EUbusiness Week 561 top stories: Eurozone stalls Greek cash aid despite austerity deal; France signals nine eurozone states ready to trigger FTT; Airline industry split widens over EU carbon ‘tax’ row; EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes; EU urges governments to tighten breast implant controls; Corporate failures threaten 1.5m jobs in Europe: study
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Eurozone stalls Greek cash aid despite austerity deal
2. France signals nine eurozone states ready to trigger FTT
3. Airline industry split widens over EU carbon ‘tax’ row
4. EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes
5. EU urges governments to tighten breast implant controls
6. Corporate failures threaten 1.5m jobs in Europe: study
Publisher’s Note
Since presenting its proposal for a new financial framework (MFF) last June, the Commission says it has proposed over 120 simplifications to the rules which govern EU funding for smaller companies (SMEs) in particular. This week’s communication “A simplification agenda for the 2014-2020 MFF” brings them together in one single document.
EU funds provide extra funds to businesses, regional authorities and researchers, and play a key role in boosting economic growth. While the access procedure to those funds often seems like a maze of red tape, the Commission insists the proposals will make them more user-friendly. But it says it is also looking to Member States – who add additional rules at national level – to play their part in reducing the administrative burdens on access to EU money.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Eurozone stalls Greek cash aid despite austerity deal
Sceptical eurozone finance ministers refused Thursday to release a second bailout for Greece, despite a last-minute deal in Athens on austerity measures demanded by creditors.
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IMF: New Greek bailout possible
2. France signals nine eurozone states ready to trigger FTT
French Finance Minister Francois Baroin has signalled that nine eurozone governments are ready to press ahead with the introduction of a Paris-inspired financial transactions tax.
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3. Airline industry split widens over EU carbon ‘tax’ row
A split widened within the aviation industry Tuesday over EU charges for carbon emissions, as Europe’s low-cost carriers accused Chinese and US rivals of “gunboat” diplomacy against the system.
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4. EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes
Romanian and Bulgarian hopes of rapidly joining the Schengen visa-free travel zone have been dealt a new blow with an EU report which urges them to take more action against corruption and organised crime.
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5. EU urges governments to tighten breast implant controls
The Commission urged governments on Thursday to tighten controls of medical devices after faulty French-made breast implants sparked a global health scare.
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6. Corporate failures threaten 1.5m jobs in Europe: study
The number of companies going bust as a result of the eurozone debt crisis is on the increase and could see as many as 1.5 million jobs across Europe under threat as a result, a study has found.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Organ trade: EU prosecutors in Kosovo trying seven people accused of organ trafficking in a landmark case said Tuesday they had asked Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey to help identify victims of the scam.
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Bulgaria pledges to shut mental homes
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Syria: Europe stepped up pressure on Syria on Tuesday as several nations recalled their ambassadors from Damascus and the EU considered new sanctions to cut the regime’s access to cash.
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Iran, free trade pact top EU-India summit agenda
Council …
Commission Watch
Hungary: the Commission voiced “grave concerns” over Hungary’s controversial media laws Thursday, warning the threat of big fines for breaking the rules can lead to self-censorship.
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EU refuses to fund ‘pointless’ Greece-Turkey border fence
First EU official off to Myanmar ahead of ‘crucial’ polls
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Derivatives: government and parliament negotiators struck a deal Thursday to impose new rules on the multi-trillion-euro derivatives market – widely maligned for helping cause the global financial crisis.
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Parliament’s political groups prepared for next week’s plenary session. There will be votes on the EU patent, political developments in Hungary, the situation in Russia, the EU-Morocco trade agreement, the food-for-the-needy programme and the growth and jobs strategy.
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EU diary
10 Feb, Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council
13-16 Feb, European Parliament plenary session
14 Feb, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
17 Feb, Employment, Social, Health, Consumer 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
EBA satisfied with bank recapitalisation plans 9-Feb
S&P: unclear Greek deal will set sustainable path 9-Feb
Hungary opposition radio gets 60-day stay of execution 8-Feb
Funding shortfall for ex-Soviet nuclear plants cleanup 8-Feb
Cartel inspectors raid electricity trading exchanges 7-Feb
Russian gas flows to EU returning to normal: EC 6-Feb
