EUbusiness Week 563 top stories: Eurozone faces recession throughout 2012; EU-Canada row over tar sands set to rumble; EU seeks transparency in natural resources deals; EU asks airlines emissions fee opponents for alternatives; Patent wars: Microsoft takes Motorola to EU; Europe’s first Chinese car plant opens in Bulgaria
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Eurozone faces recession throughout 2012
2. EU-Canada row over tar sands set to rumble
3. EU seeks transparency in natural resources deals
4. EU asks airlines emissions fee opponents for alternatives
5. Patent wars: Microsoft takes Motorola to EU
6. Europe’s first Chinese car plant opens in Bulgaria
Publisher’s Note
Reducing red tape for small businesses is something we care about at EUbusiness. This week, a ‘High Level Group’ on administrative burdens presented a report on how countries implement EU legislation in the least burdensome way. Best practice examples include initiatives on e-government, on smart solutions for small businesses, direct stakeholder involvement and cross-border initiatives.
The report’s main conclusion is that there is ample scope for improving the way EU laws are implemented. With two past proposals – VAT e-invoicing and exempting micro enterprises from accounting rules – estimated to save businesses up to EUR 25bn, governments need to implement EU legislation appropriately, and allow no let-up in red tape reduction.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Eurozone faces recession throughout 2012
More bad news hit the eurozone on Thursday as EU data predicted recession throughout 2012, with a 0.3 per cent contraction compared to 0.5 per cent growth and a likely downturn in the previous November forecast.
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The eurozone-IMF rescue for Greece: the main points
2. EU-Canada row over tar sands set to rumble
A fierce row over EU moves to label oil from Canada’s massive tar sands reserves as highly polluting look set to deepen as talks between EU experts end in stalemate.
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3. EU seeks transparency in natural resources deals
The EU took a step Monday towards ending secret deals between governments and large oil, gas, mining and logging firms by demanding that companies disclose payments in countries where they operate.
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4. EU asks airlines emissions fee opponents for alternatives
Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard has called on countries fighting the airlines carbon emissions fee to propose concrete action to fight climate change.
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5. Patent wars: Microsoft takes Motorola to EU
Microsoft on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Commission against Google’s Motorola Mobility in the latest salvo in an increasingly bitter patent war between technology giants.
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6. Europe’s first Chinese car plant opens in Bulgaria
Great Wall Motor has become the first Chinese automaker to open an assembly plant in Europe, aiming to produce 50,000 cars per year for the whole continent in northern Bulgaria.
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EUROPEAN LAW
ACTA: the Commission has asked the EU’s highest court to rule on the legality of a controversial treaty covering copyright, counterfeiting and Internet freedom.
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Romania to hold off on ACTA ratification until EU ruling
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Serbia: Austria, France and Italy have issued a joint plea to open the EU door to Serbia at a summit next week, according to a letter signed by the three.
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EU summit draft a damning critique of own growth goals
EU opens door to ‘debt relief’ for north African states
Council …
Commission Watch
Hungary: Brussels is proposing to freeze EUR 495m in EU funds destined for Hungary in 2013, the Commission said Wednesday, the first time it has ever taken such a measure.
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EU halts part of its aid to Romania
Commissioner assails ‘Volcker rule’ for banks
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
ACTA: Austria will hold off on ratifying the controversial ACTA anti-online piracy treaty until the European Parliament has ruled on it.
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External Parliamentary Activities: the week was set aside for MEPs to work in their constituencies or take part in interparliamentary meetings or other delegation visits outside the EU. There were no official parliamentary meetings in Brussels this week.
Parliament …
EU diary
27 Feb, Foreign Affairs Council
28 Feb, General Affairs Council
1-2 Mar, European Council
8-9 Mar, Justice and Home Affairs Council
9 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 forecasts 4.4% slide in 2012 Greek GDP 23-Feb
China links EU trade probe with eurozone debt help 23-Feb
Iran boosts nuclear site defences, warns EU on oil 20-Feb
ECB halts bond purchases for first time since August 20-Feb
EU approves skin cancer fighting drug 20-Feb
