Today, the European Parliament gave its strong support to the new European Commission with 423 votes in favour, 209 against and 67 abstentions. The Juncker Commission can thus start its term of office on 1 November 2014. President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker said: "After a long democratic journey, today my team crossed the finishing line. I feel honoured that my Commission has received the democratic backing of the European Parliament. Now it is time to roll up our sleeves and get down to...

The average share of women on the boards of the largest publicly listed companies in the EU rose to 18.6 percent in April 2014, up from 17.8 percent just six months earlier, according to statistics released by the European Commission. Proposed EU legislation targets a 40 percent share of female non-executive members on the boards of listed companies. The proposal received strong support from the European Parliament in November 2013 and is currently under discussion by the Council of the...

In a joint letter to Heads of State and Government of the European Union ahead of this week's European Council meeting, European Commission President Barroso and European Council President Van Rompuy inform about the key issues coming up for discussion at the G20 summit in Brisbane (Australia) on 15-16 November 2014: "Dear Colleagues, We would like to inform you about the key issues coming up for discussion at the G20 summit in Brisbane on 15-16 November. The Brisbane Summit will be the...

Long Island Mall Loan Facing Default Sent to Special Servicing Jericho Plaza (I & II), a $163.8 million loan that backs 8.7% of CSMC 2007-C5, is now with the special servicer for "imminent monetary default" according to a Fitch note circulated late Friday. The loan is backed by a pair of offices building in Jericho, New York on Long Island. Built in 1978, the buildings total 638,216 square feet. After posting a DSCR of 1.0x in 2013, the loan reported a DSCR of 0.75x in...

Celebrities aren't the only ones who should care about their personal data being kept safe. The Parliament plays a key role in deciding who the European data protection supervisor should be for the next five years. The supervisor is in charge of protecting personal data and privacy as well as promoting good practice in the EU institutions and bodies. Today the EP's civil liberties committee will question the candidates from 19.00 to 22.30 CET, while the vote takes place...

Rome, Italy | October 14, 2014 “Let me also recognize and tribute Mr Gucht,  whose service to his mission and his country over the last several years and decades have really distinguished him as a leader in Europe, and as his day comes to an end soon, I am enormously grateful for our partnership. The highest compliment a trade negotiator can say to someone else is that he’s a good sparring partner. Karel has been a good sparring partner, and...

More information in TTIP here: https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ttip/

Dr. Andreas Dombret Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank | Speech at the American Council on Germany, Chicago | Tuesday, 14 October 2014 Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to speak here today. There are surely few places more aptly suited for a meeting of the American Council on Germany than Chicago. In the aftermath of the failed German Revolution of 1848, Chicago welcomed Germans seeking political or economic refuge. The German...