Following the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting on July 12, the Council adopted Conclusions on the Commission’s 2021 fiscal sustainability report. The Council (Ecofin): Welcomes the Commission’s “Fiscal Sustainability Report 2021”, which updates the assessment of fiscal sustainability risks across the European Union, based on an enriched multidimensional approach and drawing from the 2021 […]
Read More
MEPs want better protection for consumers applying for loans online
The new EU rules aim at protecting consumers online from credit card debt, overdrafts and loans that are unsuitable for their financial situation. In a text adopted by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, with 42 votes in favour, 1 against and 1 abstentions, MEPs say that legislation should cover credit agreements of up […]
Read More
Eurozone finance ministers agree on fiscal policy guidelines
Macro-economic developments The Eurogroup discussed macro-economic developments and policy challenges in the euro area in the current global context, with input from the International Monetary Fund, which presented the outcome of its interim visit, carried out in the context of its Article IV consultation of the euro area. The IMF Article IV review of the euro area is a regular […]
Read More
ECB takes further steps to incorporate climate change into its monetary policy operations
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to take further steps to include climate change considerations in the Eurosystem’s monetary policy framework. It decided to adjust corporate bond holdings in the Eurosystem’s monetary policy portfolios and its collateral framework, to introduce climate-related disclosure requirements and to enhance its risk management practices. […]
Read More
Agreement reached on European crypto-assets regulation (MiCA)
The EU brings crypto-assets, crypto-assets issuers and crypto-asset service providers under a regulatory framework for the first time. The Council presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the markets in crypto-assets (MiCA) proposal which covers issuers of unbacked crypto-assets, and so-called “stablecoins”, as well as the trading venues and the wallets where crypto-assets are […]
Read More
Commission endorses Spain’s second payment request
The European Commission has today endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Spain’s second payment request for €12 billion in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU. On 30 April 2022, Spain submitted to the Commission a payment request based on the achievement of the 40 milestones and […]
Read More
MEPs focus on inflation and economic divergence with ECB President Lagarde
Inflation and the new anti-fragmentation mechanism soon to be launched by the European Central Bank were the two main topics raised by MEPs with ECB President Lagarde. Attending the first Monetary Dialogue in Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee since the attack by Russia on Ukraine and a significant uptick of inflation across the Eurozone, European Central […]
Read More
UfM Blue Finance Conference: Investing in a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Mediterranean
The UfM conference on Blue Finance aims at: Providing an overview of the current investment opportunities for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean Blue Economy and Offering practical guidance on the procedures to follow; 2. Discussing the enabling conditions (policy/regulatory environment; technical assistance; etc.), to attract funding 3. Organising direct networking opportunities and matchmaking sessions […]
Read More
European Semester 2022: country-specific recommendations agreed
On June 17, the Council agreed its Country Specific Recommendations on the member states’ National Reform Programmes of 2022 and the Council opinions on the updated Stability or Convergence Programmes. This step is part of the 2022 European Semester programme, which enables member states to coordinate their economic, employment and fiscal policies. Next steps The […]
Read More