EU Trade News Updates 19th November 2015

Tightening the rules of illegal firearms.

The European Union said Wednesday it will push through plans to tackle the trade in illegal firearms, ahead of a crisis meeting of interior ministers in Brussels following the Paris attacks.

Brexit is not going to happen says Junker

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker insisted Wednesday that Britain would not leave the EU, as leaders prepare to discuss David Cameron's reform demands at a summit next month.

This is a critical time for the relationship between Britain and Europe, as politicians debate the balance of competencies between governance at EU and national levels. Charting how recent political developments have changed the debate surrounding Britain's membership of the European Union

How will EU partners respond to threats of departure from Britain?

 

Cameron defeated over votes for teens in EU referendum

Britain's government came under pressure Wednesday to let 16 and 17 year-olds have the vote in a referendum on European Union membership after suffering a defeat in parliament.

New EU Trade and Investment Strategy

What's in the new strategy?

The communication announces a range of initiatives under the headings of effectiveness, transparency, values, and the EU's programme of negotiations. The top 12 are as follows:
A more effective policy that tackles new economic realities and lives up to its promises by:

• Updating trade policy to take account of the new economic realities such as global value chains, the digital economy and the importance of services.
• Supporting mobility of experts, senior managers, and service providers.
• Setting up an enhanced partnership with the Member States, the European Parliament and stakeholders to implement trade and investment agreements better.
• Including effective SME provisions in future trade agreements.

A more transparent trade and investment policy by:

• Extending the TTIP transparency initiative to all the EU’s trade negotiations. Some new negotiating texts are already available on the Commission's website.

A trade and investment policy based on values by:

• Responding to the public’s expectations on regulations and investment: a clear pledge on safeguarding EU regulatory protection and a strategy to lead the reform investment policy globally.
• Expanding measures to support sustainable development, fair and ethical trade and human rights, including by ensuring effective implementation of related FTA provisions and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences.
• Including anti-corruption rules in future trade agreements.

A programme of negotiations to shape globalisation by:

• Reenergising multilateral negotiations and designing an open approach to bilateral and regional agreements, including TTIP.
• Strengthening our presence in Asia and the Pacific:

• setting ambitious objectives with China
• requesting a mandate for FTA negotiations with Australia and New Zealand
• starting new ASEAN FTA negotiations with the Philippines and Indonesia, when appropriate.

• Ensuring EPAs are implemented effectively and deepening relationships with African partners that are willing to go further and with the African Union.
• Modernising existing agreements with Turkey, Mexico and Chile and the Customs Union with Turkey.

 

EU statistics for United Kingdom

                Full data available on request

Forecasts for United Kingdom	2012	2013	2014	2015
GDP growth (%, yoy)	0,3	1,9	2,5	2,4
Inflation (%, yoy)	2,8	2,6	2,0	2,0
Unemployment (%)	7,9	7,6	6,8	6,5
Public budget balance (% of GDP)	-6,1	-6,3	-5,2	-4,2
Gross public debt (% of GDP)	88,6	91,4	93,4	94,5
Current-account balance (% of GDP)	-3,7	-3,8	-3,3	-3,2