First quarter of 2018 compared with fourth quarter of 2017 – Government debt slightly up to 86.8% of GDP in euro area – Down to 81.5% of GDP in EU28

At the end of the first quarter of 2018, the government debt to GDP ratio in the euro area (EA19) stood at 86.8%, compared with 86.7% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017. In the EU28, the ratio decreased from 81.6% to 81.5%. Compared with the first quarter of 2017, the government debt to GDP ratio fell in both the euro area (from 89.2% to 86.8%) and the EU28 (from 83.6% to 81.5%).

Full text available on EUROSTAT website

First quarter of 2018 – Seasonally adjusted government deficit decreased to 0.1% of GDP in the euro area – Down to 0.5% of GDP in the EU28

In the first quarter of 2018, the seasonally adjusted general government deficit to GDP ratio stood at 0.1% in the euro area (EA19), a decrease compared with 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017. In the EU28, the deficit to GDP ratio stood at 0.5%, a decrease compared with 0.6% in the previous quarter.

Full text available on EUROSTAT website

Consultation on the revision of the Technical Specification for Interoperability on Operation and Traffic Management (OPE TSI)

Consultation on the revision of the Technical Specification for Interoperability on Operation and Traffic Management (OPE TSI) Reference: ERA-REC-125 Publication Date : 20/07/2018 Published by: Interoperability Document Types: Consultations Keywords: OPE,TSI,Consultation Description: With the Delegated Decision on TSls(*), the European Commission requested the Agency to set up working parties for revising all TSls. In particular, the TSI on Operation and Traffic management (OPE TSI) has been reviewed to take into account the objectives set out in the Delegated Decision on TSIs.
This proposal for the revision of the OPE TSI was drafted by the Agency based on the work done with a working party. According to the regulatory provisions (**), the Agency invites associations and bodies representing users as well as social partners to comment the draft proposal.
The Agency welcome comments to this draft proposal from all interested parties.

(*) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2017/1474 of 8 June 2017 supplementing Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to specific objectives for the drafting, adoption and review of technical specifications for interoperability

(**) Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/796 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Railways and article 5 (7) and 5 (9) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union.

Status: New Closing Date : 19/10/2018 Related documents:

Consultation on the revision of the Technical Specification for Interoperability on Operation and Traffic Management (OPE TSI)

Consultation on the revision of the Technical Specification for Interoperability on Operation and Traffic Management (OPE TSI) Reference: ERA-REC-125 Publication Date : 20/07/2018 Published by: Interoperability Document Types: Consultations Keywords: OPE,TSI,Consultation Description: With the Delegated Decision on TSls(*), the European Commission requested the Agency to set up working parties for revising all TSls. In particular, the TSI on Operation and Traffic management (OPE TSI) has been reviewed to take into account the objectives set out in the Delegated Decision on TSIs.
This proposal for the revision of the OPE TSI was drafted by the Agency based on the work done with a working party. According to the regulatory provisions (**), the Agency invites associations and bodies representing users as well as social partners to comment the draft proposal.
The Agency welcome comments to this draft proposal from all interested parties.

(*) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2017/1474 of 8 June 2017 supplementing Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to specific objectives for the drafting, adoption and review of technical specifications for interoperability

(**) Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/796 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Railways and article 5 (7) and 5 (9) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union.

Status: New Closing Date : 19/10/2018 Related documents:

Press point by Michel Barnier in advance of his meeting with Dominic Raab, UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU

I am very happy to welcome the Secretary of State to the Commission – Dominic, it is a pleasure to meet you!

We have a lot of work to do, with our teams.

There are thirteen weeks left before the October European Council.

During this time, we have two things to do:

– We must finalise the Withdrawal Agreement. We are not yet there.

– We must prepare a political declaration on our future relationship.

On the Withdrawal Agreement, it is a matter of urgency to agree on a legally operative backstop for Ireland and Northern Ireland: we need an all-weather insurance policy.

On the future relationship, the EU proposed in March an unprecedented partnership.

– Not only on trade, where we want an ambitious Free Trade Agreement that respects the integrity of the single market;

– But also on internal and external security, where a close partnership between us is more important than ever, given the geo-political context.

Our challenge will be to find common ground between the fundamental principles that define the EU and the UK positions.

That’s all for now.

More is to come. Stay tuned.

I will see you again tomorrow after the General Affairs Council.