Irish Independent-24/11/2015-Irish farmers to get 12.9m in CAP refund dividend

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1 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DNS AGRICULTURE (2) Irish farmers to get 12.9m in CAP refund dividend As reported in the Irish Independent t Farming, the European Commission has confirmed 410m will be returned to farmers from the Common Agricultural Policy, with Irish farmers receiving 12.9mof the funds. The measure arises out of the 2013 CAP reform with an amount taken out of farmers' direct payments to create an agricultural reserve fund and will come out of the 2016 budget. EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said that the decision to reduce the red tape associated with the Common Agricultural Policy had been broadly welcomed, saying that making life easier for farmers is a common goal. Irish Independent-24/11/2015-Irish farmers to get 12.9m in CAP refund dividend Irish Examiner-23/11/2015-Agri-food sector welcomes Hogan's bid to cut red tape Agriculture centre stage at Paris climate talks As reported in the Irish Examiner, European Union Agricultural and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan has stated that it is the duty of all to ensure that agriculture and food production adapt agriculture as world leaders prepare to gather in Paris next week to seek a new global climate deal. Mr Hogan has stated that the way we produce food and drink has to evolve, with increased production, and a strategy formed to meet environmental and climate challenges head-on. Mr Hogan also said that the reformed CAP took its green responsibilities very seriously but that we have to go further and deeper if we are serious about being genuine global leaders in smart and sustainable agriculture, highlighting the need to prioritise investment, innovation and collaboration. Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Agriculture centre stage at Paris climate talks COMPETITION (1) EU unlikely to make Apple tax ruling before Christmas

2 As reported in the Irish Times and Irish Independent, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said the EU is not expected to make a decision on Apple's tax affairs before Christmas. Speaking in Brussels at a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers, Mr Noonan said the probe has now been further delayed stating that the department of EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager wanted further information on the situation. Brussels has accused Ireland of striking a tax arrangement with Apple that was based on keeping jobs here but which gave the company an advantage that amounted to state aid and went against international guidelines, but the Government has repeatedly said there is no case to answer Commissioner Vestager had been expected to make a ruling on the matter before the end of this year, but that now seems unlikely. Should the EU prove the claims against Apple to be true, the company could be forced to pay billions of euro worth of tax to the Irish exchequer. Irish Times [The]-24/11/2015-Noonan expects Apple tax ruling next year Irish Independent-24/11/2015-EU unlikely to make Apple tax ruling before Christmas Irish Times [The]-21/11/2015-Europe wants more details on Apple's tax affairs in Ireland RTE1-23/11/2015-State may gain up to 620m in Pfizer s Allergan deal RTE1-23/11/2015-Pfizer to take over Allergan, creating world's biggest drug company ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS (2) Growing signs of life in euro economy As reported in the Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Independent, the latest purchasing managers' index for the euro zone showed the fastest rate of expansion in 4 1/2 years, with a reading in November of 54.4, up from 53.9 in October. While the figures suggest stronger growth, they are not leading to a change in expectations that the European Central Bank will announce in December that it is to inject more cash into the economy. This is because while activity is increasing, there is precious little sign that companies are feeling able to increase their prices, with the price of their inputs also continuing to fall, partly as a result of weak commodity prices. While all the expectations are that the ECB will ease policy when it meets in early December, the US Federal Reserve Board is likely to go the other way. Irish Times [The]-24/11/2015-Growing signs of life in euro economy Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Eurozone bond yields suffering

3 Irish Independent-24/11/2015-Business growth at four-year high, but Eurozone firms cutting prices Greece ready to seal further reforms As reported in the Irish Examiner, Greece has told euro zone finance ministers it was aiming to complete the second set of reforms under its bailout programme by the middle of December, in a move that would secure the release of the next tranche of loans. The meeting of Euro zone finance ministers in Brussels yesterday discussed progress of Greek reforms on Monday and agreed to release 42bn to Athens in exchange for the completion of the first set of measures to boost the economy. "We will now turn our attention to the next stages of the ESM programme and call on the Greek authorities to accelerate the work with the institutions on the second and final set of milestones," the draft statement of the ministers said. Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Greece ready to seal further reforms EU FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY (1) Cameron offers air base as Hollande attempts to build coalition against Isis As reported in the Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Independent, French president Francois Hollande yesterday received an offer of assistance from British prime minister David Cameron, including the use of the British sovereign air base at Akrotiri, Cyprus. Mr Cameron stated during the meeting that "The United Kingdom will do all in our power to support our friend and ally France to defeat this evil death cult." The meeting between the two heads of State came just as the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle carried out bomb attacks against Islamic State targets in Syria for the first time. Referring to the stepped-up air raids on Islamic State, also known as Isis, Mr Hollande said: "We will choose the targets that yield the best possible damage against the terrorist army." The arrival of the Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean triples France's strike force from 12 aircraft, based in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, to 36. France believes two steps it has already completed will provide arguments to Mr Cameron and other leaders who want to strike at Islamic State. The UN Security Council passed resolution 2249 on November 20th, exactly one week after the Paris attacks, while EU defence ministers voted unanimously on November 17th to assist France under article 42.7 of the Treaty of Lisbon. Meanwhile, Barnardos head Fergus Finlay has claimed in an article for the Irish Examiner, that Ireland s claim to neutrality should not mean we should stand aside and allow our allies in Europe to be terrorised.

