Code of conduct on business taxation: chair of Council working group reappointed

The Council working group that oversees the implementation of the EU’s code of conduct on business taxation has reappointed its chairperson. Lyudmila Petkova, director of the tax policy directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance, has been chairing the group since 2019. She will continue in her position for a further two years.

The working group, established in 1998, is responsible for implementing the code of conduct on business taxation, which sets out criteria for assessing tax measures that potentially encourage harmful tax competition. While the original focus of the code of conduct was on EU member states, the group is now also working to promote good tax governance at international level. One of the group’s main tasks is to carry out preparatory work for the review of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

The chair of the group, supported by the general secretariat of the Council and with the technical assistance of the Commission, is responsible for liaising with third-country jurisdictions on the EU listing process.

Alicante News January 2021

February 01, 2021 About the EUIPO

Alicante News January 2021

The latest edition is out now.

The aim of Alicante News is to provide up-to-date information on EUIPO-related matters, as well as on other general IP issues, to the users of the EU trade mark and design registration systems.

In this issue:

EasyFiling – the start of a journey
Bulgaria joins Authenticities network
Public consultation on EU geographical indications scheme
TMview’s visual search extended to Denmark
OSIM enhances its front and back office systems
International Cooperation: Norway in TMclass
IP Mediation Conference: 22-23 March 2021
Statistical Highlights
IP vouchers for SMEs: first window now closed
Ideas Powered for Business Network continues to grow
New Decision on technical requirements for annexes submitted on data carriers
Academy webinars
Case Law

Spanish State Secretary for Migration visits EASO following launch of new operation in the country

Last week, EASO carried out a targeted needs assessment mission to the Canary Islands in order to quickly begin implementing effective reception support to the Spanish authorities in the region.

On 1 February 2021, the Spanish State Secretary for Migration, Hana Jalloul Muro, accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador to Malta, Consuelo Femenía, visited the Headquarters of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in Valletta. During the visit, the State Secretary met with the Executive Director of the Agency, Nina Gregori, as well as with EASO’s senior management. Part of the discussions were also joined remotely by José Luis Escrivá Belmonte, Spanish Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

During the meetings, discussions with the Spanish delegation focussed on EASO’s new operation in the country in support of the national reception system. The Agency’s fifth ongoing operation – together with those in Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta – was launched in January following the signing of the Operating Plan in December 2020.

The agreement was reached following a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment (JRNA) carried out by EASO and the Spanish Ministry for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, between mid-September and the end of October 2020.

Nina Gregori and Jalloul Muro Commenting on the visit of the State Secretary, Nina Gregori stated: It was a great pleasure to welcome Ms Jalloul Muro to our premises today. The discussions built on the excellent cooperation we have fostered over the past months, allowing for the swift launch of a new EASO operation in Spain. EASO is wasting no time in quickly operationalising its plans to support the Spanish authorities in strengthening the reception system for asylum seekers.

Within the context of the new Spain operation, last week a multi-disciplinary EASO team carried out a needs assessment mission at six sites in the Canary Islands, which have received a high number of persons with international protection needs in recent months. The mission was carried out in order to enable the Agency to tailor its support to the specific needs in the region, and the results were discussed with the State Secretary during her visit.

In addition to providing enhanced capacity to the reception services in the Canary Islands, EASO’s operation in Spain will also support in the transition towards a new model for reception; enhance structural processes in support of the reception system; contribute to strengthening capacity within the reception system through professional development, tools and materials; and support the Spanish authorities in the area of resettlement.

Any further information may be obtained from the European Asylum Support Office on the following email address: press@easo.europa.eu

ESMA publishes report on proposed fees for Benchmarks Administrators

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has published today the Final Report on its Technical Advice regarding supervisory fees for benchmarks administrators under the BMR.

The aim of the Final Report is to advise the European Commission (EC) on fees to be paid by benchmark administrators that will be supervised by ESMA starting in January 2022.

Supervisory fees will be collected from administrators of critical benchmarks and those of third-country benchmarks that are subject to the EU recognition regime. ESMA’s Final Report specifies the type of fees, the services for which fees are due, the amount of the fees and the frequency of payment.

The four main fee categories are:

one-off recognition fees to be paid by third country administrators applying for recognition;
one-off authorisation fees to be paid by critical benchmark administrators applying for authorisation;
annual supervisory fees to be paid by third country administrators; and
annual supervisory fees to be paid by critical benchmark administrators.

ESMA finalises rules on standardised information to facilitate cross-border distribution of funds

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities regulator, has today published a final report on implementing technical standards (ITS) under the Regulation on cross-border distribution of funds. The ITS focus on the publication of information by national competent authorities (NCAs) on their websites, the notification of information by NCAs to ESMA and the publication of information by ESMA on its website.

The final report and draft ITS largely reflect the original consultation proposals, focused on the information to be published on NCAs websites regarding the national rules governing marketing requirements for funds, and the regulatory fees and charges levied by NCAs in relation to fund managers’ cross-border activities.

The draft ITS also include provisions on the communication of information by NCAs to ESMA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a central database listing UCITS and AIFs marketed cross-border on ESMA’s website.

Next steps

Following reception of the draft ITS, the European Commission shall decide whether to adopt it within three months.