EUbusiness Week top stories: EU crisis summit on Libya set for March 11; EU moves towards ‘single energy market’ with new regulator; Eurozone ups growth forecast, sees Mideast inflation threat; EU probes allegations of price-fixing in e-books; HIV protesters tell India to defy EU drug demands; Air pollution could reduce life by almost two years: study
This Week’s Top Stories
1. EU crisis summit on Libya set for March 11
2. EU moves towards ‘single energy market’ with new regulator
3. Eurozone ups growth forecast, sees Mideast inflation threat
4. EU probes allegations of price-fixing in e-books
5. HIV protesters tell India to defy EU drug demands
6. Air pollution could reduce life by almost two years: study
Publisher’s Note
The theme of this year’s European Inventor Award, for which the shortlist was announced on Thursday, is very much one of saving and improving lives rather than wild and wacky ideas.
Glasses that adjust to the wearer’s eyesight, titanium implants for your teeth and steel fibres which allow architects to twist and bend concrete are candidates for what is Europe’s highest distinction for inventors.
European inventors set global innovation standards, and this prize, which the European Patent Office will present on 19 May, gives inventors recognition they deserve. It celebrates the spirit of invention which can make a major contribution to economic growth and to helping people in their daily lives.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
EUROFFICE Euroffice, the UK’s largest supplier of stationery and office supplies online, selling to the UK and Italy – have sold to over 220,000 small businesses and will not be beaten on price. |
1. EU crisis summit on Libya set for March 11
EU leaders will gather March 11 for a special summit convened to respond to the crisis in Libya as well as to the turmoil sweeping Arab nations in Europe’s Mediterranean backyard.
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Britain’s Clegg urges ‘new deal’ in EU-North Africa ties
EU sanctions against Kadhafi enacted
2. EU moves towards ‘single energy market’ with new regulator
The European Union inaugurated its new energy regulators’ office in Slovenia on Thursday, as new legislation for liberalising the EU’s internal energy market came into force.
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3. Eurozone ups growth forecast, sees Mideast inflation threat
The Commission has raised its eurozone growth forecast to 1.6 per cent for 2011, but warns that markets remain fragile and unrest in the Arab world threatens to drive up inflation.
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4. EU probes allegations of price-fixing in e-books
The Commission on Tuesday searched several European publishing houses suspected of fixing the price of e-books, a spokeswoman for the Competition Commissioner said.
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5. HIV protesters tell India to defy EU drug demands
Thousands of HIV-positive protesters have called on the Indian government to reject EU trade demands they said would make life-saving drugs unaffordable to millions of people with the virus.
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6. Air pollution could reduce life by almost two years: study
Curbing air pollution in major European cities could save 19,000 lives per year, add almost two years to local life expectancy and save EUR 31.5bn in health costs and work absenteeism, says an EU-funded study.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW
Insurance: insurance companies cannot use gender to assess risk and calculate the premiums paid by men or women for car accident policies and pensions schemes, says the ECJ.
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Judiciary ‘only challenge’ on Croatia’s EU path
Latest Court of Justice judgements
Official Journal latest issues
EU Law …
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Libya: France and Britain want to put “bold and ambitious measures” to next week’s emergency EU summit on the Libyan crisis, says British Foreign Minister William Hague.
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Europe races to meet Mad March debt deadline
Kosovo says Serbia talks to begin on March 8
Council …
Commission Watch
Turkey: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will hold talks with EU officials in Brussels on Friday over his country’s faltering membership bid.
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Time for Kadhafi to step down, says EC
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Expenses: Members of the European Parliament voted Thursday to give themselves an extra 1,500 euros each per month for staff and office expenses, a decision the Greens slammed as “wrong-headed” in a time of austerity.
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Also this week, the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee began work on EU legislation to regulate derivatives trading; and the Women’s Rights committee called for quotas to ensure equal representation of women in private and public sectors.
Parliament …
EU diary
7-10 Mar, European Parliament Plenary Session
10-11 Mar, Competitiveness Council
11-12 Mar, Foreign Affairs Council – informal meeting
11 Mar, Heads of State or Government of eurozone – informal
14 Mar, Environment 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
EU bank eyes new centre for Mediterranean 3-Mar
Estonia plans nationwide electric car charging network 3-Mar
Eurozone growth confirmed at modest 0.3 per cent 3-Mar
Europe trade pact goes to South Korea parliament 3-Mar
Czech trust in EU hits all-time low: survey 2-Mar
S&P warns of Portugal downgrade over euro bailout fund 2-Mar
