Europe looks to France – EUbusiness Week newsletter 784 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 784 top stories: Quick, painless Brexit talks an illusion: Barnier; EU set to lighten burden on derivatives sector; MEPs back lower VAT for e-books; Brussels signals end to temporary border controls; Compliance package to boost functioning of Single Market; Brussels issues guidelines on green justice

Publisher’s Note

A new museum of European history opens to the public on 6 May, a day before the final round of the French presidential election. Its aim is to encourage us to reflect upon and debate the history of Europe and European integration.

The House of European History is intended to help citizens, especially younger ones, “step into the future wisely and with confidence,” said former EP President Hans-Gert Poettering. We must hope their future will, after Sunday’s election, look a little less troubled and threatening.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Quick, painless Brexit talks an illusion: Barnier

Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said Wednesday it was an illusion that Brexit would have no material impact on people’s lives or that talks could be concluded quickly and painlessly.
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2. EU set to lighten burden on derivatives sector

The EU has announced reforms to the derivatives sector, with less burdensome rules to reduce costs and regulatory obligations on market participants without compromising financial stability.
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3. MEPs back lower VAT for e-books

EU citizens could pay less for e-books, after plans to allow Member States to reduce VAT on e-publications were backed by a European Parliament committee on Wednesday.
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4. Brussels signals end to temporary border controls

The EC has recommended that Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway phase out the temporary controls at some of their internal Schengen borders over the next six months.
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5. Compliance package to boost functioning of Single Market

A new Single Market Compliance package is designed to make the European market work better for citizens and businesses and help them make full use of its opportunities.
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6. Brussels issues guidelines on green justice

The Commission has issued a guidance document on access to green justice, outlining how the public can hold authorities to account on environmental matters.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Worker participation: EU Court advocate-general confirms that German law on employee participation is compatible with EU law.
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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

Council and Europa building open doors to public – Council agrees negotiating position on anti-dumping methodology – Format for short-stay visas (Schengen): Council confirms agreement on the update of security features in visa sticker – World Press Freedom Day
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Commission Watch

European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) – Africa-EU Partnership – EC accepts Amazon commitments on e-books – Eurostat: retail trade, CO2 emissions from energy use, GDP flash estimate, industrial producer prices, unemployment – Trade and Business Opportunities for Jordan and EU – Brexit draft negotiating directives – temporary border controls – Visa Reciprocity – EU Single Market compliance – negotiations with Greece
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Parliament Watch

House of European History – Parliament Open Day – EU- Tunisia partnership – money laundering blacklist – VAT on e-books – private security firms – the collaborative economy – freedom of the press – fake news – EU-NATO cooperation – Greek debt relief
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EU diary

8 May: European Parliament Committee Meetings
8-9 May: EU-Latin America dialogue on raw materials
10-11 May: European Parliament Committee Meetings
10 May: Smart regions with smart robots
10-12 May: eHealth week 2017
11 May: Foreign Affairs Council
12 May: New technologies and digitalisation
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary