ECB keeps rates on hold – EUbusiness Week newsletter 569

This Week’s Top Stories

1. ECB dismisses talk of ‘exit strategy’, rates on hold
2. EU probes Google’s Motorola in patent war
3. Argentina points finger at US, EU in trade row
4. Poland to ban Monsanto’s GM maize
5. Libyan airlines banned from flying to EU
6. EU lifts restrictions on Thai poultry

Publisher’s Note

A short and snappy update this week, as the EU winds down for the Easter holidays. Here are the latest developments from Brussels. I remind you that you can keep up-to-date with any breaking news by subscribing to our RSS feed at
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I wish you all the best over the Easter break.
Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. ECB dismisses talk of ‘exit strategy’, rates on hold

The European Central Bank on Wednesday ruled out winding down its anti-crisis measures for now and kept its key interest rates at record lows amid fresh signs the eurozone is in recession.
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2. EU probes Google’s Motorola in patent war

European regulators have opened two antitrust investigations against Motorola Mobility, bought by US Internet giant Google, in the latest chapter of an escalating patent war with Apple and Microsoft.
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3. Argentina points finger at US, EU in trade row

Argentina has dismissed complaints about its restrictive trade practices, accusing the United States and the European Union of being the “true” obstacles to free markets.
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4. Poland to ban Monsanto’s GM maize

Poland is to impose a complete ban on growing the MON810 genetically modified strain of maize made by US company Monsanto on its territory.
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5. Libyan airlines banned from flying to EU

All Libyan airlines and Venezuelan carrier Conviasa habe nee banned from flying into the EU due to safety concerns.
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6. EU lifts restrictions on Thai poultry

The EU decided Tuesday to lift restrictions on the import of fresh poultry meat from Thailand that had been in place since 2004 due to an avian flu outbreak.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Organs: judges in a landmark trial of alleged organ trafficking in a Pristina clinic will call Council of Europe envoy Dick Marty as a witness, they said on Wednesday.
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Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Myanmar: Western powers are poised to loosen sanctions against Myanmar to bolster reformers, following landmark elections which foreign governments have hailed as a step towards democracy.
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Europe inches towards finance tax compromise
EU accession a priority for Ukraine: Yanukovych
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Commission Watch

Portugal: Portugal is meeting debt-rescue targets and could be strong enough to borrow on financial markets next year but is in a deeper recession than thought, EU and IMF auditors said on Tuesday.
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EU to resume some frozen aid payments to Romania
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Euro-Parliament Watch

ACTA: the Commission urged Parliament on Wednesday to hold off on voting on a controversial global anti-online piracy pact until judges rule on its legality.
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This week was set aside for MEPs to work in their constituencies or take part in interparliamentary meetings or other delegation visits outside the EU.
Parliament …

EU diary

10-12 Apr, European Parliament committee meetings
16 Apr, EU sustainable energy for all summit
17-20 Apr, European Parliament plenary session
18-20 Apr, Energy and environment Council informal
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

IMF approves EUR 5.17bn loan to Portugal 4-Apr

Eurozone private sector drops, signalling recession 4-Apr

Expedia, TripAdvisor file EU complaint against Google 3-Apr

EU probes sale of Dexia bank unit in Luxembourg 3-Apr

Eurozone jobless hits record as debt crisis bites 2-Apr

EU clears Lufthansa’s sale of bmi to British Airways 30-Mar