Member News

2018 U.S. Midterm Elections

By Karen A. Tramontano To understand where the 2018 U.S. midterm elections may be headed, it helps to understand what voters were doing in 2016. Conventional wisdom holds that voters were angry and that only Trump understood that voters were angry—and it was these angry voters who determined the election’s outcome. What pundits fail to acknowledge is that a significant percentage of voters in every election are angry and most, if not all, candidates understand why they are angry. Typically, candidates try...

Read more

Member News

Bannockburn Global Forex Update: October 2018 FX Outlook

After a brief break higher in August in response to the situation in Turkey and global trade uncertainty, September saw the USD trade essentially the same range as July. The fading of trade concerns removed the bid from the USD in late August and early September, and the more positive equity market tone generally worked against the USD versus both emerging markets and the EUR and GBP, in part because of the correlation of European equity markets with emerging...

Read more

Chapter News, Financing for Development/UN SDG's

Share EU & UN pledge to work for a “safer and better world”

In a joint statement the European Union and United Nations have expressed their determination to further strengthen their cooperation. "At a time of unprecedented and pressing global challenges, the United Nations and the European Union continue to engage together as positive forces for change to promote and renew full commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based global order, in line with their respective mandates, and to work closely for stability and prosperity to promote a safer and better world for...

Read more

Member News

Ecofin agrees on VAT measures improving EU trade

The Ecofin agreed on several VAT measures fixing some practical issues currently affecting EU trade of goods. In addition, the Ecofin decided to align the VAT rates for electronic and physical publications and reached agreement on some new anti-fraud measures. 1. Quick-fixes Four 'Quick-fixes’ are introduced to the VAT-system, improving cross-border Business to Business trade in goods within the EU. These adjustments will apply from 1 January 2020. VAT identification number / EC sales listing - additional conditions to apply the...

Read more

Member News

How difficult is the Netherlands for corporate compliance?

By Carlie Bonavia | TMF Group Most procedures for establishing a new entity in the Netherlands are quite straightforward, but in some areas, complexity levels for foreign companies can skyrocket. When it comes to the best countries in the world for business, the Netherlands is in an enviable 3rd position. However, it’s ranked among the 20 most complex jurisdictions in the world when examined specifically for its level of corporate compliance complexity. This is according to TMF Group’s Compliance Complexity Index 2018, which assessed...

Read more

Chapter News

How are EACC Firms Reacting to Rising Global Trade Tensions?

By Todd Schwartz | Executive Director EACC Cincinnati  I’m sure each of you are carefully following the rise in trade tensions around the world.  It’s clear that rising tariffs and trade restrictions have the potential to significantly impact manufacturers and consumers across our region and around the world.  And we’ve been fortunate to host individuals like EU Ambassador to the US David O’Sullivan and Head of Division for the US and Canada of the European External Action Service Richard Tibbels,...

Read more

Brexit News, Chapter News

Why The EU Has Difficulties With The Chequers Proposals

The Chequers proposals of the UK Government were a genuine, if belated, attempt to reconcile the expectations of the British people with EU realities. But they ran into difficulty for the following reasons. If Chequers remained an opening negotiating position, it might have started a useful conversation. But , under the pressure of domestic UK politics,  Prime Minister May soon made it a “red line” position, and thus no longer negotiable. From an EU perspective, Chequers was problematic because it would have...

Read more

Brexit News, Member News

The weekly Vulcan View for the 24th – 28th of September featuring analysis of the latest EU developments

VULCAN VIEW- KEY EVENTS THIS WEEK: BREXIT Labour party delivers strong opposition to Theresa May’s Brexit at party conferenceIn his leader’s speech at this week’s Labour party conference, Jeremy Corbyn reiterated that Labour MPs will be voting against Theresa May’s Chequers plan. He announced that they will equally oppose a no-deal exit in the meaningful vote, which Mrs May has promised to parliament following the conclusion of negotiations in November. Mr Corbyn stated that the Labour party would only be willing to back...

Read more

Chapter News, Financing for Development/UN SDG's

Opening of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly

The EU is hosting a number of flagship events in the margins of the General Assembly and EU representatives have a full agenda of high-level debates  President Jean-Claude Juncker, First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini will together with European Council President Donald Tusk attend today the opening of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York. In the side-lines, President Juncker, accompanied by Commissioner Hahn, will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze. Yesterday, President Juncker - at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at the United...

Read more

Chapter News

A Europe that protects: EU customs seized over 31 million fake goods at EU borders in 2017

New figures released by the European Commission today show that customs authorities detained over 31 million fake and counterfeit products at the EU's external border with a street value of over €580 million. Although the total figures have declined since 2016, fake potentially dangerous goods for day-to-day use like healthcare products, medicines, toys and electrical goods now make up a much higher proportion of all seizures – 43% of all detained goods came from this category. Overall, the top category...

Read more