Fish-friendly laundry – EUbusiness Week newsletter 555 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 555 top stories: Russia ready to ‘invest’ in Europe, says Medvedev; EU keeps five states on tenterhooks over deficit targets; US threatens sanctions over Airbus subsidies; Euro-MPs block Morocco-Western Sahara fishing deal; Some light in gloom over eurozone business; Job opportunities in Europe have improved: study

This Week’s Top Stories

1. Russia ready to ‘invest’ in Europe, says Medvedev
2. EU keeps five states on tenterhooks over deficit targets
3. US threatens sanctions over Airbus subsidies
4. Euro-MPs block Morocco-Western Sahara fishing deal
5. Some light in gloom over eurozone business
6. Job opportunities in Europe have improved: study

Publisher’s Note

The future of the euro may be uncertain, but when we wash our clothes and dishes in future, we will know that the washing powder and detergents will be almost phosphate-free. The European Parliament voted this week to harmonise measures on phosphates across the EU, the aim being to protect aquatic life in Europe’s waterways and seas.

From June 2013 a standard dose of washing powder must not contain more than 0.5gms, while a deadline for dishwasher detergents was set at a limit of 0.3gms by 1 January 2017. Rapporteur Bill Newton Dunn MEP says “we have done the environment a good turn and consumers will be assured that these products will be more environmentally friendly”.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

EUROFFICE

Euroffice, the UK’s largest supplier of stationery and office supplies online, selling to the UK and Italy – have sold to over 220,000 small businesses and will not be beaten on price.
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1. Russia ready to ‘invest’ in Europe, says Medvedev

At a summit, Russia said it is “ready to invest” in an IMF-brokered eurozone rescue, as the EU told Moscow to ensure next March’s presidential elections are transparent.
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Draghi urges EU move swiftly on crisis measures

2. EU keeps five states on tenterhooks over deficit targets

Five states which risk fines under new EU laws must wait until January to see if promised 2012 budget cuts are sufficient to avoid sanctions, Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Monday.
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Moody’s to review EU states in first quarter of next year

3. US threatens sanctions over Airbus subsidies

The United States is threatening sanctions against the EU as it rejects Brussels’ claim it had eliminated certain subsidies to Airbus deemed illegal by the WTO.
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Both US and EU ‘guilty’ over aircraft aid: Commissioner

4. Euro-MPs block Morocco-Western Sahara fishing deal

The European Parliament on Wednesday cancelled a deal allowing trawlers from EU countries to fish in Moroccan waters in exchange for annual payments to Rabat, prompting the country to immediately ban all European fishing boats.
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Spain orders fishermen back to port after Morocco ban

5. Some light in gloom over eurozone business

Eurozone manufacturing and services activity shrank rapidly in the last quarter of the year but the outlook steadied in Germany and France in December, a key survey of trends showed on Thursday.
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6. Job opportunities in Europe have improved: study

The chances of finding a job have improved in Europe over the past 10 years, but contracts tend to be temporary, rather than permanent, according to a study.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW

Corruption: Romania’s supreme court acquitted former prime minister Adrian Nastase of corruption on Thursday after he was accused of bribing a top official to thwart an investigation into his wife.
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Ukrainian prosecutors say ex-PM may be faking illness
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
EU Law …

Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

UK: British Prime Minister David Cameron brushed aside calls Wednesday to negotiate a new EU treaty, as his deputy premier’s appearance beside him in parliament cooled talk of a coalition rift.
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Czech Republic says euro entry date on hold
Serbia says recognition of Kosovo key condition for EU
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Commission Watch

Summit: EC chief Barroso says a demand by Britain for its financial services industry to be exempted from EU regulation threatened to break up the single market.
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EU has ‘serious concern’ on Hungary’s new constitution
EU pays EUR 24m for laid-off Renault workers
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Euro-Parliament Watch

UK: EP chiefs on Tuesday hit out at Britain’s “selfish” EU treaty veto, which the conservatives’ group leader said should trigger a rethink on Britain’s EU rebate.
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Parliament celebrates Arab Spring with Sakharov prize
In plenary this week, MEPs agreed a roadmap to a single European transport area by 2020; reviewed the EU’s 2007-2012 health and safety at work strategy; said EU labour markets should open up to Bulgarians and Romanians; and agreed a delegation to join the working group drafting the new intergovernmental agreement following the summit.
Parliament …

EU diary

15-16 Dec, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
16 Dec, General Affairs Council
19 Dec, Environment Council
19 Dec, Governing Council of the European Central Bank
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary