EUbusiness Week 576 top stories: EU calls for deeper union to avoid ‘disintegration’; EU, China edge closer to hi-tech trade war; No eurozone hopeful fit to join single currency yet: ECB; India may bar Europe carriers in climate tax row; Binge drinking drops, drug use levels off in Europe; French irked by EU use of English
This Week’s Top Stories
1. EU calls for deeper union to avoid ‘disintegration’
2. EU, China edge closer to hi-tech trade war
3. No eurozone hopeful fit to join single currency yet: ECB
4. India may bar Europe carriers in climate tax row
5. Binge drinking drops, drug use levels off in Europe
6. French irked by EU use of English
Publisher’s Note
Ireland’s voters looked set Friday to back the new fiscal pact, with EU partners keenly awaiting the result. Ireland is the only country holding a referendum on the pact signed by all Member States bar Britain and the Czech Republic.
Chancellor Merkel sees a ‘yes’ vote as supporting the need for austerity to solve the EU’s debt crisis. A ‘no’ vote would support the new French president’s drive towards more public investment to boost growth.
A ‘yes’ supports a recent shift among Greek voters towards backing their latest austerity cuts. For countries who may need further help to pull through the crisis, the prospect of leaving the euro now looks even worse than staying in.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Eurozone strains intensify as ‘massive shock’ looms
The Commission pleaded Wednesday for a tighter eurozone union to avoid “disintegration,” as it pressed France to respect deficit pledges but offered Spain breathing space.
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EU to strike Germany, Bulgaria from deficit blacklist
2. EU, China edge closer to hi-tech trade war
European and Chinese trade ministers have stepped up a war of words over hi-tech subsidies in a spat that increasingly risks legal action and a potentially damaging trade war.
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China’s rising costs deter European business: survey
3. No eurozone hopeful fit to join single currency yet: ECB
None of the eight countries on the waiting list to adopt the euro meets all the required membership criteria at the moment, says the European Central Bank.
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4. India may bar Europe carriers in climate tax row
India says it may stop European carriers from flying into the country if the EU bans airlines from the South Asian nation that boycott the EU’s new emissions fee system.
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5. Binge drinking drops, drug use levels off in Europe
European teens cut back on binge drinking and showed no increase in illegal drug use in recent years, while cigarettes remained as popular as in 2007, says EU agency.
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6. French irked by EU use of English
The Brussels-based French-language press corps reacted with fury Wednesday to the release in English of the EU’s annual report cards on the bloc’s 27 economies.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Rubbish: the Commission has given Italy two months to comply with EU landfill laws, accusing authorities of improperly treating waste dumped in Rome’s biggest garbage site.
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Ex-Romania PM claims innocence in Supreme Court graft trial
Tymoshenko to bring case to European rights court
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Serbia: Tomislav Nikolic, sworn in as Serbian president Thursday, said he wants Serbia to join the EU but stressed that Belgrade would never give up its claim to Kosovo.
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Hungary central bank changes don’t go far enough: ECB
Is EU short on options to end violence in Syria?
Council …
Commission Watch
Italy: Italy has launched a “bold” strategy to clean up its public finances but the country must do more to combat tax evasion and black market labour, says the Commission.
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EU to unlock frozen funds for Hungary
Dutch face serious challenges on deficits: EC
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Turkey: Parliament’s chief has criticised Turkey for threatening to freeze ties with the EU when the bloc’s rotating presidency shifts to Cyprus, which Ankara does not recognise as a sovereign state.
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In committee this week, three EP committees rejected the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA); while MEPs agreed that smart tachographs would improve lorry controls and overall road safety, and said having a bank account should be a legal right for the 10 per cent of EU citizens who currently do not have one.
Parliament …
EU diary
2 Jun, Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture (informal)
4 Jun, EU-Russia summit
4 Jun, EC adopts proposed regulation on eID and eSignature
6 Jun, EC adopts renewable energy communication
7-8 Jun, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
7-8 Jun, Justice and Home Affairs Council
11-14 Jun, European Parliament plenary session
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 urges Spain to spell out Bankia rescue 31-May
Goldman sees opportunities in Europe’s bank woes 31-May
EU ‘doubts’ Dexia state aid valid but gives more time 31-May
EU green lights free trade talks with Vietnam 31-May
Eurozone inflation eases to 2.4% in May 31-May
Nabucco pipeline still an option: Azerbaijan oil firm 29-May
