Fast-track to EU-Japan trade deal – EUbusiness Week newsletter 819 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 819 top stories: EC recommends membership talks for Albania, Macedonia; EU aims for near zero-energy buildings by 2050; Brussels bids to revive Europe’s city centres; Green light for new EU rules on organic food; Tech firms to hand over evidence under security proposal; EU raises recycling targets for circular economy

Publisher’s Note

This week’s end of EU negotiations for a trade deal with Japan is an important milestone for one of the most ambitious trade agreements ever negotiated by the EU. The deal would remove the vast majority of customs duties that cost EU companies exporting to Japan EUR 1 billion a year. With global trade barriers on the rise, Japan and the EU are showing commitment to cooperation in international bodies and, as Commissioner Malmstroem said, making a strong statement in defence of open and fair trade based on rules.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EC recommends membership talks for Albania, Macedonia

The Commission adopted its annual Enlargement Package Tuesday, recommending the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
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2. EU aims for near zero-energy buildings by 2050

MEPs set a goal of near zero-energy buildings in the EU by 2050 Tuesday as they gave final approval to the Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
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3. Brussels bids to revive Europe’s city centres

The Commission has published a set of best practices for the retail sector in a bid to revive city centres and increase competitiveness in one of the EU economy’s key sectors.
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4. Green light for new EU rules on organic food

Euro-MPs gave the green light Thursday to a new law on organic food production and labelling, with a view to boosting organic production and ensuring that only high-quality organic food is sold in the EU.
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5. Tech firms to hand over evidence under security proposal

Police and judicial authorities would gain easier and faster access to e-evidence such as e-mails or documents under new EU proposals to help them investigate, prosecute and convict criminals and terrorists.
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6. EU raises recycling targets for circular economy

The European Parliament backed ambitious targets for recycling Wednesday under legislation on waste and the circular economy intended to benefit the environment, climate, and human health.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Bialowieza: increasing logging operations in Poland’s Bialowieza Forest nature reserve infringed EU law, the European Court of Justice ruled in a final judgement.
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Kitkat protected status in doubt in EU Court’s opinion
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Sanctions against Syria, Lybia, Egypt, North Korea – simpler use of EU funds – situation in Venezuela – March European Council meetings report – draft budgetary plans of Austria – Conclusions on Syria, South Sudan – response to malicious cyber activities – Chemical disarmament and non-proliferation
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Commission Watch

Retail sector – Japan and Singapore agreements – Integration of migrants – new security measures on terrorists – Greek lignite-fired electricity generation – access to electronic evidence – enlargement package – reports on Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Serbia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania – Transparency Register for EU Institutions – EUR 1 bn investment for agriculture and bio-economy – EUR 640 m for Greek businesses
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Parliament Watch

Safe gas supply for the EU – Murder of Jan Kuciak – falling vaccination rates – anti-money laundering: the true owners of companies – Organic food rules – car approvals – Human rights: breaches in Gaza, the Philippines and Belarus – Facebook CEO urged to come to European Parliament – European elections dates for 2019 – 2016 budget management
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EU diary

23-26 Apr: European Parliament Committee Meetings
23 Apr: Intelligent Transport Systems Directive Evaluation
24 Apr: General Affairs Council
24 Apr: Healthy Workplaces campaign 2018-2019 launch
25-27 Apr: TEN-T Days 2018
26 Apr: Standards and emerging technology conference
26 Apr: Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre seminar
27 Apr: Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth 2018
27 Apr: Renovation of public buildings in Europe webinar
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary