Europäische Union

 

The Eurogroup welcomes the successful conclusion of the seventh review mission in the context of Cyprus' macroeconomic adjustment programme, which took place in July. The fiscal developments continue to exceed expectations, the financial situation of the banks is showing signs of gradual improvement and some progress has been noted on important growth-enhancing reforms. The Eurogroup is encouraged that the economic recovery in Cyprus is gaining strength, the labour market showing signs of stabilization, although unemployment remains at a high level, and that the economy showed overall resilience in the past months. 

 

The Eurogroup recalls that addressing the excessive level of non-performing loans remains a top priority for Cyprus in order to reignite credit growth and ensure that banks continue to improve their resilience. In this regard, we stress the importance of an effective implementation of the recently enacted insolvency legislation and of the enhanced foreclosure framework, together with other measures adopted recently to speed up the reduction of arrears. The determined pursuit of financial sector reforms, including legislation to facilitate the sale of loans, remains necessary to secure a decisive reversal of the non-performing loan trend.

 

The Eurogroup commends the Cypriot authorities for the progress that has been made to date, and calls on them to keep up the reform momentum. The timely implementation of the growth-enhancing reform agenda, including privatisation and public administration reform, is essential in order to restore Cyprus' growth potential, while safeguarding the protection of the most vulnerable groups.

  The Eurogroup agrees to endorse in principle the updated Memorandum of Understanding as well as the disbursement of the next tranche of financial assistance to Cyprus. We consider that the necessary elements are now in place to launch the relevant national procedures, paving the way to the formal approval by the ESM governing bodies of a disbursement of EUR 500 million in October. Concurrently, the IMF Executive Board is expected to decide on the disbursement of about EUR 125 million.

Following our agreement in September 2014 on common principles guiding euro area Member States' reforms to reduce the tax wedge on labour, the Eurogroup has discussed benchmarking as a tool to further inform and support reforms in this area.

The Eurogroup recalls that lowering the tax burden on labour has the potential to boost growth and support employment, as well as contributing to the smooth functioning of the EMU. The reforms undertaken recently in this area are steps in the right direction, and additional efforts should be pursued. Against this background, the Eurogroup considers benchmarking to be a useful tool for highlighting the possible need and scope for reform in this field in individual Member States and in the euro area as a whole.

The Eurogroup has agreed to benchmark euro area Member States' tax burden on labour against the GDP-weighted EU average, relying in the first instance on indicators measuring the tax wedge on labour for a single worker at average wage and a single worker at low wage. We will also relate this to the OECD average for purposes of broader comparability. This benchmark fulfils a number of criteria which should be met for a benchmark to be effective. It is simple, measurable and under the control of policy makers.

This benchmarking exercise, together with a continued exchange of best practices within the Eurogroup, can provide valuable support for further labour tax reform initiatives at the national level where applicable, thus giving fresh impetus for carrying reforms forward in euro area Member States. The benchmarking exercise will take place within the context of existing processes and surveillance mechanisms, in particular the European semester monitoring. The Eurogroup will also take stock of the state of play in the reduction of the tax burden on labour when discussing the draft budgetary plans of euro area Member States.

As the tax burden on labour interacts with other labour market features, monitoring needs to be part of a more comprehensive approach, examining the level of labour taxation in its full country-specific policy context, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014. A full assessment of the urgency - and the potential benefit - for any given Member State to reduce the labour tax wedge should also make use of, indicators and country-specific information on, inter alia, the actual economic situation, in particular employment levels in specific demographic groups and overall, the  level and design of social protection (including its impact on the level of social security contributions), total labour costs dynamics over the medium run and other labour market features. Moreover, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014, given limited fiscal space, reducing the tax burden on labour should be accompanied by either a compensatory reduction in (non-productive) expenditure, or by shifting labour taxes towards taxes less detrimental to growth, in full respect of the existing EU economic surveillance framework, in particular the Stability and Growth Pact.

 "We would like to sincerely congratulate Prime Minister Lee on his reappointment in this historic year for the people of Singapore. We wish him every success in his renewed mandate and look forward to continuing the excellent cooperation we enjoy.

