EU cure for joblessness – EUbusiness Week newsletter 570 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 570 top stories: EU-US anti-terror data-sharing deal finally approved; EU to suspend Myanmar sanctions for a year; Disappointed EU mulls options against Argentina seizure; EU pledges extra funds for energy in developing nations; No more low-cost benefits for low-cost airline staff; Europe’s wine-makers rethink vineyard reform

This Week’s Top Stories

1. EU-US anti-terror data-sharing deal finally approved
2. EU to suspend Myanmar sanctions for a year
3. Disappointed EU mulls options against Argentina seizure
4. EU pledges extra funds for energy in developing nations
5. No more low-cost benefits for low-cost airline staff
6. Europe’s wine-makers rethink vineyard reform

Publisher’s Note

As Eurozone unemployment hits record highs amid the prospect of looming recession, the European Commission this week came forward with a set of measures to boost jobs.

Its focus is on the demand-side of job creation, setting out ways for Member States to encourage hiring by reducing taxes on labour or giving more support for business start-ups. Areas with the biggest job potential are identified as the green economy, health services and ICT – forecast to create more than 20 millions of jobs in years to come.

With general agreement that society and our economy cannot function with unemployment rates hitting the double digit mark, the main challenge as always is to deliver and implement these recommendations at national level.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

PUBLIC TENDER – MACEDONIA

Granting of agricultural land in state ownership – Public Notice, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in Macedonia
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1. EU-US anti-terror data-sharing deal finally approved

A controversial deal enabling transfer of EU air passenger data to US authorities as part of the global fight against terrorism was finally approved Thursday in the European Parliament.
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2. EU to suspend Myanmar sanctions for a year

EU nations are set to suspend sanctions against Myanmar for a year, opening the way to a potential trade and investment bonanza with over 800 firms, say European Union diplomats.
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3. Disappointed EU mulls options against Argentina seizure

Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday he was “seriously disappointed” by Argentina’s decision to expropriate a subsidiary of Spanish oil giant Repsol.
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4. EU pledges extra funds for energy in developing nations

The European Union has vowed fresh funds to help developing nations provide sustainable energy to 500 million people by 2030.
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5. No more low-cost benefits for low-cost airline staff

Low-cost airlines will no longer be able to offer low-cost social welfare coverage to staff under new EU rules adopted Wednesday by the Euro-MPs.
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6. Europe’s wine-makers rethink vineyard reform

Faced by increasingly ferocious competition from New World wines, Europe’s top producer nations kicked off talks on Thursday to decide whether or not to liberalise the planting of vineyards.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Human rights: the Council of Europe has agreed to reform the European Court of Human Rights to stop it continuing to be swamped by cases, according to a draft declaration at their conference in Britain on Thursday.
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Twelve EU nations risk court action for cruelty to hens
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Belarus: two opponents of Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko returned home in triumph to Minsk after winning early release from jail in what supporters hailed as the result of EU pressure on his regime.
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Sarkozy puts role of ECB back on French election agenda
Irish PM confident of ‘Yes’ vote in EU treaty poll
Council …

Commission Watch

Hungary: Hungary’s government said Wednesday it is altering legislation that the EU had criticised as curbing the independence of the central bank, in the latest attempt to unblock talks on financial aid.
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Rehn turns deficit screw on Spanish regions
Barroso values total EU aid for Greece at EUR 380bn
Commission …

Euro-Parliament Watch

ACTA: the controversial global pact to battle counterfeiting and online piracy faced a new setback Thursday as Parliament’s rapporteur on the legislation urged fellow MEPs to reject it.
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Polish MEP convicted for calling teenagers ‘noisy runts’
In plenary session this week, MEPs opposed a phase-out of the tax advantage currently enjoyed by diesel fuel; pushed for a compulsory common corporate tax base; and backed risk-sharing with the private sector to kick-start stalled regional development projects in crisis-hit countries.
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EU diary

23 Apr, Foreign Affairs Council
23-25 Apr, Environment, Consumers and Health Council
25 Apr, Commission proposal for 2013 EU budget
26-27 Apr, Justice and Home Affairs Council
26-27 Apr, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary