Roadmap for Capital Markets Union - EUbusiness Week newsletter 693 - EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 693 top stories: Greek PM in ‘positive’ talks with Merkel despite snub; New EU sanctions hit two Russian deputy defence ministers; ECB minutes reveal differences over QE tool; Eurozone economy grows as cheap oil takes hold; WTO rules against China in row with EU over steel pipes

Publisher’s Note

The Commission unveiled a Green Paper this week for a single market for capital, with the aim of breaking down barriers that block cross-border investments and prevent access to finance for European businesses.

Businesses in Europe traditionally receive funding from the banks, with relatively little coming from capital markets. The balance elsewhere however is the other way round. And opportunities for a true single market for capital are significant: if EU venture capital markets were as deep as the US, around EUR 90 billion more in funds would have been available to companies between 2008 and 2013.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Greek PM in ‘positive’ talks with Merkel despite snub

Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for nearly an hour on Thursday in what a government source said was “a positive climate” aimed at calming the bailout crisis.
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Facts on Greece’s request for six-month EU loan
What’s at stake in a ‘Grexit’?

2. New EU sanctions hit two Russian deputy defence ministers

The EU included two Russian deputy defence ministers in its latest Ukraine sanctions list, hitting them with travel bans and asset freezes for their role in the conflict.
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Russia vows to respond to ‘illogical’ EU sanctions

3. ECB minutes reveal differences over QE tool

The European Central Bank revealed Thursday that there were divisions on its policy-setting governing council over the use of its new anti-deflation tool, but a “large majority” had voted for it as previous measures were insufficient.
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ECB says profits down in 2014

4. Eurozone economy grows as cheap oil takes hold

Economic activity in the eurozone picked up slightly in fourth quarter, official EU data shows, in a sign that the benefits of cheap oil and stimulus by the European Central Bank are taking effect.
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5. WTO rules against China in row with EU over steel pipes

A WTO panel largely has ruled against China in its row with the European Union and Japan over Chinese anti-dumping duties on imports of steel pipes.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Ukraine: the European Union on Wednesday condemned a rebel offensive against the strategic town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine as a “clear violation” of an internationally-backed ceasefire.
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German anti-euro party wins first seats in western state
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Commission Watch

Zimbabwe: the EU has unveiled a USD 270m aid package to support Zimbabwe’s agriculture and health sectors, marking the resumption of direct funding after more than 10 years.
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EU boosts Italy migrant aid
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Parliament Watch

External Parliamentary activities this week, with delegations at the WTO Parliamentary Conference in Geneva, and on a visit to the headquarters of the EU border agency Frontex.
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EU diary

23 Feb: Shale gas in a low-carbon Europe
23-24 Feb: European Parliament Committee Meetings
24 Feb: How digital is your country? New EU Digital Index
25 Feb: European Parliament plenary session
25 Feb: Commission presents Energy Union Strategy
26 Feb: Commission adopts monthly infringements package
26 Feb: European Parliament Committee Meetings
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary