A meeting today between MEPs, the European Commission and the rotating Belgian EU Presidency could pave the way for a deal on the creation of the three new European Supervisory Authorities (ESA) and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), the FT reports. Die Presse claims that a final agreement is as good sealed.

Handelsblatt reports on the Commission’s proposals for stricter regulation and supervision of the derivatives market, to be published later in the month. According to a draft of the proposal seen by the paper, the Commission plans to take a "central role" in regulating "bilaterally traded derivatives [which] will have to be processed through a central counterparty".

In an interview with Les Echos, EU Commissioner for Budget Janusz Lewandowski has said that proposals for an EU-wide tax will be unveiled on 29 September. “In total, we are working on eight options. Some of them could create difficulties, such as the levy on financial transactions – which would affect especially London and Frankfurt – or the transfer of revenues from CO2 emissions auctions, which would be done at the expense of Eastern European countries […] But the tax on aerial transport, for example, would be transnational by its own nature”.

The Commission’s Eurobarometer poll, published yesterday, has shown that support for the EU has dropped to its lowest levels in nine years. Only 49 percent of respondents from across Europe considered membership of the EU to be a “good thing” down 4 percentage points from last years poll, while trust in the bloc's institutions has dropped to 42 percent, six points down compared to autumn 2009.

The Telegraph reports that the EU’s budget could rise by more than £8.8 billion to £125 billion in 2013 – a 7.6 percent rise on this year’s spending levels, if European Commission’s proposals are approved. The increase will mean that the British contribution to the EU rises to £10.

EUobserver reports that the EU is in talks to lease the so-called ‘Triangle building’ in Brussels for its new diplomatic service, with EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton’s new office likely to look over the Commission and Council buildings. The Commission is expected to lease 50,000 square metres of the 60,000 square metre block for at least 15 years at a cost of around €10 million a year.

EUobserver reports on a study released yesterday by research firm Markit which shows that economic recovery in the eurozone is slowing down, with the gap widening between Germany and the rest of the bloc. Marco Annunziata, Chief Economist at UniCredit, is quoted in the FT arguing: “My hunch is that we will see divergences widening”.

The Sunday Telegraph reported on its front page that the number of people in Britain seized under the controversial European Arrest Warrant rose by more than 50 percent last year, according to figures obtained from the Home Office. In total 1,032 people – almost three a day – were detained and extradited by British police on the orders of European prosecutors in the 12 months to April, up from 683 in 2008-09.

The Mail and the front page of the Express report that EU officials are in line for three pay rises - boosting their salaries by over 5 percent, over the next twelve months. The European Commission’s budget proposal for 2011 states that, “A salary increase of 2.

The frontpage of Handelsblatt reports that fear has returned in Athens, Brussels, Berlin and Washington as tax receipts for the Greek government have failed to match the expectations. In the first seven months of 2010, only 4.1 percent extra tax income for the government was created, while the EU and the IMF had been promised 13.

FAZ reports that an internal Commission paper is outlining plans for a new EU tax on all types of natural resources, to create incentives for businesses to use them more efficiently. The tax would include both renewable resources such as wood, as well as minerals and fossil fuels.

Bloomberg reports that Spanish banks borrowed a record €130bn from the European Central Bank in July, accounting for 29 percent of total borrowing from the ECB. Gary Jenkins of London-based Evolution Securities Ltd is quoted saying, “The amount needed is likely to remain elevated for years to come.

In an opinion piece for Le Monde, Nicolas-Jean Brehon from the Robert Schuman Foundation looks at the upcoming negotiations on the EU budget and argues: “If member states do not want to pay more or accept a new [EU] tax, then, in order to launch new policies, one will need to review the structure of the [EU] budget and trim the ‘money-eating’ items, i.

European Voice reports that EU member states yesterday agreed a blueprint envisaging €3.6 billion in cuts to the EU budget proposed by the European Commission for 2011. However, the new total figure - €126.6 billion – still represents a 2.9 percent increase from the previous year’s budget.

EUobserver reports that a vote in the Slovakian Parliament has confirmed that the country will not help fund the €110bn eurozone bailout of Greece. Slovak MPs voted by 69 to two to refuse to take part. Speaking in Parliament, Slovak Finance Minister Ivan Miklos criticised the unfairness of poorer countries being roped in to bail out richer ones, and euro area policy makers' lack of accountability.

AFP reports that French Europe Minister Pierre Lellouche has described as “perfectly ill-timed” the proposals from Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski for the introduction of direct taxes to finance the EU budget. "Any extra tax is currently unwelcome. It is much more the time for the member states and also European institutions to make savings”, he argued, adding that “the idea of a European tax raises fundamental political questions and would constitute a major transfer of sovereignty and tax-raising power".

There is widespread coverage of EU Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski’s plans to table proposals for a direct EU tax in September, which would mean member states handed over less money from national treasuries. He suggested that, “There are various options that would not affect the finance ministries and have a link to European policy like a financial transaction tax, CO2-emission auctions and an aviation scheme,” which could be used to directly finance the €140bn a year EU budget.

The front page of FT Deutschland reports that EU Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski has said he will propose different options for a tax to directly fund the EU budget in September. Possible sources of revenue include a financial transaction tax and a levy on air travel.

On his blog, Jon Worth notes that the European Parliament is financing the development of a role-playing and networking website modelled on the European Parliament, named ‘Citzalia’. The project appears to be financed from €4 million allocated to European Service Network (ESN), a Brussels-based communications agency, from the European Parliament.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has today announced a new Government drive to reduce red tape for individuals and businesses. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills press release states that, “From 1 September, a groundbreaking new One-in, One-out system will begin.