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Library picture: Theodor Weimer, at the time a UniCredit executive and now CEO of Deutsche Boerse, is seen speaking at a German banking conference on 9 April 2014. Photo credit: Bankenverband - Bundesverband deutscher Banken (CC BY-ND 2.0) 

New Deutsche Boerse chief is optimistic about Brexit

“Post-Brexit offers a historic moment in time for us here in Frankfurt,” the new CEO of Deutsche Boerse said in a speech, Reuters reported. Theodor Weimer, who took charge of the German stock exchange operator earlier this month, was referring to the euro clearing market, which may migrate from London to the euro zone after Britain leaves the EU. Weimer was appointed to give the firm a fresh start; it has recently faced “an insider trading scandal, a failed merger with its London counterpart and a profit warning,” Reuters said. In Luxembourg, Deutsche Boerse owns Clearstream.

Irish border question resurfacing

Theresa May’s pledge that there would be no “hard border” between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland post-Brexit is already coming under pressure, Bloomberg said. “Different interpretations around the precise meaning of May’s commitments are starting to crystallize, according to one European diplomat,” the news service wrote. The British government made the promise in December in order to keep Brexit talks on track, but Dublin and Paris are pushing for more detailed guarantees.

EU may pay UK “settled status” charges

Brussels could cover the £72 application fee for EU nationals who want to remain in the UK following Brexit, The Guardian reported. Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president “has expressed sympathy” with the idea, the newspaper wrote:

“According to EU sources, Juncker agreed in a meeting with the European parliament’s Brexit steering group to personally take up the issue of the charges with Theresa May. However, he is said to have recognised that Brussels may need to look at funding the costs through the EU budget.”

Greece to receive 3rd bailout, start restructuring talks

Eurozone finance ministers are expected in the coming weeks to approve a third EU bailout of Greece and “to start sensitive talks on how to structure possible debt relief” for Athens, the Financial Times said. Mário Centeno, the new Eurogroup head, was quoted by the financial daily as saying the deal demonstrated the “huge efforts and excellent co-operation between the Greek government and the institutions”. Greece will receive €6.7bn; a working group “will explore ways to link any future debt relief to Greece’s economic performance”.

Medal returned to Battle of the Bulge veteran’s family

A missing Purple Heart medal has been returned to the family of an American soldier who fought in Luxembourg during the second world war. Claude Parris lost part of his right leg in the Battle of the Bulge, his grandson told the Associated Press. Parris’s medal “was found in an abandoned safe deposit box” in Tennessee and returned by that state’s treasury department last week, the wire service said. The Purple Heart is award to those killed or wounded while serving in the US military.

Today’s breakfast briefing was written by @aarongrunwald