European Union

Coca-Cola, Walmart and other big multinationals pledged on Thursday (20 September) to help reduce plastic pollution in the world's oceans in support of a campaign by five of the G7 industrialised nations.

Written by Carla Stamegna and Angelos Delivorias (1st edition),

© BillionPhotos.com / Fotolia

The increasing importance of central counterparties (CCPs) and challenges such as the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU call for a more comprehensive supervision of CCPs in EU and non-EU countries to secure financial market infrastructure and build confidence. In June 2017, the Commission proposed amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 (ESMA – European Securities and Markets Authority) and Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (EMIR – European Market Infrastructure), to strengthen the regulatory framework: EU CCPs would be supervised by national authorities in agreement with ESMA, and third-country CCPs subject to different requirements depending on whether (or not) they are systemically important. The European Parliament Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) adopted its report in May 2018. Review in Council is ongoing.

Versions

• September 2018: ‘Review of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR): Updated rules on supervision of central counterparties‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Securities and Markets Authority) and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 as regards the procedures and authorities involved for the authorisation of CCPs and requirements for the recognition of third-country CCPs Committee responsible: Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) COM(2017) 331
13.6.2017 Rapporteur: Danuta Maria Hübner (EPP, Poland) 2017/0136(COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Roberto Gualtieri (S&D, Italy)
Kay Swinburne (ECR, United Kingdom)
Petr Ježek (ALDE, Czech Republic)
Matt Carthy (GUE/NGL, Ireland)
Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium)
Jörg Meuthen (EFDD, Germany) Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Trilogue negotiations

The Spanish government has begun winding down state aid for coal power, saying it now sides with a European Commission plan to prohibit so-called capacity payments for plants emitting more than 550g of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour.

A Spanish university already accused of gifting degrees to high-profile politicians is also being probed for allegedly giving away diplomas to hundreds of Italian nationals, a court spokesman said Thursday (20 September). A court in Madrid is investigating whether around...

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on Thursday (20 September) hailed an agreement with Macedonia on changing its name and opening the way for it to join NATO and the European Union.

This week, in Salzburg Theresa May makes a splash, on migration Asselborn and Salvini clash, and Macron’s rolling in merchandise cash.

A confidential report by Belgian investigators confirms that British intelligence services hacked state-owned Belgian telecom giant Belgacom on behalf of Washington, it was revealed on Thursday (20 September).

European Union leaders will push for a Brexit deal next month but warned Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday (20 September) that if she will not give ground on trade and the Irish border by November they are ready to cope with Britain crashing out.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen expressed outrage Thursday (21 September) after being ordered to undergo psychiatric tests for tweeting pictures of atrocities committed by the Islamic State group.

Spirulina, an ancient algae with many nutritional qualities is still not widely grown in Europe, which is, however, a major consumer of this “super food”. In the Nantes region, a market gardening group has ventured into greenhouse farming with the support of European funds. EURACTIV France reports.

Decarbonising Europe’s economy means replacing fossil fuels by renewables wherever possible. And that implies getting much more renewable electricity into heating and transport, writes Giles Dickson.

At the final press conference, President Tusk presented the outcome of the discussions held during the informal summit in Salzburg.

EU leaders poured cold water on Theresa May's Brexit plans at an informal summit in Salzburg on Thursday (20 September) but they remained divided over migration, with French president Emmanuel Macron launching a broadside at the EU's ‘troublesome’ member states.

Written by Ariane Debyser (1st edition),

© Mike Mareen / Fotolia

On 17 May 2018, the Commission adopted the proposal for a directive amending Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management. It is part of the third and last ‘Europe on the Move’ package that includes initiatives supporting the transition towards a safe, clean, automated and connected mobility for all.

The revision, consistent with the goals laid down in the 2011 White Paper on Transport and in the Policy Orientations for Road Safety 2011-2020, was presented together with another legislative proposal on vehicle and pedestrian safety and non-legislative initiatives to promote safe mobility.

The general objective of the proposal, which seeks to address the shortcomings of the existing legislation, is to reduce both road fatalities and serious injuries by improving the safety performance of road infrastructure. It proposes key changes to strengthen road infrastructure safety management procedures and extends the scope of the directive beyond the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).

Versions

• September 2018: ‘Road infrastructure safety management‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management Committee responsible: Transport and Tourism (TRAN) COM(2018) 274
17.5.2018 Rapporteur: Daniela Aiuto (EFDD, Italy) 2018/0129 (COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Claudia Schmidt (EPP, Germany)
Karoline Graswander-Hainz (S&D, Austria)
Mark Demesmaeker (ECR, Belgium)
Matthijs van Miltenburg (ALDE, The Netherlands)
Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, Czech Republic)
Michael Cramer (Greens/EFA, Germany) Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Publication of draft report

British prime minister May said the UK will come forward with new proposals on the Irish border issue, as a November EU summit on Brexit now looks likely.

‘A device of demagogues and dictators’ was the verdict of Clement Attlee, Britain’s great post-war Prime Minister on referendums. He wasn’t wrong. They are also a ruse for spineless politicians to pass the buck on tough decisions to their electorates.

The biggest lesson of all for Europe to learn from Brexit is the importance of mobilising young Europeans to vote, writes Roger Casale.

The justice commissioner says the accommodation-rental website will better inform users about prices, and about the legal status of their 'hosts'. Facebook, however, could face sanctions if it doesn't comply with EU rules.

EU Council president Donald Tusk said Thursday after the EU's Salzburg summit that the UK plan for an economic framework with the EU after Brexit "will not work" because it risked undermining the EU's single market. Tusk added that leaders accepted "some positive elements" in the so-called Chequers plan. He also said EU leaders will decide in October whether to call an extra meeting on Brexit for November.

EU vetting procedures for Libyan coast guard training could pose a security threat, among disagreement on how to handle unfit applicants.