The European Commission has approved the merger between Essilor and Luxottica...
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Interest By The Pharmaceutical Industry To Register Medicines Through Malta Has Increased
Prof. Serracino Inglott said that the Authority is optimising its role within the European regulatory network and maintaining its strong working relationships with UK colleagues.
Interest by the pharmaceutical industry to register medicines through Malta has increased, according to the Chairperson of the Malta Medicines Authority, Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott.
State aid: Commission approves partial compensation granted to Post Office Limited for the operation of a network of post offices across the UK
The European Commission has concluded that the financial compensation granted by the UK to Post Office Limited (POL) is in line with EU State aid rules. The support relates to the operation of a network of post offices across the UK that is larger than what POL would have chosen to operate purely for commercial reasons. In January 2018, the UK notified to the Commission its intention to grant partial compensation of around £370 million (about €418 million) to POL for delivering services of general economic interest (SGEIs) during the next funding period.
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of joint control over a newly created car-sharing joint venture by Repsol and KIA
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over a newly created full function joint venture by Repsol and KIA, both of Spain. The joint venture will carry out a car-sharing business in Madrid. Repsol is a publicly listed integrated energy company headquartered in Madrid. KIA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kia Motors Company, the holding for the Kia Group, and is ultimately controlled by Hyundai Motor Company. It operates as a cars distributor in Spain.
MGA BOSS TO BECOME MFSA CEO
According to the amendment in the MFSA law, which still needs to be approved by Parliament, the new CEO must be selected by the independent board of governors of the financial regulator.
Joseph Cuschieri, the head of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has been selected by the Office of the Prime Minster to serve as the new CEO of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The news was first broken by the Sunday Times of Malta.
Does The Book Publishing Industry Have A Future In Malta?
“Most of us remember going to Valletta and spending time browsing through books in a bookshop, but reality is different today.”
Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed merger between Praxair and Linde
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed merger between Praxair and Linde under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is concerned that the merger may reduce competition in the supply of several crucial gases, like oxygen and helium.
Action Announced To Strengthen Malta's Financial Services Sector
The recommended changes follow an “independent, international analysis” of Malta’s legal, fiscal and regulatory structures over the last few months.
Government is taking action to protect the financial services sector and Malta’s reputation as a serious and competitive jurisdiction by implementing a number of changes, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said today.
VAT: Commission launches compliance check to assess whether businesses are refunded quickly enough in all Member States
The European Commission today launched a compliance check to assess whether VAT refunds to business in EU Member States are in line with current EU law and case law of the European Court of Justice. A lack of access to a simple and fast VAT refund procedure can have a major impact on cash flows and on the competitiveness of businesses. This is especially true for the smallest companies who cannot afford to go through long and burdensome procedures to get the VAT they are owed back from the State.
Social media companies need to do more to fully comply with EU consumer rules
Social media companies need to do more to respond to the requests, made last March by the European Commission and Member States' consumer authorities, to comply with EU consumer rules.
The changes made by Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to align their terms of services with EU consumer protection rules have been published today.
Malta Gaming Authority Sets Up New Anti-Money Laundering Supervisory Unit
Joseph Cuschieri, executive chairman of the MGA, has also stated that he is keen to “start a collaboration” with the Italian Anti-Mafia Commission.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has set up a new Anti-Money Laundering Unit within the Authority’s operational and regulatory structures.
This new unit, which is now fully operational, will be conducting AML/CFT supervisory assessments through on-site and off-site inspections and will report any findings to the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU).
Közgép was owner of Elios, and as such bears ultimate responsibility
The date and method of the publication of the OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office) report on the case of Elios Innovatív Zrt. are part of a political campaign, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said on Monday in Hódmezővásárhely.
COLLEGE MEETING: Multiannual Financial Framework after 2020
Ahead of the Informal Leaders' meeting on 23 February 2018, the European Commission is today setting out various options – and their financial consequences – for a new and modern, long-term EU budget that delivers efficiently on its priorities after 2020.
