EUbusiness Week 769 top stories: EU boost for Europe’s services economy; Skype, WhatsApp face tighter EU e-Privacy laws; MEPs call for code of ethics for robots; MEPs call for protection for whistleblowers; New transparency rules for tax rulings into force; Aarhus, Pafos are 2017 European Capitals of Culture
Publisher’s Note
EU leaders visited Malta this week to launch its first EU presidency. The country takes on a pivotal role in Europe’s political development, facing unprecedented challenges in a year which marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, and the Brexit procedure is expected to be launched.
Of Malta, EU president Donald Tusk said: “Few have a better understanding of Italians, who will host the Rome celebrations, and few have a better understanding of the British, who we will begin to divorce. And, as we know, divorces – without mutual understanding of the partners involved – can turn their lives into a nightmare.” We wish Malta all the luck.
More …
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
PARTNER OFFER Reach our global audience of business & political actors with your own mini-website on EUbusiness.com! – Send us press releases, blogs, guides, events & jobs – Details |
1. EU boost for Europe’s services economy
The European Commission brought out a package of measures Tuesday aimed at making it easier for companies and professionals to provide services to the EU’s potential customer base of 500 million people.
More …
2. Skype, WhatsApp face tighter EU e-Privacy laws
Services such as Skype and WhatsApp would need to respect similar e-Privacy rules to those for traditional phone and text messaging services under plans to update EU data privacy law unveiled on Tuesday.
More …
3. MEPs call for code of ethics for robots
MEPs have called for EU-wide rules for the fast-evolving field of robotics, to settle issues such as compliance with ethical standards and liability for accidents involving driverless cars.
More …
4. MEPs call for protection for whistleblowers
A committee of the European Parliament called on the Commission Monday to urgently propose an “effective and comprehensive European whistleblower protection programme”.
More …
5. New transparency rules for tax rulings into force
New rules which ensure EU Member States share information on national tax rulings handed out to multinational companies in other EU countries came into force on 1 January.
More …
6. Aarhus, Pafos are 2017 European Capitals of Culture
The Danish and Cypriot cities of Aarhus and Pafos will hold the title of European Capital of Culture – one of the EU’s most popular projects – for the year 2017.
More …
EUROPEAN LAW
Phosphates cartel: the EU Court of Justice confirmed Thursday a Commission fine of nearly EUR 60 million imposed on the Roullier group for sharing the phosphate market for animal feed for more than 30 years.
More …
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
More …
Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Opening ceremony of Maltese presidency, Valletta – EUCAP Sahel Mali mission extended for two years – Central African Republic: new mission commander appointed for EUTM RCA
More …
Council …
Commission Watch
Facility for Refugees in Turkey – Foreign Direct Investment stocks 2015 – Industrial production Nov 2016 – Market Access for Sri Lanka – European Data Economy – Privacy rules for electronic communications – health and safety at work – workers’ protection from cancer-causing chemicals – Services economy – Nov unemployment – retail trade figures
More …
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Maltese Presidency priorities – Committees satisfied that Oettinger in a position to assume budget portfolio – Rise of the robots – Mid-term election of new EP President – Lamassoure: Changing how EU is funded won’t shift power to Brussels – EU-wide protection for whistle-blowers
More …
More …
EU diary
16-19 Jan: European Parliament Plenary Session
18-19 Jan: Energy efficient finance market place
19 Jan: eInfrastructure proposers’ day 2017
19-20 Jan: Maltese Presidency Workshop On Climate Change
20 Jan: Cork 2.0 Declaration: from reflection to action
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
Beehives in the EU on the increase: report 12-Jan
Malta takes over EU presidency for the first time 11-Jan
EC toughens measures against terrorist financing 22-Dec
Nestle fingers burnt in EU Kit Kat case 20-Dec
EUbusiness Community
PROMOTE YOUR COMPANY ON EUBUSINESS |
Jobs
Adviser on banking regulation, European Association of Public Banks
Consultant in climate, energy and utilities, Ramboll
Head of Administration Department, European Asylum Support Office
Chemicals and Health Policy Officer, Health & Environment Alliance
Internal Market Affairs Officer, Food Safety, EFTA Surveillance Authority
Head of Talent Acquisition, European Patent Office
Forest and climate campaigner, FERN
More jobs …
Press
Concerns raised on proposal for European Services e-card
Proposal for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System
ENVI Committee gives green light to CETA
ACEA welcomes Communication on Europe’s data economy
New EU plans to beef up consumers’ online privacy
More press …
Guides
Modernisation of EU policy on health and safety at work
Exchanging and Protecting Personal Data in a Globalised World
The EU’s role in the Cyprus Settlement Process
More guides …
Events
1 Feb, Athens: Athens Energy Forum 2017
1 Mar, Spain: Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities
28 Mar, Brussels: 7th Convention on Co-operative Banks
15 May, Mexico: 13th INSME Annual Meeting
21 Jun, Malta: EuroNano Forum 2017
More events …
Publications
Automotive Transmission Systems Market Report 2017-2027
Eurofound Programming document 2017-2020
More publications …
Links