ESMA is seeking individuals with expertise on issues related to market data regulatory reporting and record keeping of derivative contracts, positions, transactions in financial instruments (including securities financing), order book, instrument reference data, investment funds and prospectus data. DAG members are expected to advise ESMA’s Data Standing Committee (DSC) which undertakes ESMA’s policy work in data and reporting related areas. 

Once established, the DAG is expected to:

• advise , where necessary the DSC on specific data matters in its work on the completion of a Single Rulebook;
• advise where necessary the DSC on specific data maters in its work related to the development of supervisory convergence tools;
• inform the DSC on matters of practical implementation of reporting requirements which require clarifications or adaptations; and
• potentially advise other ESMA groups on specific data matters within their remits.

Interested individuals should send their candidacy to ESMA by no later than 16 September 2019, using the standard application form provided.

The Hague, ​5 August 2019

Ms Lilja Limingoja took up her official duties as National Member for Finland at Eurojust on 1 August. Prior to her appointment, she served as Assistant to the National Member for Finland.

Since 1995, Ms Limingoja worked as District Prosecutor. She specialised in the area of economic crime starting in 2003. She has also been a member of a group of prosecutors responsible for training economic crime investigators, customs officers, tax officers, attorneys, judges and prosecutors.

Ms Limingoja served as Seconded National Expert at Eurojust from February until July 2014, and also served as a contact point for the European Judicial Network (EJN) prior her appointment as National Member.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Limingoja described her new assignment as a great opportunity: ‘I have been working for a long period as a prosecutor in Finland, and now, in a way, I do not need to change the work. I am still working as a prosecutor, not with my own cases, but with my colleagues’ cases. Eurojust’s family is a working community where you have the Finnish National Desk, other National Desks, other colleagues and corporate staff; in a way, you have different kinds of people and different positions, all working together, which is fascinating.’

Eurojust has had an association with Finland since the end of the ‘90s. The discussion on the establishment of a judicial cooperation unit was first introduced at a European Council meeting in Tampere, Finland, on 15 and 16 October 1999, attended by heads of state and government. This meeting was dedicated to the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice in the European Union, based on solidarity and on the reinforcement of the fight against trans-border crime by consolidating cooperation among authorities.

Photo © Eurojust. Photo in high resolution available from Eurojust

The Hague, ​5 August 2019

Ms Lilja Limingoja took up her official duties as National Member for Finland at Eurojust on 1 August. Prior to her appointment, she served as Assistant to the National Member for Finland.

Since 1995, Ms Limingoja worked as District Prosecutor. She specialised in the area of economic crime starting in 2003. She has also been a member of a group of prosecutors responsible for training economic crime investigators, customs officers, tax officers, attorneys, judges and prosecutors.

Ms Limingoja served as Seconded National Expert at Eurojust from February until July 2014, and also served as a contact point for the European Judicial Network (EJN) prior her appointment as National Member.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Limingoja described her new assignment as a great opportunity: ‘I have been working for a long period as a prosecutor in Finland, and now, in a way, I do not need to change the work. I am still working as a prosecutor, not with my own cases, but with my colleagues’ cases. Eurojust’s family is a working community where you have the Finnish National Desk, other National Desks, other colleagues and corporate staff; in a way, you have different kinds of people and different positions, all working together, which is fascinating.’

Eurojust has had an association with Finland since the end of the ‘90s. The discussion on the establishment of a judicial cooperation unit was first introduced at a European Council meeting in Tampere, Finland, on 15 and 16 October 1999, attended by heads of state and government. This meeting was dedicated to the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice in the European Union, based on solidarity and on the reinforcement of the fight against trans-border crime by consolidating cooperation among authorities.

