Jul202017

Turkey: lift the state of emergency as soon as possible!

EU

Ongoing negotiations on enlargement, visa liberalisation, customs union can only progress in an atmosphere of respect of civil liberties, EU and turkey organisations say

The 36th meeting of the EU-Turkey JCC took place at the EESC in Brussels on 18 and 19 July 2017. At the opening session EESC President Georges Dassis welcomed the Turkish Minister of European Affairs Mr. Ömer Çelik and the participants by saying that: “Despite the existing tensions, dialogue is absolutely essential especially on difficult times as these“, and he stated his concerns about the current situation in Turkey regarding the respect for fundamental rights. “EESC expresses its solidarity with the Turkish people and gives its full support for the organizations of Turkish civil society which defend democracy. We hope we will once again see a Turkey that is totally democratic, open to the future and respectful of all freedoms, the rule of law and the separation of powers”, concluded Mr. Dassis.

Mr. Ömer Çelik stated clearly that Turkey is aiming for full EU membership: “We are committed to the EU process, our objective is to become a full member, any other form of cooperation does not interest us“.

While reiterating its strong condemnation of the coup attempt one year ago, the JCC stressed that the right to fair trial and due process should be respected and that all measures taken should further strengthen democracy, civil rights and social cohesion, respecting universal fundamental rights, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

The JCC expressed great concern at the arrest and mass dismissals of public servants, and asked that Turkey lifts the state of emergency as soon as possible.

On the EU–Turkey relations the JCC members commended the efforts that are being made by Turkey on the migration issue, and considered that the migration challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean has to be addressed jointly by the EU and Turkey.

On the state of the economy in Turkey the JCC welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for the modernisation of the Customs Union Agreement but reminded of the need for the agreement to be provided with a sustainability chapter on labour, social and environmental standards.

On the state of social issues and employment in Turkey the JCC underlined that further measures and policies should be implemented to promote fundamental labour rights and decent work, in compliance with ILO fundamental conventions. The importance of facilitating the transition from the informal to the formal economy was also stressed.

On the topic of rights and employment of women, the JCC members considered that the social and economic empowerment and gender mainstreaming of women are both crucial to achieving real gender equality. They also underlined that the reconciliation of work and family life for women is an engine of growth and welcomed initiatives such as the extension of the incentives for the employment of women.

 The EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established in 1995, is a body that brings together representatives of organised civil society from the EU and Turkey. It complements the other bodies set up within the framework of the Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey and enables civil society organisations from both sides to monitor the accession negotiations and initiate debates on issues of common interest. Its members come from various economic and social interest groups.

Jul202017

Turquie: soulève le plus tôt possible l’état d’urgence!

EU

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Jul202017

Press release: Troika and EU Joint Statement on South Sudan

HM Government

The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the European Union condemn the continuing violence in South Sudan, especially the Government of South Sudan’s current offensive against SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) forces near Pagak, as well as ongoing road ambushes and attacks by the SPLM-IO.  The Pagak offensive is a clear violation of the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Salva Kiir on May 22, and calls into question the government’s commitment to reach peace through the National Dialogue, notwithstanding the sincere efforts undertaken by the leaders of the Steering Committee. 

The Troika and EU repeat and endorse the June 12 call by the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for President Kiir to ensure that his forces respect the unilateral ceasefire, for the armed opposition groups to reciprocate the ceasefire, and for all groups to allow the unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.  We also welcome IGAD’s announcement of a High-Level Revitalization Forum for the South Sudan peace process.  We call upon IGAD to expeditiously convene the Forum, and to include the current principal parties to the conflict.  Likewise, we urge all parties to fully participate in the Forum.  The Troika and EU agree with IGAD that the Forum should focus on achieving a ceasefire and resuming political dialogue that focuses on updating the agreement’s timelines and other provisions that are now obsolete in light of the expansion of conflict since 2015. 

The proliferation of violence, displacement, and food insecurity renders any discussion of elections in the foreseeable future as an unnecessary diversion from the primary goals of achieving peace and reconciliation. South Sudan’s leaders, neighbors, and regional and international partners must first focus on achieving peace in order to create the conditions needed to hold credible elections.  To achieve these urgent goals, we look forward to the prompt revitalization of an inclusive and credible peace process by IGAD; such progress would be required in order for the Troika and EU to commit further resources to institutions designed to implement the agreement.

Further information

Jul202017

That there are apprentices who are paid less than minimum wage is unacceptable – Rebecca Long-Bailey

Labour

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, responding to
reports that nearly one in five apprentices are being paid less than the
minimum wage, said:

“That
there are apprentices who are paid less than minimum wage is unacceptable, that
the practice is on the rise is shocking.

“The
Government has not taken sufficient steps to enforce payment of the minimum
wage. Employment rights are only safe in Labour hands.”

Jul202017

Submitting to the State Duma the draft law on automatic international exchange of tax information

Russia

The draft law proposes amendments to the Tax Code, which are necessary for ensuring the collection and exchange of information with competent bodies of foreign countries with a view to implementing the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. Thus, taxpayers employed by an international group of companies are obligated to report to the tax authority his or her participation in the international group of companies and country-specific information, including a country-specific tax return, global documents on the international group of companies and national documents of the participant in the international group of companies.

Reference

The draft federal law On Introducing Amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation (in connection with the implementation of the automatic international exchange of information on financial accounts and documents on international groups of companies), hereinafter referred to as the Draft, has been submitted by the Ministry of Finance.  

On 1 July 2015, Russia joined the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, hereinafter referred to as the Convention, that provides for the global exchange of information on transfer pricing of transnational corporations and the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts of residents of foreign states.

In accordance with the Government directives №834-r of 30 April 2016 and №2608-r of 7 December 2016, the Federal Taxation Service signed multilateral agreements with competent bodies on the automatic exchange of financial information and automatic exchange of country-specific tax statements.

The Draft proposes introducing amendments to the Tax Code required for the collection and exchange of relevant information with competent bodies of foreign countries with a view to implementing the Convention.

Thus, starting 1 January 2017, taxpayers employed by an international group of companies are obligated to report to the tax authority his or her participation in the international group of companies and country-specific information, including a country-specific tax return, global documents on the international group of companies and national documents of the participant in the international group of companies.

To provide tax authorities with the financial information required for tax monitoring and exchange of information with competent bodies of foreign countries under the terms of the relevant multilateral agreement, organisations operating on the financial market are obligated to provide them with relevant information on their clients, beneficiaries and (or) persons who control them directly or otherwise.

Given the need to adapt to the new requirements, the Draft relieves taxpayers of responsibility for violations in the 2018-2020 period.

Adoption of the Draft will create instruments for reducing the shadow economy and countering illegal transactions to withdraw profits from Russia.

The Government reviewed and endorsed the Draft on 20 July 2017.