The Newsletter n°751 — 13 mars 2017
La Lettre
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13 March 2017
The Robert Schuman Foundation is launching the BrexLab, an analysis laboratory that will focus on the negotiations in view of the UK's exit of the European Union. As soon as the British express their wish, in line with article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, long discussions will begin between the two sides. Complicated and technical, but important and even vital for many economic sectors, the latter will come under the scrutiny of public opinion and these negotiations will sometimes be difficult to interpret. The BrexLab will bring together a panel of leading experts on European issues who will endeavour to analyse the course of the discussions and developments so as to provide those involved with a vital interpretation of events. The results of its work will be addressed confidentially to entities and institutions who would like to receive them. A brief analysis will be published regularly for a wider audience. The BrexLab is an initiative put forward by the Robert Schuman Foundation and two committees at the French Senate: the Committee for European Affairs and the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Armed Forces.
Foundation
Schuman Report on Europe
12 March 2017
The "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2017", the 11th edition has just been published and is available now in bookshops and on the Foundation's site. Order it so that you can understand all present and future European issues.
European Council
Re-election of Donald Tusk as the head of the European Council
12 March 2017
On 9th March the heads of State and government re-elected Donald Tusk as President of the European Council for a second mandate of two and a half years until 30th November 2019.
Conclusions of the President of the European Council
12 March 2017
On 9th March the European Council published its conclusions (employment, growth, security, defence, migration) which were those of the President and not the Council since they were not accepted by Poland which in this way wanted to express its discontent with the re-election of Donald Tusk.
Commission
Fines of 155 million € for trade cartels
13 March 2017
On 8th March the European Commission set fines to a total of 155 million € on six car air conditioning and engine cooling suppliers € 155 million in cartel settlement in the European Economic Area.
Council
CAP post-2020
12 March 2017
On 6th March 28 the Agricultural Ministers indicated that they wanted to reform the CAP after 2020 in response to environmental challenges, to ensure generational renewal and to guarantee a place for farmers in the food supply chain.
Tripartite social summit on growth, employment and fairness
12 March 2017
On 8th March participants in the social summit recalled the role played by the single market and free-trade in the prosperity of the European economy. Social partners have asked the European Union for more investment.
Adaptation of the financial framework to new priorities
13 March 2017
On 7th March the European Affairs Ministers debated the fight to counter terrorism, the reform of the Schengen Code and of the adaptation of the multi-annual financial framework for 2014-2020 to new priorities.
EU-Algeria Partnership
14 March 2017
The EU and Algeria adopted their joint partnership priorities during an Association Council on 13th March 2017. The partnership priorities establish a renewed enhanced political cooperation framework. The European Commission also presented its annual report on the State of Relations between the EU-Algeria.
Extension of restrictive measures
14 March 2017
On 13th March 2017 the Council extended for a further six month period, i.e. until 15th September 2017 the restrictive measures linked to actions that compromise or threaten the territorial, sovereignty and the independence of Ukraine. These measures comprise a freezing of assets and a ban on entering the EU.
Court of Justice
VAT rate on books, periodicals and digital newspapers
12 March 2017
According to a decision by the European Union's Court of Justice on 7th March the exclusion of digital books, newspapers and periodicals from the application of a reduced rate of VAT where they are supplied electronically is not contrary to the principle of equal treatment.
Confirmation of fines against Samsung
12 March 2017
In a decision on 9th March, the Court upheld the fines imposed on Samsung SDI and Samsung SDI (Malaysia) for their participation in the cartel on the market for tubes for television sets and for computer monitors between 1996/1997 and 2006.
ECB
The ECB Council of Governors
12 March 2017
On 9th March the ECB Council of Governors did not change its interest rates and revised its forecasts of GDP growth for the euro area for 2017 and 2018 upwards. Geopolitical risks have grown in the world, warned Mario Draghi who spoke in support of the euro, a source of "solidarity" ahead of several elections in Europe.
European Agencies
Successful launch of the VEGA rocket
12 March 2017
The rocket VEGA that is to place the Sentinel-2B satellite in orbit for the European Earth Observation programme Copernicus successfully lifted off from Kourou on 6th March.
Crime in the digital era
12 March 2017
Whilst 5,000 organised criminal gangs have been detected in Europe, it is vital for European police forces control digital technologies to arrest criminals who are using these means warned Europol on 9th March.
Germany
Angela Merkel defends an open, strong Europe
13 March 2017
In her declaration on 9th March German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended the interests of the European Union. She highlighted the positive effects of recent economic growth, the importance of solidarity in the immigration crisis and the defence of European security. She warned Turkey of any types of excess.
German Trade Surplus
13 March 2017
Germany's trade surplus rose slightly in January 2017 to reach 18.5 billion € according to provisional data published on 10th March by the Federal Statistics Office, Destatis.
Estonia
Parliament's support to priorities of the Estonian Presidency of the European Council
12 March 2017
The programme defined by the Estonian government for the Presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2017 has won the support of the Parliament's European Affairs Committee.
France
Opel/Vauxhall joins the PSA Group
12 March 2017
On 6th March the car manufacturer PSA announced the purchase of the European car branch of General Motors, Opel for a total of 2.2 billion €.
Greece
Greece - hopes for growth revised downwards
12 March 2017
The supposed return to growth by Greece in 2016 was broken on 5th March by revised data from the Greek statistics office.
Hungary
Hungary takes position over Brexit
13 March 2017
On 7th March the Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke for the first time on a "fair agreement" between the EU and the UK.
The Netherlands
Most recent polls ahead of the general elections of 15th March
13 March 2017
The most recent polls on 12th March for the elections on 15th March in the Netherlands show that the People's Liberal and Democratic Party (VVD) led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte is slightly ahead of Geert Wilders Freedom Party (PVV) by some 3%.
UK
The House of Lords amends the draft bill on Brexit again
12 March 2017
On 7th March the House of Lords adopted an amendment regarding the obligation to have Parliament approve the UK's exit of the EU 366 votes against 268. MPs had a right to veto over the final decision. The text is to be examined again in the House of Commons on 13th March.
Reform of English law post-Brexit
12 March 2017
A report by the House of Lords Constitutional Committee has attracted the government's attention to the legislative modifications that will be necessary post-Brexit so that the exit of European law and the replacement of European regulations by British laws can be organised.
New outlook for the British budget
12 March 2017
The British authorities revised their growth forecast to 2% in 2017 which did not prevent the government presenting a frugal budget to parliament on 8th March ahead of the upheaval expected with Brexit.
Migration
The Council of Europe issues a warning about the protection of child refugees
12 March 2017
On 6th March the Council of Europe presented a report devoted to the protection of refugee children against exploitation and sexual abuse. In 2015 337,000 children were registered as asylum seekers, of whom 88,300 were unaccompanied and 60% of these unaccompanied children have disappeared.
The Hungarian Parliament voted in support of the detention of migrants
12 March 2017
On 7th March the Hungarian Parliament adopted a law that is contrary to EU law providing for the systematic detention of all migrants who enter the country. Migrants will be placed in "transit zones" where they will be held whilst waiting for a final decision regarding their asylum request.
The International Organisation for Migration needs 25 million $ for the Ukraine
12 March 2017
The International Organisation for Migration needs 25 million $ to finance its aid projects for 180,000 who are in a humanitarian crisis in the east of Ukraine.
Poland finally signs the agreement for the HQ of Frontex
12 March 2017
The European Agency Frontex will build its own HQ in Warsaw on land made available to it according to an agreement signed on 9th March with the Poland government. Established in Warsaw since 2005 Frontex had to rent its premises to date.
Council of Europe
The Venice Committee issues a warning to the Turkish regime
12 March 2017
On 10th March the Venice Committee adopted an opinion whereby the proposals to revise the Turkish Constitution would comprise a "dangerous regression" for democracy.
UN
Ukraine lodges a complaint against Russia before the International Court of Justice
12 March 2017
From 6th to 9th March the International Court of Justice looked into the complaint lodged by Ukraine against Russia due to its support of separatist groups in the East of Ukraine. Ukraine hopes that the Court will acknowledge the fact that Russia is infringing international law and its commitments.
OECD
OECD Interim Economic Outlook
12 March 2017
On 7th March the OECD presented its short-term outlook for the world economy whereby world growth will lie at 3.3% in 2017, against 3% in 2016, and 3.6% in 2018.
Eurostat
Significant gaps between men and women
12 March 2017
According to a Eurostat study on 6th March women only represent 35% of European managers and they earn 23% less than their male counterparts.
GDP increase
12 March 2017
According to a study by Eurostat on 7th March GDP increased by 0.5% in the EU and by 0.4% in the euro area in the 4th quarter of 2016.
Studies/Reports
World Bank report on Digital Europe
12 March 2017
A report by the World Bank on 7th March on Digital Europe insists on the work to be made by Europe to put the digital economy into value.
Report on male/female equality in Europe
13 March 2017
On the occasion of the international day of Women's Rights, the Commission published a report on equality between men and women on 8th March.
Culture
Rik Wouters Exhibition in the royal fine arts museums of Belgium
12 March 2017
Until 2nd July the royal fine arts museums of Belgium are organising a retrospective devoted to Rik Wouters. A prominent figure of fauvism Rik Wouters left brilliant, colourful artwork behind. His extraordinary career made him the inevitable Master of Modern Art in Belgium.
The Mediterranean in clair-obscur in the Borghese Gallery
12 March 2017
Until 21st May the Barberini Palazzo, together with the MUZA (Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti)of La Valette and the National Galleries of Ancient Art is hosting the works of Ribera, Stomer and Mattia Preti, in an exhibition called "The Mediterranean in clair-obscur, Ribera, Stomer and Mattia Preti from Malta to Rome."
Saint Patrick Festival
12 March 2017
From 16th to 19th March the Saint Patrick festivities are taking place in Ireland and the UK. This festival is celebrated in honour of Saint Patrick, a missionary who converted Ireland to Christianity. Tradition has it that people dress in green, the colour of clover and the symbol of Ireland.
Aberdeen Jazz Festival
12 March 2017
From 15th to 19th March the town of Aberdeen in Scotland is organising a jazz festival that brings together around one hundred European and international artists, during indoor and external concerts.
Exhibition "21 rue La Boétie" at the Maillol Museum
13 March 2017
Since 2nd March the exhibition "21 rue La Boétie" reviews the career of the major art trader Paul Rosenberg. Around 60 works of modern art - (Picasso, Léger, Braque, Matisse, Laurencin) are on show. Many works are directly linked to the trader, whilst others refer to the historic and artistic context of the period.
Agenda
13th to 16th March
Plenary Session at the European Parliament (Strasbourg)
15th March
General Elections (The Netherlands)
Newsletter Archives
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
De Gasperi-Schuman: the origins of the European Project
The Editors of the Newsletter :
Charles de Marcilly, Helen Levy ,Laurent Boulay, Hanna Létang, Béatrice Manole,Elise Mathevon, Lorène Weber.
N°ISSN : 2729-6482
Editor-in-Chief :
Eric Maurice
Director of Publication :
Pascale Joannin
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