Monday

2nd Oct 2023

Agenda

EU economic forecasts out next WEEK

  • Europe keeps sinking deeper into recession, amid bold moves to cut national debt (Photo: Images_of_Money)

The European Commission will next Friday (3 May) unveil its latest forecast for economic growth and employment in EU countries.

A number of member states - chief among them France and Spain - are struggling to live up to EU obligations to cut debt as their economies tank.

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The commission figures will underpin its country-specific financial recommendations due at the end of May.

Earlier in the week on Monday, the commission's "task force" on Greece - a group of 50-or-so experts based in Brussels and Athens, advising the Greek government how to get their country back on its feet - will file their quarterly report.

On Thursday, commission officials will meet with business leaders and trade union representatives - "social partners" - to get feedback on policy from the real world.

Officials in the European External Action Service will on Monday hold a meeting with private security firms to try to fix a mess on who is to guard diplomats in Kabul.

In what amounts to a quiet week in the EU capital, EU officials are on holiday on 1 May, Labour Day.

MEPs are away all week, catching up with domestic constituents.

Outside Brussels, the Icelandic government, newly-elected over the weekend, will be expected to make clear whether the island state still plans to join the Union.

EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton is making her first-ever visit trip to Mongolia on Monday to sign an association-type treaty.

German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble will the same day brave potential anti-austerity protests on a visit to Granada, one of Spain's worst-hit regions in terms of unemployment.

Meanwhile, EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele goes to Baku on Thursday.

The authoritarian country is gearing up for presidential elections in October. The EU wants its gas as an alternative to Russian supplies. But some commissioners have in the past complained about its human rights record despite energy interests.

Tax evasion on the agenda this WEEK

Tax havens and banking transparency top this week’s agenda as EU finance ministers meet to discuss the issue on Tuesday.

European Political Community and key media vote This WEEK

A major meeting of leaders from all over Europe will take place this week, with security and enlargement as key topics for discussion. In the Parliament, MEPs are expected to vote on the European Media Freedom Act.

Opinion

Why EU Commission dumped Google's favourite consultant

This should be a wake-up call to ensure consultancy firms with a vested interest are permanently excluded from public tenders. The close relationship between the EU's competition authority and economic consultants poses a serious risk to its independence.

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