The rights of disabled people – EUbusiness Week newsletter 807 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 807 top stories: Dieselgate: EU gains power over new car approvals; Landmark deal to bolster EU’s trade defence; EU publishes blacklist of 17 tax havens; VAT revamp to make EU system ‘fit for digital economy’; Brussels presents plan for European Monetary Fund; EU welcomes G20 forum deal on steel over-capacity

Publisher’s Note

A spotlight on the rights of disabled people this week, starting with the European Day of Disabilities focusing on their needs and how the EU can help improve their lives. Then on Tuesday the city of Lyon was awarded the Access City Award for its inclusive and universal accessibility – putting ideas, initiatives and best practices on show for evaluation and possible adoption by other European cities.

Finally, on Thursday the Council agreed its position on the accessibility directive, to make everyday products and services more accessible to people with a disability. Concrete actions, as EU Parliament president Tajani said, “to enable every person to live an independent life, and to make sure that our society empowers everyone.”
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Dieselgate: EU gains power over new car approvals

The EU institutions reached a provisional agreement Thursday on reform of type-approval and market surveillance for motor vehicles, raising the quality and independence of car type-approval and testing.
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2. Landmark deal to bolster EU’s trade defence

After four years of talks, the EU institutions reached political agreement Tuesday on rules to protect the EU against unfairly cheap imports and combat environmental or social dumping more effectively.
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3. EU publishes blacklist of 17 tax havens

European finance ministers published Tuesday the EU’s first-ever list of tax havens, or non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, with 17 countries having failed to meet agreed tax good governance standards.
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4. VAT revamp to make EU system ‘fit for digital economy’

Finance ministers have adopted new rules to facilitate the collection of VAT when consumers buy goods and services online, and make it easier for online businesses to comply with VAT obligations.
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5. Brussels presents plan for European Monetary Fund

The Commission presented Tuesday a roadmap for deepening Economic and Monetary Union, including plans for a European finance minister, and the establishment of a European Monetary Fund.
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6. EU welcomes G20 forum deal on steel over-capacity

The Commission has welcomed agreement by the G20’s Global Forum to wide-ranging policy solutions to tackle global steel over-capacity, to be implemented in 2018 and 2019.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Transgender pension: a requirement for a transgender person to be unmarried in order to qualify for a state retirement pension is unlawful, according to the Opinion of the Advocate-General of the EU’s top Court Tuesday.
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December 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

Working conditions for seafarers – eu-LISA – Accessibility for products and services – Car emission control – Banking creditor hierarchy – Transparency register – EU-NATO cooperation – non-cooperative jurisdictions – UK deficit procedure closed – Romania budgetary deviation – Galileo mid-term evaluation – Digitalisation of transport – Digital taxation – VAT on electronic commerce – Draft Budgetary Plans for 2018 – Mario Centeno next Eurogroup President – EU-Canada relations – unfair trade practices – EU inland navigation professional certificates
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Commission Watch

Banking regulations – security in partner countries – safer and cleaner cars – European Solidarity Corps – regions working on high-tech projects – Eurostat figures: GDP, taxation, retail trade, industrial producer prices – European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 – Infringements: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland for relocation; Bulgaria, Finland, Greece for maritime policy; Austria for VAT on works of art; Hungary for NGO Law; Belgium, France, Germany for professional qualifications; gambling sector infringements closed; Hungary over education law; Italy over late payment; 4 states for public procurement – Future-proof migration management – Deepening Economic and Monetary Union
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Parliament Watch

Rule of law in Hungary debated by MEPs with government and experts – Tougher defence tools against unfair imports, MEPs strike deal with ministers – Cross-border cash movements: tightening up anti-terror and crime checks – Blacklist of countries at risk of money laundering: instructions for use
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EU diary

11-12 Dec: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
11 Dec: Central European Day of Energy
11 Dec: Foreign Affairs Council
11 Dec: Conference: Coal Regions in Transition Platform
11 Dec: Energy efficiency in buildings
11-14 Dec: European Parliament plenary session
12 Dec: General Affairs Council
13 Dec: EIB investment in education outside the EU
13 Dec: Horizon 2020 Transport Info Day
14-15 Dec: European Council
15 Dec: EudraVigilance information day
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary