Finance & Trade

US Commits $1 Billion to Three Seas Initiative

February 19, 2020

At the 56th Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced a $1 billion U.S. commitment in support of the Three Seas Initiative and energy security and economic growth in Central Europe.
Politico: EU deficit hawks move to squash ‘special’ green budget rules

February 07, 2020

A dozen EU countries from Northern and Eastern Europe have been working since last year to line up opposition to the idea of privileging environmentally minded projects within the bloc's review of national spending plans.
UK Resists Granting ECJ Authority over UK-EU Trade Relations

January 29, 2020

As the United Kingdom and European Union enter into post-Brexit trade negotiations, the UK will resist EU demands for the European Court of Justice (“ECJ”) to have a say over UK trade after Brexit, effectively giving it continued power over the UK.
PM Johnson Permits Huawei to Help Develop Britain's 5G Network

January 29, 2020

Rejecting the Trump Administration's request, UK Prime Minister granted permission to the Chinese telecoms company Huawei to help develop Britain's 5G network, but excluding Huawei from the network's "core functions."
Brzezinski: U.S. Should Increase Investment in Central Europe's Three Seas Initiative

January 08, 2020

Writing in The National Interest, Ian Brzezinski urges the United States to increase its investment in the Three Seas Initiative, a coalition of Central European countries dedicated to accelerating the development of cross border energy, transport, and digital infrastructure in the region between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas.
Krause-Jackson: Socialism Declining in Europe as Support for Populism Grows

January 01, 2020

As reported by Flavia Krause-Jackson, In 2019, the long decline in socialism continued in 2019, with its popularity reaching new depths and raising questions over whether reinvention can lead to a revival.
European Parliament Adopts "Plan B" In Case of OECD Failure on Digital Tax Governance

December 23, 2019

On December 18, the European Parliament advanced a resolution to adopt an EU standard to tax digital companies in case the OECD fails to find consensus on its global approach.
European Auditors Call for Strengthening of Legal Requirements for National Budgetary Frameworks

December 10, 2019

A recent report of the European Court of Auditors concludes that the European Union needs to strengthen and better monitor its legal requirements for national budgetary frameworks, highlighting the inconsistency between the European Commission's and independent bodies' assessment of member states' compliance with EU fiscal rules.
EU Antitrust Regulators Investigate Google Data Collection Practices

December 04, 2019

In addition to imposing records fines in recent years, EU antitrust regulators are investigating Google's collection of data, focusing on how dominant tech companies use and monetize data.
European Commission Refers Poland to ECJ

December 04, 2019

The European Commission is referring Poland to the Court of Justice for allowing energy intensive businesses to be exempted from excise duty on coal and gas.