The pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron scored a decisive victory over the far-right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, on Sunday to become France's new president. Macron’s victory against nationalist campaign relieved EU leaders. European Council President Donald Tusk congratulated Macron on Twitter by saying “Congratulations to French people for choosing Liberty, Equality and Fraternity over the tyranny of fake news.� The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and EU’s High Representative Federica Mogherini also congratulated Macron on his election win.
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The European Parliament’s committee and political group meetings will be held in Brussels this week. Political groups will prepare for the May 15 to 18 plenary session in Strasbourg, where they will vote on new rules to allow citizens temporary access in other EU countries for online music, games and films that they have subscribed to in their home countries. The situation of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom will be the topic of a public hearing organized by the Civil Liberties, Petitions and Employment committees on Thursday. Speakers include Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt and Anne-Laure Donskoy of “The 3 million� group, which represents EU citizens in the U.K.
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The Inquiry Committee on Money Laundering and Tax Evasion on Tuesday will hear from representatives of the Channel Islands, Gibraltar and Madeira about their tax regimes, the extent of cooperation with the EU and how authorities fight money laundering and tax evasion.
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Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) will gather in Brussels on Thursday. The Trade Council will discuss the new anti-dumping methodology that will help ensure that imported products are sold at a fair and equitable price in the EU, regardless of their origin. Ministers will also hold a debate on the implementation of free trade agreements and discuss the World Trade Organization and the post-Nairobi process as part of an ongoing process of Civil Society Dialogues on EU trade and investment policy.
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Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik will visit Brussels on Wednesday when he is expected to meet with European Commissions First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
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An adviser to the European Court of Justice is expected to issue an opinion on the case against Uber to determine its legal entity as a transport company or a digital service. If it is classed as a digital service, it can easily start its business across the EU, if however, it is deemed a transport company, it could be subject to tighter regulations or banned altogether by the bloc’s 28 members.