EUbusiness Week 705 top stories: Merkel sets tough line at EU summit with eastern partners; Greece in final stretch of troubled loan talks; ECB sees no need to start tapering QE, minutes show; Parliament in surprise vote for ‘conflict minerals’ ban; EU urged to do ‘much more’ to protect wildlife; Britain must stay in reformed EU: business head
Publisher’s Note
The Commission this week addressed a key complaint from voters in the European, and UK, elections – too much red tape in EU legislation and not enough transparency in the EU decision-making process. The Better Regulation Agenda aims to cut burdens for SMEs, boost openness and transparency in EU decision-making, and improve the quality of new laws.
Some are worried about the threat to health, safety and environmental standards. The Commission’s challenge is to get right the balance between better and less regulation.
More …
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
.EU AND EUROPEAN DOMAIN NAMES Lowest prices and free DNS Services! Fast, Easy & Centralised Registration! |
1. Merkel sets tough line at summit with eastern partners
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the EU’s eastern partners Thursday not to expect too much of the bloc and warned Russia to mend its ways over Ukraine if it wanted to rejoin the G7 club of top nations.
More …
Armenia, Belarus baulk at Riga summit declaration: sources
2. Greece in final stretch of troubled loan talks
Greece on Monday entered the final stretch of tortuous talks with its international creditors on a bankruptcy-saving loan deal, with the government calling for a breakthrough by the end of the month.
More …
Merkel, Hollande to meet Greek PM in Riga
3. ECB sees no need to start tapering QE, minutes show
The European Central Bank revealed Thursday that its governing council believes its contested bond purchase programme is working and there is no talk of scaling it back just yet.
More …
ECB, under fire, changes rules over publishing speeches
4. Parliament in surprise vote for ‘conflict minerals’ ban
Europe’s legislators on Wednesday unexpectedly voted in favour of a law requiring firms to ensure they do not use so-called conflict minerals from Africa and other areas that end up funding warlords.
More …
China rare earths export quota scrapped after WTO ruling
5. EU urged to do ‘much more’ to protect wildlife
Member States must step up efforts to protect vulnerable wildlife and habitats from the effects of human activity, with little improvement in conservation since 2007, a report said on Wednesday.
More …
Europe’s bathing waters cleaner, says Brussels
6. Britain must stay in reformed EU: business head
The head of Britain’s biggest business lobby made his case in favour of EU membership in a speech on Wednesday amid heated debate about the in-or-out referendum to be held by 2017.
More …
Airbus flies into Britain’s ‘Brexit’ debate
EUROPEAN LAW
German truckers: the Commission has launched legal action against Germany, accusing the government of illegally applying the national minimum wage to a number of trucking and haulage companies from Austria, Poland and Hungary.
More …
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
More …
Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
UK referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron was to start face-to-face discussions at a summit Friday with European partners on renegotiating Britain’s position in the EU ahead of his in-out referendum by 2017.
More …
EU backs naval mission to end migrant crisis
Luxembourg PM first gay EU leader to marry
Council …
Commission Watch
Migrants: Brussels may have to water down controversial plans for quotas to spread Mediterranean refugees around Europe amid growing opposition, unexpectedly led by France, officials said on Tuesday.
More …
Mogherini on Middle East trip as bus row flares
Cyprus wants bigger EU role in peace talks: negotiator
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Migrants: Euro-MPs on Wednesday accused some Member States of passing the buck by rejecting a Brussels plan for binding quotas for refugees making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing.
More …
Hungary’s Orban angers MEPs over death penalty, migrants
Parliament targets Thailand in boat people resolution
Parliament leader ribs ‘big loser’ Farage
Also this week, MEPs approved new rules on insolvency to give struggling companies a second chance to improve their financial situation; demanded action to halt the spread of killer bacteria on oilve trees; and pressed the Commission not to withdraw a draft EU directive on maternity leave.
More …
EU diary
26 May: Foreign Affairs Council
27-29 May: Urbanisation in Europe and the world
27 May: European Parliament plenary session
27 May: Commission proposes 2016 EU Budget
28-29 May: Competitiveness Council
28 May: Commission adopts monthly infringements package
28-29 May: European Maritime Day Conference
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
RESOURCES
EU Law Firms
Summaries of EU Legislation
EU Decision-Making
Treaties of the European Union
Key EU Legal Terms
Other news on EUbusiness this week
Eurozone growth falters despite improved employment 21-May
Varoufakis says ‘respects’ secrecy after taping claim 21-May
Cyprus lenders back latest bailout stage 20-May
ECB to ramp up bond purchases in May, June 19-May
EU approves Spain’s Sabadell takeover of UK’s TSB 18-May
British manufacturing giant breaks ranks on ‘Brexit’ 18-May
Greece will not cut salaries, pensions in loan talks 15-May
EUbusiness Community
PROMOTE YOUR COMPANY ON EUBUSINESS Present your organisation’s business and product information, press releases, and calls for proposals directly to Europe’s decision-makers |
Jobs
Project Coordinator, College of Europe
Lawyer (Course Director) in European Environmental Law, Academy of European Law
Communications and Knowledge Manager Global Counter Terrorism Forum, Asser Instituut
Head of Communications & External Relations Department, European Food Safety Authority
Policy Officer, Wildlife Conservation Society
More jobs …
Press
ESBA Press Release on Better Regulation
EU ‘Better Regulation’ proposals: Friends of the Earth
Drain on health services and lost work days could cost EUR 52 bn over ten years
More press …
Guides
The EU’s Eastern Partnership policy
State of Nature report 2015
Better Regulation Agenda
More guides …
Events
1 Jun, Vienna: European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
3 Jun, Cambridge: Horizon 2020 workshop – Developing Winning Proposals
4 Jun, Riga: Week of Innovative Regions in Europe
15 Jun, Brussels: TTIP – Increased Trade for Better Living?
More events …
Publications
European bathing water quality in 2014 – EEA Report
More publications …
Links
REFIT – making EU law lighter, simpler and less costly
Better regulation – European Commission webpage
