Eurogroup meeting - Greece :We are close to formally closing the second review, with a positive outcome .- J. Dijsselbloem

NEWS Release -  Remarks by J. Dijsselbloem following the Eurogroup meeting of 22 May 2017

Good evening and welcome to this press conference. Today we welcomed Bruno Le Maire, the new Minister for the Economy of the French government. We all look forward to working together with him. We had to say goodbye to Michael Noonan, who has announced that he will step down from his post. He could still be with us for the June meeting but I didn't want to take the chances of missing his farewell, so we thanked him for all the work he has done for Ireland and for the eurozone. 

Banking Authority - Final Guidelines on credit institutions credit risk management practices and accounting for expected credit losses..- EBA

Publication - EBA publishes final Guidelines on credit institutions credit risk management practices and accounting for expected credit losses

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its final Guidelines on credit institutions' credit risk management practices and accounting for expected credit losses. These Guidelines aim at ensuring sound credit risk management practices associated with the implementation and on-going application of the accounting for expected credit losses. The Guidelines are part of the EBA's work on the implementation of IFRS 9 and its interaction with prudential requirements and build on the Guidance published by the Basel Committee on the same matter.

EU - Brexit - Time is of the essence here, and much is at stake..- Report by President Donald Tusk

Press Release - 17/05/2017 Update: Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the Special European Council (Art. 50) of 29 April

Introductory remarks  I would like to report the outcome of the first formal meeting of the European Council of 27, which took place on 29th April. Our main purpose was to adopt political guidelines for the Brexit negotiations. A mandate that sets out the overall principles, objectives and process. And a mandate that the European Council will update as necessary, as the talks get under way.

EU Economy - EIB Group financing under the Investment Plan for Europe is expected to support investment of more than EUR 193 billion in all 28 EU member states..

NEWS Release 16/05/2017 - EIB backs EUR 11 billion of new financing and welcomes European Parliament support to expand Investment Plan for Europe

The Board of the European Investment Bank today approved a total of EUR 10.8 billion of new financing for 43 projects in the fields of energy, social housing, and support for business and innovation investment across Europe and beyond.

EU Economy - Agreement to provide EUR 120 million to innovative companies in Italy..

NEWS Release - Investment Plan for Europe: EUR 120m for SMEs in Italy

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Alba Leasing S.p.A. (Alba) have signed a top-up agreement to provide EUR 120 million to innovative companies in Italy. The agreements were signed under the European Commission’s InnovFin initiative, backed by the EU's research and innovation programme Horizon 2020. 

I am confident that Europe can emerge stronger from the current and upcoming challenges – as long as we know where we are headed..- Commissioner Moscovici

NEWS Release - Speech by Commissioner Moscovici at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington DC: "Europe's pivotal year"  - Washington, 20 April 2017

Dear Adam - Ladies and gentlemen and friends - Thank you for inviting me once again here to the Peterson Institute. It's always a pleasure to join you because I know how involved the Peterson is in the transatlantic relationship and also in the fight for a strong Europe and especially a strong eurozone. A year has passed since I last stood in this room and there have been one or two notable changes in the world since then, as we all know, and not least here in Washington.

EU Economy - Greece of course is an ongoing story - Brexit is not really a risk for the euro area ..- Klaus Regling ESM

NEWS Release - Transcript of interview with Klaus Regling, ESM Managing Director  - Bloomberg TV “Surveillance”, 19 April 2017  -  Interviewers: Francine Lacqua, Tom Keene

Bloomberg: Well we’re now lucky to be joined by Klaus Regling, he’s the European Stability Mechanism Managing Director. Mr. Regling, thank you so much for speaking to us. How do you see Greece unfolding? When will we actually have, if not a final resolution, a near-final resolution on Greece?

European Union's financial system - Supervisors should encourage banks to deal with their NPL in a more active way..-

Press Release - ESAs highlight main risks for the EU financial system  - 20 April 2017

The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA - ESAs) has published its spring 2017 Report on risks and vulnerabilities in the European Union's financial system. 

Economy - EU - China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation ..

