EU fires e-commerce warning - EUbusiness Week newsletter 756 - EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 756 top stories: Summit to mull EU future without Britain; State of the Union: Juncker addresses key challenges; Indonesia, EU set date for start of timber licensing; Brussels consults on tax haven blacklist; Euro-MPs back trade deal with six African countries; New EU emergency support to refugees in Greece

Publisher’s Note

The results of a year-long inquiry into the e-commerce sector were published this week, reflecting growth in online trade but also highlighting some competition concerns.

The report suggests businesses may themselves be putting up barriers to cross-border online trade, while some retailers are being prevented from selling goods or services online to customers located in another EU country.

They should beware. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, rarely off the warpath on behalf of Europe’s consumer, says she will not hesitate to take enforcement action under EU antitrust rules if barriers to accessing online goods and services online are anti-competitive.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Summit to mull EU future without Britain

EU heads of government or state meet Friday for an informal summit to map out a new direction for an EU with 27 member countries following the result of the UK’s referendum.
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Juncker sets up Task Force for Brexit talks

2. State of the Union: Juncker addresses key challenges

In his 2016 State of the Union address to the European Parliament, Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the Union was facing key challenges of populism, unemployment and social injustice.
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3. Indonesia, EU set date for start of timber licensing

Indonesia and the EU have agreed a November start date for issuing licences to legal timber products for export to the EU in a major milestone in the global fight against trade in illegal timber.
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4. Brussels consults on tax haven blacklist

The Commission released Thursday a draft list of countries suspected of facilitating tax avoidance, leaving EU Member States to choose which countries deserve closer scrutiny of their taxation practices.
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5. Euro-MPs back trade deal with six African countries

The European Parliament has approved an agreement granting duty-free access to the EU for products from Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho, and improved market access for South Africa.
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6. New EU emergency support to refugees in Greece

The EU has stepped up funding for refugees migrants and asylum seekers in Greece, with EUR 115m in new funding for humanitarian organisations operating in the country.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Spanish contracts: the use of successive fixed-term contracts to cover permanent needs in Spain’s healthcare sector are contrary to EU law, the European Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Bratislava summit – EU prolongs sanctions over actions against Ukraine’s territorial integrity – European Border and Coast Guard: final approval – EU budget for 2017: Council sets out its position
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Council …

Commission Watch

EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions – European Solidarity Corps – Capital Markets Union – e-commerce sector inquiry – August inflation – Brexit Task Force – internet connectivity – Security Union – European External Investment Plan – External Borders – EU copyright rules – Better Regulation – European Fund for Strategic Investments – Regional yearbook 2016 – Employment stats Q2 – Sir Julian King
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Parliament Watch

Sakharov Prize 2016 nominees – priorities for safeguarding endangered species – Sir Julian King endorsed as Commissioner for Security Union – New European travel document – Human rights: Philippines, Somalia and Zimbabwe – Dalai Lama – Ireland’s tax deal with Apple – Caterpillar, Alstom closures – 2016 State of the Union debate – Packaged retail investment products: EP returns draft law to Commission – Fundamental rights in Poland
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EU diary

16 Sep: Informal meeting of 27 heads of state or government
20 Sep: First international workshop on resilience
22 Sep: EU trade agreements in practice
22 Sep: Smart urban mobility: cooperation and finance
23 Sep: Horizon 2020 Smart cities and communities info day
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary