European Union

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The EU Commission should investigate why Google offers its “Android” operating system only in conjunction with other Google services and also why manufacturers allegedly may not pre-install rival products; MEPs say in a response to the Commission’s annual competition report for 2014.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The EU Commission should investigate why Google offers its “Android” operating system only in conjunction with other Google services and also why manufacturers allegedly may not pre-install rival products; MEPs say in a response to the Commission’s annual competition report for 2014.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

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EU relations with Armenia are governed by the EU -Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996 and entered into force in 1999

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General : Officials from nearly 200 countries have been meeting in Paris since late November to negotiate a new climate change agreement for after 2020. This week a delegation of 15 MEPs also takes part in the COP21 conference. Members are participating in background talks with NGOs and delegations from across the world, while the EU commissioner for climate action Miguel Arias Cañete will brief them on the progress of the talks on a daily basis. Live updates from Paris are available on our Storify page.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : Officials from nearly 200 countries have been meeting in Paris since late November to negotiate a new climate change agreement for after 2020. This week a delegation of 15 MEPs also takes part in the COP21 conference. Members are participating in background talks with NGOs and delegations from across the world, while the EU commissioner for climate action Miguel Arias Cañete will brief them on the progress of the talks on a daily basis. Live updates from Paris are available on our Storify page.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : A delegation of 15 MEPs heads to Paris this week as world leaders gather at COP21 to hammer out a global agreement to fight climate change. Back in Brussels members of the civil liberties committee discuss the current situation concerning so-called migrant "hotspots" in Greece and Italy. In addition MEPs meet their counterparts from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in Brussels, and Parliament's political groups prepare for the final plenary session of the year in Strasbourg next week.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : A delegation of 15 MEPs heads to Paris this week as world leaders gather at COP21 to hammer out a global agreement to fight climate change. Back in Brussels members of the civil liberties committee discuss the current situation concerning so-called migrant "hotspots" in Greece and Italy. In addition MEPs meet their counterparts from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in Brussels, and Parliament's political groups prepare for the final plenary session of the year in Strasbourg next week.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Place
Justus Lipsius building, Brussels 

Chair
Pierre Gramegna, Minister for Finance of Luxembourg 

All times are approximate and subject to change 

+/- 08.00
ESM Board of Directors 

+/- 08.45
Doorstep by Minister Gramegna

+/- 09.00
Ministerial breakfast
Roundtable 

+/- 10.15
Informal session on SRM (bridge financing) 

+/- 10.45
Beginning of ECOFIN Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of legislative A items (in public session)

+/- 10.25
Financial transaction tax
Common consolidated corporate tax base
Banking union - European deposit insurance scheme
Any Other Business
Approval of non-legislative A items
Implementation of banking union
Terrorist financing
Business taxation - Code of conduct
Business taxation - Base erosion and profit shifting
Economic governance - 2016 European Semester
Flexibility under the Stability and Growth Pact
EU statistics
EU budget discharge - Court of Auditors report 

14 .00 (At the end of the meeting)
Press conference

The Council appointed Angel Losada Fernandez as the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel until 28 February 2017.

Mr Losada replaces Mr Michel Dominique Reveyrand - De Menthon, who was appointed on 18 March 2013.

EUSRs promote the EU's policies and interests in troubled regions and countries and support the work the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Mr Losada will lead the EU's contribution to regional and international efforts for lasting peace, security and development in the Sahel. He will also coordinate the EU's comprehensive approach to the regional crisis, on the basis of the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel.

Mr Losada is a senior Spanish diplomat with more than 30 years' experience. He recently served as ambassador of Spain to Nigeria and Kuwait.

General : "Faced with the atrocities committed in certain parts of the world, we must play our part in worldwide solidarity", said Co-President Louis Michel (ALDE, BE) at the opening of the 30th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Brussels on Monday. " ‘Fortress Europe’ is not a solution and is unworthy of the humanist values that Europe defends", he insisted, adding that it must "shoulder its duty of humanity towards refugees fleeing war, violence or dictatorship".

