European Union

Brigadier General Eric Harvent, a Belgian national, has been appointed as mission commander for the EU training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali). He will take up his duties on 3 July 2016. He will take over from Brigadier General Werner Albl, who has held the post since December 2015.

EUTM Mali assists in the reconstruction of effective and accountable Malian armed forces capable of ensuring the long-term security of Mali and, under civilian authority, restoring the country's territorial integrity. To this effect, EUTM Mali delivers training to units of the Malian armed forces and develops autonomous training capability. The mission also provides advice to the Malian authorities on reforming the army. The mission was launched on 18 February 2013. Its mandate was recently extended to 18 May 2018. The headquarters of the mission are located in Bamako, Mali.

The mission is part of the EU's comprehensive approach to security and development in the Sahel. Two other CSDP missions are in place in the region: EUCAP Sahel Mali, which supports the Malian state to ensure constitutional and democratic order and the conditions for lasting peace as well as to maintain its authority throughout the entire territory; and EUCAP Sahel Niger, which supports the fight against organised crime and terrorism in Niger.

Plenary sessions : The new European Commission proposals for a review of the “blue card” scheme for highly-skilled workers from third countries, which should simplify their admission and improve their living conditions, and for an action plan to promote successful integration of migrants within the EU, were debated on in plenary session on Tuesday with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The new European Commission proposals for a review of the “blue card” scheme for highly-skilled workers from third countries, which should simplify their admission and improve their living conditions, and for an action plan to promote successful integration of migrants within the EU, were debated on in plenary session on Tuesday with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs debated on Wednesday morning whether the EU's €315 billion investment plan to fuel Europe's economic recovery by mobilising public and private investment was delivering. According to the European Commission, the first year of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has been promising, but MEPs had mixed reactions. Read more about the plan and the plenary debate.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs debated on Wednesday morning whether the EU's €315 billion investment plan to fuel Europe's economic recovery by mobilising public and private investment was delivering. According to the European Commission, the first year of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has been promising, but MEPs had mixed reactions. Read more about the plan and the plenary debate.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 8 June 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed, on behalf of the Council, a negotiating stance on new rules on prospectuses for the issuing and offering of securities. 

The draft regulation is aimed at reducing one of the main regulatory hurdles that companies face when issuing equity and debt securities. It sets out to simplify and alleviate administrative obligations related to the publication of prospectuses in a manner that still ensures that investors are well informed. 

"This is an important reform that will help companies in need of finance to gain access to European capital markets", said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, minister for finance of the Netherlands and president of the Council. “The prospectus is an essential instrument for investors, but legal requirements must not create unnecessary barriers to raising capital."

The Council will confirm Coreper's agreement at a meeting on 17 June 2016, and will ask the presidency to start talks with the European Parliament. The aim is to adopt the regulation at first reading.

A reform of prospectus rules is amongst measures announced by the Commission under its 2014 “investment plan for Europe” with the aim of improving the business environment. 

And it is a second major building block of the EU's 2015 plan to develop a capital markets union. In December 2015, the Council reached a similar agreement on proposals to facilitate the development of a securitisation market in Europe. The capital markets union is due to be fully functioning by the end of 2019. The aim is to strengthen the role of market-based finance, alongside bank finance, in the EU economy. 

Prospectuses present information about a company that enables investors to decide whether to purchase securities issued or offered by that company. The law requires their publication when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading. However SMEs in particular can be deterred from issuing or offering securities because of the paperwork and costs involved. The draft regulation therefore sets out to provide all types of issuers with disclosure rules that are tailored to their specific needs, whilst making the prospectus a more relevant tool for informing potential investors. 

Transforming an existing directive into a regulation, the text will moreover reduce divergences that have emerged in implementation by the member states. It will enhance the coherence of prospectus rules throughout EU single market, in keeping with the goals of the capital markets union. 

The proposal establishes specific rules for companies already listed on a regulated market that wish to raise additional capital buy means of a secondary issuance, as well as for SMEs. 

It also sets out to achieve greater convergence between prospectus rules and other disclosure rules.

The regulation requires a qualified majority for adoption by the Council, in agreement with the European Parliament. (Legal basis: article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.)

Plenary sessions : A majority of MEPs welcomed plans to step up cooperation with third countries, particularly in Africa, by increasing public and private investment there to support economic and social development and curb migration flows. But many MEPs also warned against replicating the EU deal with Turkey in Tuesday’s debate with EU Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who presented a proposal for a new “partnership framework with third countries”.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : A majority of MEPs welcomed plans to step up cooperation with third countries, particularly in Africa, by increasing public and private investment there to support economic and social development and curb migration flows. But many MEPs also warned against replicating the EU deal with Turkey in Tuesday’s debate with EU Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who presented a proposal for a new “partnership framework with third countries”.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The influx of irregular migrants continues to pose a challenge to Europe. According to Frontex 13,800 people had to be rescued in the central Mediterranean in the last week of May alone. The EU is working on different ways to manage migration better. The European Commission presented a new plan to address the root causes of migration in plenary on 7 June, which was debated by MEPs. Read on for an overview of upcoming initiatives.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The influx of irregular migrants continues to pose a challenge to Europe. According to Frontex 13,800 people had to be rescued in the central Mediterranean in the last week of May alone. The EU is working on different ways to manage migration better. The European Commission presented a new plan to address the root causes of migration in plenary on 7 June, which was debated by MEPs. Read on for an overview of upcoming initiatives.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

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In this section you will find videos of Federica MOGHERINI, EU HR for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the European Parliament.

Download this video here.

Plenary sessions : From conducting search and rescue operations to monitoring sea borders and the state of agricultural crops, it has all been made easier thanks to data from satellites. Europe's space initiatives are helping to create new opportunities for European companies as well as making it easier to protect people. On Tuesday MEPs discuss ways to make better use of these programmes. Read our glossary of terms related to the EU's space policy ahead of the debate.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : From conducting search and rescue operations to monitoring sea borders and the state of agricultural crops, it has all been made easier thanks to data from satellites. Europe's space initiatives are helping to create new opportunities for European companies as well as making it easier to protect people. On Tuesday MEPs discuss ways to make better use of these programmes. Read our glossary of terms related to the EU's space policy ahead of the debate.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs urge the EU Commission to put forward proposals against unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, so as to ensure fair earnings for farmers and a wide choice for consumers, in a resolution voted on Tuesday. The aim should be to ensure fair and transparent trade relations among food producers, suppliers and distributors. Fair trading should in turn help to prevent overproduction and food waste, they add.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs urge the EU Commission to put forward proposals against unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, so as to ensure fair earnings for farmers and a wide choice for consumers, in a resolution voted on Tuesday. The aim should be to ensure fair and transparent trade relations among food producers, suppliers and distributors. Fair trading should in turn help to prevent overproduction and food waste, they add.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP