Transatlantic News

Transatlantic News

Chapter News, News

Mediterranean and Black Seas: Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2020

Today, the Commission has adopted its first ever proposal on fishing opportunities covering both the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. With this proposal, the Commission is delivering on the political commitments made in the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations to promote sustainable management of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. It reflects the Commission's efforts and ambition to ensure social and economic viability for the fishermen operating in the region by restoring and maintaining stocks at sustainable levels. “Throughout...
Brexit News, Chapter News

The Difficulties with the New UK Backstop Proposals

By John Bruton, former Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) There is, at last, some movement in the Brexit negotiation. On the UK side, Boris Johnson previously insisted on the Irish backstop being scrapped. Now he is making proposals (unacceptable so far to the EU) to rewrite it. On the EU side, there is a movement too.  The present Agreement contains a backstop to cover the whole UK. Now the EU is apparently willing to contemplate a backstop confined to Northern Ireland (NI) alone. This...
Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

Statement on the publication of WTO’s award in the Airbus dispute

Following the publication today of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) award regarding the amount of U.S. countermeasures in the WTO Airbus dispute, Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström made the following statement: “The European Union takes note of the decision of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) arbitration panel in the Airbus case, and the level of possible countermeasures. We remain of the view that even if the United States obtains authorisation from the WTO Dispute Settlement Body, opting for applying countermeasures now would be...
Chapter News, News

New rules make household appliances more sustainable

In a continued effort to reduce Europe's carbon footprint and to make energy bills cheaper for European consumers, the Commission today adopted new eco-design measures for products such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and televisions. Improving the ecodesign of products contributes to implementing the ‘Energy efficiency first' principle of the EU's Energy Union priority. For the first time the measures include requirements for repairability and recyclability, contributing to circular economy objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade,...
Chapter News, News

OECD to launch new report on obesity and the economics of prevention – Thursday 10 October 2019

Overweight and obesity rates among adults continue to climb across OECD countries. Childhood and morbid obesity have gone from a rare event to a common occurrence. Obesity now poses an alarming burden on individuals, societies and economies in OECD countries and beyond. A new OECD report, The Heavy Burden of Obesity – The Economics of Prevention, will be published at 11.00 a.m. Paris time on Thursday 10 October 2019, the day before World Obesity Day. It analyses the economic, social...
Chapter News

IMF Executive Board Selects Kristalina Georgieva as Managing Director

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today selected Kristalina Georgieva to serve as IMF Managing Director and Chair of the Executive Board for a five-year term starting on October 1, 2019. Ms. Georgieva, who succeeds Christine Lagarde, is the first person from an emerging market economy to lead the IMF since its inception in 1944. The selection of Ms. Georgieva by the 24-member Executive Board representing the IMF’s 189 member countries brings to a conclusion the selection...
Chapter News

Committed to Accelerated Climate Action

Climate change is a defining challenge of our generation and the European Union (EU)  has been at the forefront of negotiating a multilateral framework to respond to this global challenge. In 2015, the EU diplomacy played a leading role in brokering the historic and global Paris Climate Agreement. 195 countries agreed on a simple goal: to hand over to future generations a healthier planet and more prosperous, modern and fair societies. The EU has acted domestically with speed and decisiveness to...
Brexit News, Chapter News

The Halligan Lecture of the Irish Institute for International and European Affairs in Brussels, by John Bruton

By John Bruton, former Taoiseach, former EU Ambassador and former vice President of the EPP, delivering the Halligan lecture of the Irish Institute for International and European Affairs in Brussels  at 18.30pm on 30 September ;   BRENDAN HALLIGAN I would like to start by saying a few words about the man in whose honour tonight’s lecture is being held, Brendan Halligan .  Brendan is the founder of the Institute.  He could see, back in 1980, when he and a few friends came together...

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