Fitch Ratings Affirms Malta's Credit Rating At A+ With Stable Outlook
For 2018, Fitch is forecasting 5.9 per cent growth when, in its previous report, the growth had been estimated at 3.7 per cent.
The international agency Fitch Ratings has confirmed Malta’s credit rating at A+ stable, the government said in a statement.
In its report, the agency is forecasting a seven per cent growth at the end of last year; six months ago, it had been forecasting four per cent growth.
BDP International expands to Denmark
The global logistics and transportation solutions provider BDP International chooses Denmark. Decisive factors include Denmark being a growing logistics hotspot with close proximity and short lead-time to the rest of Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
The leading global logistics and transportation solutions company BDP International opens a new office in Copenhagen.
Danish Government presents ‘Digital Growth Strategy’: Enhancing Denmark’s position as a digital frontrunner
The vision is clear: Denmark has to remain a digital frontrunner. To achieve this, the Danish government allocates 134 million EUR to initiatives running until 2025 as a part of a new ‘Digital Growth Strategy’.
Mergers: Commission clears creation of a wind farm company by Votorantim and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed creation of a company jointly controlled by Votorantim of Brazil and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board of Canada. The newly created joint venture, VTRM Energia Participações, will operate wind farms in Brazil.
University of Cyprus joins the Erasmus+ Master Loan Guarantee Scheme
The European Investment Fund and the University of Cyprus have today signed an agreement, which will allow students from other countries to defer tuition fees and student accommodation rent payments.
New Commission guidance helps Member States organise sound tender procedures for EU-funded projects
Today the Commission published new guidance to help national, regional and local public officials dealing with EU funds ensure efficient and transparent public procurement procedures for EU-funded projects. "Helping Member States organise sound tender procedures for EU investments is key to safeguard the EU budget from er
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of ATK Orbital by Northrop Grumman
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control over Orbital ATK, Inc.
Mergers: Commission clears the extension of the scope of Solunion Seguros' activities
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, a transaction under which Mapfre SA of Spain and Allianz Group of Germany, through its affiliate Euler Hermes Group SA of France, to enlarge the scope of the activities of their full-function joint venture Solunion Seguros, Compañía Internacional de Seguros y Reaseguros de Spain en bonding insurance in Spain and some Latin American countries. Solunion Seguros is currently active in the supply of insurance in Spain and some countries in Latin America. Inscredere insurance protects policy holders against the
Commission report says employment and social situation continue to improve in the EU
Supported by strong economic growth, employment in the EU has increased more strongly than expected in the third quarter of 2017 and is still accompanied by falling unemployment according to the latest quarterly report on the evolution of the labor market.
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of OCTE by Avis Budget Group and Koç Holding
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of OCTE of Greece by Otokoç ABG Holland BV of the Netherlands, which will be jointly controlled by Avis Budget Group Inc. ('ABG') of the US and Koç Holding A.S. ('Koç') of Turkey. OCTE trades as Avis Hellas and, since 2010, has been appointed as Avis' franchisee in Greece for the Avis and Budget brands. ABG is a global provider of rental cars and also operates a car sharing network through its Zipcar brand.
160 innovation grants to bring frontier research closer to the market
Today, 52 winners of an innovation grant competition have been announced. The so-called 'proof of concept' grants, each worth up to €150,000, are dedicated to researchers that explore the innovation potential of their scientific discoveries. This will help researchers to bring the results of their frontier research closer to the market. Today's winners join 108 others that have already been awarded grants in 2017.
Trade Defence: Commission imposes definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese corrosion resistant steel
The Commission today imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on corrosion resistant steel from China. The investigation confirmed that Chinese producers were dumping the product on the EU market, a finding that already led to imposition of provisional duties in August 2017. The measures that will be in place for the next 5 years range from 17.2% to 27.9%. Corrosion resistant steel is mainly used in the construction industry, for mechanical engineering, in the production of welded pipes and tubes and in the manufacturing of domestic appliances.