Anti-piracy treaty rejected – EUbusiness Week newsletter 579 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 579 top stories: Eurozone starts giving shape to Spanish bank aid; Hungary proposes new changes to central bank law; Ten Member States get final warning over tiny hen cages; Science is ‘girl thing’, says Europe campaign; Europe’s investment attractiveness halved since 2006; EU’s teenagers poor in language skills

This Week’s Top Stories

1. Eurozone starts giving shape to Spanish bank aid
2. Hungary proposes new changes to central bank law
3. Ten Member States get final warning over tiny hen cages
4. Science is ‘girl thing’, says Europe campaign
5. Europe’s investment attractiveness halved since 2006
6. EU’s teenagers poor in language skills

Publisher’s Note

The future does not look good for ACTA, the global pact to combat counterfeiting and online piracy. Its rejection this week by MEPs on the international trade committee makes it unlikely that July’s EP plenary will greenlight the pact.

Few issues have provoked more of a public outcry. ACTA’s aim is to combat Intellectual Property Rights infringements by enhancing international cooperation and enforcement. But many see it as a threat to Internet freedom.

Enforcing the copyright of European inventions is clearly important. However, many believe ACTA lacks clarity, and while there is clearly a problem with counterfeiting around the world, the question remains, is ACTA really the answer?
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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
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1. Eurozone starts giving shape to Spanish bank aid

The eurozone started tackling Thursday conditions for financial aid to Spain’s banks, while arguing over a revision sought by Greece’s new government of its bailout.
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Merkel invites new Greek PM Samaras to Berlin
Eurozone business activity falls to lowest level since 2009

2. Hungary proposes new changes to central bank law

Hungary proposed new amendments on Thursday to a central bank law that was heavily criticised for allowing undue political interference, in yet another bid to secure a 15-billion-euro bailout.
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3. Ten Member States get final warning over tiny hen cages

The Commission issued a final warning Thursday to 10 Member States to improve the living conditions of egg-laying hens or face court action for keeping them in cramped cages.
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4. Science is ‘girl thing’, says Europe campaign

With few women in Europe taking up research jobs, a campaign launched Thursday by the Commission seeks to convince teenagers that science is a “girl thing”.
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5. Europe’s investment attractiveness halved since 2006

Europe’s attractiveness among foreign investors has more than halved since the onset of the global financial and eurozone debt crises, according to a survey.
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6. EU’s teenagers poor in language skills

Despite decades of European integration, less than one in two teenagers in the bloc speaks a foreign language well enough to hold a conversation, says the Commission.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Germany: Germany’s government and opposition clinched an accord Thursday to ratify the EU fiscal pact and new aid fund but its top court called into question the timing of the latter’s entry into force.
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Romanian ex-premier operated on after suicide attempt
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Syria: the EU will slap fresh sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad’s regime next week and clarify the rules on insuring items embargoed for delivery to Syria, including arms, say EU diplomats.
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German president to delay EU bailout, fiscal pact approval
Eurozone under pressure to speed up integration
Council …

Commission Watch

Turkey: Turkey and the EU have initialled a “readmission” deal to combat illegal migration across the Turkish border, a day after Brussels agreed to ease visa requirements for Turkish citizens.
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EU calls for EUR 10bn EIB capital boost
EU launches strategy to fight human trafficking
EU shuts down police mission in Bosnia
Commission …

Parliament Watch

Standards: In committee this week, MEPs endorsed a deal with the Council on a major overhaul of the EU standardisation system, and agreed basic rights for crime victims across the EU.
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Parliament also suspended trialogue negotiations with Member States on legislation regarding the disclosure of information of national and regional public accounts, saying “EU governments are incredibly still blind to the most basic lessons to come out of the sovereign debt crisis.”; and they voted to make watercraft safer and greener, with tougher exhaust emission limits.
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EU diary

21-22 Jun, Employment, Social, Health & Consumer Council
22 Jun, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
28-29 Jun, European Council
3 Jul, EC proposal on protection of EU financial interests
16-17 Jul, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary