Social Europe the new priority – EUbusiness Week newsletter 771 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 771 top stories: Bulgaria, Romania still have work to do on corruption; EU Parliament committee backs EU-Canada trade deal; EU sets sights on new stimulus for capital markets union; Europe at increasing risk from climate change: report; Recycling target should be 70 pct, say Euro-MPs. Amazon changes e-books contracts on EU antitrust concerns

Publisher’s Note

If the Brexit vote was about anything, it reflected the uncertainty, fear and anger felt by many vulnerable people disconnected from big changes such as globalisation, the digital revolution and austerity policies.

After much consultation, plans for a ‘Pillar of Social Rights’ began to take shape this week, with a view to tackling the social impact of the economic crisis and to making fairness a priority.

Words now need to be translated into concrete actions, which the Commission is due to present in March, bearing some promise of hope and security in a fast changing world.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Bulgaria, Romania still have work to do on corruption

The fight against corruption in Romania and Bulgaria still has some way to go, the Commission said in a report on steps taken on judicial reform and the fight against corruption and in the case of Bulgaria on organised crime.
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2. EU Parliament committee backs EU-Canada trade deal

Members of the European Parliament’s trade committee gave their backing Tuesday to the controversial CETA EU-Canada trade and investment protection agreement.
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3. EU sets sights on new stimulus for capital markets

The Commission has launched a public consultation with a view to developing faster and more ambitious progress towards a Capital Markets Union (CMU).
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4. Europe at increasing risk from climate change: report

Rising sea levels, extreme weather such as intense heat waves, flooding, droughts and storms pose increasingly severe risks to Europe’s ecosystems, human health and economy, says a new report.
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5. Recycling target should be 70 pct, say Euro-MPs

70 per cent of waste should be recycled by 2030 – from 44 per cent today – a European Parliament committee said on Tuesday, with landfill, which has a big environmental impact, being limited to a mere 5 per cent.
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6. Amazon changes e-books contracts on EU antitrust concerns

The Commission is inviting comments on a number of changes Amazon is making to its e-books contracts, in response to a formal antitrust investigation begun in 2015.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Greek debt: the European Central Bank is not bound to make good losses allegedly sustained in 2012 by commercial banks holding Greek debt instruments in relation to restructuring of Greek debt, the EU’s top court has ruled.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Draft Budgetary Plans for 2017 of Spain and Lithuania – new Prime Minister of Bulgaria – Fishing vessels: agreement on modernised legislation – Economic and Financial Affairs Council
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Commission Watch

Circular Economy – Erasmus – acquisition of Alere by Abbott Laboratories – Temporary border controls – Migration on Central Mediterranean route – Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in Bulgaria and Romania – employee participation rights – assistance for Cyprus and Portugal – EU Citizenship Report – Amazon commitments in e-book investigation – Tourism in the EU – Earthquakes in Italy help for farming communities – Eurostat: government deficit; government debt
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Parliament Watch

Maltese Presidency priorities discussed in committee – Revision of EU firearms directive – Give rabbits more space – Parliament commemorates Holocaust victims – Waste: boost recycling, cut landfilling and curb food waste – Cut cohesion policy red tape – MEPs back EU-Canada agreement
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EU diary

30 Jan: European Investment Bank seminar with civil society
31 Jan: Info day on calls for proposals 2017, agri products
31 Jan-1 Feb: Digitising European Industry stakeholder forum
31 Jan: Secondary raw materials in a circular economy
1-2 Feb: European Parliament Plenary Session
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary