The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) today adopted an opinion on a recommendation from the Council of the European Union on the appointment of a member of the ECB’s Executive Board. The Governing Council had no objection to the proposed candidate, Isabel Schnabel, who is a person of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters, as required by Article 283(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Ms Schnabel currently serves...

The European Commission today presented The European Green Deal – a roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all policy areas and making the transition just and inclusive for all. President Ursula von der Leyen said: ‘The European Green Deal is our new growth strategy – for a growth that gives back more than it takes away. It shows how to transform our way of living and working, of producing and consuming so that we live healthier and...

MEPs will debate the “European Green Deal” to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent, on Wednesday 14:00, in an extraordinary plenary sitting in Brussels. Following the Commission’s expected announcement of the “European Green Deal” on Wednesday 11 December, the European Parliament will have a first debate on it with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans who will close the debate. The European Green Deal will focus on the fight against...

For the first time ever, nearly all European Ambassadors to the United States went on a joint trip outside of the Beltway to showcase EU unity and celebrate the close political, economic, and cultural ties between the European Union and the State of Maryland Are you sure this is going to work? Can we manage so many events simultaneously? Will we be able to remain on schedule with multiple parallel programs across the State of Maryland? When the ambassador of the...

The European Accessibility Act aims to ensure more products and services are accessible for elderly people and people living with a disability.  On 13 March Parliament approved the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The new rules are a step towards a fairer and more inclusive Europe and will improve the daily lives of the elderly and people with disabilities across the EU. The final text will still need to be approved by the Council before it can enter into force. Once the legislation has been published...

The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published today joint draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) to amend the Delegated Regulation on the risk mitigation techniques for non-cleared OTC derivatives (bilateral margining) as well as a joint statement on the introduction of fallbacks in OTC derivative contracts and the requirement to exchange collateral. BothRTS and the statement were developed to facilitate further international consistency in the implementation of the global framework agreed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the International Organisation...

Today the von der Leyen Commission revealed its working methods which will be the basis for the new College to deliver on the President's Agenda for Europe during the next five years. They put collegiality, transparency and efficiency first. The Working Methods introduce a number of novelties to the way the Commission works, notably with regards to the role of the Executive Vice-Presidents, the High Representative/Vice-President, the Vice-Presidents and Commissioners' Groups. They also set up a new body for coordinating external relations...

On 1 December, Josep Borrell assumed the post of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. Josep Borrell, former Foreign Minister of Spain, assumed the post as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission, headed by new President Ursula von der Leyen.   In the next 5 years, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will be at the helm of the EU's foreign policy. The need for European...