Slow progress on services: EP – EUbusiness Week 487

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EUbusiness Week – Issue 487
30 April 2010
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week’s Top Stories
=======================
1. EU talks over Greek aid ‘about to conclude’
2. China will undertake greater global role: Wen
3. Volcano air, tourism costs may hit EUR 2.5bn in Europe
4. Visa Europe to cut debit card payment fees: Commission
5. Europe sets course for new US deal on terror finance data
6. EU opens consultation on double taxation

Publisher’s Note
================
Progress on the EU services directive is stuttering, said
Euro-MPs this week. A public hearing highlighted problems in
transposing the law, while one-stop shops – supposed to help
companies wishing to provide services abroad – have yet to
offer the full range of facilities planned.

The hotly-contested directive on the liberalisation of the
services market – which requires Member States to eliminate
administrative barriers to the free movement of services –
was to be implemented in national law by 28 December. With
the services sector accounting for around 70 per cent of the
EU economy, the delay may be costly. Commissioner Barnier
believes proper application of the new rules could generate
EUR 60 to 140 million, or 1% of growth in the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/services-directive

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU talks over Greek aid ‘about to conclude’
———————————————-
Negotiations over financial aid to free debt-stricken Greece
from the pressures of money market attacks are “about to
conclude”, said Finance Commissioner Olli Rehn on Thursday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/greece-finance.4d7
Europe debt crisis deepens after Spain downgrade
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/greece-finance.4cu

2. China will undertake greater global role: Wen
————————————————
China has pledged to take a greater role in global issues,
as it vowed to work with the EU on nuclear non-
proliferation, energy security and climate change.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/china-diplomacy.4dd
Japan, EU to cooperate on Afghanistan, launch trade talks
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/japan-summit.4c3

3. Volcano air, tourism costs may hit EUR 2.5bn in Europe
———————————————————
Losses to Europe’s air and tourism sectors caused by the ash
cloud from Iceland could hit 2.5 billion euros, said
Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas on Tuesday, as he
proposed measures to help them recover.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/iceland-volcano.4be

4. Visa Europe to cut debit card payment fees: Commission
———————————————————
The amount of commission consumers are charged for making
payments in Europe using Visa debit cards is to fall,
European competition regulators said on Monday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/banking-competition.4af

5. Europe sets course for new US deal on terror finance data
————————————————————
The EU has sealed a new mandate to re-negotiate terms with
the United States on sharing bank data across the Atlantic
in the fight against “terrorist financing”.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/us-attacks-banking.49t

6. EU opens consultation on double taxation
——————————————-
The Commission has launched a public consultation on double
taxation problems that businesses have encountered when
operating across borders within the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/double-taxation.01

EUROPEAN CASE LAW
=================
UK: Britain is wrong to restrict social security payments to
the wives of suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban members living
there, the European Court of Justice ruled.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/britain-attacks.4d4
http://www.eubusiness.com/eulaw
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Caselex offers Supreme Court cases linked to Community law
from national and European Courts. Free 30 day license for
EUbusiness readers – thereafter at a special introductory
discount of 20 per cent
http://www.eubusiness.com/caselex-30
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Inside the EU Institutions
==========================

Council Watch
————-
Diplomatic corps: foreign ministers on Monday reached a
‘political agreement’ on the future EU diplomatic service,
aimed at giving the EU a stronger voice on the world stage.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/diplomacy.4b9
EU moots centre to combat cybercrime in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/action-plan-cybercrime
Kosovo and Serbia agree to attend EU-Balkans summit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/kosovo-serbia-italy.4d5
Romania rallies behind Moldova EU bid
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/romania-moldova.4bf
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
—————-
Transparency: the European Ombudsman has voiced concern at
the “lack of transparency” in EU administration after
getting more than 3,000 complaints last year.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/ombudsman.4dm
Ash flight chaos shows need for strong farm policy: Ciolos
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/farm-cap-denmark.4b5
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
———————
Working hours: Euro-MPs have voted against a Commission
proposal that self-employed drivers be exempted from the
2002 Working Time Directive on the road transport industry.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/working-hours-drivers
Late business payments: MEPs want deadlines
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/late-payments.3hg
MEPs want say on EU employment guidelines
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/ep-voice
Euro-MPs vote to curb energy consumption
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/consumption
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
——–
4 May, Transport Council (Extraordinary)
5 May, Informal Fishery Ministers meeting
5-6 May, European Parliament Plenary Session
10-11 May, Education, Youth and Culture Council
17 May, Eurogroup meeting
18 May, Economic and Finance Council

The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
Long-term diary: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary

EUbusiness Community
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Analysis
——–
Greece: market turbulence coursing through Europe’s most
heavily indebted countries is deepening a leadership crisis
stemming from an anti-Brussels backlash in Member States.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/greece-finance.4dj
Bailouts in Europe: some precedents
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/greece-finance-imf.496
http://www.eubusiness.com/features

Policy Forum
————
Clean cars: the Communication on Clean and Energy Efficient
Vehicles, published by the Commission in Brussels,
identifies the essential framework conditions for a viable
transition to sustainable mobility in the European Union.
http://www.eubusiness.com/environ/acea.10-04-28

Transport working time: SMEs deeply concerned by EP vote
http://www.eubusiness.com/employment/ueapme.10-04-28
More press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

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Events
——
17 May, The Hague: Europol & Eurojust: Their Role in EU
Police and Judicial Cooperation
http://www.eubusiness.com/living-in-eu/asser.10-03-18

1 Jun, Geneva: Clean technology – European partnering event
http://www.eubusiness.com/environ/clean-technology.10
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
—-
Advocacy and Media coordinator, Counter Balance
http://www.eubusiness.com/finance/counterbalance-eib.10

Project Manager, European Biodiesel Board
http://www.eubusiness.com/energy/ebb.10-04-26
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Briefing
——–
EC to cut red tape in research funding procedures
http://www.eubusiness.com/research/research-funding.01

Clean and energy-efficient vehicles – European strategy
http://www.eubusiness.com/energy/energy-efficient-cars

Volcanic ash: EU response to tackle impact on air transport
http://www.eubusiness.com/transport/volcanic-ash.02
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Other news on EUbusiness this week
———————————-
EU updates aviation security rules 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/aviation-security-update
EU promises faster renewable energy patents 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/renewable-energy-patents
Euro economic sentiment up in April 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/eurozone-economy.4d1
Spanish Customs seize 70 million smuggled cigarettes 27-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/cigarettes-smuggling-spain
EU okays State Street’s Intesa Sanpaolo acquisition 26-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/intesa-sanpaolo
Charity slams EU-India trade talks over generic drugs 26-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/india-trade-pharma.4b8
Romania moves to restore powers to anti-graft agency 26-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/romania-corruption.4b7
EU approves Bulgaria’s CO2 emissions plan 24-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/bulgaria-industry.49x

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