Call to US for "comprehensive and balanced" deal with EU - EU Bulletin 16th February 2016
Four in five British and German executives want the U.K. to stay in the EU, according to a poll published Monday. Should Britain vote to leave however, the poll of 782 business leaders, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, found that nearly one third would reduce or relocate their capacities in the U.K, reports Politico: http://www.politico.eu/article/business-tells-britain-dont-go-eu-stay/
The president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, says that some eurozone banks "face challenges" but that the system is more resilient because of stronger oversight after the global financial crisis, the New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/business/international/mario-draghi-plays-up-health-of-eurozone-banking-system.html?emc=edit_ee_20160216&nl=todaysheadlines-europe&nlid=74103272&_r=0
Andorra has signed a fiscal-transparency agreement with the European Union with the aim of making it more difficult for European citizens to hide undeclared money in the country. EurActiv's partner EFE reports.
The EU wants to quickly respond to health emergencies, such as the Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks in the future with a new medical corps, the European Commission said on Monday (15 February), EurActiv reports. The Commission has recognised that the EU's response to the Ebola crisis was too slow, especially when it came to deploying medical staff and managing logistical challenges: http://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-sets-up-medical-corps-after-ebola-zika-outbreaks/
The United States needs to "step up to the plate" in the forthcoming round of talks on an EU-US trade agreement and accept that the deal should be "comprehensive and balanced", the European Commission has said, reports EUobserver: https://euobserver.com/economic/132279
The current slump in the dairy and pig meat sectors requires "an EU-wide response", the form of which will be decided at the next meeting of farming ministers in March, said agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan on Monday (15 February), reports EUobserver: https://euobserver.com/economic/132285
Donor countries will adopt new rules on official development assistance on 18 and 19 February. The accounting of costs linked to security, refugees and the fight against extremism will be up for discussion. EurActiv France reports. The refugee crisis has generated significant costs for certain countries and has led donors to rethink the principles of development aid.
The German government expects the number of refugees coming to the country in 2016 to be half of last year's influx, newspaper Rheinische Post reports sources from the Federal Labour Office as saying. The paper said some 500,000 were expected in 2016, down from 1.1 million last year. See EUobserver at: https://euobserver.com/tickers/132280
The European Union, strife-stricken Burundi's biggest aid donor, today (15 February) warned the country could face "appropriate measures" if it does not remedy its human rights record, EurActiv reports: http://www.euractiv.com/section/development-policy/news/eu-fears-more-violence-in-burundi-vows-to-directly-assist-the-population/
The Council of the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration between the EU and the Republic of Moldova. It has also confirmed that all Member States have ratified the Association Agreement. See the Council's press release here: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/15-fac-moldova-conclusions/
With thanks to European Movement in the North East