Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU following US President Trump's announcement on the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)

The European Union (EU) deeply regrets the announcement by US President Trump to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The JCPOA, unanimously endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, is a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and is crucial for the security of the region.

As long as Iran continues to implement its nuclear related commitments, as it has been doing so far and has been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 10 consecutive reports, the EU will remain committed to the continued full and effective implementation of the nuclear deal.

The lifting of nuclear related sanctions is an essential part of the agreement. The EU has repeatedly stressed that the sanctions lifting has a positive impact on trade and economic relations with Iran. The EU stresses its commitment to ensuring that this can continue to be delivered.

The JCPOA is the culmination of 12 years of diplomacy which has been working and delivering on its main goal. The EU is determined to work with the international community to preserve it.



MiFID II: ESMA issues latest double volume cap data

The number of new breaches is 58 equities for the 8% cap, applicable to all trading venues, and 10 equities for the 4% cap, that applies to individual trading venues. Trading under the waivers for all new instruments in breach of the DVC thresholds should be suspended from 14 May 2018 to 14 November 2018. The instruments for which caps already existed from previous periods will continue to be suspended.

In addition, ESMA highlights that some trading venues in the meantime have submitted corrected data that affects past DVC publications. For a limited number of 12 instruments, this means that previously identified breaches of the 8% and 4% caps prove to be incorrect. For these instruments, the suspensions of trading under the waivers should be lifted.

New overview file for suspensions 

In this publication, ESMA is changing slightly the way it presents the DVC files to facilitate access by national competent authorities (NCAs), market participants and the public in general. The ESMA publication now comprises a separate consolidated Suspensions File, which includes all those instruments for which a suspension has been issued, and the corresponding suspension dates. The Suspensions File also identifies the instruments on which suspensions should be revoked due to data corrections.

The goal is to present all information in one place so that NCAs and market participants can identify the instruments affected by the caps in order to take the necessary actions. In addition, ESMA will continue to publish all monthly DVC files providing information on trade volumes for those instruments within the DVC scope for which complete data exists.

Background

MiFID II introduced the DVC to limit the amount of dark trading in equities allowed under the reference price waiver and the negotiated transaction waiver. The DVC is calculated per instrument (ISIN) based on the rolling average of trading in that instrument over the last 12 months.



MiFID II: ESMA issues latest double volume cap data

The number of new breaches is 58 equities for the 8% cap, applicable to all trading venues, and 10 equities for the 4% cap, that applies to individual trading venues. Trading under the waivers for all new instruments in breach of the DVC thresholds should be suspended from 14 May 2018 to 14 November 2018. The instruments for which caps already existed from previous periods will continue to be suspended.

In addition, ESMA highlights that some trading venues in the meantime have submitted corrected data that affects past DVC publications. For a limited number of 12 instruments, this means that previously identified breaches of the 8% and 4% caps prove to be incorrect. For these instruments, the suspensions of trading under the waivers should be lifted.

New overview file for suspensions 

In this publication, ESMA is changing slightly the way it presents the DVC files to facilitate access by national competent authorities (NCAs), market participants and the public in general. The ESMA publication now comprises a separate consolidated Suspensions File, which includes all those instruments for which a suspension has been issued, and the corresponding suspension dates. The Suspensions File also identifies the instruments on which suspensions should be revoked due to data corrections.

The goal is to present all information in one place so that NCAs and market participants can identify the instruments affected by the caps in order to take the necessary actions. In addition, ESMA will continue to publish all monthly DVC files providing information on trade volumes for those instruments within the DVC scope for which complete data exists.

Background

MiFID II introduced the DVC to limit the amount of dark trading in equities allowed under the reference price waiver and the negotiated transaction waiver. The DVC is calculated per instrument (ISIN) based on the rolling average of trading in that instrument over the last 12 months.



