European Union

Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk 7-17 June 2018

The EU’s External Investment Plan (EIP) is the latest addition to the increasingly cluttered landscape of public-private development finance. The EIP's future shape and the role it can play was one of the hot topics at the European Development Days on 5-6 June.

Macedonia's deputy prime minister expects growing "external resistance" as negotiations on the name dispute with Greece get closer to a final deal which would unblock the country's NATO and EU membership bid.

Written by Christian Scheinert (1st edition),

© DeStagge / Fotolia

The European Union is facing new security threats amid growing uncertainty about the reliability of some of its allies. As a consequence, it has embarked on a general scaling-up of its defence capabilities. A European defence action plan has been agreed and a European Defence Fund created to provide financial support, ranging from the research phase to the acquisition phase of military equipment and technologies. The present legislative proposal for EDIDP, which would be part of that fund, is destined to provide the European defence industry with financial support during the development phase of new products and technologies in areas selected at European level. Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) decided to open trilogue negotiations; these have been ongoing since 15 March 2018.

Versions

• June 2018: ‘European defence industrial development programme (EDIDP)‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Defence Industrial Development Programme aiming at supporting the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the EU defence industry Committee responsible: Committee on Industry, Research and Industry (ITRE) COM(2017) 294
7.6.2017 Rapporteur: Françoise Grossetête (EPP, France) 2017/0125(COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Miroslav Poche (S&D, Czech Republic)
Zdzisław Krasnodębski (ECR, Poland)
Dominique Riquet (ALDE, France)
Neoklis Sylikiotis (GUE/NGL, Cyprus)
Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany)
David Borrelli (EFDD, Italy)
Christelle Lechevalier (ENF, France) Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Finalisation of trilogue negotiations

Listen to podcast ‘European defence industrial development programme (EDIDP)‘

Horizon Europe, the EU’s research programme, has been one of the biggest winners of the EU’s long-term budget after 2021. But it’s not all about money (even if we're talking about  €100 billion here). Science needs a mission, Commissioner Carlos Moedas told reporters on Thursday.

The UK proposed Thursday to stay in the EU customs union until a new customs arrangement is agreed, which includes a solution to avoid a hard border in Ireland. It said it expected the new arrangement "to be in place by the end of December 2021 at the latest." EU negotiator Michel Barnier welcomed the proposal but said he wanted to check it respects EU red lines.

As the EU unit dealing fake news and propaganda is under threat, it is now time for some leadership in the fight against Russian disinformation.

The Council reached an agreement on new measures aimed at updating EU electoral law.

The Council adopted a general approach on updated electronic road tolling rules.

Council adopted a general approach on updated rules on port reception facilities.

Council and Parliament agreed on new rules to better punish money laundering criminals.

The Council adopted a general approach on the proposed rules for safeguarding competition in air transport.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The European Commission may be planning to hike spending for its flagship research programme, but health and scientific research, particularly into new vaccines, was not one of the winners from the proposal announced on Thursday (7 June).

In Europe, more than a third of those killed each year by toxic particulate matter - associated with unlawful diesel emissions exceeding the EU limits - live in about 100 conurbations, mainly in Italy, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain.

The Romanian government officially requested UNESCO for the withdrawal of the application to make Rosia Montana a protected world heritage site. This is a pretty clear confirmation that the ruling PSD is in cahoots with Gabriel Resources, the company that promotes the gold mine, writes Claudia Ciobanu.

The UK plans to remain in the EU’s customs union until December 2021 according to a new ‘backstop’ proposal unveiled by Teresa May, aimed at avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

On 7 June 2018, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) co-organised the conference “Military Mobility – Key to European Security” in Brussels. Political and military decision-makers including Federica Mogherini, Head of the European Defence Agency, High-Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Krasimir Karakachanov, NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq as well as Ministers and high level officials of Member States and allied countries, EU bodies, NATO, and other relevant stakeholders assessed progress in and exchanged views on European military mobility.

Military Mobility is key to European security. Today’s security environment demands the smooth, efficient and effective movement of military personnel and assets within and beyond the European Union. As a complex and multidimensional issue, military mobility requires a ‘whole-of-government’ approach whilst respecting national sovereignty.

The EU’s Action Plan on Military Mobility, presented by HR/VP Federica Mogherini and the European Commission on 28 March 2018, outlines the steps the European Union is taking to improve Military Mobility. The Action Plan builds on the Roadmap on Cross-Border Military Transportation developed by the European Defence Agency and in close cooperation and coordination with all relevant actors, including NATO.  

In his opening speech, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Krasimir Karakachanov, said: “The boundaries between internal and external security issues are getting less distinct, the hybrid nature of conflicts is already established as a rule. Improving military mobility is key to the EU's ability to effectively carry out its Common Security and Defense Policy’s operations. Assuring fast and efficient movement of military contingents and materiel, within and outside EU territory, will enable our Union to effectively react to the challenges of the contemporary highly dynamic strategic environment”.

In his closing speech, Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency, emphasized that “Military mobility is not just about defence. A whole of government approach is necessary to achieve results. At EU level we already took our share of responsibility and all relevant EU institutions, agencies and bodies are already working hand in hand to better serve the Member States’ needs. Looking at the European Council at the end of June, it is important for Heads of States and Government to address the issue in order to mobilise a whole of government approach.”

At the conference, high-level speakers from national governments and armed forces as well as NATO representatives and European defence actors discussed the way ahead in key note speeches and two panel discussions focussing on synergies and coordination as well as on military requirements for military mobility respectively. 
 

More information:

• Full conference programme
• EDA Factsheet on Military Mobility
• EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq - closing speech
• Video: speech by Head of EDA - HR/VP Federica Mogherini 
• Speech Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld
• Speech NATO Dep.Sec.Gen. Rose Gottemoeller
• Speech by Richard Landolt, Senior Civilian Secretary of Defense Representative Europe and Defense Advisor to the US Mission to NATO
   

 

Written by Angelos Delivorias (1st edition),

© Andrey Popov / Fotolia

Crowdfunding, an open call to the wider public for raising money online, can help ensure that both individuals and companies get access to finance, especially in the seed and early growth stages of their projects or business. Member States with a developed crowdfunding market have designed bespoke regulatory regimes that differ from each other with regard to the conditions under which platforms can operate, their scope of permitted activities and the licensing requirements applicable to them. As a result of this diversity, cross-border flows remain limited and crowdfunding service providers face challenges in scaling up their operations. To remedy this, the Commission has proposed a regulation providing for uniform, proportionate and directly applicable requirements for the authorisation and supervision of crowdfunding platforms, together with a single point of supervision, and a directive exempting crowdfunding service providers from the scope of MiFID II.

Versions

• June 2018: ‘Establishing a basis for European crowdfunding service providers‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Crowdfunding Service Providers for Business
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments Committee responsible: Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) COM(2018) 99
COM(2018) 113
27.9.2017 Rapporteur: Not yet appointed 2018/0047(COD)
2018/0048(COD) Shadow rapporteurs: Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Initial consideration in committee

 

Read also ‘European crowdfunding service providers for business‘.

Listen to podcast ‘Establishing a basis for European crowdfunding service providers‘