The Letter n°724

Open panel Open panel
The Letter n°724
The Letter
Tuesday 12th July 2016
issue 724
The Foundation on
The foundation application
available on Appstore and Google Play
What type of reform of the common European asylum regime are we heading toward?
Author : Corinne Balleix
Corinne Balleix
The migratory crisis that the European Union is experiencing right now has brought to light serious weaknesses in the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which aims to define the Member State responsible for the assessment of an asylum request , to establish common procedures and reception rules for asylum seekers and to distinguish between those who really need international protection from economic migrants . In answer to this challenge and in the wake of emergency measures, the European Commission has already put forward and will present proposals for the structural reform of this system in the next few days thereby aiming to make it "more human" and more effective.
Read more
Foundation : NATO Summit and European Security
photo
On 12th July in Brussels the Martens Centre, the Adenauer and Seidel Foundations are organising a public debate on "The NATO Summit in Warsaw and European Security" hosted by Charles de Marcilly, the Manager of the Foundation's office in Brussels... Read more
"Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2016"
photo
The 10th "Schuman Report on Europe, State of the Union 2016" was published and is now available in bookshops, on the Foundation's site and in digital version. Order your copy now!.. Read more

Financial Crisis : The IMF is forecasting a decline in economic growth for the euro zone in 2017
photo
On 8th July the IMF declared that the euro zone's economic growth will be down in 2017 from 1.6% to 1.4%, one of the main reasons for this instability being the British referendum... Read more
Spain and Portugal still have excessive deficits
photo
On 7th July the European Commission declared that Spain and Portugal would not be able to correct their government's excessive deficit within the given time span... Read more
Risks to financial stability after the British referendum
photo
On 5th July the Bank of England explained that the exit from the EU was threatening financial stability. It also decided to lighten the capital constraints that banks are obliged to respect... Read more

Migration : European Border and Coast Guard
photo
The proposals aiming to establish a European border control system bringing together the European agency Frontex and the national authorities gained the support of MEPs on 6th July... Read more
Integration of refugees into the labour market
photo
A resolution adopted by MEPs on 6th July believes that the integration of refugees into the labour market is vital to restore their dignity and that this is positive for the economy of the host country... Read more
European List of safe countries of origin
photo
MEPs of the Commission for Civil Liberties approved the establishment of a common European list of safe countries of origin on 7th July which should replace the present national lists after a transition period of three years... Read more
Referendum on 2nd October on the relocation of refugees
photo
Hungarian President Janos Ader announced on 5th July that a referendum would be held on 2nd October next on the European plan to distribute refugees via quotas within the Member States of the EU... Read more
Italy - arrests of migrant smugglers
photo
On 4th July the Italian police announced that it had made a great number of arrests amongst a network of migrant smugglers across the entire country thanks to an Eritrean, the first foreign smuggler to integrate a reform programme... Read more
Strengthening cooperation with the countries of origin
photo
A study by Corinne Balleix for the OECD presents the main tools available to the EU for cooperation with third countries in the context of economic immigration... Read more

Commission : More fiscal transparency to counter evasion, laundering and terrorism
photo
On 5th July the Commission suggested strengthening rules to counter capital laundering that is contributing to the financing of terrorism and to encourage greater fiscal transparency... Read more
Other link
Agreement in the cybersecurity sector
photo
On 5th July the European Commission signed a new public/private partnership with the cybersecurity sector that is due to generate 1.8 billion € in investments by 2020 and help make the sector more competitive... Read more
Financial instruments to stimulate investments in young businesses
photo
On 11th July the European Commission launched two new financial instruments with the aim of stimulating investments under the ESI funds enabling young businesses and promoters of urban development projects to ease access to financing... Read more
The agreement with Canada -CETA- a mixed agreement
photo
On 5th July the Commission proposed the conclusion and signature of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement -CETA- between the EU and Canada with the status of "mixed" agreement... Read more
Other link
Security and Development of Partner countries
photo
The Commission and the High Representative delivered a communication on 5th July on the reform of the sector of security and a proposal to step up security and development in the partner countries... Read more
Initiation of an anti-dumping procedure in steel
photo
On 7th July the Commission announced the initiation of an anti-dumping procedure regarding "the import of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel originating in Brazil, Iran, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine" which might be damaging European industry... Read more

Parliament : Long term budget and work programme for 2017
photo
On 6th July MEPs called for a revision of the Union's long term budget in order to rise to the present challenges. At the same time they drafted recommendations for the Commission's 2017 work programme... Read more
Other link
Robert Fico visits the European Parliament
photo
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country took over the presidency of the Council on 1st July, presented the programme his country intended to undertake to MEPs on 6th July... Read more

Council : Approval of the data protection shield EU/USA
photo
On 8th July the Member States approved the EU/USA data protection shield regarding transatlantic data flows, which will be to the benefit of both citizens and businesses... Read more
Eurogroup Conclusions
photo
On 11th July the Eurogroup ministers discussed the economic situation, the results of the supervisory programmes in Portugal and Ireland, of the budgetary situation in Portugal and Spain as well as improvements in investments... Read more

Diplomacy : Stepping up relations between the EU and Argentina
photo
On 4th July Federica Mogherini stressed and welcomed the stepping up of relations between the EU and Argentina... Read more
G20 Trade
photo
During the G20 Trade on 9th and 10th July Ministers said they were determined to boost international trade to stimulate the economy, but they said they were concerned about increasing protectionist barriers... Read more

