New era in data protection – EUbusiness Week newsletter 822 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 822 top stories: Brussels looks to boost EU market for sustainable finance; Green light to trade talks with Australia, New Zealand; Waste and recycling targets pave way for circular economy; Telecoms sites misleading customers, EU sweep shows; Go-ahead for new car type-approval and emissions testing; Free EU rail pass for 18-year-olds: website launched

Publisher’s Note

So the day has finally arrived when GDPR comes in force – when one set of rules across the EU sets a global standard that guarantees data certainty for companies and customers. If you’ve received hundreds of emails from firms you never knew existed, then ignoring them may not be a bad thing. If you’re a company still struggling with how much you need or do not need to do, you will find information at the link below. Remember that if you already have a long-standing relationship with a customer, you may not need to do as much as you think.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Brussels looks to boost EU market for sustainable finance

The Commission put forward a set of proposals on sustainable finance Thursday, hoping more sustainable investments from the EU financial sector lead the way to a greener economy.
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Boost for SME access to EU finance markets

2. Green light to trade talks with Australia, New Zealand

EU trade ministers authorised the opening of talks for free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand Tuesday, which could benefit Europe to the tune of EUR 5 billion.
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3. Waste and recycling targets pave way for circular economy

Ministers have adopted a waste package which sets out new rules for waste management and establishes legally binding targets for recycling, as part of a wider EU policy for a ‘circular economy’.
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4. Telecoms sites misleading customers, EU sweep shows

Websites offering telecoms services could be infringing EU consumer law, suggest the results of an EU-wide screening of 207 websites offering fixed/mobile phone, internet, audio and video streaming services.
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5. Go-ahead for new car type-approval and emissions testing

A new regulation to reform the type-approval and market surveillance system for motor vehicles in the EU modernises the current system and improves control tests on car emissions.
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6. Free EU rail pass for 18-year-olds: website launched

DiscoverEU, a pilot project enabling 15,000 young people to travel free around Europe by train this summer, is to be rolled out by the EU Commission, acting on a European Parliament proposal.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Gazprom: the Commission settled its antitrust dispute with Russia’s Gazprom Thursday, imposing conditions on the state-controlled energy giant to enable free flow of gas ‘at competitive prices’ in east European gas markets.
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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

eu-LISA agreement – restrictive measures against Myanmar – EU-U.S. Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting – EEA Council – G7 Leaders’ Statement on Venezuela – New rules on data protection for EU institutions – European Defence Industrial Development Programme – Waste management and recycling – Organic farming – New type-approval and market surveillance system for motor vehicles – European Parliament election dates – New approach on negotiating and concluding EU trade agreements
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Commission Watch

Gazprom – Cohesion policy beyond 2020 – Motor Insurance Directive amendments – Sustainable finance – small businesses finance – sovereign bond-backed securities – EU and African Union cooperation – 2019 EU Budget – illicit cash flows – new rules for OLAF – European Semester Spring Package – 2018 Convergence Report – trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand – waste management and recycling
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Parliament Watch

Road use charges reforms – Follow-up answers from Facebook after meeting between EP leaders and Zuckerberg – New EU data protection rules take effect on Friday – First-ever EU defence industry fund – UK support for EU remains stable, despite Brexit backdrop – One year to go to Euro-elections
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EU diary

28 May: Foreign Affairs Council
28-29 May: Competitiveness Council
28-31 May: European Parliament plenary session
29 May: How e-invoicing is connecting Europe
29-30 May: ENISA-EASA training on aviation cybersecurity
30 May: rail passenger transport public service contracts
30 May: Pan-European personal pension product
30-31 May: European Electricity Regulatory Forum
1 Jun: Digitalisation in humanitarian aid
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary