15/01/2016 – The Council discussed growth prospects and macroeconomic imbalances under the “European Semester”, the EU’s annual policy coordination process. It adopted conclusions, and approved a draft recommendation on the economic policies of the euro area. The policy priorities for 2016 are investment, structural reforms and responsible fiscal policies. Regarding macroeconomic imbalances, the Commission is due to publish…
07/01/2016 – The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.5% in November 2015, down from 10.6% in October 2015, and from 11.5% in November 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since October 2011.
13/01/2016 – This initiative was announced in President Juncker’s State of the Union address in September 2015 and is foreseen in the Commission Work Programme for 2016. On 6 October 2015, the College of Commissioners held an orientation debate on the economic and social dimension of the Single Market, discussing also for the first time…
13/01/2016 – At their weekly meeting today, the College of Commissioners discussed the refugee crisis, looking at the measures taken in 2015 and the initiatives to be presented in spring 2016. In the past year an unprecedented rise in the number of people seeking international protection in Europe proved a major test for the Common…
19/01/2016 – The European Agenda on Migration adopted by the Commission in May 2015 set out the need for a comprehensive approach to migration management. Since then, a number of measures have been introduced – including the adoption of two emergency schemes to relocate 160,000 people in clear need of international protection from the Member States…
21/01/2016 -The Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review is an annual review of the latest employment and social trends, reflecting on upcoming challenges and possible policy responses.
12/01/2016 – Although 2016 has barely started, it is already proving to be a busy year for the European Parliament. MEPs are resuming work on a broad range of issues, from climate action to the refugee crisis. Also high on the agenda are giving law enforcement agencies more tools to counter the terrorist threat, making…
14/01/2016 – Migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned MEPs the refugee crisis was “getting worse” during a meeting organised by the civil liberties committee on 14 January. He said the EU’s unity was at stake amid an increase of “populism and nationalism”. The commissioner also called on member states to deliver on their own promises and…
19/01/2016 – If the European Commission decides that an EU member state should recover money from a company due to infringements of tax-related state aid rules, this money should be returned not to the same member state, but to member states that have suffered an erosion of their tax bases or to the EU budget,…
20/01/2016 – MEPs debated the priorities of the Dutch Council Presidency with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The presidency’s main objectives are focussing on essentials and growth while connecting with civil society. In December, ahead of the Dutch presidency, Dutch MEPs were asked across the political spectrum about their expectations.
