EUbusiness Week 614 top stories: France wants audiovisual excluded from EU-US trade talks; Euro-MPs vote to cap ‘bling-bling’ banker bonuses; Flap-backed lorries to save lives, energy in Europe; MEPs reject plan to make polluters pay more; One in twenty beef meals tainted with horse: EU tests; EU nations warned to act as human trafficking worsens
This Week’s Top Stories
1. France wants audiovisual excluded from EU-US trade talks
2. Euro-MPs vote to cap ‘bling-bling’ banker bonuses
3. Flap-backed lorries to save lives, energy in Europe
4. MEPs reject plan to make polluters pay more
5. One in twenty beef meals tainted with horse: EU tests
6. EU nations warned to act as human trafficking worsens
Publisher’s Note
A useful snapshot of EU help for deprived regions this week, as the Commission issued a ‘Strategic Report’ on implementation of 2007-2013 Cohesion Policy programmes.
Cohesion programmes have invested in EU priorities such as broadband access, water supply projects, research and business-research projects and road and rail infrastructure – in regions where they are most badly needed.
This funding is increasingly important as a source of investment across the Union. Its support, as the economic crisis unfolds, for innovative business and creating sustainable jobs for the future, is invaluable.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. France wants audiovisual excluded from EU-US trade talks
France will not support the opening of EU-US free trade talks if audiovisual content is not excluded from the negotiations, French trade minister Nicole Bricq warned on Thursday.
More …
Key EU-India trade talks kick off with new momentum
2. Euro-MPs vote to cap ‘bling-bling’ banker bonuses
MEPs have voted by a wide margin to pass legislation to cap bankers’ bonuses that is considered hugely controversial in London, home to one of the world’s biggest financial centres.
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S&P expects EU borrowing to dip for first time since 2007
3. Flap-backed lorries to save lives, energy in Europe
Rolling out round-nosed lorries with aeroplane-style flaps at the back on Europe’s roads would cut fuel costs, reduce carbon emissions and save lives, while giving a boost to the struggling auto sector, the Commission said on Monday.
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4. MEPs reject plan to make polluters pay more
MEPs have defied the Commission to vote down controversial plans to make polluters pay more under a scheme designed to cut greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
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5. One in twenty beef meals tainted with horse: EU tests
Thousands of DNA tests on European beef products have revealed extensive food fraud across the EU, with almost one in 20 meals marketed as beef likely to be tainted with horse.
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6. EU nations warned to act as human trafficking worsens
Brussels has warned Member States to get a move on with adopting tough new rules against human trafficking or face sanctions as a first report on the problem showed “modern-day slavery” worsening across the bloc.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Tymoshenko: the release of jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko is a key objective of EU policy as it reviews ties with Ukraine and the possible signing of an association and trade accord, officials said after an in-depth trip to Kiev.
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Kosovo ex-rebel now MP goes on retrial for war crimes
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Kosovo: Kosovo and Serbia were to resume talks in Brussels on Friday following another failure to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans.
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Ashton says Bosnia lacks progress on reform
Britain assures Bulgaria, Romania on job access: Sofia
Anti-euro party new wild card in German election year
Council …
Commission Watch
Hungary: the Commission flashed another warning past Hungary on Wednesday, threatening to launch EU-level legal attacks against controversial changes to the country’s constitution.
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Barroso offers hope of more aid for Cyprus
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Ship-breaking: the ship-breaking industry, which critics say harms the environment and exploits low-paid workers in developing countries, faces tougher controls if plans approved by Euro-MPs Thursday come into force.
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Croatia’s right-wing coalition wins first EU vote
In plenary this week, MEPs refused to approve the Council of Ministers’ 2011 accounts; called for a bolder and more accountable ECB to fight the Eurozone crisis; backed plans to open up ground-handling services at major EU airports to more competition; and approved a draft single set of rules to govern how Member States compile EU population data.
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EU diary
22-23 Apr, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
22-23 Apr, Foreign Affairs Council
29 Apr, Launch of EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change
1 May, European Solar Days
3 May, Spring 2013 economic forecast
8-9 May, European Parliament plenary session
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
Canada seal hunters, hit by bans, say harvest up 18-Apr
EU illegal migrants fall sharply in 2012 18-Apr
Cyprus parliament hikes corporate tax rate 18-Apr
Israeli airlines to strike on Sunday over EU deal 18-Apr
Romania drops target date for euro adoption: report 17-Apr
