European Union

Written by Monika Kiss (1st edition),

© macrovector / Fotolia

The rapid increase in the number of Europeans working in a Member State other than their own, the large number of daily cross-border commuters and the need for information on job opportunities and rights at home and abroad (ensured by good cooperation between national authorities) necessitates the establishment of a European-level coordinating body.

In response to the above circumstances, the European Commission has proposed to set up such a body – a European Labour Authority (ELA) – that would replace or reorganise, or cooperate with existing structures dealing with information for individuals and employers, mediate between national labour authorities and social security bodies, and gather viable data on posted workers and commuters.

Questions relating to the European Commission proposal concern the empowerment and role of the ELA, its internal structure and its relations to existing organisations in the domain.

Versions

• July 2018: ‘European Labour Authority‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Labour Authority Committee responsible: Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) COM(2018) 131 of 13.3.2018

2018/0064(COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on an equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Rapporteur: Jeroen Lenaers (EPP, the Netherlands) Shadow rapporteurs:

  Georgi Pirinski (S&D, Bulgaria)
Ulrike Trebesius (ECR, Germany)
Rina Ronja Kari (GUE/NGL, Denmark)
Joelle Mélin (ENF, France) Next steps expected: Vote on report in committee

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum in the European Parliament lined up on Tuesday (July 3) to criticise the results of last week’s EU summit on migration.

Thousands of Poles took to the streets of Warsaw and other Polish cities on Tuesday (3 July) to protest against the government's makeover of the judiciary that takes effect at midnight despite strong objections by the European Union.

A migrant policy deal struck by Chancellor Angela Merkel to save the German government drew scepticism on Tuesday (3 July) from her Social Democrat coalition partners, who said more talks and work were needed to make the disputed proposal fly.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday said the EU stood firmly with Ireland in Brexit talks, just ahead of a crunch UK cabinet meeting which he said the bloc will follow closely.

A niche policy fight over the technical groundwork for internet-connected cars has pitted car companies against telecoms operators and also set off alarm bells in a handful of EU capitals.

In Strasbourg, President Donald Tusk addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament on the discussions held during the European Council meetings.

Ahead of the NATO July summit in Brussels next week, MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday (July 3) endorsed the creation of a €500 million program aimed at boosting innovation in the European defence industry.

Plenary session, Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Written by Gisela Grieger (2nd edition),

© bluedesign / Fotolia

Trade defence instruments (TDIs) play a vital role in countering unfair trade practices from third countries and in levelling the playing field for EU companies, notably in times of mounting global overcapacity in a number of sectors. In April 2013, the Commission adopted a proposal to modernise the EU’s basic Anti‑dumping and Anti-subsidy (AD/AS) Regulations. The reform was intended to enhance the transparency and predictability of investigations and increase the effectiveness and enforcement of AD/AS measures. Parliament adopted its position on the proposal in 2014, but the procedure was deadlocked in the Council until November 2016. Following interinstitutional negotiations, a political agreement was achieved in December 2017. After the Council’s adoption of its first-reading position in April 2018, the text was formally adopted by Parliament in May 2018.

In 2016, the legislative procedure on the reform of the methodology for calculating AD duties was launched as a second pillar of the TDI reform. See also our ‘EU Legislation in progress’ briefing on that proposal: Protection from dumped and subsidised imports.

Versions

• July 2018: ‘Modernising trade defence instruments‘ (2nd edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) 1225/2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community and Council Regulation No 597/2009 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community Committee responsible: International Trade (INTA) COM(2013) 192 of 10.4.2013

2013/0103(COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Rapporteur: Christofer Fjellner (EPP, Sweden) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  David Martin (S&D, UK)
Sander Loones (ECR, Belgium)
Marietje Schaake (ALDE, the Netherlands)
Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL, Germany)
Yannick Jadot (Greens/EFA, France) Procedure completed. Regulation (EU) 2018/825
OJ L 143, 7.6.2018, pp. 1-18

 

Right-wing websites and radio stations pumping out stories about migrants and refugees have mushroomed in recent years in Slovakia - despite a fightback from the mainstream media.

China is putting pressure on the EU to issue a strong joint statement against US President Donald Trump’s trade policies at a summit later this month but is facing resistance, European officials said.

African leaders have announced the creation of a new body to help coordinate national policies on migration, but rejected EU plans to set up migrant “disembarkation platforms” on their soil.

The former PM of Slovakia sets out why he has changed his mind on a federal Europe. "This would mean the central, federal level would manage all competences related to foreign and security policy, the single market and single currency."

To those who believe that the EU shares a set of clear and well-known values, think again.

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Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, at the European Parliament.

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Austrian Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz prioritised the protection of the external borders during his country's EU Presidency stint, in order to safeguard the Schengen area, as a recent deal between Germany’s conservative parties could lead to a resurrection of the bloc's internal borders.

It’s crucial for the industry to move from a defensive to a pro-active attitude and be able to communicate with the public and social networks in order to achieve a science-based policy making.

In an exclusive interview, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev recounts one of the most extraordinary political developments in recent times: the agreement with Greece on the long-standing name dispute that has blocked NATO membership and the start of EU accession talks.

The latest science shows that Europe’s freshwater bodies are in a dreadful ecological state. Governments must finally take responsibility and undertake serious efforts to comply with EU legislation, urges Andreas Baumüller.