EUbusiness Week 619 top stories: Summit calls time on banking secrecy; Leaders face up to shale challenge; EU seeks China investment accord; EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed; EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants; Germany ‘most popular country’ in the world: poll
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Summit calls time on banking secrecy
2. Leaders face up to shale challenge
3. EU seeks China investment accord
4. EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed
5. EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants
6. Germany ‘most popular country’ in the world: poll
Publisher’s Note
As we shiver through unseasonal weather, the European Environment Agency’s annual bathing water report assures us we can go on our holidays feeling safer than ever before.
Every year, the EEA compiles bathing water data from local authorities across Europe, measuring levels of bacteria from sewage and livestock. Coastal beaches make up two thirds of sites, rivers and lakes the remainder.
‘Nul points’ to Belgium and, to a lesser extent, the UK, with the highest proportions of non-compliant bathing sites. Good news, at last, for Cyprus, whose beaches come equal top – with Luxembourg, which has some very nice lakes.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Summit calls time on banking secrecy
European leaders targeted a year-end deadline to undo banking secrecy, ultimately hoping to recoup a trillion euros in lost tax each year to help beat recession and unemployment.
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Luxembourg will meet US tax-law requirements
2. Leaders face up to shale challenge
EU leaders have agreed to face up to the challenge posed by the shale oil and gas revolution which has slashed US energy prices, undercutting Europe’s competitive edge.
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European power firms sound alarm over energy policy
3. EU seeks China investment accord
The EU wants to negotiate an investment protection accord as a first step towards a wider Free Trade Agreement with China, one of its biggest trading partners despite a series of tit-for-tat disputes.
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EU, China have much to lose if trade war breaks out
4. EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed
The European Union on Monday denied an Israeli media report that it was delaying labelling of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
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5. EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants
Hard pressed to justify a proposition slammed by critics, the Commission withdrew on Thursday a planned ban on restaurants serving olive oil in jugs on diners’ tables pending consultations with the industry and consumers.
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6. Germany ‘most popular country’ in the world: poll
Germany is the most popular country in the world despite well-publicised protests against its insistence on austerity measures within the European Union, an annual poll for the BBC World Service revealed on Thursday.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Hungary: Hungary’s constitutional court has thrown out an appeal by the country’s parliamentary ombudsman to annul a controversial set of constitutional changes which have drawn ire from the EU.
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EU urges impartiality after Georgia ex-PM’s arrest
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Iceland: the two parties that emerged victorious from Iceland’s general election in April have agreed to form a government and vowed to hold a referendum on EU membership.
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Hollande announces Franco-German economic initiative
Britain, France to drum up support to arm Syrian rebels
Council …
Commission Watch
Syria: urgent action is needed to protect countries bordering Syria from spillover from the spiralling civil war there, says Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
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EU approves Libya border support mission
Afghan EU envoys push private sector in Herat
Commission …
Parliament Watch
US trade: MEPs have voted for cultural and audiovisual services to be excluded from upcoming talks on what would be the world’s largest free trade deal with the United States, which insists there should be no exceptions.
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In plenary this week, MEPs said Bosnia and Herzegovina is far from meeting the conditions for entry into force of the stabilisation and association process with the EU, but the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is ready to launch accession talks. They also voted to ease rules on cross-border pet travel.
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EU diary
27-28 May, Foreign Affairs Council
29-30 May, Competitiveness Council
29 May, EC presents 2013 Country-Specific Recommendations
30 May, Commission monthly infringements package
6-7 Jun, Justice and Home Affairs 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
Eurozone business sluggish, but signs look up 23-May
EU accepts deal with Air Canada, United, Lufthansa 23-May
Lithuania approves growing hemp for textiles 23-May
Hezbollah terror-blacklisted in several countries 21-May
Most Portuguese reject bailout conditions 20-May
