⊂ EUROPE ⊃
EU agrees new rules to battle corporate tax scams: EU finance ministers agreed on Tuesday to close loopholes multinational corporations use to skip taxation on dividends. The new rules, due to go into effect in 2020, should help the EU recoup revenues from companies that cut their tax bills by declaring profits in countries with low or no taxation. The latest initiative comes amid growing public outrage about tax avoidance by multinational corporations.
reuters.com, dw.com
De Maiziere and German states bicker over deportations: German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has met with EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and called for rapid implementation of reforms in the European security and migration policy. De Maiziere has also criticised German states that refuse to deport rejected Afghan asylum seekers in an interview on Monday night. He said that the states had neglected to address the topic at a recent meeting. The German government’s stance, one contested by several states, is that parts of Afghanistan are sufficiently safe to send people back there.
dw.com, europa.eu
Apple takes on EU Commission over tax charge: Apple has lodged a total of 14 pleas against the EU Commission this week, in retaliation to accusations that it used an illegal tax deal in Ireland. The findings of the Commission argue that the tech giant’s tax regime in Ireland was a form of illegal state aid, amounting to 13 billion euros in back taxes. Apple is refuting the claims, accusing the Commission of violating the principles of legal certainty and non-retroactivity by ordering recovery of the alleged aid, and alleging that the Commission failed to conduct an impartial investigation.
wired.co.uk
Geneva talks to encompass Syrian transition process: Syria peace talks due to start this week in Geneva are based on the broad mandate of a UN resolution that asks the UN mediator to hold talks on a political transition process, an official involved in the talks said on Tuesday. Michael Contet, chief of staff of Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, told a regular UN briefing that de Mistura was putting the final touches to arrangements for the talks. Fighting has reportedly flared near the Golan Heights in south western Syria after ISIL linked groups launched a surprise attack on moderate rebels.
reuters.com, euronews.com
Iraq: Forces fighting “Islamic State” set to storm airport reuters.com
Libya: 74 dead migrants wash up on beach reuters.com
Survey: Eurozone businesses growth fastest since April 2011 uk.reuters.com
Iodine-131: Radioactive particles detected in air across Europe metro.co.uk
EU: World power in agricultural and food trade euractiv.com
⊂ QUOTES ⊃
„Traineeships in what is in effect the EU’s foreign service can be a significant stepping stone in young people’s careers and should be available to as broad a range of people as possible.“
European Ombudswoman Emily O’Reilly has criticised the EU’s External Action Service for not paying its interns in foreign delegations and advised an overhaul of the programme to improve access for less well-off young people.
euractiv.com
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Poland set for collision course with EU: Poland brushed off concerns from the EU that it’s backsliding on democracy and the rule of law with a revamp of its constitutional court. Poland expects the EU Commission to end its dispute with Warsaw over judicial independence, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said on Tuesday. Last December the Commission gave Warsaw two months to implement measures to protect the powers of the court.
bloomberg.com, politico.eu, dw.com
France’s Le Pen cancels meet with Lebanon grand mufti: French National Front presidential candidate Marine Le Pen canceled a meeting on Tuesday with Lebanon’s grand mufti, after refusing to wear a headscarf for the encounter. Le Pen is in Lebanon for talks with President Michel Aoun and meetings with business and religious leaders. The two-day visit is her first trip to visit a foreign head of state. French police deployed a bomb squad in the central city of Clermont-Ferrand, after arresting three men in a series of raids across the country. Tourism in the greater Paris region has been hit hard by terror fears.
reuters.com, politico.eu, dw.com
Romanian parliament votes to withdraw anti-corruption law: Romania’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly endorsed a government order to scrap a graft decree that triggered mass street protests. The legislation would have decriminalised official misconduct if the sums involved were less than about 45,000 euros. The upper house of parliament, the senate, approved the withdrawal of the decree last Tuesday after all ruling party leaders agreed to scrap the decree as quickly as possible.
uk.reuters.com, euronews.com
Riots erupt in Stockholm neighborhood: Riots broke out in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood of Stockholm Monday night, as residents clashed with police officers and set vehicles on fire, Swedish police say. Several people threw stones at police, striking one officer in the arm. As the situation escalated, police fired warning shots to disperse the crowd and one shot at a rioter. A police spokesperson said 10 cars had been torched, but that order and security had been restored by midnight.
cnn.com
Greece: Athens and creditors break bailout deadlock euobserver.com
Austria: Court clears way for Ukrainian businessman Firtash to be extradited euronews.com
France: Former president Sarkozy joins AccorHotels‘ board reuters.com
Portugal: Public debt up again last year after 2015 drop reuters.com
⊂ JOB-BOARD ⊃
politjobs.eu: PlasticsEurope seeks Public Affairs Manager (m/f) *** GIZ seeks Policy Advisor (m/f) *** Siegfried Mureșan MEP offers Traineeship *** European Sunlight Association seeks Communication Officer *** ChildFund Alliance seeks Director – Brussels Office *** Mototrola Solutions seeks Director of Government Affairs – Europe and Africa *** Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft sucht Praktikant (m/w) *** Uni Europa seeks Policy Officer (m/f)
politjobs.eu, politjobs.eu/submit (Inserat schalten)
⊂ MALFUNCTION ⊃
Italy’s sex club scandal: The head of Italy’s anti-discrimination office, Francesco Spano, has resigned, in the wake of accusations that government funds meant to promote diversity projects and tackle racism had been earmarked for sex clubs masquerading as cultural centres. Spano quit just hours after an investigative TV programme showed his department had authorised funding of up to 55,000 euros each for at least three such clubs.
euronews.com