FINANCE-NEWSLETTER@ec.europa.eu

Banking and finance Finance Newsletter

News alert

In this issue In the spotlight   @EU_Finance podcast   John Berrigan on LinkedIn   News   EU legislative timetable   Visual of the month   Top tweet   In the spotlight   David O’Sullivan Interview with newly appointed international special envoy for the implementation of EU sanctions.   more     Ukraine One year since the full-scale invasion by Russia: how the EU stands with Ukraine.   more     EU in the world Commissioner McGuinness’ visits affirm EU’s strong partnership with South Africa and Mauritius.   more     Commissioner’s corner Ms McGuinness gives opening remarks at the EP plenary debate on the Green Deal Industrial Plan.   more     Finance news in brief Study on feasibility, minimum standards and transparency requirements of an EU ESG Benchmark label.   more   @EU_Finance podcast The one about… Clearing: Aidas Palubinskas has a quick-fire chat with Jenny Robertson, the head of the EU’s Financial Markets Infrastructure unit, where they try to clear the way to a better understanding of clearing – and clear up any misunderstanding about what the EU is doing.   more     John Berrigan on LinkedIn   Instant payments Interesting discussion at a European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum event on the EU financial system and instant payments.   more   News EU agrees 10th package of sanctions against Russia 25 February 2023   more   EU sanctions: Commission discusses sanctions implementation with Member States representatives, businesses, operators, and international partners in two high-level meetings 23 February 2023   more   Joint statement of the EU-US Financial Regulatory Forum 13 February 2023   more   Ukraine: EU and G7 partners agree price cap on Russian petroleum products 4 February 2023   more   EU legislative timetable   State-of-play of European legislation Keep up to date with the EU legislative timetable in the area of financial services.   more   Visual of the month   Capital markets union Simpler listing rules for companies, especially SMEs   more   Top tweet #SustainableFinanceEU @EU_Commission publishes list of members for new mandate of Platform on Sustainable Finance, names Helena Viñes Fiestas as Chair   more     Digital finance – support the Commission in promoting data-sharing Are you a financial company seeking to access non-public data to test innovative products and applications? Do you want to help the Commission develop a new project designed to make this kind of access to supervisory data possible? Then get in touch! Tell us what you think the most promising use cases are for which such datasets could be shared – and which datasets you would like to use for testing.   more

This is the European Commission's Finance Newsletter. It is hosted by the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union.

Federal Reserve Board Notification

Federal Reserve Board announces termination of enforcement action with FMB Bancshares, Inc. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/enforcement20230302a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Federal Reserve Board announces four new members of its Community Advisory Council https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20230224a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Agencies issue 2022 Shared National Credit Program review https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20230224a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

NATO latest

 

NATO Secretary General in Helsinki: time to welcome Finland and Sweden as NATO members NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Helsinki today (28 February 2023) for meetings with senior officials, and to participate in the SAMAK Nordic Summit. In remarks alongside Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Mr Stoltenberg commended the "strong support that Finland has provided to Ukraine" at this critical moment in Russia's war of aggression. On NATO membership, he said "the time is now to ratify and to fully welcome both Finland and Sweden as members" of the Alliance. Click here to download the doorstep statement by the NATO Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Finland. Click here for the opening speech by the NATO Secretary General at the SAMAK Nordic Summit. .  France conducts largest military exercise with Allied forces in decades - Exercise Orion 23 France has launched its biggest military exercise in decades. The second phase of Exercise Orion involves 7,000 soldiers including assets from host nation France and US and UK joint assets, as well as naval assets from NATO Allies Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, and focuses on defensive operations on land, in the air, at sea and in cyberspace. As part of the exercise, three French Air and Space Force A400M transport aircraft dropped 700 French troops from the 8th Marines Infantry Parachute Regiment and an attached company from the 17 Engineer Parachute Regiment over an airfield in Castres. Another three aircraft dropped 48 hours’ worth of equipment and supplies for the force to secure and hold the area. During another phase, 700 amphibious troops came ashore from the French Navy’s amphibious ships Tonnerre and Mistral, along with vehicles and equipment. They disembarked in the coastal town of Sète before heading further north to practise manoeuvres and operations. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes various shots of French paratroopers landing in Castres and French amphibious troops coming ashore in Sète, as well as interviews with French officers.

Press Release 2 March 2023   Statement by the North Atlantic Council marking one year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine The NATO Invitees associate themselves with this Statement.   As we solemnly mark one year of Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades, we as Allies reaffirm our solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their nation, their land, and our shared values.  We pay tribute to the lives lost, and we deplore the tragic human suffering and destruction, including of Ukraine’s residential areas and civilian and energy infrastructure, caused by Russia’s illegal war.    We are further stepping up political and practical support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion, and will maintain our support for as long as necessary to help Ukraine prevail.  In this context, NATO will continue to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders, including international organisations, in particular the EU, as well as like-minded countries.  We remain resolute in supporting Ukraine’s long-term efforts to secure its free and democratic future. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.  We fully support Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence and to choose its own security arrangements.    Russia bears full responsibility for this war, a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.  Russia’s actions disregard OSCE principles and commitments and gravely undermine international security and stability and the rules-based international order.  While we have called on Russia to engage constructively in credible negotiations with Ukraine, Russia has not shown any genuine openness to a just and lasting peace. We remain determined to maintain coordinated international pressure on Russia.  We also condemn all those, including Belarus, who are actively facilitating Russia’s war.  There can be no impunity for Russian war crimes and other atrocities. All those responsible must be held accountable for abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly against Ukraine’s civilian population and including the deportation of children and conflict-related sexual violence.  Russia must immediately stop this war and withdraw all of its military forces from Ukraine in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution adopted on 23 February 2023 and other relevant Resolutions of the UN General Assembly.   Russia’s war also threatens global security.  Russia’s energy blackmail, its impact on global food supplies, its malign hybrid activities, its worldwide disinformation campaign, and its irresponsible nuclear rhetoric demonstrate clearly Russia’s disregard for international norms and the welfare of billions of people around the world.   We will continue to strive for peace, security, and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic area. NATO is a defensive Alliance.  We are significantly strengthening our deterrence and defence posture, and we remain ready to defend every inch of Allied territory in line with our 360-degree approach against all threats and challenges.  Our commitment to the Washington Treaty, including Article 5, is iron-clad. NATO is stronger and more united than ever.  We have welcomed the choice of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO and reaffirmed our commitment to NATO’s Open Door policy. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with Ukraine as it advances its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.  We are also further strengthening our other partnerships, including by assisting those countries most exposed to Russia’s malign influence.    Russia’s efforts to break the resolve of the brave people of Ukraine are failing.  One year on, Ukrainians are fighting valiantly for freedom and independence.  We stand with them. Déclaration du Conseil de l’Atlantique Nord, un an après le début de la guerre d’agression que la Russie mène contre l’Ukraine Les pays invités à rejoindre l’Alliance s’associent à cette déclaration.   Il y a un an, la Russie déclenchait une guerre d’agression brutale contre l’Ukraine, faisant naître, pour la sécurité euro-atlantique, la menace la plus grave depuis des décennies. Aujourd’hui, nous, les Alliés, réaffirmons solennellement notre solidarité avec le gouvernement et le peuple ukrainiens, qui défendent héroïquement leur patrie et leur sol, en même temps que nos valeurs communes. Nous rendons hommage à celles et ceux qui ont perdu la vie, et nous déplorons les tragiques souffrances ainsi que les effroyables destructions provoquées en Ukraine par la guerre que mène la Russie en toute illégalité, notamment la destruction de zones résidentielles et d’infrastructures civiles et énergétiques.   Alors que l’Ukraine se défend face à l’invasion russe, nous intensifions encore le soutien politique et pratique que nous lui apportons, et nous continuerons de la soutenir aussi longtemps qu’il le faudra pour qu’elle l’emporte. À cette fin, l’OTAN continuera de travailler en concertation étroite avec les parties concernées, notamment les organisations internationales, en particulier l’Union européenne, et les pays partageant nos valeurs. Nous demeurons résolus à aider l’Ukraine dans les efforts de longue haleine qu’elle déploie pour garder sa liberté et préserver sa démocratie. Nous réaffirmons notre attachement indéfectible à l’indépendance de l’Ukraine, à sa souveraineté et à son intégrité territoriale à l’intérieur de ses frontières internationalement reconnues. Nous soutenons pleinement l’Ukraine dans le droit naturel qui est le sien de se défendre et de choisir elle-même ses arrangements de sécurité.   La Russie porte l’entière responsabilité de cette guerre, violation flagrante du droit international et de la Charte des Nations Unies. Par ses agissements, elle bafoue les principes de l’OSCE et les engagements pris dans le cadre de celle-ci, et elle porte gravement atteinte à la sécurité et à la stabilité dans le monde ainsi qu’à l’ordre international fondé sur des règles. Nous avons appelé la Russie à s’engager de manière constructive dans des négociations sincères avec l’Ukraine, mais elle ne s’est à aucun moment montrée véritablement prête à travailler à une paix juste et durable. Nous demeurons déterminés à maintenir sur la Russie une pression coordonnée au niveau international. Nous condamnons tous ceux, et notamment le Bélarus, qui facilitent activement la guerre que mène la Russie. Les crimes de guerre et autres atrocités perpétrés par les Russes ne sauraient rester impunis. Tous les auteurs d’exactions ou d’atteintes aux droits de la personne et au droit international humanitaire, en particulier contre la population civile ukrainienne, notamment ceux qui se livrent à la déportation d’enfants ou à des violences sexuelles liées au conflit, devront répondre de leurs actes. La Russie doit immédiatement mettre fin à cette guerre et retirer d’Ukraine l’ensemble des forces armées qu’elle y a déployées, conformément à la résolution que l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies a adoptée le 23 février 2023 et aux autres résolutions applicables de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies.   La guerre déclenchée par la Russie représente une menace pour la sécurité internationale. Le chantage énergétique de la Russie, les conséquences de ses agissements sur les approvisionnements alimentaires au niveau mondial, ses activités hybrides malveillantes, la campagne de désinformation qu’elle mène à l’échelle internationale et son discours irresponsable en matière nucléaire sont révélateurs de son mépris flagrant pour les règles internationales et pour le sort de milliards de personnes de par le monde.   Nous continuerons d’œuvrer en faveur de la paix, de la sécurité et de la stabilité dans l’ensemble de la zone euro-atlantique. L'OTAN est une alliance défensive. Nous renforçons sensiblement notre posture de dissuasion et de défense, et nous demeurons prêts à défendre chaque centimètre carré du territoire de l’Alliance suivant notre approche à 360 degrés, qui englobe toutes les menaces et tous les défis. Notre attachement au traité de Washington, et notamment à son article 5, est sans faille. L’OTAN est plus forte et plus unie que jamais. Nous nous félicitons que la Finlande et la Suède aient décidé de devenir membres de l’Alliance, et nous réaffirmons que nous sommes attachés à la politique de la porte ouverte de l’OTAN. Nous continuerons de développer notre partenariat avec l’Ukraine, qui travaille à la réalisation de ses aspirations euro-atlantiques. Nous nous employons en outre à consolider nos autres partenariats, notamment en apportant une aide aux pays les plus exposés à l’influence malfaisante de la Russie.   La Russie n’est pas parvenue à briser la détermination ni à entamer le courage du peuple ukrainien. Un an après l’invasion, les Ukrainiens continuent de défendre vaillamment leur liberté et leur indépendance. Nous sommes à leurs côtés.

NATO Secretary General meets with the President of Albania On Tuesday, 7 March 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will receive the Albanian President, Mr. Bajram Begaj, at the NATO HQ. Media Advisory 13:00 - 13:30 (CET) Joint press point by the Secretary General and the President of Albania Media Coverage Media representatives, who have annual accreditation to NATO for 2023, can cover the press conference in person. Media without the annual accreditation wishing to cover the press conference should apply for ad-hoc accreditation via the NATO accreditation portal by midday on Monday 06 March. The press point will be streamed live on the NATO website and Twitter @NATOPress. A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as pictures taken by a NATO photographer, will be available on the NATO website. The video will be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.

CDC:Have a COVID-19 Plan

March 1, 2023
This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

Have a COVID-19 Plan

Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

People who are more likely to get very sick include older adults (ages 50 years or more, with risk increasing with age), people who are unvaccinated, and people with certain medical conditions, such as chronic lung disease, heart disease, or a weakened immune system.

Build your personal plan now by downloading COVID-19 Plan – available in English and Spanish. Edit and save your plan, and share it with your family, friends, and healthcare provider.

Learn More

Know Your Treatment Options

If you test positive for COVID-19 and are more likely to get very sick, treatments are available that can reduce your chances of hospitalization and death.

People who are more likely to get very sick include older adults (ages 50 years or more, with risk increasing with age), people who are unvaccinated, and people with certain medical conditions, such as chronic lung disease, heart disease, or a weakened immune system.

Medications to treat COVID-19 must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and started as soon as possible after diagnosis to be effective. The Treatment Locator (hhs.gov) can help you find a location that offers testing and treatment or a pharmacy where you can fill your prescription.

Learn More

People Who Are Immunocompromised

Some people who are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) are more likely to get sick with COVID-19 or be sick for a longer period. People can be immunocompromised either due to a medical condition or from receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments.

If you or someone you live or spend time with is immunocompromised, it is important to have a COVID-19 plan to protect yourself from infection and prepare for what to do if you get sick.

Information on this page can help you build a COVID-19 plan for preventing, diagnosing, and treating COVID, so you know what to do and can act quickly if you’re exposed, develop symptoms, or test positive and when COVID-19 levels are increasing in your community.

Learn More

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review

A few weeks ago, the federal government announced plans to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. COVID-19 remains a public health priority, so this doesn’t mean that CDC will stop tracking COVID-19 and sharing data. Most CDC COVID-19 data activities won’t be directly affected, but there will be changes—learn about them in the COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.

Learn More
Subscribe

COVID-19 Community Levels
CDC uses COVID-19 Community Levels to determine the disease’s impact on counties and recommend prevention measures.
CDC also tracks cases, laboratory tests, vaccinations, deaths, and other pandemic data and provides them on our COVID Data Tracker.




Community Levels

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd Atlanta, GA 30329 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348