26 May
Chapter News

President Jean-Claude Juncker’s remarks at the joint press briefing with European Council President Tusk ahead of the G7 Summit

Brussels, 26 May 2016 Ladies and Gentlemen, I can be very brief because Donald was covering the whole landscape in Europe and in the rest of the world. I would like to comment briefly on the general economic situation. The EU's recovery continues despite a more difficult global environment. In 2015, the European growth reached 2%, in the euro area 1.7%. These figures are confirming that the recovery is on solid ground and well on track. The GDP level of the...

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26 May
Chapter News

Boost consumer power in the energy market, urge MEPs

Consumers should be given more power in the energy market, say MEPs in a resolution on a "new energy deal for energy consumers", voted on Thursday. They recommend collective buying, household power generation, better price comparison tools for all and making it easier to switch energy providers and tariffs. In a non-binding text, intended as an input to Energy Union legislation to be tabled by the EU Commission, MEPs also call for EU funds for energy efficiency to focus...

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26 May
Member News

CBP Proposes Ruling Revocation on Reusable Plastic Hangers

On May 18, 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a proposed ruling revocation related to the tariff classification of certain plastic garment hangers imported with garments. Generally, plastic garment hangers, when imported separately from garments, are classifiable under subheading 3923.90.00, HTSUS, dutiable at 3% ad valorem.  For several years, CBP has held that plastic hangers imported with garments are separately classifiable under subheading 3923.90.00, so long as the hangers are clearly suitable for repetitive use.  This allows importers...

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25 May
Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

TTIP Impact Study

EU-U.S. negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have been ongoing since July 2013. For the EU, it is imperative to involve stakeholders, particularly civil society, throughout the negotiations. And, as part of this process, the EU commissioned a study by an independent consultant – Ecorys – to assess the potential impact of TTIP on Europe and beyond. According to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, “…the report does highlight the many opportunities TTIP presents for the EU.”  The TTIP...

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25 May
Chapter News

EU Commission proposes new e-commerce rules to help consumers and companies reap full benefit of Single Market

The European Commission today tabled a package of measures to allow consumers and companies to buy and sell products and services online more easily and confidently across the EU. Delivering on its Digital Single Market and Single Market strategies, the European Commission has presented a three-pronged plan to boost e-commerce by tackling geoblocking, making cross-border parcel delivery more affordable and efficient and promoting customer trust through better protection and enforcement. Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: "All too...

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25 May
Chapter News

Euro area systemic stress contained despite bouts of global financial market turbulence

Europe’s financial system showed resilience in face of rising vulnerabilities stemming from emerging market economies and financial market turbulence over the past six months Economic and financial vulnerabilities persist in the form of high legacy debt, both public and private, and a weak economic recovery Euro area banking sector repair continues amid challenges to profitability and, in some countries, high stocks of non-performing loans The euro area financial system was able to absorb the strong turmoil around the turn of the year...

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25 May
Chapter News

Commission proposes new e-commerce rules to help consumers and companies reap full benefit of Single Market

The European Commission today tabled a package of measures to allow consumers and companies to buy and sell products and services online more easily and confidently across the EU. Delivering on its Digital Single Market and Single Market strategies, the European Commission has presented a three-pronged plan to boost e-commerce by tackling geoblocking, making cross-border parcel delivery more affordable and efficient and promoting customer trust through better protection and enforcement. Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: "All too...

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25 May
Chapter News

Forty years of investments have improved Europe’s bathing water

The European Union’s efforts to ensure clean and healthy bathing water began forty years ago when the first Bathing Water Directive was issued. The annual bathing water report published today proves the value of the legislation and the years of investment in waste water infrastructure and other pollution reduction measures. It shows that bathing water quality has improved continuously over time leading to ninety-six per cent of monitored bathing sites in the EU meeting the minimum standards for water...

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25 May
Chapter News

Anti-tax avoidance: close tax gap with low-tax third countries, say MEPs

The European Commission's proposal for an EU anti-tax avoidance directive was welcomed by Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in a resolution voted on Tuesday. MEPs nonetheless advocated stricter limits on deductions for interest payments and an effective corporate tax rate of 15%. The committee approved its text by 20 votes to 15, with 21 abstentions. This outcome was closer than expected because at the last minute - during the voting - the EPP group decided to vote blank due...

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25 May
Chapter News

Breakthrough in discussions on patent law and plant breeders’ rights

The European Commission wants to offer clarity and legal certainty about patenting the natural traits of vegetables and other plants through further interpretation of the biotech directive. This was announced by European Commissioner for the Internal Market Elżbieta Bieńkowska at the symposium ‘Finding the Balance’ in Brussels, organised by Minister for Agriculture Martijn van Dam in the context of the Netherlands EU Presidency. Breakthrough ‘This is a definite breakthrough in the discussion on patent law and plant breeders’ rights,’ the minister...

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