Finance & Trade

EU: Members Have Not Implemented Economic Reforms

April 27, 2015

Reuters reports that an EU document presented to finance ministers from the bloc expresses concern that EU member states have failed to implement necessary reforms mandated by the European Commission.
TTIP Negotiators Propose Central Regulatory Body

April 17, 2015

EurActiv reports that negotiators of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") deal between the U.S. and the EU have proposed a central regulatory monitoring body that would oversee the reforms to economic regulation in the U.S. and Europe required under the agreement.
Bromund: TTIP Does Not Spur Free Enterprise

April 13, 2015

Theodore Bromund of the Heritage Foundation argues that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") currently in negotiation between the U.S. and the EU would reduce regulatory competition and fail to encourage economic freedom.
ECB, U.K. Reach Deal on Clearing Houses

April 09, 2015

Reuters reports that following a pro-U.K. ruling at the Court of Justice of the EU, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank ("ECB") have reached a deal that will permit U.K. clearing houses to continue handling euro-denominated securities transactions.
German Bank Challenges ECB Regulatory Authority

April 08, 2015

The Wall Street Journal reports that a small German lender has filed suit at the European Court of Justice against the European Central Bank ("ECB"), challenging the ECB's assumption of authority from national governments to monitor and regulate banks within the EU.
EU Seeks to Integrate "Digital Economy"

April 08, 2015

Draft proposals recently released by the European Commission would reduce national government control over managing mobile telephone frequencies and would seek to overcome limitations within the EU to cross-border access of online markets.
MEP Calls for EU Parliament to Cut Red Tape

April 01, 2015

U.K. Member of the European Parliament ("MEP") Vicky Ford, head of the Parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee, has called for the body to back new reforms, including a "one in, one out" policy, to cut Brussels red tape that she argues is burdening European businesses.
MEPs Criticize Inefficient Spending of EU Money

April 01, 2015

Members of the European Parliament's ("MEPs") budgetary control committee warned in two recent votes that EU member states are not spending the bloc's money effectively.
EU Leaders Proceed with Energy Union Plans

March 25, 2015

EurActiv reports that government leaders in the European Council broadly agreed to proceed with developing an "energy union" in the EU, though specific details of such a union remain undecided.
EIB Faces Accusations of Lack of Transparency

March 20, 2015

According to The Guardian, a report from the European ombudsman on the European Investment Bank ("EIB"), owned by EU member states, criticizes the EIB for "maladministration" for refusing to make public a report on the alleged evasion of millions in taxes by an African mining firm.