EU mulls VAT changes – EUbusiness Week newsletter 718

Publisher’s Note

The Commission has launched a consultation to look at how to simplify the new EU VAT system for cross-border e-commerce, brought in on 1 January. Based on customer location rather than place of supply, the system has faced fierce criticism for the extra burdens it imposes on smaller businesses.

The consultation will help the Commission with new proposals next year to reduce the administrative burden on businesses arising from different VAT regimes. “We … have an interest in ensuring that future legislation reflects the reality for businesses across the EU”, said Commissioner Moscovici.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. EU tightening car emission tests to prevent cheating

The European Union moved to change its diesel car emission tests to prevent the sort of rigging used by German car giant Volkswagen after noticing discrepancies in the results, say EU sources.
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Volkswagen scandal puts EU lobbying under spotlight

2. EU unveils push for non-bank lending to end slump

The EU’s financial services chief unveiled a wide array of measures Wednesday to encourage non-bank lending across Europe in a bid to reboot slumping investment that is threatening economic growth.
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3. EU, Russia, Ukraine agree winter gas supply deal

Russia has agreed to resume gas supplies to Ukraine over the winter under a deal with the European Union, capping months of difficult talks overshadowed by the Ukrainian conflict.
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4. Brussels warns Taiwan over illegal fishing or risk ban

The EU on Thursday warned Taiwan and the Comoros they had six months to take stronger action against illegal fishing or risk an import ban in the world’s single biggest market.
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5. 15 EU Member States opt to stay GMO-free

Fifteen EU Member States are seeking to keep genetically modified organisms out of all or part of their territory, as the deadline for opting out of new European legislation on GMO crops nears, the Commission said on Thursday.
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6. Formula One: Sauber, Force India lodge EU complaints

Second-tier Formula One teams Sauber and Force India have lodged official complaints with EU’s competition regulators, alleging the sport’s governing body mismanages prize money.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Lacoste: sportswear giant Lacoste has won EU court backing to block a Polish competitor from snapping up a variant of the crocodile logo it upheld as the French firm’s trademark.
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EU failing to protect journalists: rights group
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Brexit: Britain’s Thatcher-era finance minister Nigel Lawson is to lead a campaign by a group within Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party to fight for an exit from the EU.
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UKIP’s Farage hails united anti-EU campaign
EU imposes sanctions against four Burundians
France announces EUR 4 bn boost in aid
Council …

Commission Watch

Luxleaks: Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker was alerted in 1997 about the risks of tax breaks his then government in Luxembourg granted multinationals, according to a document on Thursday.
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EU, Iran discuss push for peace in Syria
Commission …

Parliament Watch

Myanmar: the EU will for the first time deploy observers in Myanmar’s upcoming elections when the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to make significant gains against the military-dominated government.
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EU says Catalonia vote ‘internal’ issue for Spain
This week, Budget committee MEPs added funds for migration, jobs, youth to the draft EU budget 2016, and approved EU aid for redundant workers in Germany, Belgium and Italy; civil liberties MEPs debated the situation at Schengen borders in the wake of the reimposition of border controls by some Member States; and nominations for the 2015 Sakharov Prize were presented at a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Development committees and the Human Rights subcommittee.
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EU diary

5-8 Oct: European Parliament plenary session
5 Oct: Eurogroup
6 Oct: Drivers for Blue Growth in the Baltic Sea Region
7 Oct: The future of Schengen: challenges & opportunities
8 Oct: Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
8 Oct: Justice and Home Affairs Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary

RESOURCES

EU Law Firms
Summaries of EU Legislation
EU Decision-Making
Treaties of the European Union
Key EU Legal Terms

Other news on EUbusiness this week

Romania joining euro in 2019 ‘no longer feasible’ 1-Oct
Eurozone falls back into deflation 1-Oct
Europe migrant crisis in spotlight at UN 30-Sep
Brazil’s JBS buys European poultry producer 30-Sep
Moody’s keeps junk rating for Greece debt 26-Sep
EU probes Staples buyout of Office Depot 25-Sep

EUbusiness Community

Jobs

Project Lawyer in European Criminal Law (f/m), Academy of European Law
Finance Officer, euRobotics AISBL
Senior Expert on External Relations, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
Head of Technical Services, European Patent Office
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Press

Consumers sidelined in Capital Markets Union
CMU Action Plan tackles right challenges, much work ahead
Distrust over EU GM crop approvals grows
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More press …

Guides

EU fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
EU Regulatory Framework for Financial Services: call for evidence
Action Plan on building a Capital Markets Union
EU air pollutant emissions standards
EU – China partnership on 5G
More guides …

Events

28 Oct: EBN Congress – New Frontiers for Innovative Entrepreneurs
15 Nov, Lisbon: icSPORTS 2015
17 Nov, Brussels: 6th European Innovation Summit
25 Nov, Brussels: Masterclass in EU digital economy regulation
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Publications

EU Treaties and Legislation
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Links

AirBase – the European Air quality dataBase

More links