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : "Faced with the atrocities committed in certain parts of the world, we must play our part in worldwide solidarity", said Co-President Louis Michel (ALDE, BE) at the opening of the 30th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Brussels on Monday. " ‘Fortress Europe’ is not a solution and is unworthy of the humanist values that Europe defends", he insisted, adding that it must "shoulder its duty of humanity towards refugees fleeing war, violence or dictatorship".

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

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EU Ministers of Employment, Social Affairs, Consumer Protection, Health and Equal Opportunities (EPSCO) meet on 7 December 2015 in Brussels to try to reach a general approach on women on company boards directive, and to tackle the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market. Conclusions on the reduction of alcohol-related harm, personalised medicine, dementia and lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak are also to be adopted.

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I am writing to let you know where we stand on the issue of a UK in/out referendum before we address it at the December European Council.

In November Prime Minister Cameron set out the four areas where he is seeking reforms to address the concerns of the British people over UK membership of the European Union. On this basis, we, in close cooperation with the Commission, held extensive bilateral consultations at Sherpa level with all Member States. We also discussed it with representatives of the European Parliament.

Clearly this is a significant and far-reaching agenda. Consultations have shown that the issues raised by the British Prime Minister are difficult. At the same time there is a strong will on the part of all sides to find solutions that respond to the British request while benefiting the European Union as a whole.

We have been looking at the four baskets mentioned by PM Cameron. Let me briefly set out my assessment of where we are in this respect.

1. On the relations between the euro ins and outs we could search for an agreement around a set of principles that will ensure the possibility for the euro area to develop further and be efficient while avoiding any kind of discrimination vis-à-vis Member States that are not yet, or, in some cases, will not be part of the euro. We are also looking into the possibility of a mechanism that will support these principles by allowing Member States that are not in the euro the opportunity to raise concerns, and have them heard, if they feel that these principles are not being followed, without this turning into a veto right.

2. On competitiveness, there is a very strong determination to promote this objective and to fully use the potential of the internal market in all its components. Everybody agrees on the need to further work on better regulation and on lessening the burdens on business while maintaining high standards. The contribution of trade to growth is also very important in this respect, in particular trade agreements with fast growing parts of the world.

3. The third basket concerns sovereignty. There is wide agreement that the concept of "ever closer union among the peoples" allows for various paths of integration for different countries. Those that want to deepen integration can move ahead, while respecting the wish of those who do not want to deepen any further. There is also a largely shared view on the importance of the role of national parliaments within the Union as well as strong emphasis on the principle of subsidiarity.

4. The fourth basket on social benefits and the free movement of persons is the most delicate and will require a substantive political debate at our December meeting. While we see good prospects for agreeing on ways to fight abuses and possibly on some reforms related to the export of child benefits, there is presently no consensus on the request that people coming to Britain from the EU must live there and contribute for four years before they qualify for in-work benefits or social housing. This is certainly an issue where we need to hear more from the British Prime Minister and an open debate among ourselves before proceeding further.

All in all it is my assessment that so far we have made good progress. We need some more time to sort out the precise drafting on all of these issues, including the exact legal form the final deal will take. We also have to overcome the substantial political differences that we still have on the issue of social benefits and free movement. The December European Council should address all the political dilemmas related to this process. Based on a substantive political discussion we should be able to prepare a concrete proposal to be finally adopted in February.

Let me finally share with you some political remarks. All involved must take their part of responsibility. I will act as an honest broker but all Member States and the institutions must show readiness for compromise for this process to succeed. Our goal is to find solutions that will meet the expectations of the British Prime Minister, while cementing the foundations on which the EU is based. Uncertainty about the future of the UK in the European Union is a destabilizing factor. That is why we must find a way to answer the British concerns as quickly as possible.

In times when geopolitics is back in Europe, we need to be united and strong. This is in our common interest and in the interest of each and every EU Member State. The UK has played a constructive and important role in the development of the European Union and I am sure that it will continue to do so in the future.