MiFID II: ESMA issues latest double volume cap data

The number of new breaches is 58 equities for the 8% cap, applicable to all trading venues, and 10 equities for the 4% cap, that applies to individual trading venues. Trading under the waivers for all new instruments in breach of the DVC thresholds should be suspended from 14 May 2018 to 14 November 2018. The instruments for which caps already existed from previous periods will continue to be suspended.

In addition, ESMA highlights that some trading venues in the meantime have submitted corrected data that affects past DVC publications. For a limited number of 12 instruments, this means that previously identified breaches of the 8% and 4% caps prove to be incorrect. For these instruments, the suspensions of trading under the waivers should be lifted.

New overview file for suspensions 

In this publication, ESMA is changing slightly the way it presents the DVC files to facilitate access by national competent authorities (NCAs), market participants and the public in general. The ESMA publication now comprises a separate consolidated Suspensions File, which includes all those instruments for which a suspension has been issued, and the corresponding suspension dates. The Suspensions File also identifies the instruments on which suspensions should be revoked due to data corrections.

The goal is to present all information in one place so that NCAs and market participants can identify the instruments affected by the caps in order to take the necessary actions. In addition, ESMA will continue to publish all monthly DVC files providing information on trade volumes for those instruments within the DVC scope for which complete data exists.

Background

MiFID II introduced the DVC to limit the amount of dark trading in equities allowed under the reference price waiver and the negotiated transaction waiver. The DVC is calculated per instrument (ISIN) based on the rolling average of trading in that instrument over the last 12 months.



Déclaration de la Haute Représentante Federica Mogherini au nom de l’Union européenne sur la situation au Burundi en amont du référendum constitutionnel

Press contacts

Maja Kocijančič
EEAS spokesperson
+32 2 298 65 70
+32 498 98 44 25

Les autorités burundaises ont lancé la dernière phase préparatoire au référendum constitutionnel prévu le 17 mai 2018. Ce processus a lieu dans un climat persistant d’intimidation et de répression et est marqué par l’absence d’approche consensuelle entre les différents groupes sociétaux et politiques du Burundi. Le manque d’information officielle publique sur les éléments clé du projet de Constitution et le contrôle étroit des journalistes et des médias risquent de compromettre davantage ce processus. A cet égard l’UE déplore la récente suspension des radios VoA et BBC.

L’Union européenne (UE) regrette la nature non-inclusive de cette phase préparatoire et s’associe pleinement à l’appel de l’Union africaine à «initier toutes les réformes constitutionnelles à travers un large consensus national de toutes les parties prenantes en question». Le processus actuel va à contre-courant des efforts en cours de médiation et de facilitation d’un dialogue politique inclusif inter-burundais portés par la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est et l’Union africaine et pleinement soutenus par l’UE.

L’UE reste vivement préoccupée par la situation des droits humains au Burundi qui nuit à toute initiative de réconciliation, de paix et de justice. Elle relève en particulier, la persistance d’exécutions extrajudiciaires et d’arrestations arbitraires, y compris de défenseurs des droits humains comme Germain Rukuki qui est menacé par un verdict aussi arbitraire que sévère, et l’absence d’espace politique et restrictions aux libertés d’expression et d’association. A cet égard, la mise en œuvre des deux Résolutions de la 36ème session du Conseil des droits de l’homme à Genève reste une priorité politique.

L’UE, en tant que garant, appelle les autorités burundaises à respecter l’esprit et la lettre des Accords de paix d’Arusha, dont les dispositions ont servi de base pour le transfert pacifique du pouvoir au Burundi et qui ont promu la paix et la stabilité dans la région.

Dans la poursuite de ses efforts en soutien d’un dialogue inclusif, seul processus viable en vue d’un règlement politique durable au Burundi, l’UE continuera de se coordonner étroitement avec ses principaux partenaires internationaux, en particulier la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est, l’Union africaine, l’ONU et son Envoyé spécial, ainsi que l’Office du HCDH au Burundi.