Gender equality challenge – EUbusiness Week newsletter 695

Publisher’s Note

The eve of International Women’s Day (8 March) is a good moment to assess the challenges that remain in tackling gender inequalities across the EU. The latest Eurostat data shows that women earn 16.4 per cent less per hour than men, more than 20% less in the Czech Republic, Austria, Estonia and Germany. The pensions gap has reached 39%. And women still tend to work in the less well-paid sectors.

So there is some way to go. But Latvia’s promises to use its presidency to drive forward policies on maternity leave, pay transparency and women on boards will be welcomed.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. Ukraine, Arab Spring prompt EU to review regional ties

The EU launched an in-depth review of policy towards its regional neighbours Wednesday in response to the Ukraine crisis and turmoil across North Africa and the Middle East.
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Russia, Ukraine agree gas delivery deal until end March

2. Britain wins court ruling against ECB on euro banks

Britain has won a court challenge against a European Central Bank ruling that required banks to base clearing houses dealing with euros in the eurozone.
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ECB says willing to restore financing for Greek banks

3. EU delays end to mobile roaming charges to at least 2018

Member States on Wednesday delayed abolishing mobile phone roaming charges from the end of this year until at least 2018, but insisted customers would still get a fair deal.
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4. EU to mull outright ban on animal experiments

The EU will consider a ban on animal experimentation after receiving a petition with 1.1 million names from an anti-vivisection group.
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5. Huge surge in migrants entered EU in 2014: Frontex

Nearly triple the number of migrants entered the European Union in 2014 compared to the previous year, mainly due to refugees fleeing war in Syria, says the EU’s border agency.
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6. Hormone disrupting chemicals may cost EUR 157 bn a year

Human exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals could cost the European Union some 157 billion euros a year in health care and lost productivity, according to a study published Thursday in a scientific journal.
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EUROPEAN LAW

E-books: France and Luxembourg must stop applying lower sales tax rates to electronic or e-books, the EU’s highest court ruled on Thursday.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Ebola: leaders of the west African countries worst hit by Ebola urged the world on Tuesday to back a “Marshall Plan” to help them stamp out the disease and rebuild their shattered economies.
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EU looks to Spain, Portugal to reduce energy dependence
Greece to hurry reform proposals for EU loans: finmin
Hollande promises new savings to meet Brussels demand
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Commission Watch

Cuba: the EU and Cuba held a third round of “frank” talks Wednesday aimed at normalising relations, as Havana and Washington work through their own historic rapprochement.
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Greek leader must come clean on election promises: Juncker
EU sets France tough deficit targets
Google boss meets Competition Commissioner
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Parliament Watch

Italy: the rising star of the Italian right, Matteo Salvini, has led a mass rally in support of his anti-immigration, anti-EU Northern League party in central Rome, as a counter-rally took place nearby.
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This week, a Parliamentary hearing looked at what lessons should be drawn from the current Ebola crisis; while the Liberian president took part in a meeting related to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
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EU diary

9 Mar: Eurogroup
9 Mar: Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Affairs Council
9-12 Mar: European Parliament plenary session
9 Mar: Commission releases 2015 Justice Scoreboard
10 Mar: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
12-13 Mar: Justice and Home Affairs Council
13 Mar: Transport, Telecommunications & Energy 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

Europe vies for lost mobile glory against Asia, US 5-Mar
Shipping industry ‘taking burden’ of migrants at sea 4-Mar
EU chief says Spain has not exited economic crisis 4-Mar
Areva nuclear group announces EUR 4.8 bn loss 4-Mar
Eurozone prices, jobs firm, deflation threat remains 2-Mar
Ireland looks forward to dairy boom once EU quotas go 2-Mar

EUbusiness Community

Press

Social Dialogue needs new approach to tackle new challenges
EU food agency reviews safety of GM crops
Environment Agency throws down green gauntlet to Commission
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Jobs

Public Relations Officer (f/m), Academy of European Law
Policy Officer – Water, European Environmental Bureau
Network Coordinator, Carbon Market Watch
Paralegal Assistant Administrator, European Space Agency
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Guides

Connecting Europe Facility: EUR 100m to connect European energy networks
European Neighbourhood Policy
Smuggling of Migrants in Europe
European Migration Policy
The European environment – state and outlook 2015
EU response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa
More guides …

Events

18 Mar, online: Webinar on clinical trials for Horizon 2020 projects
24 Mar, Manchester: Enterprising Scientists: Generating Value and Opportunities
12 May, Copenhagen: European Climate Change Adaptation Conference
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Publications

General report on the activities of the European Union 2014
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Links

How digital is your country? Digital Economy & Society Index

More links