European Institutions

Paper Calls for UK-EU "Continental Partnership"

August 31, 2016

A group of European academics, think tank leaders, and a politician has published a paper calling for the post-Brexit creation of a "Continental Partnership" that would retain the UK in a loose, EU-like structure of cooperation with EU member states that could also absorb Turkey, Ukraine, and other partner countries.
EU National Leaders Seek Common Army

August 31, 2016

Adding his voice to those of other Central and Eastern European national leaders calling for a bulwark against military threats by Russia and a force to control the bloc's migration crisis, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called for the creation of a "common European army."
EU Orders Apple to Pay €13 Billion in Back Taxes

August 30, 2016

Politico reports that tech giant Apple and the Irish government are protesting the European Commission's decision to require Apple to pay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland due to an alleged violation of EU rules prohibiting "state aid," arguing that the fine ignores national authority over corporate taxation policy.
German Minister: US-EU Trade Talks Have Failed

August 30, 2016

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel has asserted that talks between the EU and US to form a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership have "de facto failed" because "Europeans did not want to subject ourselves to American demands."
US Expresses Concerns with EU Tax Investigations

August 30, 2016

The US Department of the Treasury has issued a white paper describing its concerns with recent European Commission investigations of whether EU member state tax practices amounted to "state aid," arguing that the Commission's approach departs from previous case law and is unfair in seeking the retroactive recovery of taxes.