Finance & Trade

Court Recognizes Broad Bank Supervision Authority of ECB

July 27, 2017

In a May judgment, the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) held that the European Central Bank (ECB) had broad authority to determine that it was better positioned to supervise the state-owned investment and development bank of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, than the German government.
ECJ Raises Obstacles to Quick EU Trade Deals

July 26, 2017

Bloomberg reports that a Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) ruling in May requiring EU institutions to seek approval of parts of a trade deal with Singapore by the bloc's member states could place significant obstacles in the path of the speedy negotiation of a free trade deal between Britain and the EU after Brexit.
Bundesbank Rejects Push to Lure UK Bank Business

July 24, 2017

Politico reports that a board member of Germany's central bank, Andreas Dombret, has announced that the Bundesbank will not pursue a strategy of luring British banks to Germany following Brexit using campaigning or perks because the bank's top priority is maintaining stability in the European banking system.
EEA Study Calls for Major Increase in "Climate Finance"

July 14, 2017

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released a study analyzing the climate finance plans of all 33 member states and arguing that most national governments are failing to plan for the transition to a “low-carbon, climate-resilient economy” by directing sufficient investments toward environmentally friendly development.
Newman: UK Should Focus on Israel Trade After Brexit

June 22, 2017

Director of UK think tank Open Europe Henry Newman writes that, upon its exit from the EU, the UK should consider Israel as a priority partner with which it should negotiate a free trade deal to tap billion of pounds that would result from facilitating economic exchange between the two countries.
Report Explores Post-Brexit UK Trade Options

June 06, 2017

A recent report from think tank Open Europe explores how the UK should take advantage of new trade policy options and exploit its "soft power assets" in countries around the world to increase trade and spur economic progress after the country leaves the EU.
ECB Board Member Seeks Completion of Banking Union

May 25, 2017

In a set of talking points for a panel on "relaunching the eurozone," member of the executive board of the European Central Bank (ECB) Peter Praet promotes the need for an "ambitious timetable" to complete the EU's "banking union" in order to provide for centralized supervision of banks and a financial "backstop" to cover the risks of failing financial institutions.
EU Aims for Post-Brexit Eurozone Expansion

May 24, 2017

Reuters reports that the EU's economics commissioner Pierre Moscovici has previewed plans by the European Commission after Brexit to expand the eurozone by making the euro currency "attractive" enough that countries that have not yet adopted it view joining the currency as "an offer you cannot refuse."
EC Report Sets Roadmap for EU Cohesion Policy

April 12, 2017

The European Commission (EC) has released a report identifying the EU’s “low-income and low-growth regions” and laying out region-specific plans to spur growth and opportunities using EU Cohesion Policy funds pooled together by member states.
Think Tank Calls for Northern Ireland to Join EEA

April 12, 2017

The European Policy Centre has recommended that Northern Ireland join the European Economic Area (EEA) after the UK leaves the EU, which would give the country access to the EU single market while keeping them out of the customs union as part of the UK.