Category: Economy

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Commission unveils anti-fraud revamp to protect the EU budget

the Commission has launched a structured reflection process for the review of the EU Anti-Fraud Architecture. The review complements the preparatory work on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). Its aim is to ensure a strengthened and more efficient protection of the Union’s financial interests.

The review of the EU Anti-Fraud Architecture is of outmost importance, due to evolving threats to the EU’s financial interests, including increasing transnational fraud, organised crime targeting EU funds, or criminal networks using advanced technologies, like AI and crypto currencies, to try to defraud the EU.

The Anti-Fraud Architecture review will promote efficiency at every stage of the anti-fraud cycle, supporting complementarity between anti-fraud actors in the prevention, detection, investigation, correction of fraud, prosecution and a more efficient and effective recovery of the amounts concerned, including for the EU budget. Effective deterrence and response will be at the heart of the exercise. Continue reading “Commission unveils anti-fraud revamp to protect the EU budget”

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European Commission presents its compass to boost Europe’s competitiveness

European Flag

President Ursula von der Leyen presented the European Commission’s plan to boost Europe’s competitiveness and turn it into a place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactures, and put on the market.

This Competitiveness Compass sets out the course the Commission will follow in the next five years. The Compass, first announced by President von der Leyen in November, transforms the recommendations laid out by Mario Draghi is his report on the future of European competitiveness, into a roadmap.

During a press conference, President von der Leyen explained that Europe has what it takes to lead the global economy of tomorrow: “I want to start by emphasising the strengths of the European Union. We have a very strong manufacturing and industrial base. We have a highly trained and well-educated workforce. We have a continental-size Single Market. We have the second-largest economy. We have a stable and predictable legal environment. And we have a longer life expectancy and lower inequalities than all our global competitors,” the President said. Continue reading “European Commission presents its compass to boost Europe’s competitiveness”

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Expanding the EU-Switzerland relationship

Switzerland Europe

On 20 December, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd confirmed the completion of negotiations on a broad package of agreements that aim to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.

The broad package includes a wide range of elements:

  • The update of five agreements which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market – air transport, land transport, the free movement of persons, conformity assessment and trade in agricultural products. Bringing these agreements to a modern standard will enable citizens and businesses on both sides to fully benefit from the rights they provide and will create a level playing field for business.

Each agreement will reflect the evolution of EU legislation in the area concerned and will ensure it is updated dynamically. The agreements will include dispute resolution provisions and State aid disciplines will apply where relevant. Continue reading “Expanding the EU-Switzerland relationship”