The Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs oversees the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs whose mission is to contribute to raising the economic welfare of the citizens in the European Union and beyond, notably by developing and promoting policies that ensure sustainable economic growth, a high level of employment, stable public finances and financial stability. At the present juncture, this means working to ensure that the recovery of the European economy gains strength.

Les actes législatifs qui s’imposent à tous les États membres de l’Union européenne ne le sont que sur proposition de la Commission, seule à en avoir l’initiative (hors rares exceptions précisées dans les traités), et après une adoption conjointe du Parlement européen et du Conseil (de l’Union européenne), y compris les amendements de groupes parlementaires.

Les élus français au Parlement européen entament la nouvelle mandature profondément affaiblis. La présence française aux postes clés est en recul. Entre cette législature et la précédente, les élus hexagonaux réduisent leur présence aux postes qui comptent.

The EU –Japan negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement were officially launched on 25 March 2013. The negotiations aim at addressing, among others, a number of EU concerns, including non-tariff barriers which European companies encounter in Japan, as well as the further opening of the Japanese public procurement market.

Strong Proponents

One of the responsibilities of the President of the European Council is to represent the EU externally at international summits, usually alongside the President of the European Commission. Bilateral summits are organised between the EU and its strategic partners. Such summits are held on a regular basis, usually once a year, with countries such as Japan, the US, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and China. The location for the summits alternates between Brussels and the country concerned.

1. Canada-Europe Round Table for Business (CERT): Dedicated to creating business opportunities between Canada and the European Union. CERT actively develops company-member interests by: Contributing recommendations to government to shape public policy and increase bilateral trade and investment, hosting thematic, high-level meetings focused on developing strategic relationships between company executives and with government officials. The CERT meets on the margins of the EU-Canada Summit.

RETHINKING EU-RUSSIAN RELATIONS  

It is time for a fundamental rethink of the EU’s Russia policy. Europeans need to approach the Russians on European terms while remaining fully aware that Russians have their own interests, values, and terms of reference. The issue for the EU is not what the Europeans want Russia to be or to become. Instead, Europeans should think about what they want or need from Russia in the short and longer term as well as whether and how this is achievable.  

According to IMF estimates, over the next years, 90% of world demand will be generated outside the EU. That is why it is a key priority for the EU to open up more market opportunities for European business by negotiating new Free Trade Agreements with key countries. If the EU were to complete all its current free trade talks tomorrow, it could add 2.2% to the EU's GDP or €275 billion. This is equivalent of adding a country as big as Austria or Denmark to the EU economy. In terms of employment, these agreements could generate 2.2 million new jobs or additional 1% of the EU total workforce.

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is a not‐for‐profit, non‐partisan organization composed of the CEOs of 157 leading Canadian enterprises. Member companies collectively administer $4.5 trillion in assets, have annual revenues in excess of $850 billion, and are responsible for most of Canada's exports, investment, research and development, and training. The Council is represented by virtually every economic sector of the Canadian economy

The 28-nation bloc's Heads of State and Government tasked the European Commission to "urgently" prepare tougher economic sanctions against Russia that could be adopted within a week. The decision on new sanctions will depend on the evolution of the situation on the ground. The EU leaders call on Russia to "immediately withdraw all its military assets and forces from Ukraine.

The new sanctions would target the same sectors as previous punitive measures, which also included an export ban for some high technology and oil exploration equipment.