Finance & Trade

New Report Recommends more UK Engagement with Three Seas Initiative

September 08, 2021

A recent report commissioned by Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski concerning the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), an economic project in Central and Eastern Europe currently involving 12 countries, offers post-Brexit Britain a great opportunity to engage with EU partners.
The Atlantic Council: How to Make the Best of Nord Stream 2

August 17, 2021

The Atlantic Council has published an article outlining possibilities for holding Russia more accountable and protecting Europe’s energy security as the Nord Stream 2 project continues towards completion despite opposition in Washington and across Europe.
Politico: Merkel and Nord Stream 2

July 27, 2021

Matthew Karnitschnig writing in Politico analyses why Angela Merkel is ignoring protests from Eastern Europe, to strike a deal on Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline under the Baltic that will strengthen the influence of Russia over Europe’s energy security.
Ukraine Responds to Biden Administration’s Pressure over Nord Stream 2

July 27, 2021

Ukraine has responded to recent pressure given by the Biden administration to go along with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany with Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of the Ukrainian presidential administration repeating Ukraine’s fierce criticism of the Nord Stream 2 project and insistence that Washington prevent its completion.
EU Adopts New SCCs For Transfers of Personal Data

July 14, 2021

The European Commission adopted a new set of standard contractual clauses (SCCs) for transfers of personal data from the EU to the U.S. or other countries that are not deemed to ensure adequate protection for personal data taking into consideration the July 2020 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Schrems II that declared the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework for data transfers invalid.
First News: Polish PM hails potential of Three Seas Initiative

July 05, 2021

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has praised the Three Seas Initiative, a project to enhance infrastructure between the countries lying between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas, noting the importance is due not only the shared common history of the 12 countries in the region but also their geopolitical location.
EU Adopts New Standards for International Data Transfers

June 30, 2021

The European Commission (EC) published its final Implementing Decision adopting new Standard Contractual Clauses (“SCCs”) for the transfer of personal data outside the European Economic Area (“EEA”), creating new steps to be followed by Businesses and organizations that collect, process, or otherwise handle any EEA personal data.
EU Summit Exposes Clash of Views on Russia

June 28, 2021

Politico reports that lines were clearly drawn between EU Countries on the subject of Russia this past weekend during the EU’s Summit, as French President Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed for a new Russia policy which was rebuffed by leaders of Central and Eastern European Nations.
TownHall: How the EU Could Force America into the ‘Great Reset’

June 22, 2021

The Great Reset’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards that were once considered voluntary, are now becoming mandatory and due to a provision in a recent European Union (EU) resolution that requiring EU companies to adopt ESG metrics, essentially every U.S. company working with the EU must comply as well.
France Plans to Revive the Use of the French Language during EU Presidency

June 09, 2021

France will take over the EU’s rotating Council presidency this year and the French government is making plans to use the occasion to revive the use of the french language including earmarking money to offer more French classes to EU civil servants, potential French-language debates, and key meetings of the Council conducted in French.