The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 36.7 million to Österreichische Bundesforste AG (ÖBf AG) to finance the construction of a wind farm in Styria (southern Austria) that will result in a reduction of CO2 emissions. This will be the first direct EIB loan to support electricity generation from wind in Austria. It will help to meet the Austrian government’s target of building 2 000 MW of additional wind capacity between 2010 and 2020. The EIB loan will fund the construction...

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Draft rules designed to boost the efficiency and cut the cost of services supplied at EU maritime ports, such as mooring and towage, were voted by Parliament on Tuesday. Ensuring transparency in the setting of fees for using port services and infrastructure, and in any public funding that ports receive, should help to prevent price abuse and market distortions and thus boost trade, MEPs say. But current port service arrangements could remain, provided they meet minimum requirements, they add. The...

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The Commission welcomes today's political agreement by Member States on the automatic exchange of tax-related financial information of multinational companies, known as country-by-country reporting, subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny. The agreement was reached at a meeting of Economic and Financial Affairs ministers in Brussels, less than two months after the European Commission presented its ambitious proposal. The new rules will apply to multinational companies which operate cross-border in the EU. Once implemented, all Member States will have the information they need...

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In the lead up to the President's historic visit to SxSW, today the Administration is announcing the launch of “The Opportunity Project,” a new open data effort to improve economic mobility for all Americans. As the President said in his State of the Union address, we must harness 21st century technology and innovation to expand access to opportunity and tackle our greatest challenges. The Opportunity Project will put data and tools in the hands of civic leaders, community organizations, and...

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On March 2, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Belgium. The recovery is expected to continue at a modest pace in the near term, driven primarily by private consumption, supported by continued low energy prices. However, downside risks loom large, including from the slowdown in emerging markets, financial volatility, and geopolitical stress. In its first year in office, the new government has taken important steps to promote competitiveness, job creation, and...

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The Commission today presented a detailed Roadmap of the concrete steps needed to return order to the management of the EU's external and internal borders. The creation of the Schengen area without internal borders has brought important benefits to European citizens and business alike, yet in recent months the system has been severely tested by the refugee crisis. The European Council of 18-19 February set the clear mandate of restoring the normal functioning of the Schengen area, and to...

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