4 Irish Times [The]-24/11/2015-Cameron offers air base as Hollande attempts to build coalition against Isis Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Cameron to set out strategy on air strikes RTE1-23/11/2015-David Cameron: World uniting to fight 'evil threat' of IS Irish Independent-24/11/2015-Inside the 'ant trade'- how Europe's terrorists get their hands on arms Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Not helping when our friends are being terrorised is not neutrality Irish Times [The]-21/11/2015-EU ministers agree security measures EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY (1) Kiev bans delivery of goods into Crimea The Irish Times reports that Ukraine has ramped up pressure on Russia by banning goods deliveries to Crimea and by failing to restore power after electricity pylons were blown up. Ukraine s prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk also declared his government would respond in kind to any trade embargoes imposed by Russia, which has threatened to ban food imports from Ukraine at the start of next year. The government in Kiev expects that a landmark trade deal with the EU will come into effect next year, marking a major step in Ukraine s bid to break out of Russia s orbit. It sparked a revolution and Moscow-backed insurgency in eastern regions. Irish Times [The]-24/11/2015-Kiev bans delivery of goods to Crimea JUSTICE (1) Gardaí arrest 12 and seize 26 vehicles during EU-wide move against mobile foreign gangs As reported in the Irish Examiner, and on the Irish Times website, Gardaí have arrested 12 suspects and seized 26 vehicles during an operation targeting foreign national criminals across the Republic. Operation Trivium, which is running across the EU, is targeting criminals who have emigrated to other European countries on the run or to continue their involvement in organised crime. Under the operation Gardaí established checkpoints nationwide throughout Monday, with much of the activity against suspects flagged by

5 intelligence shared between EU members states. Gardaí said the latest day of action, which follows a previous operation over a week in late June, would be used to gather intelligence against those foreign suspects encountered. irishtimes.com-23/11/2015-lithuanian murder suspect held as part of Operation Trivium, Gardaí arrest 12 and seize 26 vehicles during EU-wide move against mobile foreign gangs Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Gardai hold suspected killer in Europe crime crackdown MEMBER STATES - INTERNAL AFFAIRS (4) Coalition split on USC as FG picks economic policy team As reported in the Irish Independent and Irish Examiner, the coalition parties are split over how to cut the Universal Social Charge if they are re-elected to government. Both Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Minister of Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin laid out their stalls yesterday, with Michael Noonan insisting Fine Gael will stick to its pledge to scrap the USC, but the Labour Party calling for the tax to still apply to incomes over 100,000. However, according to reports, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has appointed his own Fine Gael 'Troika' to devise a plan for USC abolition. The Government is currently running a budget deficit but according to Department of Finance estimates, the budget would be balanced by 2017, freeing up money to fund tax cuts. Speaking as he attended a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels yesterday, Mr Noonan said he wants the economy to grow even stronger, and for the State to create more jobs. Mr Noonan also pledged to "maintain a tight control of expenditure" after the European Commission said Ireland might overstep EU spending ceilings next year. Irish Independent RTE1-23/11/2015-Coalition split on USC as FG picks economic policy team Irish Examiner-24/11/2015-Labour rule out abolishing USC for higher earners Irish Independent-24/11/2015-Coalition split on USC as FG picks economic policy team Flanagan discusses EU referendum during meeting with British foreign secretary As reported in the Irish Times, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has urged Irish businesses to play a part in persuading Britain to remain in the European Union saying their voices

6 could make an important difference to the debate.. Speaking at the foreign office in London yesterday, where the EU referendum was among the issues the Minister discussed at a bilateral meeting with foreign secretary Philip Hammond., Mr Flanagan said Our biggest lesson from EU referendums in Ireland is that people need to be informed and feel they understand the issues. The British government has identified a number of reforms it wants to secure before recommending a Yes vote in the referendum, including a deepening of the single market; more power for national parliaments; safeguards for EU countries that do not use the euro; and curbs on welfare payments for people who move from one EU country to another. Earlier this month, Taoiseach Enda Kenny used a speech to the Confederation of British Industry to urge Britain against leaving the EU but Mr Flanagan denied that the Government was attempting to exert undue influence on the British debate, stressing that his intervention was in no way an interference but rather friendly, neighbourly advice. Irish Times [The]-24/11/2015-Flanagan urges push to keep UK in EU Central Bank plans to introduce credit register by 2018 As reported on the RTE website yesterday, the Central Bank is set to deliver a national credit register, and implement new European insurance requirements over the next three years. The bank laid out the targets in its latest strategic plan, which covers the period from One of the main objectives in the plan, a credit register which would show banks how much potential customers had already borrowed, is something that a number of interest groups and institutions began been calling for in the wake of the financial crisis. In its recent bailout report on Ireland, the European Commission repeated its call for Ireland to introduce such a system without delay. The strategy also includes a plan to move staff to a new head office "in order to improve the Central Bank's efficiency". rte.ie-23/11/2015-central Bank plans to introduce credit register by 2018 Hogan ignored advice to hand out funding As reported in yesterday s Irish Independent and Irish Examiner, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan is facing questions as to why he pushed up the ranking of a Mayo charity group so it ended up receiving 180,000 in funding while serving in the Irish government. The former environment minister is reported to have plucked the disability group from the bottom of a ranked list for funds and ensured it became one of the top recipients for grants under a scheme.

7 Irish Independent-23/11/2015-Hogan ignored advice to hand out funding Irish Examiner-23/11/2015-Hogan faces query over funds for Mayo charity MIGRATION (1) Concern as Balkan states block migrants According to the Irish Times website yesterday, concerns have been raised over the EU principle of the free movement of people with Balkan states continuing to tighten their frontiers to thousands of migrants trying to reach Western Europe. Irish Times [The]-21/11/2015-Concerns as Balkan states block migrants