Member News

MHC | Working From Home – Tax and Employment Law Implications

The COVID-19 crisis has had a profound impact on the way we live, interact and work. As government policy over the last number of months has advised (1) working from home where possible and (2) against non-essential local and international travel, working from home (WFH) has become the norm for many employees. For most employees, WFH has meant confining themselves to the desk or kitchen table from their house/apartment/flat-share a few miles from the office, always on the basis that...

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Chapter News

State aid: EU Commission invites comments on State aid rules for the deployment of broadband networks

The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting Member States and other stakeholders to provide their views and comments on the existing EU State aid rules on public support for the deployment of broadband networks. The public consultation is part of an overall evaluation by the Commission of the relevant rules with a view to assess whether they are still fit purpose or whether they will need to be updated in light of recent technological and market developments. All interested...

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Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

EU Commission adopts proposal to make EU-U.S. agreement on tariffs effective

The European Commission today published a proposal for a Council and European Parliament regulation to scrap duties on certain imports to the EU. In return, the United States will reduce its duties on certain EU exports to the U.S. market. This will put into effect the agreement announced by the EU and the U.S. on 21 August 2020. These tariff reductions between the EU and the U.S. will increase access to both EU and U.S. markets by around €200 million per...

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Chapter News

Integrating migrants and refugees into the labour market: EU Commission and social and economic partners relaunch cooperation

September 07, the Commission, trade unions, chambers of commerce and employers' organisations are renewing their cooperation to enhance the integration of migrants and refugees into the labour market. In a joint statement released today, they highlight areas for future focus, and express interest in cooperating further in the area of labour migration under the European Partnership on Integration launched in 2017. The signatories reaffirm the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach for early integration into the labour market benefitting both refugees and the...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

John Bruton | We need a full strength team on the pitch as Brexit reaches the endgame

It is increasingly likely that, unless things change, on 1 January 2021, we will have a no deal Brexit. The only agreement between the EU and the UK would then be the already ratified Withdrawal Agreement. There are only 50 working days left in which to make a broader agreement. The consequences of a failure to do so for Ireland will be as profound, and even as  long lasting, that those of Covid 19. A failure to reach an EU/UK Agreement...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | Mairead McGuinness nominated as European Commissioner for Financial Services

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this morning confirmed her intention to nominate Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness for the Financial Services, Stability and Capital Markets portfolio in a small reshuffle of the Commission’s political leadership. In the reshuffle announced today, Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, currently in charge of the financial services portfolio will take over as EU Trade Commissioner. The position was vacated when Phil Hogan resigned on 26 August over a political scandal in Ireland over his...

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Chapter News

European Green Deal: EU Commission prepares new initiatives to boost the organic farming sector

The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on its future Action Plan on Organic Farming. This sector will play an important role in achieving the European Green Deal ambition, and reaching the objectives set out in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies. It is a priority for the Commission to ensure that the organic farming sector has the right tools in place as well as a well-functioning and consensual legal framework which is key to achieving the objective...

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Chapter News

Coronavirus: EU Commission proposes more clarity and predictability of any measures restricting free movement in the European Union

The Commission has today adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation to ensure that any measures taken by Member States that restrict free movement due to the coronavirus pandemic are coordinated and clearly communicated at the EU level. The Commission's proposal sets out four key areas where Member States should work closer together: Common criteria and thresholds for Member States when deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions; Mapping of common criteria using an agreed colour code; A common framework for measures applied to travellers...

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Member News

Loyens & Loeff | Belgium: Return to the usual rules concerning temporary unemployment

As of 1 September 2020, the usual rules for temporary unemployment due to force majeure or for economic reasons will apply again, with the exception of the following nuances and deviations: Application of transitional measures until 31 December 2020 if the temporary unemployment regime for economic reasons is invoked; Keeping the simplified procedure for temporary unemployment due to force majeure (corona) for sectors or companies that have been particularly affected by the crisis. Keeping of the simplified procedure for sectors...

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Member News

BBGFX | September 2020 FX Outlook

The US dollar's rally in the initial phases of the pandemic has been unwound, and sentiment appears to be the most negative since the Great Financial Crisis.  New lows for the year against the euro, Swiss franc, the British pound, Swedish krona, and the Australian dollar were recorded in recent weeks. The Dollar Index (DXY), which is heavily weighted toward Europe, fell by over 4% in July, the largest monthly decline in a decade, and another 1.25% in August. ...

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