European Union

The Nato heads of state and government will meet in Warsaw on July 7 and 8. One key item on the agenda is the Alliance's stance on Russia. But member states are far from seeing eye to eye on this point, commentators point out.

Employers can forbid employees from wearing headscarves provided they have a general ban on visible religious or ideological symbols, the advocate general of the European Court of Justice has said in a statement. Should the Court follow her recommendation?

The German parliament plans to pass a resolution on the genocide of the Armenians in 1915 and 1916. As the legal successor of the Ottoman Empire Turkey rejects the accusation of genocide and many German Turks are protesting against the parliamentary initiative and warning of the negative impact on German-Turkish relations. The European press praises the German politicians at least for their courage.

On 1 June 2016, the Council authorised, on behalf of the EU, the signature and provisional application of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the EU and the South African Development Community (SADC) EPA Group. The South African Development Community EPA group comprises Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. 

The signing ceremony of the SADC-EU EPA is due to take place in Kasane (Botswana) on 10 June 2016.

The economic partnership agreements are intended to enhance regional integration and economic development in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. They are based on the principle of asymmetrical market opening, meaning that they provide a better access to the EU market for ACP partners. They notably offer unprecedented market opportunities for agricultural and fisheries products.  EPAs replace the previous market access regime of unilateral preferences for ACP countries.

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Alongside Boris Johnson’s Brexit metamorphosis, it must be the transformation of the referendum campaign. For close to a quarter-century, Britain’s control-obsessed Treasury was the EU’s most eurosceptic finance ministry. Yet in recent months it became the go-to armoury for Remain campaigners, churning out ever more harrowing economic warnings on the consequences of Brexit. Whitehall’s broody power centre saw the light – or at least the costs of leaving.

Should Britain vote to stay in the EU, eternal optimists in Brussels – and there are a few left – might take this as a positive sign. In theory, the vote should “settle this European question in British politics” – just as David Cameron promised. The europhile Treasury could lead a mini-renaissance in British EU influence. The UK’s ambitious 2017 EU presidency could press for trade deals and deepening the single market. A multi-tier EU would give Britain the reassurance it craves; London’s defensive crouch on EU policy could end. The Economist’s Bagehot outlines just such an initiative.

Many will find it hard to believe.

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General : Be better informed about the European Parliament and its activities by signing up to our email updates service. As new developments take place all the time and useful documents get regularly published, it can be hard to keep track of everything that is happening. However, our email notification system makes it easier for you to follow the topics that really interest you.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Be better informed about the European Parliament and its activities by signing up to our email updates service. As new developments take place all the time and useful documents get regularly published, it can be hard to keep track of everything that is happening. However, our email notification system makes it easier for you to follow the topics that really interest you.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

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Here comes the digital cavalry. The European Commission will this week weigh-in on the side of business prodigies like Airbnb and Uber, warning European authorities to stop stifling the “sharing economy” with blatantly protectionist rules. It is only guidance. It may well be ignored. But it is a start.

Whereas free-wheeling Silicon Valley tends to see EU regulators as a nuisance or business risk, some companies actively want Brussels to intervene. That is especially true for businesses upending traditional models for selling transport or accommodation. Airbnb and Uber are trying to harness whatever pro-market forces they can to end incumbent-friendly, competition-killing rules from Paris to Barcelona.

By that measure, the Commission guidance is positive for the sector. Outright bans or quantitative restrictions on services are cast as unnecessary and harmful. So, for instance, it is seen as a bad thing to fine Berliners up to €100,000 for renting out their homes on Airbnb. The decision of a Milan court to ban the “unfair competition” posed by Uber probably falls into that category too. Equally hard to justify: a Madrid court ruling asking telecoms operators to disable access to Uber.

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