Photo © Eurojust. Photo in high resolution available from Eurojust

Eurobaromètre du printemps 2019: les Européens sont optimistes quant à l’état de l’Union européenne – meilleurs résultats en cinq ans

Une nouvelle enquête Eurobaromètre publiée aujourd’hui témoigne d’une forte augmentation de la perception positive de l’Union européenne par les citoyens, et ce dans tous les domaines. Il s’agit là des meilleurs résultats depuis l’enquête Eurobaromètre de juin 2014, menée avant l’entrée en fonction de la Commission Juncker.La confiance dans l’UE a atteint son niveau le plus élevé depuis 2014 et reste supérieure à la confiance dans les gouvernements ou les parlements nationaux. La confiance dans l’UE a augmenté dans 20 États membres, les résultats les plus élevés étant enregistrés en Lituanie (72 %), au Danemark (68 %) et en Estonie (60 %).Le soutien à l’Union économique et monétaire et à l’euro atteint un nouveau record, plus de trois quarts des personnes interrogées dans la zone euro étant en faveur de la monnaie unique. Dans l’ensemble de l’UE, le soutien à l’euro est stable, à 62 %. Également, dans l’ensemble des 28 États membres, plus de la moitié des répondants se sentent citoyens de l’UE. Dans l’ensemble de l’UE, 73 % des personnes interrogées se sentent citoyens de l’UE. Interrogés sur leurs préoccupations au niveau de l’UE, les répondants indiquent que l’immigration reste la principale préoccupation, avec 34 % de mentions, malgré une forte diminution. Le changement climatique, cinquième à l’automne 2018, est à présent la deuxième préoccupation majeure après une forte augmentation. Ce sont quelques-unes des conclusions de la dernière enquête Eurobaromètre standard qui a été menée après les élections européennes, entre le 7 juin et le 1er juillet 2019, dans les 28 pays de l’UE et cinq pays candidats. 27 464 entretiens ont eu lieu dans les États membres de l’Union à 28 entre le 7 et le 25 juin 2019. L’étude est disponible en ligne. Plus d’informations sont disponibles dans ce communiqué de presse. (Pour plus d’informations: Mina Andreeva: Tél.: +32 229 91382)

The European Union and the United States signed an agreement on imports of hormone-free beef

On Friday, the European Union and the United States signed an agreement reviewing the functioning of an existing quota to import hormone-free beef into the EU. This is yet another deliverable of the cooperation fostered by the Joint Statement issued by Presidents Juncker and Trump in July 2018 establishing a positive EU-U.S. bilateral trade agenda. The agreement allocates 35,000 tonnes of the existing quota to the U.S., phased over a 7-year period, with the remaining amount left available for all other exporters. The overall volume of the quota opened in 2009 remains unchanged, just like the high European standards for any food put on the European market. The agreement was approved by EU Member States in the Council on 15 July 2019 and will now be presented for approval to the European Parliament before it can enter into force. For more information, see a press release available online. (For more information: Daniel Rosario – Tel.: +32 229 56185; Clemence Robin – Tel.: +32 229 52509)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini travels to Maputo, Mozambique to witness signature of historic peace agreement

Tomorrow, High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini will be in Maputo, Mozambique, to participate in the official signing ceremony of the historic peace agreement reached between the Mozambican government and the opposition party RENAMO. The European Union has been a strong supporter of the peace process and is providing €50 million to support the consolidation of the peace process to support local economic development, decentralisation, reconciliation and disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants. Federica Mogherini is also due to hold bilateral meetings with the President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, the President of RENAMO, Ossufo Momade, and the Foreign Minister, José Pacheco. A factsheet on EU-Mozambique relations is available here. Photos as well as video coverage will be available on EbS. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz de Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)

A new Eurobarometer survey released today shows a strong increase in citizens’ positive perception of the European Union across the board – from the economy to the state of democracy. These are the best results since the June 2014 Eurobarometer survey conducted before the Juncker Commission took office.

This latest Standard Eurobarometer survey was conducted after the European elections, between 7 June and 1 July 2019 in all 28 EU countries and five candidate countries. Amongst the main findings are a record-high support for the euro and climate change turning into the second top concern at EU level, after immigration.

1. Trust and optimism about the future at their highest since 2014

Trust in the EU is at its highest level since 2014 and remains higher than trust in national governments or parliaments. Trust in the EU has increased in 20 Member States, with the highest scores in Lithuania (72%), Denmark (68%) and Estonia (60%). In addition, over half of the respondents “tend to trust” the EU in Luxembourg (59%), Finland (58%), Portugal (57%), Malta and Sweden (both 56%), Bulgaria and Hungary (both 55%), Ireland, Poland, the Netherlands and Cyprus (all 54%), Romania and Austria (both 52%) and Latvia and Belgium (both 51%).

