EU priority is reform, not Brexit – EUbusiness Week newsletter 786

Publisher’s Note

There was much talk this week of the beginning of a fightback against the populists in Europe. New French president Macron expressed hope in the reconstruction of Europe, focusing on a less bureaucratic, more protective Europe, as well as a more integrated eurozone.

MEPs debating Brexit echoed a desire for a reformed EU which would respond speedily to citizensâ�� concerns and make the benefits of European integration more visible. And Council president Tusk told them the EU’s priority now is a positive agenda for the Union of 27, not Brexit.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. Barnier urges transparency and trust in Brexit talks

Speaking to a European Parliament plenary session which underlined the EU’s united approach, chief negotiator Michel Barnier called for transparency and trust in the upcoming Brexit talks with the UK.
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2. MEPs demand EU sanctions against Hungary

The human rights situation in Hungary justifies the triggering of an ‘Article 7’ procedure which may result in sanctions for Hungary, the European Parliament said in a resolution on Wednesday.
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3. MEPs greenlight online films and TV while abroad

The Parliament has given the green light to new rules enabling EU citizens with subscriptions for online films and TV series to access this content while temporarily in another EU country.
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4. Brussels relaxes state aid rules for regional airports

The Commission has approved new state aid rules that exempt certain public support measures for ports, airports, culture and outermost EU regions from prior Commission scrutiny.
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5. EU probes Aspen price hikes for cancer drugs

The Commission opened Monday a formal investigation into concerns that Aspen Pharma has engaged in excessive pricing concerning five life-saving cancer medicines.
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6. Commission issues guidance on raw ivory export ban

The EU executive moved Tuesday to end the export of old raw ivory as of 1 July with the adoption of new guidance on the European Union’s rules governing ivory trade.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Free trade deals: the Commission cannot conclude trade deals without the approval of national parliaments, when they contain investment dispute systems that supersede national courts, the EU’s top court ruled on Tuesday.
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May 2017 infringements package: key decisions
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Security and defence – Macron-Tusk meeting – Egypt sanctions – Tusk on Article 50 – EEA Council – Money market fund rules – new prospectus rules – indigenous peoples – Venezuela
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Council …

Commission Watch

Neighbourhood Policy Review – Charter of fundamental rights – Altice PT Portugal acquisition – Facebook WhatsApp fine – state aid to airports – May infringements: Italy landfill, motorway concessions, car type approval; Hungary asylum law; Austria free movement of students – Sri Lanka market access – U.S. aviation security cooperation – Eurostat: inflation, construction, GDP, trade – interoperability of information systems – relocation and resettlement – trade in raw ivory – Benin, Mozambique off EU Air Safety List
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Parliament Watch

Brexit and free movement – peace-building in Syria – relocation of refugees – Persecution of gay men in Chechnya – Middle East peace – audiovisual media rules to protect children – human rights – streaming without borders – GM maize and cotton imports – fundamental rights in Hungary – cutting food waste – effects of globalisation
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EU diary

22 May: Eurogroup
22-23 May: Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
22-23 May: European Nuclear Energy Forum plenary meeting
23 May: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
23 May: 2017 European Union Prize for Literature awards
24 May: Seminar on 10 years of REACH litigation
18 May: Justice and Home Affairs Council
18 May: European financial integration – EC-ECB conference
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

Facebook fined for misleading EU over WhatsApp 18-May
EU-ACP defend Paris climate deal 18-May
Application of fundamental rights charter: EU report 18-May
MEPs call for blitz on EU food waste mountain 17-May

EUbusiness Community

Press

EU could retake climate leadership under new EP plan to boost renewables, Greenpeace
UK Cider only has to have 35 pct apples in it?
Higher vocational qualifications to meet the skills needs of SMEs
AEGIS Europe calls for the EU to strengthen Trade Defence
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Jobs

Project Lawyer in European Environmental Law, Academy of European Law
Deputy head of Department Talent Acquisition, European Patent Office
Adviser, banking regulation department, European Association of Co-operative Banks
Senior EU Public Policy Consultant, Optimity Advisors
Content production and media officer, European Institute for Gender Equality
Policy and Advocacy Officer, Plan International
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Guides

Report on the Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy Review
Widening scope of General Block Exemption Regulation
New measures to fight poaching and end trade in raw ivory
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Events

22 May, Prague: REACH Conference
22 May, Brussels: European Business Summit
6 Jun, Brussels: EU Action Plan for nature, people and the economy
12 Jun, Stockholm: European Biomass Conference 2017
21 Jun, Brussels: World Litigation Forum 2017 Europe
26 Jun, Brussels: Towards a European Bee Partnership
28 Sep, Brussels: European Banking Summit
4 Oct, Austria: European Health Forum Gastein
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Publications

Application of EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 2016 Report
Brexit: Why Britain Voted to Leave the European Union
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Links

Taskforce on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom

More links