EUbusiness Week 613 top stories: Luxembourg eases bank secrecy, to meet EU 2015 rules; EU warns Spain, Slovenia pose biggest economic risks; EU to tighten up trade defences; EU deal to tackle mining corruption; Microsoft, Oracle take Google to task at EU; Germans have learned to love the euro: poll
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Luxembourg eases bank secrecy, to meet EU 2015 rules
2. EU warns Spain, Slovenia pose biggest economic risks
3. EU to tighten up trade defences
4. EU deal to tackle mining corruption
5. Microsoft, Oracle take Google to task at EU
6. Germans have learned to love the euro: poll
Publisher’s Note
A Commission report this week details the strains that tough austerity policies and economic reforms are placing on Europe’s industrial relations. With the EU economy struggling badly as the debt crisis drags into a third year, the call is for more dialogue between workers, employers and governments.
With some countries leaving a whole generation of young people out of training and out of the jobs market, measures are needed now to avoid a major social crisis and political backlash, says the International Labour Organization. It calls for “effective employment and social policies that can achieve growth and competitiveness with good jobs”. This is certainly a a difficult time for the European Social model.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Luxembourg eases bank secrecy, to meet EU 2015 rules
Luxembourg, home to a prized financial centre, changed tack Wednesday in the face of growing international pressure over tax evasion, agreeing to the automatic exchange of bank account information with its EU partners from 2015.
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Top EU states launch project to clamp down on tax-dodgers
2. EU warns Spain, Slovenia pose biggest economic risks
The Commission warned Wednesday that Spain and Slovenia pose the biggest economic risks and must quickly tackle excessive imbalances while France’s growing debt was turning into the eurozone’s “major challenge”.
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3. EU to tighten up trade defences
The European Union plans to tighten up its defences against unfair competition from dumped and subsidised goods, as it begins talks on a series of Free Trade Agreements with major partners, including the United States.
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4. EU deal to tackle mining corruption
EU legislators struck an anti-corruption deal Tuesday that aims to force big mining companies to make public the payments they make to governments where they operate.
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5. Microsoft, Oracle take Google to task at EU
Google was in the firing line again on Tuesday after a group of major companies, including Microsoft and Oracle, complained to the Commission over Google’s offerings for Android-powered mobile phones.
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6. Germans have learned to love the euro: poll
Almost 70 per cent of Germans now favour the euro, and only 27 per cent would prefer to ditch the common currency and return to the once-beloved Deutschmark, a survey finds.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Romania: Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Thursday appointed a former prosecutor as justice minister, a key area monitored by the Commission.
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Ex-Kosovo minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Cyprus: eurozone and EU finance ministers meet from Friday in Dublin to finalise the Cyprus bailout and consider extending debt repayment dates for Portugal and Ireland, while also tackling how to stamp out tax fraud.
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Serbia will not sign Kosovo accord, wants more talks
Cameron to push reform on tour of EU capitals
Thatcher cause of UK-EU tensions: Kohl
Council …
Commission Watch
Margaret Thatcher: Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso paid tribute on Monday to former British premier Margaret Thatcher’s “contributions” to the growth of the EU, despite her reservations about the bloc’s merits.
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EU warns Bosnian membership bid ‘frozen’ without reform
EU pledges EUR 50m to African Mali force
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Croatia: the country votes this Sunday to elect its first deputies to the European Parliament.
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Israel accused of ‘arrogance’ over Morocco MPs
Parliament’s political groups this week prepared for next week’s plenary session, when MEPs will vote new rules on capital requirements for banks, including bonus caps, increased competition among airport ground-handling service suppliers, and EU emissions trading.
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EU diary
15-18 Apr, European Parliament plenary session
22-23 Apr, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
22-23 Apr, Foreign Affairs Council
29 Apr, Launch of EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change
1 May, European Solar Days
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
Cyprus bailout cost jumps in threat to economy 11-Apr
Lagarde says some eurozone banks may need to close 10-Apr
Slovenia ‘agrees’ with EU criticisms 10-Apr
Portugal pushes on with austerity 10-Apr
EU launches fresh probe into MasterCard 9-Apr