Since the last Standard Eurobarometer survey in autumn 2018, the proportion of respondents who have a positive image of the EU (45%) has increased in 23 EU Member States, most strikingly in Cyprus (47%, +11), Hungary (52%, +9) Greece (33%, +8), Romania (60%, +8) and Portugal (60%, +7). A two-percentage point increase has been registered since autumn 2018 (+10 since spring 2014), reaching its highest level ever for the past 10 years. 37% (+1, compared to autumn 2018) of respondents have a neutral image of the EU, while less than a fifth have a negative image (17%, -3) –is the lowest score in 10 years.

A majority of Europeans are optimistic about the future of the EU (61%, +3 percentage points), while only 34% (-3) are pessimistic. Optimism is highest in Ireland (85%), Denmark (79%), Lithuania (76%) and Poland (74%). At the other end of the scale, optimism is less pronounced in the United Kingdom (47% vs 46%) and in France (50% vs 45%).

55% of Europeans say they are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU, the highest score since autumn 2004 (+5 percentage points since autumn 2018; +11 since spring 2014) while the number of those “not satisfied” has decreased by five percentage points, to 36%.

A majority of Europeans agree that “their voice counts in the EU”. The EU-28 average reaches 56% (+7 percentage points since autumn 2018; +11 since spring 2018; +14 since spring 2014), with the highest scores being observed in Sweden (86%), Denmark (81%) and Netherlands (76%).

2. Record high support for the euro 

Support for the Economic and Monetary Union and for the euro reaches a new record high,with more than three-quarters of respondents (76%, +1 percentage point; +9 since spring 2014) in the Euro area in favour of the EU’s single currency.In the EU as a whole, support for the euro is stable at 62%.

Positive opinions on the situation of the national economies prevail (with 49% judging the situation as being good and 47% judging it as being bad). The majority of respondents in 17 Member States (16 in autumn 2018) state that the national economic situation is good. Luxembourg (94%), Denmark (91%) and the Netherlands (90%) are the countries with the highest scores. The lowest percentage of positive opinions is observed in Greece (7%), Croatia and Bulgaria (both 20%), Italy (22%), Spain (26%) and France (29%).

3.EU citizenship and free movement seen as main EU achievements

In all 28 Member States, more than half of respondents feel that they are citizens of the EU. Across the EU as a whole, 73% feel this way (+2 percentage points since autumn 2018), and at a national level the scores range from 93% in Luxembourg, 88% in Germany, 87% in Spain to 57% in both Greece and Italy and 52% in Bulgaria.

A large majority of EU citizens support “the free movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do business anywhere in the EU” (81%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2018), and in every EU Member State more than two-thirds of respondents share this view, from Lithuania (94%) to Italy and the UK (both 68%).

4. Top concerns at EU and national level: climate change and environment on the rise

Immigration remains the main concern at EU level, with 34% of mentions, despite a strong decrease (-6 percentage points since autumn 2018). Climate change, which was ranked fifth in autumn 2018, is now the second most important concern after a strong increase (+6 since autumn 2018). Three concerns obtain identical scores: the economic situation (18%, unchanged), the state of Member States’ public finances (18%, -1) and terrorism (18%, -2), followed by the environment – main concern for 13% of the respondents, registering a four-percentage point increase.

Unemployment, which is nowin seventh position at EU level (12%), remains the main concern at national level (21%, -2 percentage points), together with rising prices/inflation/cost of living (21%, unchanged) and health and social security (21%, +1). The environment, climate and energy issues follow very closely after a strong increase (20%, +6). Immigration, with 17% of mentions (-4 percentage points since autumn 2018, and -19 since autumn 2015), falls out of the top three concerns at national level for the first time since spring 2014. The economic situation is in sixth place (16%, +1).

Background

The “Spring 2019 – Standard Eurobarometer” (EB 91) was conducted through face-to-face interviews between7 June and 1 July 2019 across the 28 EU Member States and in the candidate countries[1]. 27,464 interviews were conducted in the EU28 Member States between 7 and 25 June 2019.

For More Information

Standard Eurobarometer 91

http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/survey/getsurveydetail/instruments/standard/surveyky/2253

[1] The 28 European Union (EU) Member States, five candidate countries (North Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania) and the Turkish Cypriot Community in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus.