“I want to strongly emphasise that today’s approval of the draft amending budget (DAB 6/2013) does not eliminate the need for fresh money to pay the bills already submitted by the Member States, not to mention those coming up in November and December, which will inevitably affect the already tight 2014 budget”, said Giovanni La […]
Stronger Social Protection Urged For EU Workers. Too Late?
With glacial speed action will surely follow. EU leaders have met with trade unions and employers’ organisations (social partners) for talks on how to strengthen the social dimension of the EU and the euro area, including by better monitoring employment and social trends in future. The social partners joined European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, […]
Fight Club. Parliament Reverses Council Budget Cuts
The European Parliament reversed the Council’s proposed cuts in research and employment expenditure in 2014 in a plenary vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday. MEPs also reversed cuts in funding for international policy, such as humanitarian aid to the Middle East and Syrian refugees and added funds for the external border control agency Frontex. Parliament proposes […]
Standard European VAT Return Proposed
A new standard VAT return, which can cut costs for EU businesses by up to €15 billion a year, has been proposed by the Commission today. The aim of this initiative is to slash red-tape for businesses, ease tax compliance and make tax administrations across the Union more efficient. Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner for Taxation, said: “The […]
Cummins Launches Green Power System Campaign
Cummins Power Generation, a leading global manufacturer of power generation systems, has launched a new initiative to help engineers and specifiers understand how they can future-proof their facilities with low-emission power systems. The new initiative includes the launch of http://now.cumminspower.com/greenprint, a digital video channel using an ambitious “talking heads” advertising campaign. The campaign demonstrates Cummins […]
Lady In Waiting. Aung San Suu Kyi Receives The Sakharov Prize
Myanmar/Burma militant and parliamentary opposition leader finally received the Sakharov Prize, awarded to her in 1990, at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 22 October. Ms Suu Kyi was released from house arrest three years ago. The prize was presented at a special ceremony during the plenary session, chaired by European Parliament President, Martin Schulz. “You […]
U.S.-Ukraine Rule of Law Working Group Meets in Kyiv
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Thomas O. Melia, will lead an interagency delegation to Kyiv, Ukraine for the sixth meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Political Dialogue/Rule of Law Working Group, October 21-25. The delegation will include Paige Alexander, Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Catherine Newcombe, Regional Director […]
EU Supports Ukrainian OSCE Progess, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister
The European Union welcomes, “the balanced and pragmatic approach” by Ukraine chairing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and it fully supports Kiev’s preparations for the upcoming OSCE meeting, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius. Linkevičius represented the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the EU-OSCE meeting in Luxembourg on […]
Colombia, Peru and UAE May Get Right To Visit EU Without Visas
Citizens of Colombia, Peru and the United Arab Emirates should be able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa, said the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday, amending a draft update of the EU visa regulation to this effect. The Commission’s initial proposal envisaged a visa waiver only for citizens of five Caribbean island […]
Small Investors To Get Key Facts, Say MEPs
Small investors should get a Key Information Document (KID) giving clear, comparable and complete information on any investment product before signing a binding contract, said Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs voting on a draft law on Monday. The EU investment market is worth €10 trillion, so unsuitable investment products harm the economy, as well […]