EUbusiness Week 640 top stories: Ukraine leader returns to crisis over ditched EU pact; EU makes action plan to stop migrant tragedies; Europe raps ratings agencies; Gazprom offers to settle anti-trust case, says EC; Anti-dumping measures imposed on some Chinese solar panels; EU puts Nepal airlines on safety blacklist
Publisher’s Note
The EU’s new framework programme for research and innovation got the go-ahead this week as ministers adopted Horizon 2020, a major reworking of R&D funding which brings research efforts under one roof for the first time, with a more simple set of rules, and a cutting of red tape. A key aim of the seven-year programme is wider involvement of smaller businesses and of the group of researchers who take part. Work on this significant investment in Europe’s future starts now. The first calls for funding are out on Monday, a huge opportunity for scientists and businesses across the EU and beyond which should not be be missed.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. Ukraine leader returns to crisis over ditched EU pact
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was to return to Kiev from a China trip on Friday, to a country embroiled in its worst political crisis in a decade over his government’s refusal to sign a pact for closer links to the EU.
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West presses Ukraine to heed protesters’ demands
Tymoshenko urges Western sanctions on Ukraine leader, family
2. EU lays down data protection steps for US
The European Union has published a list of proposals aimed at avoiding tragedies like the October sinking of a refugee boat off Italy’s Lampedusa island that killed 300 people.
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3. Europe raps ratings agencies
The EU’s securities market regulator on Monday rapped ratings agencies for numerous shortcomings in how they evaluate the creditworthiness of sovereign countries, but did not move to sanction them under new regulations.
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4. Gazprom offers to settle anti-trust case, says EC
The Commission says Russian gas giant Gazprom has offered to settle an anti-trust probe which has caused tensions between the EU and Moscow.
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5. Anti-dumping measures imposed on some Chinese solar panels
The EU was this Friday to begin imposing anti-dumping measures on some Chinese solar panels whose manufacturers rejected an amicable settlement.
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6. EU puts Nepal airlines on safety blacklist
The Commission on Thursday put all Nepal airlines on its safety blacklist, banning them from flying to the EU, and said the Philippines, Sudan and Zambia were making improvements.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Britain: Britain will not hesitate to take legal action against attempts by the EU to grab more powers that are alienating people across Europe, the British attorney general said in a speech in Brussels on Monday.
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Bosnia survivors outraged over war criminals’ release
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Home affairs: Britain wants to change rules on free movement as it braces for a possible influx of Bulgarians and Romanians, Home Secretary Theresa May told ministers Thursday.
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Gulf widens between Britain and EU nations: poll
Cash-strapped Greece to host ‘spartan’ EU presidency
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Commission Watch
Italy: Italy is failing to cut debt quickly enough but is past the worst of its crisis, Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said in an interview in La Repubblica newspaper.
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Is EU’s eastern Europe policy in tatters after Russia row?
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Parliament Watch
Elections: Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem voiced concern Tuesday that the Parliament will shift toward the far right in elections set for May.
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This week MEPs and MPs urged the WTO to keep trade talks multilateral, and not give way to bilateral or regional deals; MEPs called on the Council to grant Albania EU candidate status without undue delay; and the EP launched its website on the 2014 European elections.
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EU diary
9-12 Dec, European Parliament plenary session
9-11 Dec, Pan-European Intellectual Property Summit 2013
9-10 Dec, Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Council
10 Dec, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
11 Dec, First calls under Horizon 2020
12 Dec, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
13 Dec, Environment Council
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
EU anti-trust raids on consumer electronics firms 5-Dec
Schaeuble ‘to discuss banking union with France, EU’ 5-Dec
ECB sees stronger growth for eurozone 5-Dec
Eyeing EU visa talks, Turkey to ink deal on migrants 4-Dec
EU clears Microsoft Nokia mobile phone deal 4-Dec
European envoys back on road to Damascus 30-Nov
