The state of the Union – EUbusiness Week newsletter 796 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 796 top stories: Brussels unveils its new ‘progressive trade policy’; EU proposes screening of foreign investments; Gas-sharing move to secure EU gas supply; ‘Free wifi for Europeans’ plan gains MEPs’ backing; EU Court upholds Italian farmer use of GM crops; MEPs look to shrink Euro-Parliament after Brexit

Publisher’s Note

Under the lingering shadow of Brexit, MEPs welcomed the upbeat tone of Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker’s state of the Union speech, in which he urged the EU to “make the most of the momentum to shape an ambitious future.”

His ambitions included a European finance minister, cybersecurity, freedom and rights of workers, international trade and the Defence Union. Several MEPs were keen the EU should also listen to people’s concerns over illegal migration, globalisation and multinationals, and create a Europe of “more opportunities, not more regulations”.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Brussels unveils its new ‘progressive trade policy’

Following the state of the Union speech, the Commission unveiled Thursday a package of trade and investment proposals, and announced its intention to open talks for trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.
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2. EU proposes screening of foreign direct investments

As part of its new trade package, the Commission set out proposals Thursday to set up a European framework for screening foreign direct investment into the EU.
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3. Gas-sharing move to secure EU gas supply

Any EU Member State facing an urgent gas shortage will be able to trigger cross-border assistance from its neighbours under new cooperation rules approved by the EU Parliament.
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4. ‘Free wifi for Europeans’ plan gains MEPs’ backing

A financial scheme for local wireless access points in the EU – free of charge and offered without discrimination – is on its way, following a vote by MEPs on Tuesday.

5. EU Court upholds Italian farmer use of GM crops

States cannot adopt emergency measures over genetically modified food and feed without evidence of a serious risk to health or the environment, the EU’s top Court has ruled.
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6. MEPs look to shrink Euro-Parliament after Brexit

The European Parliament should be reduced from 751 to 700 MEPs, an EP committee urged Monday, with 22 British seats being re-distributed among the remaining 27 EU countries.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Ryanair: the European Court of Justice ruled against Ryanair Thursday in its battle to consider its cabin crew as Irish under Irish law, in a case of air crew against Ryanair and its temporary staff agency Crewlink.
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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

Justice and Home Affairs Council
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Commission Watch

Counter-terrorism in Middle East and Nth Africa – screening of foreign direct investments – new trade policy package – Extension of European Fund for Strategic Investments – new Code of Conduct strengthens ethical rules for Commission Members – Eurostat: industrial production, employment – State of the Union address – reinforcing European Fund for Strategic Investments – infringement procedure against Poland – secure gas supplies in Europe – humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh and Myanmar
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Parliament Watch

Venezuela sanctions – Disabled persons access to products and services – Secure long-term Erasmus+ funding – Human rights: breaches in Myanmar, Cambodia, Gabon, Laos – Easier access to capital for innovative and socially beneficial companies – Earthquake damage in Italy: EUR 1.2bn in EU aid – EU arms export control ‘face lift’ – Intercontinental flights to stay exempt from paying for CO2 emissions until 2020 – Climate change: MEPs back plans to help forests remove CO2 – MEPs oppose relaxing checks on food imports from Fukushima region – EUR 500m to fight youth unemployment – EUR 3.5m for 1,000 former Microsoft workers in Finland – EU investment plan: MEPs and ministers agree to prolong and add new resources – MEPs urge Norway to stop whaling
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EU diary

16-22 Sep: European Mobility Week
18 Sep: Conference ‘Where digital meets energy’
19 Sep: General Affairs Council
19 Sep: Europe’s future electricity market
19-20 Sep: Europol Intellectual Property Crime Conference
21-22 Sep: ‘Connecting Europe’ conference
21-22 Sep: Architectural policies conference
22-Sep: European Day of Sustainable Communities
22-Sep: Clean energy for all European islands
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary