› Recent EU news
EU finance ministers agreed to give a mandate to the Commission to negotiate updated savings tax agreements with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino when they met on 13 and 14 May in Brussels. On tax evasion and tax fraud, they agreed on the importance of combining efforts being made at national, EU and global levels, and to support work within the G8, the G20 and the OECD on the automatic exchange of information. Heads of State and Government will review these issues when they meet on 22 May.

› Other EU news
Heads of State and Government will meet on 22 May in Brussels. They expect to discuss tax policy focusing on how to improve the efficiency of tax collection and best tackle tax evasion and fraud. Energy will also feature on the agenda in the context of the EU's efforts to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness.

› Other EU news
Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, for the Irish Presidency of the EU, met with the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Commission on 6 May to try to progress the negotiations for the EU’s post 2014 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). It resulted in an agreement to start formal negotiations on the MFF, along with amending the budget for 2013, which will be agreed in two stages. Work on both will take place in parallel, beginning with the first trialogue negotiations on Monday 13 May.

› other EU news
IBEC has a dedicated Irish Presidency website for the six-month Irish Presidency of the EU.