EUbusiness Week 511 top stories: Eurozone fires defy rescues and budgets; Britain seeks EU support on bank bonus disclosures; Italy ordered to bin ‘pure’ chocolate labelling; EU wants threefold rise in women executives by 2015; Europe bans baby bottles with Bisphenol-A; EU team in Naples for garbage crisis as health risks rise
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Eurozone fires defy rescues and budgets
2. Britain seeks EU support on bank bonus disclosures
3. EU raps France in protectionist cheese row
4. EU wants threefold rise in women executives by 2015
5. Europe bans baby bottles with Bisphenol-A
6. EU team in Naples for garbage crisis as health risks rise
Publisher’s Note
The Commission’s flagship ‘Agenda for new skills and jobs’, unveiled on Wednesday, sets out its plans to reform labour markets, make sure skills are in line with demand and working conditions are right for job creation. Member States, suggests the text, need to act urgently in areas such as reform of social security systems, the validation of competences gained outside formal education and incentives for job creation.
However, some actions have not been as widely welcomed as others. EUROCHAMBRES has picked out the idea of a ‘single open-ended contract with a gradual increase of employment protection until the level of protection of currently existing permanent contracts is reached’ as one which could make things worse. Maybe this is not the time to look into anything that results in reinforcing the rigidity of Europe’s labour market.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Eurozone fires defy rescues and budgets
Germany moved Thursday to douse eurozone debt fires fed by its insistence that investors pay for bailouts, a stance that has kept Ireland and Spain at risk and financial markets on alert.
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Irish bailout talks accelerate as PM faces new setback
Greece ordered to cut deeper to get past debt ‘crossroad’
2. Britain seeks EU support on bank bonus disclosures
Finance minister George Osborne is to write to his EU counterparts as Britain seeks common rules on the disclosure of bankers’ bonuses.
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3. EU raps France in protectionist cheese row
The Commission accused France on Wednesday of ignoring scientific advice in trade moves to protect prized goat and sheep cheese-makers.
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4. EU wants threefold rise in women executives by 2015
The European Union wants to see the number of women in company boardrooms tripled within the next five years, Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said on Monday.
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5. Europe bans baby bottles with Bisphenol-A
Europe on Thursday banned baby bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol-A as of early next year over fears it may harm the health of children throughout the EU’s population.
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6. EU team in Naples for garbage crisis as health risks rise
The EU sent a team of inspectors to garbage-strewn Naples on Monday to assess whether Italy remains in breach of European legislation regarding waste disposal management.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW
Staff pay: judges at Europe’s top court have upheld a 3.7 per cent pay rise for tens of thousands of European Union staff – an inflation-busting hike that would benefit them as well.
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Ireland taken to Court over horse VAT rates
Italy ordered to bin ‘pure’ chocolate labelling
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Contagion: EU president Herman Van Rompuy sought Wednesday to ease fears that debt-stricken Ireland’s troubles would spread to Portugal and other weak eurozone countries.
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Irish government plans to lift sales tax to 23 pct by 2014
Merkel talks down chances of Russia-EU free trade zone
Council …
Commission Watch
Rescue fund: the Commission denied reports Thursday that it proposed to double the size of a eurozone financial safety net to EUR 880bn following the Irish fiscal crisis.
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New EU budget proposal due by end November: Barroso
EU sets conditions for Ukraine to win visa-free travel
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Euro reform: next year will be decisive for the adoption of reforms to ensure the financial stability of the EU and the euro currency, ECB president Trichet told Euro-MPs on Monday.
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Myanmar junta must reach out to Suu Kyi: EP
Euro-MPs urge UN probe into Western Sahara raid
Also in plenary this week, Parliament reiterated its stand on the 2011 Budget and budget flexibility; said the EU should raise its 2020 CO2 reduction target to 30 pct; and called for energy efficiency to top the EU’s energy strategy agenda.
Parliament …
EU diary
25-26 Nov, Competitiveness Council
29-30 Nov, 3rd Africa-EU Summit
29-30 Nov, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
EBRD grants EUR 60m loan for Croatia’s roads 25-Nov
EU grants Taiwan visa-free travel 25-Nov
Russia sees WTO accession next year after deal with EU 24-Nov
Turkish-German family drama wins European film prize 24-Nov
All Afghan airlines banned from flying in Europe 23-Nov
Growth indicator shows eurozone regaining steam 23-Nov
