EUbusiness Week 646 top stories: Ukraine leader slams opposition after taking sick leave; EU unveils reform of ‘too-big-to-fail’ banks; EU takes new member Croatia to book over deficit; Canada and Norway appeal WTO ruling backing EU seal ban; EU fines polyurethane makers EUR 114m for price fixing; Candy Crush developer defends trademarking ‘Candy’
Publisher’s Note
As we make ever more use of free online services on offer, our data is being read, digested and put to commercial use many times over. On Tuesday, Data Protection Day, Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding voiced concern over delays to major reform of EU data protection rules proposed two years ago. Agreement, she says, is vital to boost confidence and protection in the use of online services.
The connected, data-rich services of the future have great potential to change lives. But the rewards should be available as much for consumers as the big digital companies. Opting out is no longer an option, so, as Mrs Reding says, maybe the time has come to “get serious” about data protection.
More …
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. Ukraine leader slams opposition after taking sick leave
President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday savaged the opposition for inflaming tensions in Ukraine’s crisis after he went on sick leave with no end in sight to the turmoil.
More …
US in talks on possible Ukraine sanctions
Ukraine chaos unwelcome jolt for confident Putin
2. EU unveils reform of ‘too-big-to-fail’ banks
The EU has unveiled long-awaited plans to rein in the “too-big-to-fail” banks, rejecting claims they have been too watered down to prevent a repeat of the 2008 banking crisis.
More …
3. EU takes new member Croatia to book over deficit
The European Union launched disciplinary proceedings on Tuesday against newest member Croatia for having an excessive budget deficit, giving it until 2016 to obey the bloc’s rules.
More …
4. Canada and Norway appeal WTO ruling backing EU seal ban
Norway and Canada have appealed a ruling by the WTO that backs a European ban on the import and sale of seal products, the Geneva-based body announced on Monday.
More …
5. EU fines polyurethane makers EUR 114m for price fixing
The Commission on Wednesday fined several polyurethane manufacturers 114 million euros for price fixing in the furniture and auto sectors of the market.
More …
6. Candy Crush developer defends trademarking ‘Candy’
The British videogame maker behind Candy Crush Saga, a madly addictive game played by millions of people, has defended its decision to trademark the word “Candy” in the European Union.
More …
EUROPEAN LAW
Bulgarian land: Bulgaria’s top court has quashed a ban on land sales to foreigners approved by parliament last year, amid concerns the move violated Bulgaria’s EU commitments.
More …
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
More …
Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
UK referendum: Britain’s planned 2017 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union was close to collapse after Prime Minister David Cameron’s party suffered a major setback.
More …
Serbia to hold snap polls in March
British, French leaders meet for defence summit
PM-in-waiting? Yatsenyuk, Ukraine’s unlikely firebrand
White House vows to press for trade powers
Council …
Commission Watch
Russia summit: the EU and Russia agreed Tuesday to discuss their sharp differences over Ukraine and eastern Europe as President Vladimir Putin again warned against foreign meddling in former Soviet states.
More …
EU agrees mandate for normalisation talks with Cuba: source
EU hands Guinea EUR 140m, ending 5-year aid freeze
Europe not doing enough to fight Holocaust denial: EC
Commission …
Parliament Watch
Greens: French anti-globalisation activist Jose Bove, who once led the dismantling of a McDonald’s by protesters, was chosen Wednesday to lead the Greens in May’s Parliament elections.
More …
German eurosceptics poll 7 pct ahead of European vote
In committee this week, MEPs approved the Single European Sky II+ package to update rules on air navigation services; and backed plans to ban invasive alien species, such as plants, animals or insects that can carry or cause diseases, harm the environment or cause economic losses, from entering the EU.
More …
EU diary
3-6 Feb, European Parliament Plenary Session
10 Feb, Foreign Affairs Council
10 Feb, Beyond the crisis? Business in Europe 2014
11-12 Feb, EU-ASEAN Aviation Summit
11 Feb, European Competition Forum 2014
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
Other news on EUbusiness this week
ECB sees tentative signs of recovery for euro banks 30-Jan
Eurozone confidence highest in January since July 2011 30-Jan
Bank of Cyprus unfreezes EUR 950m in CDs 30-Jan
Croatia pledges to meet EU deficit target 30-Jan
Euro-bound Lithuania clocks 3.4% growth in 2013 30-Jan
Swiss migration control plan gains ground: poll 29-Jan
Troika begins 3rd review of bailed-out Cyprus economy 29-Jan
