When multinationals from the United States were looking for places to base their corporate headquarters in Europe, they were looking for the most business advantageous countries. For years the countries of Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in particular, offered special consideration for foreign companies known as tax rulings. These financial privileges provided legal ways to reduce and in some cases eliminate, all tax liability in the host country.

Authors: Jean Pisani-Ferry, Norbert Röttingen, André Sapir, Paul Tucker and Guntram B. Wolff (Bruegel)

"We propose the creation of a Continental Partnership (CP). The aim of this CP is to sustain deep economic integration, fully participating in goods, services, capital mobility and some temporary labour mobility, but excluding freedom of movement of workers and political integration.

The CP should involve:

Of the 513 members of the lower house in Congress, 303 face charges or are being investigated for serious crimes. In the Senate, the same goes for 49 of 81 members.

Of 65 members on the impeachment commission, 37 face charges of corruption or other serious crimes according to Transparencia Brasil but are nevertheless allowed to sit in judgement on the President.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to ban the entire team of Russian athletes from participating in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The decision has resulted in an outcry of pain and anger from Russian society.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU or EEU is an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia. A treaty aiming for the establishment of the EEU was signed on 29 May 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and came into force on 1 January 2015. Treaties aiming for Armenia’s and Kyrgyztan’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union were signed on 9 October 2014 and 23 December, respectively.

1. Action Institute (Italy)
2. Adam Smith Institute (ASI) (United Kingdom)
3. Amnesty International (AI) (United Kingdom)
4. Association for International Affairs (AMO) (Czech Republic)
5. Atomium Culture http://atomiumculture.eu
6. Austrian Institute of Economic Research (Austria)
7. Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) (Spain)

Over 60% of decisions taken at the European level have a direct impact on municipalities, provinces, and regions and 70% to 80% of public investments in Europe are made by local and regional authorities. Those two figures alone are proof of the ever-increasing importance of European local and regional government in both our world’s economy and the life of citizens. The current financial, economic and social crisis affecting most of Europe’s national governments means that the future of Europe lies more so than ever in the hands of local and regional authorities.

Energy and Security News Editor

Author: Heather Grabbe, Director of the Open Society European Policy Institute

1. Faraway

Author : Heather Grabbe, Director of the Open Society European Policy Institute.

Text has been edited

The European Union’s dwindling democratic legitimacy is an acute political challenge. Trust in EU institutions is declining even in countries where the union once had high levels of support. Populist parties are rising and turning against the EU. To restore its legitimacy, the EU needs to respond to public apathy and anger with emotional intelligence and to offer solutions that feel relevant to people outside the Brussels bubble.