The Newsletter n°723 — 4 juil. 2016
La Lettre
Thierry Chopin, Jean-François Jamet
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4 July 2016
With the Brexit the UK has brusquely leapt into the unknown, and probably protracted negotiations over the terms of its separation and its future relations with the European Union. Hence a task of rationalisation and clarification is now vital at various levels of integration within the European Union, meaning that the way the "two Europes", i.e. the euro zone and the single market function together has to be rethought.
Foundation
"Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2016"
4 July 2016
The 10th issue of the "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2016" is now out and is available in bookshops, on the Foundation's site and in digital format. Order your copy now!
Financial Crisis
The UK loses its triple A status
4 July 2016
The agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch downgraded the debt rating of the UK on 27th June from "AAA" to "AA" as they confirmed the choice of the British electorate to leave the EU, with the former justifying their move by the uncertainty generated by the referendum result.
French government debt rising
4 July 2016
France's government debt lay at 2,137.6 billion € in the first quarter, up by 40.7 billion in comparison with the previous quarter, announced the National Statistics Institute for Economic Studies (INSEE) on 30th June.
S&P downgrade the EU's rating after the British referendum
4 July 2016
The agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the EU's long term debt rating on 30th June explaining that its decision was based on post-Brexit referendum uncertainty as the UK voted in support of leaving the EU.
Migration
Migrant trafficking is spreading and is to the benefit of more and more traffickers
4 July 2016
Europol indicated on 27th June that 7000 further suspects connected to migrant trafficking had been identified between January and June 2016. The agency also reported the increasing profitability of this trafficking for criminals and that there has notably been an explosion in the prices paid by migrants.
Strong decline in illegal migration in the Western Balkans
4 July 2016
Frontex published an analysis on 1st July for the Western Balkans in the first quarter in 2016. The number of illegal border crossings by migrants from Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria dropped by 84% in comparison with the previous quarter to 215,000.
European Council
Conclusions of the European Council
4 July 2016
On 28th June the 28 European heads of State and government discussed the result of the UK referendum. They also adopted conclusions on migration, external relations as well as employment, growth and investment.
Declaration of heads of State and government following the British referendum
4 July 2016
After the informal plenary meeting on 29th June the 27 heads of State and government published a joint declaration recalling that European legislation would continue to apply until the effective exit of the UK from the Union.
Commission
Protection of children in cross-border disputes
4 July 2016
On 30th June the European Commission put forward an improvement in the rules designed to protect children in terms of cross-border disputes as far as parental custody, visiting rights and the kidnapping of children was concerned
Draft EU budget for 2017
4 July 2016
On 30th June the Commission presented the draft EU budget for 2017 which lies at 134.9 billion €.
EU-Korea Agreement: positive impact on trade for the EU
4 July 2016
On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the entry into force of the EU-Korea free-trade agreement the Commission published a detailed report on July 1st on the impact this agreement has made to trade. This report notes, amongst others, the conversion of a trade deficit into a trade surplus in the EU's favour and a 55% rise in EU exports to South Korea since 2011.
EU-Georgia and EU-Moldova Association Agreements
4 July 2016
On 1st July the EU-Georgia and EU-Moldova Association Agreements entered into force.
Parliament
Debate and vote over the British referendum
4 July 2016
During an extraordinary plenary session on 28th June MEPs adopted a resolution on the UK referendum results and its impact on the European Union.
Council
Ban on deep sea fishing at over 800m
4 July 2016
On 30th June the European Union announced the ban on deep sea fishing at over 800m on the basis of an agreement found between the Member States, the Commission and European Parliament after years of negotiations.
Extension of economic sanctions against Russia
4 July 2016
On 1st July the Council of the European Union extended economic sanctions against Russia for a further six months until 31st January 2017.
Diplomacy
Partnership between the USA and the EU
4 July 2016
On 27th June on the occasion of a joint press conference with the American Secretary of State John Kerry, Federica Mogherini recalled that the partnership between the EU and the USA was still strong and vital.
Overall strategy for the EU's foreign and security policy
4 July 2016
On the occasion of the European Council of 28th June Federica Mogherini presented an overall strategy for the European Union regarding the foreign and security policy.
Paris-Balkans Summit
1 January 1970
The third summit on the Western Balkans took place on 4th July in Paris. Five Member States took part (Germany, Austria, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia) and six of the EU's neighbouring countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, FRYM, Montenegro, Serbia). The summit aimed to find joint answers to the region's problems.
Austria
Austrian presidential election invalidated
4 July 2016
On July 1st the Austrian Constitutional Court invalidated the second round of the presidential election that took place on 24th May 2016 following the discovery of irregularities in the counting of voting slips.
Luxembourg
Verdict in LuxLeaks whistleblower trial
4 July 2016
On 29th June the Luxembourg courts found Antoine Deltour and Raphaël Halet guilty of "theft, infringement of professional confidentiality and trade secrets" but also "of access or maintenance of a fraudulent IT system, of laundering and the infringement of trade secrets."
The Netherlands
The Netherlands ends its Presidency of the Council
4 July 2016
On 30th June the Netherlands ended its six monthly presidency of the Council, which was notably devoted to the management of the migratory crisis and also to innovation, growth and employment.
UK
George Osborne speaks of the referendum
4 July 2016
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne spoke on 27th June to announce that following the speech by David Cameron and his decision not to trigger the procedure linked to article 50 immediately he will not launch any emergency measures for the British economy and will wait for the arrival of a new Prime Minister in the autumn before revising the budget.
Nicola Sturgeon wants to start preparations for a Scottish referendum
4 July 2016
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke to the Scottish parliament on 28th June to call on Scotland to remain united and for the British government to take a decision following the results of 23rd June. On 29th June she travelled to Brussels to meet the leaders of Europe and to discuss the future of the Scottish situation.
Speech by David Cameron at Westminster
4 July 2016
The British Prime Minister spoke to parliament on 29th June giving account of the discussions that he held with European leaders the day before. He notably indicated that the latter did not want the UK all of the advantages of membership without certain costs and that this would be "a challenge for the next Prime Minister."
Oliver Robbins responsible for relations with the EU
4 July 2016
Oliver Robbins, a former leading civil servant responsible for immigration policy at the Home Affairs Ministry was appointed on 29th June as the head of the new unit for relations with the EU following the British referendum.
New British Prime Minister on 9th September
4 July 2016
The name of the successor to British Prime Minister David Cameron will be revealed on 9th September; the candidates declared their intentions on 29th and 30th June. Boris Johnson relinquished the contest. The Conservatives will have to decide between five candidates: Theresa May, Michael Gove, Stephen Crabb, Liam Fox and Andrea Leadsom.
Jeremy Corbyn refuses to resign in spite of the no-confidence motion
4 July 2016
The Labour leader announced on 28th June that he refused to resign in spite of the no-confidence motion adopted by 172 MPs of the Labour Party against 40. Several of the party's senior leaders have resigned.
Resignation of Nigel Farage as leader of UKIP
4 July 2016
Nigel Farage announced on 4th July that he was resigning as leader of the Europhobic anti-immigration party UKIP.
Slovakia
Slovakia starts its Presidency of the Council
4 July 2016
On July 1st Slovakia's Presidency of the Council of the European Union started for a 6 month period. On 30th June the country put forward its programme for the presidency.
Council of Europe
Discrimination against Roma in the Czech Republic
4 July 2016
In an opinion published on 1st July the Council of Europe has invited the Czech Republic to make more effort to eradicate the segregation of and discrimination perpetrated against Roma.
Eurostat
Unemployment: downward trend
4 July 2016
According to Eurostat in a press release dated 1st July the unemployment rate in the EU totalled 8.6% in May. In the euro zone it totalled 10.1% in comparison with 9.6% and 11% in May 2015.
Eurobarometer
European citizens' views and expectations of the EU
4 July 2016
The European Parliament published the results of a Eurobarometer survey on July 1st on the views and expectations of Europe's citizens vis-à-vis the EU. The poll was undertaken between 9th and 18th April 2016. According to the survey the fight to counter terrorism should be the priority, ahead of the fight to counter unemployment, tax evasion, immigration, the protection of the borders and the environment.
Culture
Avignon Festival
4 July 2016
The 70th theatre festival of Avignon, which will include around 30 shows, will be taking place from 6th to 24th July.
Foreign Affairs Festival Berlin
4 July 2016
From 5th to 17th July the "Foreign Affairs" international festival of contemporary performing arts will be taking place in Berlin.
Bospop Festival Netherlands
4 July 2016
On 9th and 10th July the annual pop-rock festival Bospop will be taking place in Weert, the Netherlands.
Photography Days - Arles
4 July 2016
The 47th photography days of Arles will be taking place until 25th September with the organisation of over 60 exhibitions.
Bilbao BBK Live
4 July 2016
From 7th to 9th July the Bilbao BBK Live music festival will bring the centre of Bilbao alive with several concerts.
Exit Festival
4 July 2016
From 7th to 10th July the Exit Festival which has brought together the greatest international artists for the last fifteen years, will be taking place in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Chagall Exhibition in Landerneau
4 July 2016
The Hélène & Edouard Leclerc Funds for Culture is presenting an exhibition on Marc Chagall for the first time in Landerneau (France) until November 1st.
Agenda
les 4th-7th July
Plenary Session of the European Parliament (Strasbourg)
4th July
Western Balkans Summit (Paris)
7th and 8th July
Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers (Bratislava)
les 8th-9th July
NATO Summit (Warsaw)
11th & 12th July
Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers (Bratislava)
11th July
Eurogroup (Brussels)
Newsletter Archives
Unsettling shifts in the European Defence Fund
The European Union and its islands as they face today's challenges
Ukraine: Behind the Kremlin's ill will lies the risk of eternal war
Up against Trump, Canada's unlikely European destiny
A Danish Presidency that is embracing the European Union like never before
The Editors of the Newsletter :
Charles de Marcilly, Helen Levy ,Rodolphe Baron, Angéline Garde, Patricia Gautier, Emma Giraud,Guillaume Gorge, Morgane Mounier, Laura Zani
N°ISSN : 2729-6482
Editor-in-Chief :
Eric Maurice
Director of Publication :
Pascale Joannin
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