Transatlantic News
Transatlantic News
28
May
An EU-US trade deal should deepen EU access to the US market, but must not undermine EU standards or the right to regulate in the public interest, say Trade Committee MEPs in draft recommendations voted on Thursday. Tools for resolving disputes between investors and states should be reformed and improved, they add.
The recommendations to the Commission negotiators on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), approved in committee by 28 votes to 13 with no abstentions, still need to...
26
May
Brussels, 26 May 2015 -- Today, the European Commission is launching the European Smart specialisation platform on energy, which will support regions and Member States in using Cohesion Policy funding more effectively for promoting sustainable energy. The Platform will help regions to share their expertise on sustainable energy investments and especially on the deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies.
By supporting the optimal use of Cohesion Policy funds for sustainable energy projects, the Platform will directly contribute to the European Energy...
22
May
The ultimate owners of companies will have to be listed in central registers in EU countries, open both to the authorities and to people with a "legitimate interest", such as investigative journalists, under new rules already agreed with the Council and endorsed by Parliament on Wednesday. The new anti-money laundering directive aims to step up the fight against tax crimes and terrorist financing. New rules to make it easier to trace transfers of funds were also approved.
The fourth anti-money...
19
May
Brussels, 19 May 2015
Today the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that it has approved financing for four investment projects as part of the Investment Plan for Europe, in which it is the Commission's strategic partner. These projects are in energy efficiency investment to reduce heating bills of private homes in France; new renewable energy and related transmission links in links in northern and western Europe; reduction of industrial energy use in Finland; and improvement to gas transmission in Spain.
Today's decision follows the EIB's...
19
May
Today, 19 May, The European Commission adopts its Better Regulation Agenda. This comprehensive package of reforms covering the entire policy cycle will boost openness and transparency in the EU decision-making process, improve the quality of new laws through better impact assessments of draft legislation and amendments, and promote constant and consistent review of existing EU laws, so that EU policies achieve their objectives in the most effective and efficient way.
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said:
"This Commission is determined to change both what...
18
May
Stockholm, 18 May 2015
Ladies and gentlemen,
There is an old saying that “with money, Latin and a good horse, you can get through all Europe”. These days a good command of Latin does not help you much outside of the Vatican City. Most of us prefer to travel by plane or train. But at least in the 19 countries of the euro area, the money a citizen holds in his or her pocket crosses all national borders.
This only remains the...
15
May
In this latest Climate Change and Energy update, the Administration announces the Solar Ready Vets Program and the POWER Initiative, releases a partnership with farmers and ranchers to address climate change, and issues an Executive Order to cut federal government emissions 40 percent by 2030. Keep reading to find out more!
Solar Ready Vets Program
On April 3, at an event at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, President Obama announced a suite of commitments to help drive growth in...
13
May
Brussels, 13 May 2015 – Further policy is needed to return to self-sustaining growth. The European Commission today adopted country-specific economic policy recommendations for 2015 and 2016 asking for national actions to create jobs and stimulate growth.
These recommendations reflect the Commission’s economic and social agenda. Since President Juncker’s Commission took office in November 2014 and published its Annual Growth Survey 2015, this agenda has focused on three mutually reinforcing pillars:
boosting investment, implementing structural reforms and pursuing
fiscal responsibility. The successful...