Finance & Trade

EU Requires Secrecy from Advisers on TTIP

May 13, 2015

Politico Europe reports that after the European Commission promised greater transparency in its Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") negotiations with the U.S., it has sparked controversy by pushing its external advisers on TTIP to sign confidentiality agreements.
ECJ Finds Lack of Standing in Challenge to ECB Program

May 08, 2015

The Court of Justice of the EU has upheld the ruling of a lower court dismissing the complaint of a group of individuals alleging that the European Central Bank lacked the legal authority to implement its bond-buying program in 2012 for lack of standing.
EU Investigates Member States' Aid to Power Companies

April 29, 2015

EurActiv reports that as part of its goal of building an EU Energy Union, the European Commission has announced that it is opening a broad investigation into the subsidies many EU member states give to power stations in order to prevent blackouts during periods of high demand.
EU Investigates "Fragmentation" of Financial Services, Insurance

April 28, 2015

EurActiv reports that the European Commission plans to launch a consultation on the lack of cross-border activity in the EU financial services and insurance sectors and how to move forward the internal market in these areas.
EU: Members Have Not Implemented Economic Reforms

April 27, 2015

Reuters reports that an EU document presented to finance ministers from the bloc expresses concern that EU member states have failed to implement necessary reforms mandated by the European Commission.
TTIP Negotiators Propose Central Regulatory Body

April 17, 2015

EurActiv reports that negotiators of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") deal between the U.S. and the EU have proposed a central regulatory monitoring body that would oversee the reforms to economic regulation in the U.S. and Europe required under the agreement.
Bromund: TTIP Does Not Spur Free Enterprise

April 13, 2015

Theodore Bromund of the Heritage Foundation argues that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") currently in negotiation between the U.S. and the EU would reduce regulatory competition and fail to encourage economic freedom.
ECB, U.K. Reach Deal on Clearing Houses

April 09, 2015

Reuters reports that following a pro-U.K. ruling at the Court of Justice of the EU, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank ("ECB") have reached a deal that will permit U.K. clearing houses to continue handling euro-denominated securities transactions.
German Bank Challenges ECB Regulatory Authority

April 08, 2015

The Wall Street Journal reports that a small German lender has filed suit at the European Court of Justice against the European Central Bank ("ECB"), challenging the ECB's assumption of authority from national governments to monitor and regulate banks within the EU.
EU Seeks to Integrate "Digital Economy"

April 08, 2015

Draft proposals recently released by the European Commission would reduce national government control over managing mobile telephone frequencies and would seek to overcome limitations within the EU to cross-border access of online markets.