Frontier Exceptions
Origin Article XXIV(3) of the GATT agreement provides that the provisions of the Agreement shall not be interpreted to prevent advantages accorded by any contracting party to adjacent countries in order to facilitate ...
Author Archives: Paul McMahon
EU Associated Territories & Others
Outermost Regions The Special member state territories of the European Union are various territories which for historical geographical or political reasons have a special status within or special relationship with ...
Development of GATT
Origin Originally the IMF and the World Bank were to be accompanied by an International Trade Organisation. The Bretton Woods Agreement made in 1944 proposed the formation of an International Trade Organization to ...
GATT Principles & Exceptions
Some General Principles The GATT provides for a number of basic principles. Non-discrimination; The principle of national treatment requires that goods, once lawfully imported, will be treated in the same manner as ...
Common Foreign & Security Policy
Background From the time it was founded in the 1950s, the EU has regarded itself as a civilian power. NATO was the forum where many of the original EU members could focus on questions of Cold War defense and ...
Conflict Prevention Communication
Background Many factors contribute to conflict – poverty, economic stagnation, uneven distribution of resources, weak social structures, lack of good governance, systematic discrimination, oppression of ...
Co-operation with NATO
Strategic Partnership The “European Union-NATO Declaration on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)” and the “Berlin Plus” arrangements are the basic documents for the EU-NATO ...
Military Crisis Management
Military Staff of the European Union (EUMS) The Military Staff of the European Union is the source of the EU’s military expertise. It performs early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning for ...
EU Security
The European Union Institute for Security Studies The European Union Institute for Security Studies provides research and analysis on international issues to help the EU develop its foreign and security policy. The ...
European Defence Agency
Operation of the European Defence Agency The EDA was established in 2004. Since then, a number of amendments have been made regarding its statute, seat and operational rules. These changes have been consolidated in ...
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
Support for Rural Development This regulation: sets out how the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) aims to develop the agricultural sector over the 2014-2020 period to be more geographically and ...
Direct EU Payments to farmers
CAP Direct Payments It sets out the rules for direct payments made to support farmers under the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). These payments are made on the condition that farmers meet strict rules on the ...
European Development Fund (EDF)
The EDF The European Development Fund supports actions in developing countries and territories to promote economic, social and human development, as well as regional cooperation. The European Development Fund (EDF) ...
Development Cooperation
Background Through its Development Cooperation Instrument, the European Union aims to reduce poverty in developing countries, as well as to promote sustainable economic, social and environmental development, ...
Structural Funds Breakdown 2014-2020
Structural Funds Implementation Implementing Decision 2014/190/EU on annual distribution of structural funds among EU countries defines how much funding each country will get under the EU’s main structural funds, the ...
Cohesion Fund (2014-20)
Regulation on Cohesion An EU Regulation sets out the objectives for the EU’s Cohesion Fund for the funding period 2014-20. The Fund is one of the EU’s financial instruments that aim to narrow the disparities in ...
European Social Fund
Regulation on the European Social Fund It sets down principles, rules and standards for the implementation of the European Social Fund (ESF). In 2014-2020, the ESF covers 4 main areas of investment: employment and in ...
Common rules on Funds (2014-2020)
European Structural and Investment Funds It sets out the common principles, rules and standards for the operation of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI funds) for the period 2014-2020. The ESI funds ...
European Regional Development Fund (2014-2020)
ERDF Regulation An EU regulation sets down principles, rules and standards for the implementation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the scope of its investment for growth and jobs and territorial ...
Agricultural Products Duties & Refunds
Trade Arrangements An EU Regulation on Trade arrangements for processed agricultural products establishes the trade regime for non-agricultural food and drink items made from agricultural products. They are ...
Adoption of the Budget
EU institutions and bodies forward their budget estimates for the following year no later than 1 July to the European CommissionIn practice, the Commission seeks to have its draft budget ready in spring (April/May). ...
Multiannual EU budget (2014-2020)
Key Points The EU adopted the 7-year plan for the 2014-2020 period in December 2013. The multiannual financial framework (MFF) amounts to €960 billion in commitments (legal promise to provide finance, assuming ...
Brexit & Aviation
UK & Aviation The EU’s common aviation area ECAA provides a single aviation market. It allows registered airlines who were based in one state to operate on a cabotage basis within other states. A domestic ...
Brexit & Other Transport
EU Transport Policies The EU shares competence in transport with the member states. The EU’s powers and competences are defined by the Treaty. As in other areas, there is a certain extent to which once the EU ...
Brexit & Financial Services
EU Financial Services Legislation Most EU legislation on financial services is agreed between the European Parliament and (the member states in) the EU Council. Most decisions are taken by a qualified majority vote. ...
Financial Architecture
Supervisory Authorities Three European supervisory authorities (ESAs) were formed as part of the European Union banking reforms following the financial crisis. The ESAs are part of the ESFS (European System of ...
Financial Instruments
Financial Collateral A Directive on financial collateral seeks to reduce credit risk in collateral financial transactions between financial institutions. The purpose is to provide for the rapid and informal ...
Banking
Regulation of Credit Institutions Credit institutions authorised in one EU state may provide services in other EU states. An institution established in one state which wishes to establish a branch in another state ...
EU UCIT Funds
UCITS UCITS are undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities. UCITS are usually undertakings with the sole object of collective investment in transferable securities or other liquid financial ...
Insurance
Regulation The European Union has legislated in relation to insurance services. As part of the freedom of movement of capital and freedom to provide services, there is legislation setting down common principles of ...