On 11 December 2012 the European Parliament voted positively in a first reading on the EU Council's compromise proposals for two draft EU regulations on a unitary patent for Europe. The first draft regulation concerns unitary patent protection, and the second sets out the translation arrangements for such protection. The draft regulations were accepted under the EU's legislative procedure of "enhanced co-operation": With the exception of Italy and Spain, 25 EU member states have embarked on enhanced co-operation with...

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) has experienced a number of ongoing technical issues related to its transition from the Automated Commercial System (ACS) to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). For example, it has recently come to our attention that CBP inadvertently revealed the names of importers and exporters that requested and were granted manifest confidentiality. CBP is aware of this issue and hopes to resolve it soon. However, until this issue is fully resolved, we recommend that importers and exporters...

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Meeting in Brussels today, the EU-U.S. Energy Council discussed co-operation to enhance energy security through the diversification of gas and oil supply sources and routes, regulatory policies that encourage efficient and sustainable use of energy, carbon emissions reduction, and the deployment and storage of zero-emission sources, such as wind, solar and ocean energy. Speaking at the start of the meeting, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said the EU-U.S. Energy Council has helped both the EU and the United States to...

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Call for Proposals: "Transatlantic Civil society Dialogues EU-USA: Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue" Deadline for submission: 21 January 2013 The European Commission is seeking to strengthen dialogues between members of EU and US civil society by addressing a wide range of issues and encouraging the involvement of a broad set of stakeholders. These dialogues complement the formal policy dialogue at government level. The European Commission invites herewith proposals to stimulate dialogue and cooperation between non-governmental organisations and interest groups, including social partners, representing...

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The Eurogroup concludes that the necessary elements are now in place for Member States to launch the relevant national procedures required for the approval of the next EFSF disbursement, which amounts to EUR 43.7 bn. EUR 10.6 bn for budgetary financing and EUR 23.8 bn in EFSF bonds earmarked for bank recapitalisation will be paid out in December. The disbursement of the remaining amount will be made in three sub-tranches during the first quarter of 2013, linked to the implementation...

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The European Commission has launched the second cycle of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP) with the publication of the Alert Mechanism Report (AMR). The MIP aims to correct and prevent damaging macroeconomic imbalances. Based on the AMR, which is the first step of the new round of the MIP, the Commission suggests more in-depth analysis of developments related to the accumulation and unwinding of macroeconomic imbalances in 14 EU Member States. The countries concerned are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, France,...

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Anecdotal reports have been surfacing of imported merchandise that has been damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, either while still in Customs’ custody or after release while stored in warehouses. Opportunities exist under the Customs laws to potentially recover import duties paid on such merchandise.  For example, the Customs laws provide for an allowance in duties upon proof of actual injury or destruction of any merchandise by casualty while in bonded warehouse or the public stores, while in transportation under...

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