EUbusiness Week 627 top stories: Monsanto gives up on new GM crops in EU; EU moves to cap credit card fees; States back EU-wide sales block in Mercedes aircon row; Germany faces EU probe into renewable energy push; EU pulls plug on EUR 3.2 m online media tender; EU bans yet another pesticide harmful to bees
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Monsanto gives up on new GM crops in EU
2. EU moves to cap credit card fees
3. States back EU-wide sales block in Mercedes aircon row
4. Germany faces EU probe into renewable energy push
5. EU pulls plug on EUR 3.2 m online media tender
6. EU bans yet another pesticide harmful to bees
Publisher’s Note
About 89 million tons of food is wasted every year. No wonder the Commission is looking to improve our food system, lanching a public consultation this week on how to reduce food waste and ensure that our food system uses resources efficiently. You have until 1 October to provide some ideas, on measuring the impact of food production, promoting more sustainable production and supply chains, and reducing food waste. Your answers will provide input for a Communication on Sustainable Food later this year.
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Summer service: EUbusiness will operate its usual reduced service over the summer. Newswires start again in September. To keep up-to-date with our latest news, subscribe to our RSS news feed at
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Monsanto gives up on new GM crops in EU
Faced with widespread concerns in Europe over its genetically modified foods, US agro-chemicals giant Monsanto said Thursday it was giving up on plans to grow new GM crops in the EU, which has held up approval for years.
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2. EU moves to cap credit card fees
The Commission wants to cap fees on credit and debit-cards across the European Union, draft legislative proposals showed on Wednesday.
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3. States back EU-wide sales block in Mercedes aircon row
National car experts meeting in Brussels have recommended an EU-wide block on the sale of Mercedes cars produced in breach of single-market rules.
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4. Germany faces EU probe into renewable energy push
Germany could face a probe into whether it has breached EU competition rules by letting consumers partly foot the bill as it switches to renewable energy, Der Spiegel reports.
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5. EU pulls plug on EUR 3.2 m online media tender
The Commission has cancelled a plan to plough EUR 3.2 m into creating an online media platform for high-brow Brussels coverage.
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6. EU bans yet another pesticide harmful to bees
The Union has restricted the use of the insecticide Fipronil, the latest move to protect honey bees after a May ban on three other insecticides.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Fraud: the Commission is planning a special prosecutor’s office to combat fraud and other crimes affecting the EU’s budget with powers to operate directly in Member States.
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Navalny verdict raises ‘questions’ on Russia rule of law
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
South Africa: South Africa and the EU on Thursday sealed a EUR 100 m nuclear energy deal which will initially light up 300,000 rural households in Africa’s wealthiest economy.
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EU ministers to decide Monday on blacklisting Hezbollah
Italian PM says British exit would harm EU
British think-tank offers EUR 100,000 prize for EU exit plan
Council …
Commission Watch
Shipyards: Spain must recover state aid given to its struggling shipyards in the form of tax breaks, the EU said Wednesday, stoking fears for the future of the industry in a country ravaged by recession and soaring unemployment.
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Israel anger as EU blocks funding in settlements
EU wants financial services included in US trade deal
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Le XXXPen: ParliaXXXXXXXXX II.
Cuba dissident Farinas finalXXXXXks up 2010 Sakharov prize
Parliament in recess: the European Parliament will be in recess from 22 July. Business resumes on 26 August with a week of external parliamentary and committee activities. During the recess, the EP press room will be closed from Monday 22 July until Friday 23 August inclusive.
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EU diary
24 Jul, Commission adopts Communication on shadow banking and proposes draft regulation
24 Jul, Commission presents Communication “Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector”
25 Jul, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget)
1 Aug, Governing Council meeting of the ECB
Aug, Summer break
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
Jewish groups call on EU to overturn Polish kosher ban 18-Jul
ECB eases collateral rules in bid to boost economy 18-Jul
IMF’s Lagarde sees ‘bright future’ for eurozone 18-Jul
EU urges Google do more to answer competition concerns 17-Jul
Germans less nostalgic about deutschmark: poll 17-Jul
EU urges quick fix to Iceland ‘mackerel war’ 16-Jul
