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 […]
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 […]
Civil Liberties MEPs Prepare Stronger Data Protection For EU
A major overhaul of current EU data protection rules, to put people in control of their personal data while at the same time making it easier for companies to move across Europe, was voted by the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday. Responding to mass surveillance cases, MEPs inserted stronger safeguards for data transfers to non-EU […]
EU / Canada Conclude Trade Deal Negotiations
Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have reached a political agreement on the key elements of a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) after months of intense negotiations between EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and Canadian trade Minister Ed Fast. It will be the first free trade agreement between the […]
Council Approves China Investment Negotiation Mandate
Europe’s ministers, meeting at the European Foreign Affairs Council, have approved a mandate for the European Commission to start negotiating an investment agreement with China on behalf of the EU. An EU-China investment agreement will, among other things, improve the protection of EU investments in China and reduce barriers to investment in China. This will help increase […]
Malmström Urges Stronger Action Against Gun Violence
“Every week, we hear of new acts of violence being committed with firearms. Yet the debate about the illegal use and trafficking of guns in Europe is worryingly quiet,”said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs. She commented: “The American debate on gun prevalence is often more visible, when we should be focussing on the home front. […]
Lithuania Presenting Midterm Report In Strasbourg
On 21–24 October, during a plenary session of the EP in Strasbourg, Vytautas Leškevičius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, will present the Lithuanian Presidency’s midterm results to the EP Conference of Committee Chairs. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Algimantas Rimkūnas, Vice-Minister of Finance, will participate in the plenary session’s debates and voting […]
The Left Doesn’t Need More Laws. It Needs Better Lawyers.
Ok. This is what they want: “…a World Court that will judge and sanction economic, political and ecological corporate crimes…” This is the political equivalent of giving a ten year old a toy catalogue and asking “What would you like Sweetheart?” The kid will want one of everything, except, the Lego City on Page 10; […]
An End To Feminicide – New Video Campaign Launched In European Parliament
Launching a new ‘Stop Feminicide’ video campaign at the European Parliament, MEPs Raül Romeva, Ska Keller (European Greens/ALE Group) and Marc Tarabella, MEP (Socialists & Democrats), spoke of the need for greater pressure to end the impunity of those inflicting an often invisible aggression on women in Europe and Latin America. Putting the issue […]
Steel Plan For Europe Announces Tajani
The European Commission today put forward an action plan for the European Steel Industry to help this sector confront today’s challenges and lay the foundations for future competitiveness by fostering innovation, creating growth and jobs. For the first time since the Davignon Plan of 1977, the Commission is proposing an Action Plan for steel. […]