Finance & Trade

Officials Plan Broadened EU Oversight of UK Financial Firms

January 09, 2018

Bloomberg reports that, with an eye toward Brexit, the European Commission has proposed new rules to broaden EU oversight of financial firms deemed "systemic," many of which will be UK firms establishing new offices in the EU after Britain leaves the bloc, and to tighten equivalence rules determining whether foreign financial firms may operate within the bloc.
Officials Consider Creation of EU-UK Trade Tribunal

January 08, 2018

The Express reports that UK government officials are considering a proposal to establish a new international tribunal after Brexit to resolve trade disputes between the EU and Britain and replace the authority of the Court of Justice of the EU over the UK.
Facebook Responds to Global Pressure on Tax Revenue

January 05, 2018

Politico reports that, as EU and international bodies ramp up pressure on technology companies to pay their "fair share" of taxes to governments of countries in which they offer their services, Facebook has announced that it will pay taxes for advertising revenue in the countries in which its relevant sales offices are located.
Howe: "Closed" EU Trade Deal Could Hurt Britain

January 05, 2018

British barrister Martin Howe QC writes that a free trade deal with the EU will not help the British economy if it requires the UK to retain such close regulatory convergence with the bloc that it shuts out possibilities of trade deals with other global economies.
UK Official Seeks Same Trade Status with EU After Brexit

January 05, 2018

In a recent interview, the UK's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said he hoped the UK and the EU would strike a "full and comprehensive agreement on trade that’s as close to what we have today as possible," raising questions about the extent to which relations between the jurisdictions would change following Brexit.
Critics Oppose Macron's EU Policy of "Soft Protectionism"

January 03, 2018

Politico reports that a group of EU political and civil society leaders are concerned that French President Emmanuel Macron is threatening the integrity of the EU by pushing for economic policies that boost a "soft protectionism" of French companies and workers at the expense of other countries in the bloc.
EU Council: Bank Guidelines Overstep ECB Authority

December 20, 2017

Reuters reports that the Council of the EU, adding its voice to that of the European Parliament, has issued a legal opinion that the European Central Bank (ECB) does not have the authority to issue guidelines it has proposed for banks across the eurozone advising that they set aside additional cash to deal with bad loans.
EC Proposes Further Economic and Monetary Integration

December 14, 2017

The European Commission (EC) has outlined a series of steps “in the process of completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union,” including proposals for establishing a European Monetary Fund and a European Minister of Economy and Finance.
ECB Announces Plans for Financial Market Integration

December 14, 2017

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced several steps it will take over the coming years to further integrate EU financial markets and consolidate collateral management across the bloc.
EESC Calls for Common EU Food Policy

December 14, 2017

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called on the EU to establish a “comprehensive food policy” to regulate and direct the bloc’s food and agriculture economies in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other cultural and health aims.