EUbusiness Week 532 top stories: Serbia gets foot in EU door after Mladic arrest; EU counter-attacks entertainment piracy; EU offers more aid to shore up democracy in its backyard; EU to test nuclear plants’ safety after hard bargaining; Euro-MPs set conditions for airport body scanners; EU requests new checks on aspartame sweetener
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Serbia gets foot in EU door after Mladic arrest
2. EU counter-attacks entertainment piracy
3. EU offers more aid to shore up democracy in its backyard
4. EU to test nuclear plants’ safety after hard bargaining
5. EU slams Greece over casino discrimination
6. EU requests new checks on aspartame sweetener
Publisher’s Note
The road to a free trade deal with Japan is a long one. At a summit this weekend, the EU and Japan look set to agree at least the principle of talks over a free trade deal linking the world’s third economy and the leading global market.
The Japanese and the Europeans are keen to make real progress on an agreement and help the country recover from its recent disasters. The removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers could deliver some EUR 40bn of additional European exports to Japan, and EUR 50bn of additional exports from Japan to the EU. So a free trade deal with Japan would be a giant deal.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Serbia gets foot in EU door after Mladic arrest
Serbia’s capture of indicted war criminal Ratko Mladic after almost 16 years on the run was hailed Thursday as a new chapter for Europe and a giant step in Belgrade’s bid to join the EU family.
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2. EU counter-attacks entertainment piracy
The European Union has mounted an offensive against online music and film piracy, with plans to rewrite intellectual property law across the EU market of half a billion consumers.
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3. EU offers more aid to shore up democracy in its backyard
In a policy sea-change, Europe has offered more funds for more reforms to fledgling democracies in its backyard, spawned by the Arab Spring or lying on its eastern flank.
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4. EU to test nuclear plants’ safety after hard bargaining
Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger says he is satisfied with a deal to conduct EU-wide safety checks on nuclear plants even though tests on terror attacks were left for another day.
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5. EU slams Greece over casino discrimination
European regulators slammed Greece on Tuesday for unlawfully taxing private casinos at a higher level in practice than private competitors.
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6. EU requests new checks on aspartame sweetener
The Commission has requested a complete review of the safety of aspartame in response to concerns over the widely used sweetener, says the European Food Safety Authority.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW
Belarus: the EU imposed new sanctions on Belarus on Monday, targetting 13 individuals including judges accused of taking part in the regime’s crackdown on the opposition.
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Syria: Europe has tightened the noose on President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, imposing its first sanctions on the Syrian leader in a move Damascus said added “a black page to their record of colonialism”.
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Germany backs ECB line on Greece, floats fresh approach
Libya’s EU ambassador defects along with staff
Ashton vows backing to Libya rebels
Council …
Commission Watch
IMF: president Barroso, a key player in the euro crisis, has backed to the hilt French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde in her bid to lead the IMF, despite a French judicial cloud.
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EU raises EUR 4.75bn for Ireland, Portugal
Fisheries chief warns quotas face systematic drops
Greece must sacrifice or leave euro: Greek Commissioner
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Euro-Parliament Watch
Airports: European airports can use body scanners to screen passengers but people must have the right to refuse to go through the controversial machines, says a key EP committee.
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In committee this week, new legislation to regulate the trade in derivatives moved a step closer after a Economic Affairs Committee vote; the Transport Committee agreed an informal deal with Council to give Member States the right to apply the polluter-pays principle when setting road tolls on heavy goods vehicles; and the Energy Committee said Member States should be allowed to export radioactive waste to non-EU countries provided the waste is processed in accordance with new EU safety rules.
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EU diary
27 May, Telecommunications Council
28 May, EU-Japan Summit
30-31 May, Competitiveness Council
6-9 Jun, European Parliament Plenary Session
23-24 Jun, European Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
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