EUbusiness Week 592 top stories: Greece-troika talks stuck on new financing terms: IMF; China probes EU solar imports; EU introduces new road safety rules; EU proposes airlines be allowed to sell airport slots; France makes EUR 1bn tax claim against Google: report; Bulgaria hardens stance on Macedonia’s EU bid
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Greece-troika talks stuck on new financing terms: IMF
2. China probes EU solar imports
3. EU introduces new road safety rules
4. EU proposes airlines be allowed to sell airport slots
5. France makes EUR 1bn tax claim against Google: report
6. Bulgaria hardens stance on Macedonia’s EU bid
Publisher’s Note
This week’s update of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Tariff Preferences (GSP) reflect shifts in world trade patterns, with countries on the World Bank’s high or upper middle per capita income list, such as Russia, Brazil, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, losing preferential access to EU markets.
At the other end of the scale, however, the new system will, when it takes effect in January 2014, have greater impact on the countries most in need. The hope is that we end up with a more transparent system that is more predictable and gives poorer countries more breathing space and more support.
More …
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
PUBLIC TENDER – MACEDONIA Granting of state-owned agricultural land under lease – Public Notice, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in Macedonia |
1. Greece-troika talks stuck on new financing terms: IMF
The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that talks between Greece and the troika of international lenders remained stuck on the conditions for financing the country as it seeks a two-year extension for meeting fiscal goals.
More …
Greek recession worse than forecast next year
2. China probes EU solar imports
China has announced a trade investigation into European exports of solar-grade polysilicon, escalating a bitter trade row with the EU which has unveiled a similar probe into Chinese products.
More …
3. EU introduces new road safety rules
European roads should be safer from 1 November when a whole slew of new safety rules came into force, part of efforts to cut car accident deaths by 50 per cent by 2020.
More …
4. EU proposes airlines be allowed to sell airport slots
Faced with the prospect of ever greater congestion at its main airports, the EU has proposed that airlines be allowed to sell landing and take-off slots.
More …
5. France makes EUR 1bn tax claim against Google: report
French tax authorities have made a billion-euro claim against Google to pressure it in a dispute over compensation to media websites, a French newspaper reports, a claim denied by the US Internet giant’s local arm.
More …
6. Bulgaria hardens stance on Macedonia’s EU bid
Bulgarian officials hardened their stance against neighbouring Macedonia’s bid to join the EU, as Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele visited Sofia.
More …
EUROPEAN LAW
Bulgaria: Bulgaria’s parliament has appointed two judges to the country’s constitutional court, disregarding European Union concerns about their integrity.
More …
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
More …
Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Budget: British Prime Minister David Cameron battled to reclaim authority Thursday, after rebels in his Conservative party delivered his first major parliamentary defeat by defying him over the EU budget.
More …
Germany, Ireland say are determined to get EU budget deal
Kosovo independence ‘not up for discussion’: Clinton
Council …
Commission Watch
Kosovo: EU aid for Kosovo, including its rule of law mission, “has not been sufficiently effective” in boosting democratic standards and battling crime and corruption, the European Court of Auditors said on Tuesday.
More …
Commission rejects call for EUR 50 bn budget cut
ECB chief backs German ‘super commissioner’ plan
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Iran: a planned visit to Iran by five Euro-MPs was called off Saturday after Tehran refused to let them meet a jailed activist lawyer and a filmmaker, just a day after the two were awarded a prestigious European human rights prize.
More …
EU puts Ukraine on notice over polls
Budget: Parliament’s key negotiators on the 2014-2020 EU budget expressed dismay at the Cypriot Presidency proposal for the so-called multiannual financial framework (MFF), their main criticism being of a proposed EUR 50bn cut from the Commission’s initial proposal of 16 months ago.
More …
EU diary
6 Nov, Informal Meeting of Ministers for cohesion policy
7 Nov, European Economic Forecast
9 Nov, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget)
15 Nov, Commission communication on internal energy market
19-22 Nov, European Parliament plenary session
19 Nov, Foreign Affairs Council
22-23 Nov, European 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
Calling Kosovo: you must dial Serbia first 31-Oct
Eurozone jobless rate hits record 11.6% 31-Oct
Eurozone inflation eases to 2.5% in October 31-Oct
Dexia bank needs EUR 5-6bn recapitalisation: reports 30-Oct
Key agreements reached in Serbia/Kosovo dialogue 30-Oct
