EUbusiness Week 531 top stories: Europe, emerging powers face off over IMF job; WTO overturns part of US aid complaint ruling on Airbus; Brussels wants deeper cuts in roaming phone charges; Europe may ban plastic bags; China to slap anti-subsidy taxes on EU potato starch; EU warns against bluefin tuna fishing in Libya waters
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Europe, emerging powers face off over IMF job
2. WTO overturns part of US aid complaint ruling on Airbus
3. Brussels wants deeper cuts in roaming phone charges
4. Europe may ban plastic bags
5. China to slap anti-subsidy taxes on EU potato starch
6. EU warns against bluefin tuna fishing in Libya waters
Publisher’s Note
A new strategy for intellectual property, which the European Commission is due to unveil next week, is expected to clamp down on violations of intellectual property rights (IPR) and strengthen customs enforcement of IPR at EU external borders.
Consumer organisations such as BEUC are keen that the EU’s focus should also “open up access to online content, information and knowledge across Europe rather than simply cracking down ever harder on perceived breaches.”
Many will welcome modernisation of IPR regimes. They will also hope that a new copyright framework benefits both creators and consumers, and provides a boost to competitiveness and growth for Europe’s knowledge-based economy.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Europe, emerging powers face off over IMF job
Europe is fighting to retain leadership of the IMF to help tackle its debt crisis as emerging nations launch a counter-attack, saying it is time rising economies took the helm.
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EU heads towards ‘soft restructuring’ for Greece
EUR 78bn EU-IMF Portugal bailout sealed
The World Trade Organization’s appeal body on Wednesday overturned part of its ruling on Washington’s complaint against the European Union over aid for aviation giant Airbus.
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3. Brussels wants deeper cuts in roaming phone charges
Worried about the high cost of using mobile phones across EU borders, the EC wants to further cut roaming charges and, for the first time, cap the price of surfing the Web on the go.
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4. Europe may ban plastic bags
With each European using 500 plastic bags per year, and tonnes of plastic littering the Mediterranean, the Commission may ban them from stores or tax them to combat pollution.
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5. China to slap anti-subsidy taxes on EU potato starch
China is to levy anti-subsidy duties of up to 11.19 per cent on imports of EU potato starch, in apparent retaliation over Brussels’ decision to slap taxes on Chinese fine art paper.
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6. EU warns against bluefin tuna fishing in Libya waters
The Commission on Wednesday warned against fishing bluefin tuna in Libyan waters or buying it from Libyan-flagged ships, which are likely to be catching the endangered fish illegally.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW
Septic tanks: in a bid to force Ireland to clean up its act, the Commission is seeking from the European Court of Justice a hefty fine against Dublin over its lack of proper inspections of septic tanks.
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EU states told to apply bank rules or face legal action
Latest Court of Justice judgements
Official Journal latest issues
EU Law …
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
New ECB head: Eurozone finance ministers have named Italy’s Mario Draghi as their chosen successor to head the European Central Bank come October.
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EU vows action to improve Roma integration
Czech PM urges expertise in European nuke stress tests
EU president, in China, stresses rule of law
Council …
Commission Watch
Smuggling: the EU will seek talks with Russia and other neighbours on tobacco duties in an effort to fight smuggling, which cost the EU EUR 10bn a year, says Commissioner Semetas.
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Barroso warns time is running out for Serbia
EU says crucial Algeria listens to ‘people’s aspirations’
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
EU-ACP: Lawmakers from the EU and developing nations have called for a temporary suspension of debt payments for North African countries currently struggling for democratic change.
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US Senate rebukes Europe on airline security
International lawmakers urge transition in Madagascar
Parliament …
EU diary
19-20 May, Education, Youth and Culture Council
23-24 May, Foreign Affairs Council
23 May, General Affairs Council
28 May, EU-Japan Summit
30-31 May, Competitiveness Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
RESOURCES
EU Law Firms
Summaries of EU Legislation
EU Decision-Making
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
New EU sanctions target over 100 Iranian firms 19-May
EU raising EUR 15.3bn for Portugal, Ireland by July 19-May
Work more, play less, Merkel tells southern Europe 18-May
Croatia awaits EU green light on accession talks 18-May
EU probes Maersk; Hapag-Lloyd in cartel investigation 17-May
European car sales fall for second month 17-May