Our Free Trade and Partnership and Cooperation Agreements will deepen our bilateral ties and enable us to better address emerging global challenges. These Agreements will also serve as stepping stones for greater engagement between the EU and Southeast Asia.

 As Singapore prepares for the future, we look forward to meeting Prime Minister Lee to discuss the next chapter of our relationship."

 

I am happy to be in Cyprus today on my first visit as President of the European Council. President Anastasiades, thank you for welcoming me. Our meeting takes place at a challenging time for this island and for Europe. And this is what we have discussed today.

First, I warmly welcome the promising resumption of Cyprus settlement talks. I see a real chance to solve this with both parties committed to achieving a lasting solution. A real interest and willingness to act from all parties is the way forward.

The next three months will be critical to eliminate obstacles to the necessary mutual understanding and trust. I have told President Anastasiades today the European Union will continue full and resolute support to the settlement process within the UN framework. We stand ready to provide whatever practical support both parties and the UN would find most useful.

A historical moment is at hand. It should not be missed. Let me assure you that I am ready to do whatever it takes not to miss this one. To the benefit of all of Cyprus, and of Europe.

We also discussed the Middle East and the role of Cyprus as a regional player. I am grateful for President Anastasiades' constructive contribution to help resolve crises in our neighbourhood. Europe has a huge interest in this part of the world. Recent events have underlined how deeply we are all affected by what happens in our neighbourhood.

In this context we also discussed the refugee crisis. This visit is part of my consultations with Member States on how to tackle this huge challenge, incl. the questions of relocation and resettlement. Cyprus is a good example of a country that is ready to help and show solidarity. The time has come to take decisions. Justice and Home Affairs ministers are meeting Monday at an emergency session. From that meeting we will need a concrete, positive sign of solidarity and unity. After contacts that I had with Member States the last few days, I feel more hopeful today that we are closer to finding a solution based on consensus and genuine solidarity. Without such a decision, I will have to call an emergency meeting of the European Council still in September.

President Anastasiades and I also discussed the economic development of Cyprus. I was pleased to hear how the efforts by the people of Cyprus are bringing positive results. It will be important to maintain this momentum and to advance on structural reforms. This will strengthen public finances and lay the ground for sustained growth and job creation now and in the future. I am thankful for the constructive role you have played and will continue to play in the European Union. Thank you.

Jean-Claude Juncker war es, der am vergangenen Mittwoch im Scheinwerferlicht der europäischen Öffentlichkeit stand: Der Präsident der EU-Kommission…

Plenartagung : EU-Kommissionspräsident Juncker hielt am Mittwoch (9.9.) seine erste Rede zur Lage der Union. Schwerpunkt seiner Rede waren die Themen Migration und Griechenland. Am selben Tag hat das Plenum den Notfallplan zur Umsiedlung von Asylsuchenden aus Italien und Griechenland gebilligt. Weitere neue Vorschläge der EU-Kommission zur Migrations- und Asylpolitik wurden positiv aufgenommen. Außerdem wurde ein Klonverbot für Nutztiere und eine Verschärfung des Handelsverbots für Robbenprodukte beschlossen.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP

Eva aus Paris hat uns die folgende Frage geschickt: "Welchen rechtlichen Status hat in der EU der menschliche Embryo?" Carine Brochier vom…

Das EU-Parlament vergibt jedes Jahr den Sacharow-Preis für geistige Freiheit, um die Arbeit von Menschenrechtsaktivisten zu honorieren. Am Donnerstag (10.9.) wurden die sechs Nominierten für den Sacharow-Preis 2015 bekannt gegeben. Die offizielle Präsentation der Nominierten findet am 28. September im Rahmen einer gemeinsamen Sitzung der Ausschüsse für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten und Entwicklung und des Unterausschusses für Menschenrechte statt. Der Preisträger wird im Oktober verkündet werden.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Unterausschuss Menschenrechte
Entwicklungsausschuss

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP

Plenartagung : In einer am Donnerstag angenommenen Entschließung begrüßen die Abgeordneten die neuen Vorschläge der EU-Kommission zur Bewältigung des beispiellosen Zustroms von Migranten und Flüchtlingen und erklären sich bereit, mit der Arbeit an den Gesetzesvorschlägen für eine robuste Migrations- und Asylpolitik für die Zukunft zu beginnen.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP

Plenartagung : Am Mittwochmorgen hat das Parlament über neue Vorschläge der Kommission zur Steuerung der Migration (einschließlich der Umsiedlung von 120.000 Asylsuchenden zusätzlich zur im Mai vorgeschlagenen Umsiedlung von 40.000), für einen dauerhaften Verteilungsmechanismus, eine Liste sicherer Herkunftsländer zur schnelleren Rückführung all jener, deren Asylantrag abgelehnt wurde, sowie für legale Migrationswege in die EU debattiert.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : King Felipe VI of Spain will address the European Parliament in a solemn session during the next Strasbourg plenary, the Conference of Presidents has confirmed today.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

FCD und FMB
Rechtsangleichung
Die Bestandteile eines komplexen Erzeugnisses müssen der Europäischen Chemikalienagentur mitgeteilt werden, wenn sie einen besonders besorgniserregenden Stoff in einer Konzentration von mehr als 0,1 % enthalten

Federación de Servicios Privados del sindicato Comisiones obreras
SOPO
Die Fahrten, die Arbeitnehmer ohne festen oder gewöhnlichen Arbeitsort zwischen ihrem Wohnort und dem Standort des ersten und des letzten Kunden des Tages zurücklegen, stellen Arbeitszeit dar

H&M Hennes & Mauritz / OHMI - Saint Laurent (Forme de sacs à main)
Geistiges und gewerbliches Eigentum
Das Gericht der EU weist die von H&M erhobenen Klagen gegen die Eintragung zweier Geschmacksmuster einer Handtasche von Yves Saint Laurent ab

Panasonic Corp. und MT Picture Display Co. Ltd / Kommission
Wettbewerb
Das Gericht setzt die von der Kommission gegen Panasonic und Toshiba wegen ihrer Beteiligung an einem Kartell auf dem Europäischen Markt für Röhren für Fernsehgeräte verhängten Geldbußen herab

In Ungarn herrscht weiter Chaos: In der Nacht auf Dienstag sind etliche Flüchtlinge auf einer Autobahn in Richtung Budapest marschiert. Die EU-Kommission will indes erneut einen Plan über eine gerechtere Aufteilung der Flüchtlinge unter den 28 Mitgliedsstaaten unterbreiten.

Begleitet von heftigen Bauern-Protesten im Brüsseler Europaviertel gegen sinkende Milch- und Fleischpreise haben die EU-Agrarminister ein 500 Milliarden schweres Hilfspaket geschnürt. Das "frische Geld" soll Europas Landwirten "gezielt" helfen. In Asien will die EU zudem Handelsschranken abbauen.

Der konservative britische Europaabgeordnete Ian Duncan ist ein heißer Kandidat für den Posten des Berichterstatters zur Reform des EU-Emissionshandelssystems. Das ETS-System ist ein wichtiger Eckpfeiler im Kampf der EU gegen den Klimawandel. EurActiv Brüssel berichtet.

Plenartagung : Hunderttausende Migranten, die Schutz vor Krieg und Verfolgung suchen, stellen Europa vor eine historische Bewährungsprobe, unterstrich der Präsident des Europäischen Parlaments Martin Schulz zur Eröffnung der Plenartagung. Weder Mauern noch Abschreckung, weder einzelstaatliche Maßnahmen noch nationale Egoismen seien die richtige Antwort, sondern eine gemeinsame Asyl- und Flüchtlingspolitik, fügte er hinzu.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP

Plenartagung : Das Plenum diskutiert heute (7.9.) über eine Verschärfung des EU-Verbots des Handels mit Robbenerzeugnissen. Die Abstimmung findet am Dienstag (8.9.) statt. Die neuen Bestimmungen sollen das Verbot auf Erzeugnisse aus der Jagd für den Schutz der Fischbestände ausweiten. Robbenerzeugnisse aus der Jagd, die von Inuit oder anderen indigenen Gemeinschaften betrieben wird, sollen zugelassen bleiben. Das EU-Parlament und die Mitgliedstaaten haben sich bereits auf die neue Regelung geeinigt.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2015 - EP