Turkey repression condemned – EUbusiness Week newsletter 813 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 813 top stories: EU enlargement door opens for Western Balkans; Euro economy shows robust growth as forecasts revised; MEPs vote to end barriers to cross-border shopping; Parliament agrees reform of EU emissions trading system; Electricity backup systems given EC green light; Size of Euro-Parliament to shrink after Brexit

Publisher’s Note

Strong condemnation of the Turkish regime this week as MEPs denounced its attempts to censor criticism over its military assault of Afrin in Syria. Calling for an end to Turkey’s current state of emergency, they said funds earmarked for pre-membership aid should be conditional on improving its record on human rights and the rule of law. Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set for a rough ride at an EU-Turkey leaders’ meeting next month. Whether this will affect the EU’s commitment to its deal with Turkey on migration, however, remains to be seen.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU enlargement door opens for Western Balkans

The European Commission set out a new strategy for the Western Balkans Tuesday, spelling out priorities and areas for closer cooperation, and areas for reform with a view to ‘a credible enlargement perspective’.
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2. Euro economy shows robust growth as forecasts revised

Growth rates for Europe’s economy beat expectations last year as the transition from economic recovery to expansion continues, according to the EU’s Winter Economic Forecast.
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3. MEPs vote to end barriers to cross-border shopping

The EU Parliament ratified Tuesday an agreement to make it easier for consumers to buy from a website based in another EU country, without the obstacle of unjustified ‘geo-blocking’ practices.
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4. Parliament agrees reform of EU emissions trading system

MEPs have approved a law to strengthen EU curbs on CO2 emissions from industry, with a view to delivering on pledges made under the Paris climate accord.
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5. Electricity backup systems given EC green light

The Commission has approved under EU State aid rules six electricity capacity mechanisms in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland, to safeguard security of electricity supply.
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6. Size of Euro-Parliament to shrink after Brexit

Parliament should shrink from 751 to 705 MEPs when the UK leaves the EU, whilst leaving room for possible new countries joining in the future, following a vote by MEPs.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Louboutin: a trade mark combining colour and shape may be refused or declared invalid on the grounds set out under EU trade mark law, the advocate-general of the EU’s top Court declared Wednesday.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Nominations for post of ECB Vice-President – restrictive measures against Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – EU-Norway agreement signed, strengthening prevention of VAT fraud – EU-Turkey leaders’ meeting – EU-Georgia meeting – South Sudan sanctions
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Commission Watch

10 new projects under LIFE funding – EUR 98m to improve quality of life – ECB guidelines on Eurosystem’s monetary policy implementation – EUR 3.7 bn to tackle migration – MiFIR data reporting – Winter Interim Economic Forecast – Twinning 2700 projects – electricity capacity mechanisms – EC to assess acquisition of Shazam by Apple – EC approves Discovery acquisition of Scripps – EU-Norway agreement – WEstern Balkans – EU Auditors to examine food safety policy
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Parliament Watch

European Medicines Agency – Bigger role for EU Investment Bank to tackle migration – Parliament calls for thorough assessment of bi-annual time change – MEPs call on Turkey to lift state of emergency – Venezuela: add government and military chiefs to EU sanctions list – Pesticides: Parliament approves special committee’s composition – Human rights: Russia, Egypt and Haiti – MEPs confirm blacklist of countries at risk of money laundering – ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ process cannot be overturned, say MEPs – Clean energy innovation needs change of mind-set
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EU diary

15-16 Feb: Investing in people, the way forward
15 Feb: Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
15 Feb: Civil society in the EU: future scenarios for 2030
19 Feb: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
19-22 Feb: European Parliament Committee Meetings
19 Feb: Eurogroup
20-21 Feb: Circular economy stakeholder conference
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary