Transatlantic News
Transatlantic News
Member News
The Council today adopted two decisions authorising the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and of the Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) between the EU and Mercosur.
Together, these agreements mark an important milestone in the EU’s long-standing relationship with Mercosur partners – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Once in force, they will establish a framework for political dialogue, cooperation and trade relations within a modernised and comprehensive partnership....
Keynote Speech by Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Danish Economic Society Conference
Kolding, 9 January 2026
I am grateful to the Danish Economic Society for the invitation to participate in this conference. In line with the overall theme of the event, I will speak today about the implications of a changing world for the euro-denominated monetary system.
In our 2025 assessment exercise that reviewed the monetary policy strategy of the ECB, the Governing Council ...
1 January 2026
- Euro banknotes and coins start circulating in Bulgaria
- Bulgarian National Bank joins Eurosystem
- Bulgaria becomes 21st euro area member
- Bulgarian National Bank now also full member of Single Supervisory Mechanism following period of close cooperation
The euro officially entered into circulation in Bulgaria today, bringing the number of European Union (EU) Member States using the single European currency to 21. This follows on from the formal decision made in July, which also anno...
The 147 countries and jurisdictions working together within the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) have agreed on key elements of a package that charts a course forward for the co-ordinated operation of global minimum tax arrangements in the context of a digitalised and globalised economy.
Following months of intense negotiations, the comprehensive package for a “side by side” arrangement announced today represents a significant political and technical agreem...
The European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Central Bank (ECB), national central banks and national supervisory authorities across the European Economic Area have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation and information sharing in support of non-bank payment service providers’ (PSPs) access to central bank-operated payment systems.
This multilateral agreement sets out clear principles for collaboration and harmonises the processes and procedures for the exchang...
Tariffs and trade disruptions dominated headlines in 2025. European firms rely heavily on global trade – it represents about half of EU output. Despite that, European businesses are not radically overhauling their globalised approach. Instead, they are investing to make their supply chains more efficient and resilient.
US firms are a different story. While they rely less on global trade (it represents roughly one-quarter of output), new tariffs caused them to reduce imports and diversify the cou...
Today, the European Commission and the High Representative presented a Joint Communication on strengthening Economic Security. It outlines concrete steps to reinforce the EU’s strength and resilience in the face of growing external economic threats, while retaining our openness and commitment to international trade and investment.
The Joint Communication builds on the Economic Security Strategy of 2023 which set the overarching economic security objectives of promoting industrial strengths, prot...
The Commission today presented the Automotive Package to support the sector’s efforts in the transition to clean mobility. It sets an ambitious yet pragmatic policy framework to ensure 2050 climate neutrality and strategic independence while providing more flexibility to manufacturers. It also responds to calls by EU industry to simplify rules.
The automotive sector has been key to Europe’s industrial strength for decades, sustaining millions of jobs and driving technological innovation. As the ...
Governing Council endorses recommendations of High-Level Task Force on Simplification, which include:
- reducing the number of elements in the risk-weighted and leverage ratio framework
- introducing a materially simpler prudential regime for smaller banks, which expands on the existing EU regime
- introducing a European governance mechanism that takes a holistic view of the overall level of capital
- finalising the savings and investment union – including completion of the banking union – to foster cr...
The Commission welcomes today’s decision by EU Member States to introduce a €3 customs duty per item on e-commerce parcels valued below €150, starting in July 2026. The new duty will help protect the competitiveness of European businesses by levelling the playing field between e-commerce and traditional retail.
Given the rapid increase in e-commerce goods being imported into the EU, the Commission and Member States have together acknowledged the need for an urgent solution, which will bridg...
