The Newsletter n°703 — 15 févr. 2016
La Lettre
Thierry Chopin, Claire Darmé, Sébastien Richard
—
15 February 2016
Over and above the issues linked to the negotiation of relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, which could be completed at the European Council on 18th and 19th February, the question of the articulation of the European Union and the euro zone is fundamental. The time has come to open this debate because the crisis has made necessary work on a rationalisation and clarification of the European Union in order to realign institutions with the two major levels of integration: participation in the internal market and participation in the European economic and monetary union (EMU). The British question provides an opportunity to do so and it is within this general viewpoint that relations between "the two Europes" should be analysed.
Elections
General elections in Ireland on 26th February
15 February 2016
On 3rd February, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny (Fine Gael, FG) went to President of the Republic Michael Higgins (Labour Party), to ask him to dissolve the Dail Eireann, the lower house of Parliament. This dissolution leads to the holding of a general election, which will be held on 26th February. According to the latest opinion poll carried out by the Paddy Power Institute and published on 10th February, Fine Gael will win 30% of the vote, ahead of Fianna Fail (FF) 18%, Sinn Fein (SF) 17% and the Labour Party 8%. All the other parties will win less than 5% of the vote.
Foundation
Permanent Atlas of the European Union (3rd edition)
15 February 2016
The third edition of the European Union Atlas is a reference work that presents the Union, its institutions, each of its 28 Member States and - new this time - their overseas territories, through their history, their culture and their reality.
The major challenges of European trade policy
15 February 2016
On 19th February Cécilia Malmström, European Trade Commissioner and Matthias Fekl, French Secretary of State with responsibility for foreign trade, will be holding a public debate in Paris on the challenges of the European trade policy.
Migration
Germany and Turkey call on NATO
14 February 2016
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu decided on 8th February to request NATO aid to stem the flow of migrants into Europe. NATO responded by sending a fleet into the Aegean Sea on 11th February, to intercept people smugglers.
Delegation from the European Parliament Budget Committee in Ankara
14 February 2016
On 9th February, a delegation from the European Parliament Budget Committee went to Ankara for an exchange of views with the Turkish government and parliament on the Syrian refugee crisis and the best way to resolve it.
European Commission report on the implementation of action on migration
14 February 2016
On 10th February the European Commission published a report on the implementation of priority action planned within the context of the European Agenda on migration.
Austrian Chancellor's declaration to Parliament
15 February 2016
On 11th February Austrian chancellor Werner Faymann made a statement to Parliament on the migrant crises. He underlined the fact that his country could not manage the situation alone and called for solutions at European level.
Commission
Stricter control of financial markets postponed by one year
14 February 2016
On 10th February the European Commission proposed postponing by one year, until January 2018, application of the so-called Mifid II directive, which reforms the rules currently in force on the financial instruments markets.
Agreement between the EU and the United States on the derivatives market
15 February 2016
On 10th February, after three years of discussions, the European Union and the United States finally signed an agreement on regulation of the derivatives market.
New anti-dumping investigation in the steel sector
14 February 2016
On 12th February the European Commission announced the launch of more anti-dumping enquiries targeting the import of three steel products from China.
EU-Colombia and EU-Mexico trade agreements on organic products
14 February 2016
On 8th and 10th February the European Commission announced the start of negotiations respectively with Colombia and Mexico with a view to reaching EU-Colombia and EU-Mexico bilateral trade agreements on organic products.
Creation of a European medical corps to deal with emergency situations
15 February 2016
Learning lessons from the Ebola epidemic, on 15th February the European Union launched a medical corps with the aim of reacting more quickly to emergency situations. "The European Medical Corps (EMC) aims to provide the EU with the means by which to react both more quickly and more efficiently to any health crises that arise" explained the Commissioner with responsibility for humanitarian aid, Christos Stylianides.
Council
Eurogroup meeting
14 February 2016
At the Eurogroup meeting held on 11th February, the 19 euro zone finance ministers reiterated their confidence in the solidity of the banking sector in the euro zone.
Conclusions of the "Economic and Financial Affairs" Council (ECOFIN)
14 February 2016
On 12th February ministers adopted several texts including guidelines for the 2017 budget, conclusions on the fight against the financing of terrorism and an agreement on fiscal transparency between the EU and Andorra.
Conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council
16 February 2016
On 15th February, at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the 28 ministers adopted conclusions on Burundi (condemning violence), Somalia (reconstruction process) and Moldova (political association and economic integration). They also lifted most of the sanctions against Belarus. Alongside this, the Council returned to the climate agreement reached in Paris and reiterated its commitment to the combat to protect human rights.
Conclusions of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council
1 January 1970
Agriculture and rural development commissioner Phil Hogan indicated following the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 15th February, that he will go to Paris on 25th February to meet with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls concerning the crisis affecting dairy producers and pig farmers. Alongside this he announced that a working document on the Council’s views and proposals will be presented on 14th March for the second Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. Ministers also discussed animal health and the prospects of international negotiations on agricultural products.
European Agencies
Increased resistance to antimicrobial drugs in Europe
14 February 2016
Resistance to antimicrobial drugs, intended to combat the main food infections, is on the increase in Europe, warned the European Agency for Food Safety (Efsa) on 11th February.
Agreement between the EPO and the CPVO
14 February 2016
On 11th February, the European Patents Office (EPO) and the Community Plant Varieties Office signed an administrative arrangement to enhance their cooperation.
Germany
Security Conference in Munich
15 February 2016
The security conference in Munich was marked by the refugee crisis, the terrorist threat in Europe, the temporary cessation of hostilities in Syria and the general cooling of relations between Russia and its partners in the west.
France
48th Franco-German economic and financial council
14 February 2016
At the 48th Franco-German economic and financial council held on 9th February, the Finance Ministers from both countries pressed Brussels to adopt "extremely quickly" its proposals for the fight against the financing of terrorism.
Government re-shuffle in France
14 February 2016
The French President's office announced a government re-shuffle on 11th February. Jean-Marc Ayrault, former Prime Minister between 2012 and 2014 returns to the government team. He will hold the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, replacing Laurent Fabius.
Italy
In Rome, the six founder members commit to an ever closer Union
14 February 2016
At the end of their informal meeting, German, French, Italian, Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg Foreign Ministers published, on 9th February, a joint declaration on the future of the European project.
Matteo Renzi wants to reform European economic policy
15 February 2016
In a letter published by the Repubblica newspaper on 11th February, the President of the Italian Council, Matteo Renzi, explains his position with regard to European economic policy which, he believes, should be modified.
Latvia
New government in Latvia
14 February 2016
On 11th February the Latvian parliament (Saiema) voted its confidence in the new government led by Māris Kučinskis which includes 14 ministers, of whom 2 are women.
Poland
Meeting between Viktor Orban and Beata Szydlo
15 February 2016
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban received his Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo on 8th February at a time when Hungary is demonstrating its solidarity with the new Polish government as it faces calls to order from the European Union.
Meeting between Angela Merkel and Beata Szydlo
15 February 2016
On 12th February, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to discuss economic and political cooperation between the 2 countries, EU-UK relations and migrations.
UK
Meeting between David Cameron and Angela Merkel
15 February 2016
On 12th February, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel met her British counterpart David Cameron in Hamburg. He expressed his commitment to keeping his country within a reformed Europe.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina submit a request to join the EU
15 February 2016
On 15th February, Federica Mogherini and Johaness Hahn announced Bosnia and Herzegovina's official request to join the European Union.
Vatican
Meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
15 February 2016
On 12th February Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia signed a joint declaration in Havana calling for unity between the catholic and orthodox churches.
Council of Europe
Poland called to order by the Council of Europe
14 February 2016
At the end of a visit to Poland, Nils Muižnieks, Human Rights Commissioner at the Council of Europe, stated on 12th February that he believed that Warsaw was not offering sufficient protection for Human Rights.
IMF
Christine Lagarde warns Ukraine about its political instability
14 February 2016
On 10th February, the Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, warned Ukraine about its corruption and its sluggishness in implementing promised reforms, threatening to withdraw the €40 billion aid plan.
Christine Lagarde, sole candidate for a second mandate
15 February 2016
On 11th February, Aleksei Mozhin, doyen of the IMF board, announced that following closure of the candidatures for the position of managing director on 10th February, Christine Lagarde was the sole candidate. She is therefore set to be appointed for a second mandate.
Eurobarometer
Major trends in European public opinion with regard to the EU
14 February 2016
The Eurobarometer has published an up-date of its exploratory study into the major trends in European public opinion with regard to the EU.
Studies/Reports
Annual report into the world military balance
14 February 2016
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) published its annual report on the world military balance (The Military Balance 2016) on 9th February.
OECD report on school education
14 February 2016
According to an OECD report published on 10th February, the majority of countries have made only very slight progress over the past 10 years in helping their pupils improve skills in reading, mathematics and sciences.
Employment at its highest level in the EU since 2008
14 February 2016
The quarterly review for winter 2015 on the social and employment situation in the EU, published on 11th February, reports a level of employment and activity on the European labour market which is up; this level actually caught up with its pre-crisis level in the 3rd quarter 2015.
Eurostat
GDP up by 0.3% in the 4th quarter 2015
14 February 2016
The European Union economy and that of the euro zone increased by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, at the same moderate rate as in the previous quarter, bringing growth in 2015 up to 1.8% and 1.5% according to figures published on 12th February by Eurostat.
Trade surpluses in the European Union and the euro zone in 2015
15 February 2016
According to a communiqué published by Eurostat on 15th February, trade surpluses in the euro zone and the European Union amounted respectively to €246 billion and €64.2 billion in 2015 (compared respectively to +€184.3 billion and +€13.3 billion in 2014).
Culture
Concert for refugees
15 February 2016
On 1st March, Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim and Ivan Fischer - three internationally famous conductors - will conduct at a free concert in Berlin organised for refugees and those who help them.
Delacroix exhibition at the National Gallery
15 February 2016
Through until 22nd May, London's National Gallery will be holding the exhibition "Delacroix and the rise of modern art", organised in celebration of one of the main representatives of French Romanticism.
Symbolism exhibition at the Palazzo Reale
15 February 2016
The exhibition on symbolism will be held at the Palazzo Reale in Milan through until 5th June. It includes over 100 works by the main Italian and foreign representatives of this art genre.
Brussels Book Fair
15 February 2016
The 2016 Brussels Book Fair will be held from 18th to 22nd February. This year the Fair is spotlighting particularly on poetry.
Jean-Baptiste Huet, the pleasure of nature
15 February 2016
Through until 5th June the Cognacq-Jay museum in Paris is presenting the first retrospective exhibition of the work of Jean-Baptiste Huet, with almost 70 different works.
Rembrandt exhibition in Amsterdam
15 February 2016
Through until 16th May the Rembrandt house in Amsterdam is organising an exhibition entitled "Rembrandt's Naked Truth", dedicated to the nudes drawn by the artist.
Agenda
15th February
"Foreign Affairs" Council, "Agriculture and Fishing" Council (Brussels)
16th and 17th February
"General Affairs" Council (Brussels)
17th February
ECB Governing Council (Frankfurt/Main)
18th and 19th February
European Council (Brussels)
Newsletter Archives
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The challenges facing European agriculture: Crisis or opportunity for transformation?
European support to the defence industry - Mid-term review of the European Defence Fund
Greenland:a geostrategic challenge for the European Union in the age of Trump 2.0
Polish Presidency of the Council - A paradigm shift in Poland's European policy
The Editors of the Newsletter :
Charles de Marcilly, Helen Levy ,Rodolphe Baron, Angéline Garde, Emma Giraud,Morgane Mounier, Joséphine Staron, Laura Zani
N°ISSN : 2729-6482
Editor-in-Chief :
Eric Maurice
Director of Publication :
Pascale Joannin
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