EUbusiness Week 583 top stories: Brussels slams Romania for ‘shaking our trust’; States want sanctions against Iceland in mackerel war; Flight cancellation insurance must be sold as ‘opt-in’; Nations split on market intervention to prop up milk; EU, IMF warn of risk to Portuguese budget targets; EU threatens Microsoft with antitrust fine over browser
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Brussels slams Romania for ‘shaking our trust’
2. States want sanctions against Iceland in mackerel war
3. Flight cancellation insurance must be sold as ‘opt-in’
4. Nations split on market intervention to prop up milk
5. EU, IMF warn of risk to Portuguese budget targets
6. EU threatens Microsoft with antitrust fine over browser
Publisher’s Note
The Commission gave renewed impetus to the European Research Area this week, setting out steps for increased competition, better researcher mobility and more open and transparent recruitment – boosting Europe’s aim of making the Single Market for research and innovation a reality by 2014.
“In today’s economy”, said Research Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn, “no Member State or region can afford to neglect its knowledge base”. And the quality of the research base is a major factor in investment decisions of business leaders.
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Summer service: EUbusiness will operate its usual reduced service over the summer. Newswires start again in September. Meanwhile, you can keep up-to-date with our latest news by subscribing to our RSS news feed at
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
PUBLIC TENDER – MACEDONIA Granting of state-owned agricultural land under lease – Public Notice, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in Macedonia |
1. Brussels slams Romania for ‘shaking our trust’
Brussels demanded further proof of Romania’s commitment to democratic values and the rule of law Wednesday, saying recent actions by its new centre-left government “have shaken our trust”.
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Bulgarian MP arrested for corruption on eve of EU report
2. States want sanctions against Iceland in mackerel war
Ireland, joined by other EU nations, on Monday demanded sanctions against Iceland and the Faroe Islands for over-fishing, the latest chapter in an ongoing “mackerel war”.
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3. Flight cancellation insurance must be sold as ‘opt-in’
Sellers of online air tickets must indicate the final price as well as surcharges and fees but cannot include flight cancellation insurance by default, the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday.
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4. Nations split on market intervention to prop up milk
Member States disagreed Monday on whether to intervene in markets to help dairy farmers overcome low milk prices, according to diplomatic sources.
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5. EU, IMF warn of risk to Portuguese budget targets
Portugal can still reach its 2012 budget targets but the risk of failure has grown significantly, officials from the Commission and International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.
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6. EU threatens Microsoft with antitrust fine over browser
The European Commission has threatened Microsoft with another big fine after the US software giant failed to give 28 million European customers the ability to choose their web browser.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Euro crisis tools: Germany’s top court says it will rule on September 12 on legal challenges to euro crisis-fighting tools, as financial markets nervously await a decision.
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Romanian parties sue opposition in rule of law crisis
Law on retirement of Hungarian judges overturned
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Greece: Greece’s finance minister says the country has “some way to go” to finalise EUR 11.5bn in spending cuts demanded by its EU-IMF creditors in return for fresh loans.
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EU preparing more Syria sanctions
Italy ratifies EU treaty to battle debt crisis
Finland, Spain reach deal on EU bank aid collateral
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Commission Watch
Japan: the Commission is calling for the launch of talks to ink a mega free trade deal between the EU and Japan, which together account for more than a third of world output.
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‘No question’ of lifting EU sanctions against Mugabe
Brussels wins written pledges from Romania PM
German business must to do more save euro: Reding
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Parliament Watch
Romania: anti-corruption prosecutors in Romania have filed new charges against embattled European MEP Adrian Severin, who last year was accused of trading influence.
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This week MEPs worked in their constituencies or took part in interparliamentary meetings or other delegation visits outside the EU. And tidied their desks for the summer recess.
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EU diary
20 Jul, Informal Competitiveness Council (Research)
23 Jul, Foreign Affairs Council
23-24 Jul, Justice and Home Affairs informal
26 Jul, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget)
30 Jul, Commission presents Industrial Policy for the Security Industry
31 Jul, Commission presents construction sector action plan
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
Croatia to sell struggling shipyard 19-Jul
EU closes Hungary central bank infringement case 19-Jul
State-rescued LBG bank in deal to sell branches 19-Jul
Ireland announces EUR 2.25bn stimulus package 17-Jul
Microsoft apologises over web browser ‘error’ in EU 17-Jul
Merkel finds hands tied on euro rescue 17-Jul