ECB : New 50€ note
photo
On 5th July the European Central Bank unveiled the new 50€ note that will be put into circulation on 4th April 2017... Read more

Germany : Germany: integration rules for refugees
photo
On 8th July Germany adopted an unprecedented law governing the integration of refugees, their rights and their obligations following a record number of arrivals in the country last year... Read more

Austria : New presidential election on 2nd October
photo
After the invalidation of the second round of the Austrian presidential election of 24th May last by the country's Constitutional Court the Austrian government announced on 5th July that a new 2nd round with the same candidates will take place on 2nd October... Read more
Other link

Spain : Mariano Rjoy wants to form a government as quickly as possible
photo
The leader of the Spanish People's Party and outgoing President of the government, Mariano Rajoy said on 7th July that he wants to form a government as quickly as possible... Read more

Greece : The port of Piraeus now owned by the Chinese Cosco
photo
The cessation of 67% of the company of Piraeus (OLP) the biggest port in Greece to the Chinese maritime transport giant 'China Ocean Shipping Company' Cosco, was validated on 1st July by the Greek Parliament. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras then travelled to China... Read more
Other link

Portugal : Portugal, European Champions
photo
On 10th July following a goal by Eder in the 109th minute Portugal won against France 1-0 and are now the Euro2016 champions... Read more

UK : Theresa May appointed Prime Minister on 13th July
photo
David Cameron announced on 11th July that Theresa May would take over as Prime Minister as of 13th July after the announcement that Andrea Leadsom was withdrawing from the race. Mr Cameron also said that he would present his resignation to the Queen on the same day after Question Time in parliament. .. Read more
Move towards the merging of the London Stock Exchange - Deutsche Börse
photo
Shareholders of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) gave the go-ahead on 5th July to the merger with Deutsche Börse, the manager of the stock exchange in Frankfurt... Read more
Julian King put forward as new European Commissioner
photo
On 8th July David Cameron put forward Julian King, the present Ambassador to France, to become the new British European Commissioner following the resignation of Jonathan Hill... Read more
Other link

NATO : Conclusions of the NATO Summit in Warsaw
photo
On the occasion of the NATO Summit in Warsaw on 8th and 9th July the heads of State and government announced the enhancement of collective deterrence and defence measures and addressed the situations in Afghanistan and Ukraine... Read more
Other link

OECD : Employment Outlook
photo
The OECD's Employment Outlook offers an in-depth assessment of the recent development of the labour market and its short term outlook in the OECD countries... Read more
Agricultural Outlook 2016-2025
photo
On 4th July the OECD and the FAO published the Agricultural Outlook 2016-2025... Read more

Eurostat : EU population rising, but with negative natural change
photo
According to Eurostat on 8th July the EU's population reached 510.1 million residents on 1st January 2016, ie +1.8 million in comparison with 1st January 2015. This rise is mainly due to a positive migratory balance whilst natural change was negative for the very first time... Read more

Studies/Reports : Publication of the Chilcot Report on the UK's role in Iraq
photo
On 6th July Sir John Chilcot published an incriminating report regarding the role played by the UK in Iraq in 2003 and by Tony Blair, the then Prime Minister... Read more
Other link
Consolidated banking data 2015
photo
On 6th July the ECB published consolidated banking data in the euro zone and the European Union for 2015... Read more

Culture : Caravaggio Exhibition - Madrid
photo
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is hosting an exhibition on the Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio until 18th September... Read more
David Hockney exhibition London
photo
The Royal Academy of Art in London is hosting an exhibition on David Hockney until 2nd October... Read more
Chagall Exhibition at Forte di Bard
photo
The Forte di Bard near Turin is hosting an exhibition on the poetic nature of Marc Chagall's art until 13th November... Read more
Jazz Festival Perugia
photo
The music festival Umbria Jazz is taking place until 17th July in Perugia... Read more
Jazz Festival Nice
photo
The Jazz Festival of Nice is taking place from 16th to 20th July... Read more
Shakespeare Festival Cambridge
photo
The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival is taking place until 27th August... Read more
Vieilles Charrues Festival
photo
The music festival Vieilles Charrues is taking place from 14th to 17th July in Carhaix-Plouguer, Brittany... Read more
International Festival of Benicassim
photo
The international festival of Benicassim devoted to independent pop, rock and electronic music is taking place from 14th to 17th July... Read more
Dour Festival
photo
The Dour Festival for alternative, independent, multicultural music is taking place in Belgium from 13th to 17th July... Read more
Arts Festival of Galway
photo
The town of Galway in Ireland is hosting the 38th Arts festival until 24th July... Read more

11Jul
11th July

Brussels

Eurogroup

11Jul
11th-13th July

Beijing

EU-China Summit

12Jul
12th July

Brussels

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

15Jul
15th and 16th July

Ulan Bator

Europe-Asia Dialogue Summit (ASEM)

18Jul
18th July

Brussels

"Foreign Affairs" Council

Brussels

"Agriculture Fisheries" Council

Subscribe to our Letter
A unique document with 200,000 subscribers in six languages (French, English, German, Spanish, Polish and Ukrainian), for the last 22 years our weekly Letter provides you with a summary of the latest European news, more necessary now than ever before.
I subscribe to the Letter free of charge: