Transatlantic News

Transatlantic News

Chapter News, COVID-19 News

IMF | Fiscal Policy for an Unprecedented Crisis

The COVID-19 crisis has devastated people’s lives, jobs, and businesses. Governments have taken forceful measures to cushion the blow, totaling a staggering $12 trillion globally. These lifelines have saved lives and livelihoods. But they are costly and, together with sharp falls in tax revenues owing to the recession, they have pushed global public debt to an all-time high of close to 100 percent of GDP. With many workers still unemployed, small businesses struggling, and 80‑90 million people likely to fall into...
Chapter News

Green Deal: EU Commission adopts new Chemicals Strategy towards a toxic-free environment

Today, the European Commission adopted the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Strategy is the first step towards a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment announced in the European Green Deal. The Strategy will boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals, and increase protection of human health and the environment against hazardous chemicals. This includes prohibiting the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products such as toys, childcare articles, cosmetics, detergents, food contact materials and textiles, unless proven...
Chapter News

Renovation Wave: doubling the renovation rate to cut emissions, boost recovery and reduce energy poverty

The European Commission has published today its Renovation Wave Strategy to improve the energy performance of buildings. The Commission aims to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. This will enhance the quality of life for people living in and using the buildings, reduce Europe's greenhouse gas emissions, foster digitalisation and improve the reuse and recycling of materials. By 2030, 35 million buildings could be renovated and up to 160,000...
Chapter News

Boeing subsidy case: World Trade Organization confirms EU right to retaliate against $4 billion of U.S. imports

Today, the World Trade Organization (WTO) allowed the EU to raise tariffs up to $4 billion worth of imports from the U.S. as a countermeasure for illegal subsidies to the American aircraft maker, Boeing. The decision builds upon the WTO’s earlier findings recognising the U.S. subsidies to Boeing as illegal under the WTO law. Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “This long-awaited decision allows the European Union to impose tariffs on American...
Chapter News

OECD | International community renews commitment to address tax challenges from digitalisation of the economy

The international community has made substantial progress towards reaching a consensus-based long-term solution to the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy, and agreed to keep working towards an agreement by mid-2021, according to a Statement released today. The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS, which groups 137 countries and jurisdictions on an equal footing for multilateral negotiation of international tax rules, agreed during its 8-9 October meeting that the two-pillar approach they have been developing since 2019 provides a solid foundation...
Chapter News, COVID-19 News

Coronavirus Dashboard: EU Cohesion Policy response to the coronavirus crisis

Today, the Commission announces the first provisional results of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). From the beginning of the crisis, and thanks to the flexibility introduced in the Cohesion Policy, the EU mobilised over €13 billion in investments to tackle the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF). The EU funds helped national, regional and local communities in countering the...
Chapter News, COVID-19 News

COVID-19: EU Council adopts a recommendation to coordinate measures affecting free movement

Today the Council adopted a recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restrictions of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This recommendation aims to avoid fragmentation and disruption, and to increase transparency and predictability for citizens and businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives in many ways. Travel restrictions have made it difficult for some of our citizens to get to work, to university or to visit their loved ones. It is our common duty to...
Chapter News

Plenary highlights: Commission changes, EU budget and climate law

MEPs voted for changes at the European Commission, more ambitious climate targets, and discussed the rule of law in EU countries during the 5-8 October plenary session in Brussels. On Wednesday, Parliament approved the appointment of Mairead McGuinness as commissioner for financial services, financial stability and the Capital Markets Union as well as Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis’ change of portfolio to include responsibility for trade. MEPs called on Wednesday for reinforcement of the rule of law across Europe through a new mechanism linking receipt...