EUbusiness Week 572 top stories: ECB holds rates, onus on governments to foster growth; EU offers energy partnership with China; Canada promotional blitz urges free trade with EU; Bolivia must compensate Spain over electricity grab: EC; Czech Republic approves EU Galileo agency move to Prague; Nearly half of Irish voters will back EU treaty: poll
This Week’s Top Stories
1. ECB holds rates, onus on governments to foster growth
2. EU offers energy partnership with China
3. Canada promotional blitz urges free trade with EU
4. Bolivia must compensate Spain over electricity grab: EC
5. Czech Republic approves EU Galileo agency move to Prague
6. Nearly half of Irish voters will back EU treaty: poll
Publisher’s Note
As the French elections move towards their climax, the political debate about Europe’s economic crisis is fast changing across Europe. A move away from an austerity agenda towards growth is in the offing.
With many now calling for an alternative way forward, French presidential candidate Francois Hollande claims “a strong mandate” to shape a new ‘growth compact’ – to correct an over-emphasis on austerity, reflected in the EU treaty on fiscal rectitude.
Fiscal rigour is likely to remain at the core of EU policies. But we can also expect the next scheduled summit of EU leaders at the end of June to look to agree policies and investment designed to unlock growth as well.
More …
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. |
1. ECB holds rates, onus on governments to foster growth
The European Central Bank, meeting in Spain on Thursday, held interest rates at historic lows but insisted it was up to governments to find ways of boosting growth without busting fiscal rules.
More …
Record eurozone jobless rate spotlights growth dilemma
2. EU offers energy partnership with China
The European Union on Thursday agreed to set up an energy “partnership” with China ensuring “open” access to each other’s markets.
More …
3. Canada promotional blitz urges free trade with EU
Government ministers have set out across Canada to promote a free trade pact with the European Union described as the “most ambitious” deal in Canadian history.
More …
4. Bolivia must compensate Spain over electricity grab: EC
The EU condemned Bolivia’s decision to take control of a subsidiary of Spanish firm Red Electrica on Wednesday and urged for quick and adequate compensation for the move.
More …
5. Czech Republic approves EU Galileo agency move to Prague
Czech Republic politicians have approved the transfer to Prague of the EU agency in charge of Europe’s Galileo geopositioning system.
More …
6. Nearly half of Irish voters will back EU treaty: poll
Nearly half of Irish voters will back the European Union’s fiscal pact treaty in a May 31 referendum, according to an opinion poll.
More …
EUROPEAN LAW
Ukraine: Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his country was willing to accept jailed former Ukrainian premier Yulia Tymoshenko for medical treatment, amid growing EU anger over her case.
More …
Bulgaria adopts new asset recovery law to fight corruption
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
More …
Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Bank capital: EU finance ministers inched closer Thursday to an agreement to beef up capital rules for banks against future crises after a heated debate between British-led nations and a Franco-German bloc.
More …
Eurogroup chief Juncker backs Schaeuble for post
War crimes suspect’s wife promises to halt Serbia’s EU path
Council …
Commission Watch
Growth fund: the Commission is reported to be weighing the creation of a 200-billion-euro investment fund to kick-start economic growth.
More …
All Commissioners to skip Ukraine’s Euro
EU slaps sanctions on Guinea-Bissau coup leaders
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Bahrain: Bahrain has denied entry to a Euro-MP who the opposition said wanted to check on the situation of jailed hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and other political prisoners.
More …
External Parliamentary Activities Week – Parliament sent delegations to inter-parliamentary meetings in the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Egypt. MEPs also met their counterparts in Iceland, Croatia and Georgia, and were due to observe the elections in Armenia on 6 May.
Parliament …
EU diary
7-9 May, eHealth week 2012
9-10 May, European Parliament Plenary Session
10-11 May, Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
11 May, Spring 2012 economic forecast
14-15 May, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
14 May, Foreign Affairs (Development) Council
15 May, Economic & Financial Affairs 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
Ukraine denounces ‘destructive’ Euro boycott 3-May
Tadic urges voters to support his European policy 2-May
Hungary says deal with IMF by autumn ‘realistic’ 2-May
Eurozone manufacturing heads towards recession 2-May
EU hands extra EUR 20m to Pakistan flood victims 30-Apr
Eurozone inflation eases to 2.6% in April 30-Apr
