Eurogroup member states will gather in Luxemburg on Monday where ministers will exchange views on the possible future roles and tasks of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) in the context of the ongoing broader debate on the future of the Economic and Monetary Union. They will also discuss growth and employment in the area.
The Eurogroup meeting that German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble will attend will mark his last meeting before he becomes German Bundestag鈥檚 Speaker.
The fifth round of Brexit negotiations begins in Brussels on Monday. Discussions are expected to continue particularly on citizen rights issue. The financial settlement and the Irish border will also be issues up for discussion.
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will meet on Tuesday. Ministers are expected to approve a new system for resolving double taxation disputes. Ministers will hear a presentation by the Commission about its proposed strategy for digital taxation, aimed at closing off loopholes that leave digital companies largely untaxed. The Commission will also present a proposal on rules for a definitive VAT system, aimed at making it more simple, fraud-proof and business-friendly.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament鈥檚 Industry Committee Energy will discuss a draft law that proposes that EU buildings be highly energy-efficient and decarbonized by 2050. Buildings are the largest energy consumer in Europe, absorbing 40 percent of energy.
Environment and Agriculture committees will hold a public hearing on conducting risk assessments on glyphosate on Wednesday. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the EU, but concerns have been raised over whether it is carcinogenic.
Options to better enforce EU food and consumer rules so people in some parts of Europe can avoid lower quality food products will be discussed in the Internal Market Committee with the Commission on Wednesday. The issue concerns food marketed under the same brand and packaging across several EU countries but with a different composition.
Justice and Home Affairs Council will gather in Luxemburg on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday ministers are set to adopt the regulation that sets up the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) through enhanced cooperation. The EPPO will have the authority, under certain conditions, to investigate and prosecute EU fraud and other crimes affecting the Union's financial interests. It will bring together European and national law-enforcement efforts to counter EU fraud.
Ministers will also discuss the draft regulation on the recognition of freezing and confiscation orders from one EU country to the other. On Friday, ministers will discuss the proposed revision of rules on the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area.
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-Last Week
The European Commission decided to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to recover from Apple illegal state aid worth up to 鈧�13 billion, as required by the Commission鈥檚 ruling.
The European Commission has concluded that Luxembourg granted undue tax benefits to Amazon of around 鈧�250 million. This is illegal under EU state aid rules because it allowed Amazon to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. Luxembourg must now recover the illegal aid.
The European Commission has last week launched plans for the biggest reform of EU VAT rules in a quarter of a century. The reboot would improve and modernize the system for governments and businesses alike. Overall, over 鈧�150 billion in听VAT is lost every year.
The negotiators of the European Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on the proposal adopted by the Commission. The new legislation introduces a new methodology for calculating dumping margins for imports from third countries in case of significant market distortions, or a pervasive state's influence on the economy.
The motion, drafted by Parliament鈥檚 Brexit Steering Group, was debated with European Commission President Juncker and EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier last week. According to the passed resolution, the government leaders of the EU 27 member states should postpone their assessment of Brexit on Oct. 20 because 鈥渟ufficient progress鈥� has not been made on three key aims unless the fifth round of talks on the U.K.鈥檚 withdrawal from the EU delivers a major breakthrough.