NEWS Release - EU-China relations, fact sheet - 

Bruxelles, 18/04/2017 - 18:00 

As two of the three biggest economies and leading traders in the world, the EU and China have a deep and comprehensive partnership. Having established official diplomatic ties in 1975, the EU and China can now build on a broad-based framework of bilateral relations.

EU - The constitutional amendments, and especially their practical implementation, will be assessed in light of Turkey's obligations as a European Union candidate country and as a member of the Council of Europe.

Press Release - Statement by President Juncker, High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn on the referendum in Turkey  - Brussels, 16 April 2017

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn issued the following statement today:

European Union - We will make the European Union stronger and more resilient, through even greater unity and solidarity amongst us and the respect of common rules .-

The Rome Declaration

We, the Leaders of 27 Member States and of EU institutions, take pride in the achievements of the European Union: the construction of European unity is a bold, far-sighted endeavour. Sixty years ago, recovering from the tragedy of two world wars, we decided to bond together and rebuild our continent from its ashes. We have built a unique Union with common institutions and strong values, a community of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, a major economic power with unparalleled levels of social protection and welfare. 

European Union - Europe as a political entity will either be united, or will not be at all - President Donald Tusk

NEWS Release - Speech by President Donald Tusk at the ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome

I was born exactly 60 years ago, so I am the same age as the European Community. For this reason, please allow me for a more personal reflection today. As you know, sometimes the place of birth is even more important than the date of birth. 

I think all actors should work responsibly towards achieving a staff level agreement as quickly as possible - I invite everyone to pursue their work in this spirit .- President Juncker

Press Release - Statement by President Juncker on Prime Minister Tsipras' letter on the occasion of the Social Summit - Rome, 24 March 2017

I have read the letter of the Prime Minister with great attention.

European consumers and firms should be able to take full advantage of a true Single Market for financial services..-

NEWS Release - Consumer Financial Services Action Plan: Better products and more choice for European consumers - Brussels, 23 March 2017

Consumer Financial Services Action Plan: Better products and more choice for European consumers

EU - The Commission to protect the status and rights of EU citizenship, in the context of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union..

NEWS Release - European Commission registers two European Citizens' Initiatives on the rights of Union citizens after Brexit and rejects one on preventing Brexit - Brussels, 22 March 2017

The European Commission has today registered two European Citizens' Initiatives concerning the rights of Union citizens in the context of the withdrawal of a Member State from the EU and rejected a third proposal entitled 'Stop Brexit'.

EU - MEPs will discuss the state of play in Turkey, in particular the upcoming referendum ..

Publication - EU-Turkey: anatomy of a difficult relationship Article - External relations − 22-03-2017 

“Unacceptable.” President Antonio Tajani was clear this week in his condemnation of Turkey accusing Germany and the Netherlands of Nazi methods for preventing Turkish ministers from campaigning in their countries in favour of a referendum to give the president additional powers. 

Greece : The uncertainty about the conclusion of the review may be costly ..- Klaus Regling - ESM

NEWS Release - Klaus Regling's remarks at Eurogroup press conference

Just a few words on Greece from the ESM perspective. I share the assessment that there has been good progress since the last meeting of the Eurogroup, particularly when the mission and the four institutions were in Athens. But it’s also clear that a significant number of issues are not resolved yet. 

EU Economy - EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement - Strategic Partnership Agreement...-

Prees Release - Remarks by President Donald Tusk before the EU-Japan Leaders' meeting

Dear Prime Minister, dear Shinzō, I am very pleased to welcome you today in Brussels. Your visit gives us an opportunity to push ahead and deepen our bilateral relations, as well as to coordinate before the G7 summit in May in Sicily.

Eurogroup - Greece : A lot of work has been done and progress made. But still some issues remain ..

NEWS Release - Remarks by J. Dijsselbloem following the Eurogroup meeting of 20 March 2017

Good afternoon and welcome to this Eurogroup press conference. - Let me start with our discussion on Greece. We were debriefed by the institutions and the Greek authorities on the state of play of the ongoing second review. I think a lot of work has been done and progress made. 

Brexit was not on our agenda last week, but let me share two remarks, given that this is our last meeting before the UK triggers article 50., - President Donald Tusk

NEWS Release - Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the European Council of 9 March and the informal meeting of the 27 heads of state and government of 10 March - 15/03/2017