a thorough reassessment of the economic outlook and the balance of risks. On the basis of this updated assessment, the Governing Council will recalibrate its instruments, as appropriate, to...

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