Chapter News

European Parliament Approves Wholesale Roaming Prices

When travelling in the EU, consumers will be able to call, send SMS or surf on their mobile at the same price they pay at home. Today the European Parliament voted on how to regulate wholesale roaming markets, formally approving the agreement on wholesale caps reached between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the beginning of the year. This political agreement was the final step to make roam like at home work as of 15 June 2017, as foreseen in the Telecom Single...

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Chapter News

Data Privacy Shield: MEPs Alarmed at Undermining of Privacy Safeguards in the US

New rules allowing the US National Security Agency (NSA) to share private data with other US agencies without court oversight, recent revelations about surveillance activities by a US electronic communications service provider and vacancies on US oversight bodies are among the concerns raised by MEPs in a resolution passed on Thursday. In the resolution, adopted by 306 votes to 240, with 40 abstentions, MEPs call on the EU Commission to conduct a proper assessment and ensure that the EU-US “Privacy...

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Chapter News

EIB Agrees EUR 4 billion of Investment for Urban Development, Hospitals, Energy and Small Businesses

The Board of the European Investment Bank approved a total of EUR 4.1 billion of new financing today. This includes investment to improve sustainable transport, healthcare, education and corporate research, as well as support for lending to small companies by local financial partners across Europe and around the world. “At a time of economic and political uncertainty the time is right to consider how to strengthen the role of multilateral banks such as the EIB.” said Werner Hoyer, President of...

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Brexit Begins: MEPs Agree on Key Conditions for Approving UK Withdrawal Agreement

An overwhelming majority of the house (516 votes in favour, 133 against, with 50 abstentions) adopted a resolution officially laying down the European Parliament’s key principles and conditions for its approval of the UK's withdrawal agreement. Any such agreement at the end of UK-EU negotiations will need to win the approval of the European Parliament. MEPs stress the importance of securing equal and fair treatment for EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU. They...

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Member News

Littler: The Global Guide Quarterly – European Union

Data Security New Regulation or Official Guidance Author:  Aki Tanaka, Attorney — Littler Mendelson, P.C. The EU’s top data protection regulatory body, the Article 29 Working Party, released a set of frequently asked questions on the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs cross-border data processing activity. The Working Party also published a set of guidelines for identifying a controller or processor’s lead supervisory authority. Both documents flesh out certain concepts and definitions of the GDPR, such as what activities constitute cross-border processing of...

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Member News

German Renewable Energy Act surcharge: Amnesty for own consumption from power plant capacity

Eliminating legal uncertainty and taking the pressure off companies or final consumers who assumed, before the REA 2014 (EEG 2014) came into force on 1 August 2014, that they could supply themselves with power from their own share in the capacity of a power plant (“capacity share”) without paying the renewable energy surcharge – this is the purpose of a new transitional rule in the REA 2017 (EEG 2017), which is a type of amnesty provision. Initial situation The legislator defines...

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Member News

Tax Flash: Implementation of the UBO-register in the Netherlands

On 31 March 2017, the Netherlands published a draft legislative proposal for the implementation of the ‘UBO-register’. The Dutch government has launched an online public consultation, providing anyone interested with the opportunity to comment on the draft legislative proposal. The online public consultation closes on 28 April 2017. What is the UBO-register? The UBO-register is a central register containing information on Ultimate Beneficial Owners of corporate entities and other legal entities incorporated in the Netherlands and will form an integral part...

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Member News

April FX outlook – US tax reform and French election

After the failure of the Trump/GOP healthcare bill the next focus is on the Republican tax reform proposals, which may well be outlined more clearly by the end of the month. With the USD having weakened a little over the last month and having failed to benefit even though the Fed raised rates again in March the focus on “Trumpflation” has if anything increased. The lack of significant action from the administration is generally seen as the main reason...

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Chapter News

Shareholders’ Rights in EU Companies: Council Formal Adoption

The Council today adopted a directive aimed at strengthening shareholders' engagement in big European companies. The directive will encourage transparent and active engagement by shareholders of listed companies by reviewing the current Shareholders' Rights Directive (2007/36/EC). The financial crisis revealed that shareholders in many cases supported managers' excessive short-term risk taking. The revised directive is intended to redress this situation and contribute to the sustainability of companies, which will result in growth and job creation. The new directive establishes specific requirements in...

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Member News

Monaco Welcomes a New Vistra Office and the Launch of Vistra Private Office

Vistra has announced the acquisition of Podium SAM, a privately owned wealth structuring advisory provider in Monaco. Following the acquisition, Podium SAM will be rebranded as Vistra Private Office SAM. In addition, Vistra Monaco Corporate Services SAM has been incorporated to act as a local company administrator and has been granted the necessary licence in Monaco to set-up and manage trusts, companies and private fund structures for HNW families. This acquisition sees the expansion of Vistra’s presence into Monaco, further...

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