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COP29: MEPs set out their vision ahead of this year’s global climate talks

A few days ago, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted its demands for the UN Climate Change Conference COP29. The resolution, adopted with 54 votes in favour, 23 against and four abstentions, calls on all countries to agree on a post-2025 new collective goal on climate finance at COP29. This goal should be socially fair, aligned with the polluter-pays principle,...

For co-ordinated approaches on climate action, carbon pricing, and policy spillovers

Five international organisations today released a landmark report that outlines pathways for co-ordinated approaches on climate action, carbon pricing, and the cross-border effects of climate change mitigation policies with a view to achieving global climate goals.Ins and outs The report was presented on 23 October by the Joint Task Force on Climate Action, Carbon Pricing, and Policy Spillovers, convened by the World Trade Organization and...

Applying the European sustainability reporting standards

The European Commission is hosting a one-day seminar entitled ‘Supporting companies in applying the European sustainability reporting standards (ESRS)’ on 15 November 2024. ​The seminar will bring together experts and practitioners from Member State representations, business and trade associations, companies, consultancies, auditors and other stakeholders. Building on the Commission’s expert dialogue, held on 16 May 2024, the event will further explore the key challenges...

Country-by-Country Reporting soon to become "public"

Belgium has introduced public Country-by-Country Reporting ("public CbCR") through the law of 8 January 2024 amending the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations with respect to the disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches (Dutch/ French) ("Law"), and as further set out in the Royal Decree of 18 April 2024 (Dutch/French). This new reporting legislation implements the EU Directive 2021/2101 as regards...

Report on EU trade policy's implementation and enforcement

Enforcement of trade policy delivers prosperity and growth for EU companies The value of EU trade covered by the vast network of 42 agreements with 74 partners in place in 2023 was more than €2.3 trillion, having risen by over 30% over the past five years, according to the Annual Report on the implementation and enforcement of EU trade policy published today. EU exports to...

Central bank losses: causes and consequences

​Central banks globally have recently shifted from reporting profits to recording sizeable losses. This article looks at why these losses are occurring and their potential consequences. Can central banks continue to operate efficiently? What do these losses imply for state budgets?​Article published in the Economic Review of 2024El Joueidi, S. / Vincent, E. / Wauters, J.​Since 2019, Economic Review articles have been published...

Tax policy evolving : point of view, by OECD

from crisis management towards long-term fiscal priorities A trend of decreased taxes on businesses and individuals during the pandemic and the subsequent inflationary period is now showing signs of deceleration and reversal, according to a new OECD report. Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to preserve individual liberty and improve the economic and social well-being of...

Measures to ensure complete and timely transposition of EU directives

Commission takes action to ensure complete and timely transposition of EU Directives Belgium is thus singled ou in two process of transposing European directives > Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive > procedures for renewable energy projectsRules The Commission is adopting a package of infringement decisions due to the absence of communication by Member States of measures taken to transpose EU directives into national law. The...

Which future for the European Competitiveness ? In en outs of the Draghi Report ...

On Tuesday, Mario Draghi outlined his blueprint for improving Europe’s competitiveness through closer cooperation in core areas and massive investment in shared objectives.Draghi to MEPs: “Europe faces a choice between exit, paralysis, or integration” Mr Draghi, author of a report on European competitiveness requested by the President of the European Commission, said that the EU needed to focus on three crucial issues: closing the innovation...

The future of European competitiveness: report by Mario Draghi

The report looks at the challenges faced by the industry and companies in the Single Market. The findings of the report will contribute to the Commission’s work on a new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness. And in particular, to the development of the new Clean Industrial Deal for competitive industries and quality jobs, which will be presented in the first 100 days of...

"Black and grey" lists of FATF : changes in 2024

​The FATF identifies jurisdictions with weak measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) in two FATF public documents that are issued three times a year. The FATF’s process to publicly list countries with weak AML/CFT regimes has proved effective. As of June 2024, the FATF has reviewed 133 countries and jurisdictions and publicly identified 108 of them. Of these, 84 have since made...

Real household income increases in most countries in the first quarter of 2024

Real household income per capita in the OECD rose by 0.9% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 0.3% in the previous quarter, while real GDP per capita grew by 0.3% (Figure 1). All G7 economies experienced an increase in real household income per capita in Q1 2024. Italy saw the strongest increase (3.4%), driven by a rise in compensation of employees and social...

Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2024, following OCDE rapport ...

Since 2020, a series of shocks to the global economy has had significant impacts on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs and their access to finance. Most recently, significant inflationary pressures have led to tighter lending conditions, limiting the flow of finance to SMEs and acting as a barrier to investment OECD (2024), Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2024: An OECD Scoreboard, OECD Publishing, Paris,...

Strengthening International Tax Transparency on Real Estate – From Concept to Reality

In July 2023, following a request from the Indian G20 Presidency, the OECD delivered a report making the case for enhanced tax transparency on real estate and setting out a number of conceptual solutions to improve the existing architecture on a voluntary basis. Since then, technical work has continued at OECD-level to refine the understanding of the information needs of tax administrations, the information they...

OECD, "think thank" of the international tax cooperation....

The OECD publishes on its website a commentary by its Secretary-General on the results of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro on international tax cooperation, namely the Ministerial Declaration (final communiqué) which you will find in the annex in English, the only language available. It seemed appropriate to communicate you in full this statement of the Secretary-General, It highlights the importance of OECD work in...