European Union News - 28 June 2010

The European Union and the United States of America signed on June 28th 2010 an EU-US agreement on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data (the so-called SWIFT Agreement) for purposes of the US Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP). This signature follows the adoption by the Council of a decision plus accompanying declarations.

The European Commission adopted on June 28th 2010 its Annual Report 2010 on the European Union's development and external assistance policies and their implementation in 2009. This Commission Staff document portrays the main elements and results of the European Union's external action in development and external assistance.

About 450.000 international successions occur every year in the European Union representing more than 120 billion Euro. The legal fact originated from the succession of EU citizens owning properties in different member states has now a new tool which provides relevant information both for citizens and legal practitioners.

The European Commission has recently adopted two major initiatives that will see changes to the financial regulations and a simplification of the procedures surrounding the EU's research Framework Programmes, in order to cut red tape and focus on research results. As well as making it easier for researchers to gain access to EU funds, the new rules would also help fuse more public and private funding, giving investment a stronger punch.

President Barroso and President Van Rompuy state after the conclusion of the summit meeting of the G20 in Toronto between June 26th and 27th, that this meeting has proven to be what it said it would be: the premier forum for international economic cooperation. Leaders meeting in Toronto have agreed on the next steps to take in order to ensure a full return to growth with quality jobs, to reform and strengthen financial systems, and to create strong, sustainable and balanced global growth.