EUbusiness Week 728 top stories: Euro-MPs back air passenger data deal; Eurozone delays financial transaction tax deal till 2016; EU plan to make Netflix, BBC iPlayer available abroad; Germany feels heat in EU car coolant row; Chinese steel dumping threatens sector recovery in Europe; Time names Merkel as its ‘person of 2015’
Publisher’s Note
The Commission this week has another stab at a single market for financial services, launching a Green Paper with a view to giving European consumers more cross-border choice for their bank accounts, mortgages and insurance products.
The aim is to tackle high prices from a lack of EU-wide competition and to provide better access for consumers, as well as identify the barriers that prevent businesses from providing services across borders. Citizens have until March to provide their input into what will be an Action Plan on Retail Financial Services, due later in 2016.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Euro-MPs back air passenger data deal
European Parliament Members have backed plans to track airline passenger names as part of efforts to prevent a repeat of the Paris attacks, some of whose perpetrators travelled freely across Europe before the carnage.
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2. Eurozone delays financial transaction tax deal till 2016
Eurozone states failed Tuesday to secure a deal on the financial transactions tax but said they are aiming for an agreement mid-2016, despite strong opposition from Britain.
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3. EU plan to make Netflix, BBC iPlayer available abroad
The EU has unveiled plans that would allow travellers to get online streaming services like Netflix or BBC iPlayer when abroad by 2017 – currently blocked by complex copyright rules.
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4. Germany feels heat in EU car coolant row
The EU is to take court action against Germany for failing to force luxury car maker Daimler to use a new air-conditioning coolant deemed less likely to cause climate change.
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5. Chinese steel dumping threatens sector recovery in Europe
European and US steel producers are only slowly emerging from a 2008 sector meltdown, but already they are faced with a new challenge: Chinese dumping.
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6. Time names Merkel as its ‘person of 2015’
Time magazine has named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its person of the year for 2015, hailing her leadership during debt and refugee crises that threatened to tear the European Union apart.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Morocco: the European Court of Justice on Thursday annulled a farm trade deal between the EU and Morocco because it illegally involved the disputed region of Western Sahara.
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Bulgarian justice minister resigns over failed reforms
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
UK: the Union is examining a possible “emergency brake” on migration into Britain as an alternative to David Cameron’s unpopular demands for limits to migrant benefits, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.
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Poland, Britain clash on welfare benefits
EU postpones talks on Russia sanctions decision
Danish soul-searching after voter snub
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Commission Watch
Hungary: the Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Hungary over a new law which allegedly prevents failed asylum seekers from winning appeals to stay.
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EU may restrict Burundi ties over rights concerns
EU boosts aid to Philippines to stimulate Muslim peace process
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Parliament Watch
Nationalism: the EU is under threat from rising populism and nationalism fuelled by a record migrant influx, Parliament president Martin Schulz warned on Tuesday.
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This week, the 30th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly said the roots of migration, such as poverty, war and lack of human rights, need to be addressed; while MEPs in committee said redundant Finnish and Irish workers should receive EUR 3m in job search aid.
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EU diary
14-17 Dec: European Parliament plenary session
14-15 Dec: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
14-15 Dec: Eurogroup
16 Dec: European tourism day 2015
16 Dec: Environment Council
17-18 Dec: European Council
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
ECB ‘still has ammunition’ to boost eurozone 10-Dec
EU warns Thailand over air safety 10-Dec
Italian gov’t set for EUR 4 bn tax dodgers payday 10-Dec
US joins ‘ambition coalition’ at UN climate talks 10-Dec
EU states urge action against IS antiquities dealing 8-Dec
IMF funds ‘not necessary’ for Greek bailout: Tsipras 8-Dec
Luxembourg to appeal EU tax dodging fine on Fiat 4-Dec
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Press
EU must make consumers’ chicken safe without chemicals
EDiMA reactions to EC proposal on digital contract rules
Barriers to clicking cross-border – Study
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Guides
December infringements package: key decisions
Transparency & monitoring of fleets fishing internationally
Commission plans to modernise EU digital contract rules
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Events
25 Jan, Copenhagen: Nordic Card Markets & Future Payment Solutions
28 Jan, Copenhagen: How to write a competitive proposal for Horizon 2020
2 Feb, Portugal: Open Science Training Workshop
18 Feb, Brussels: The EU and its Partners – Attracting International Investors
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Publications
Social dimension of intra-EU mobility: Impact on public services
EU Climate Policy Explained
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Links
EU action plan for the Circular Economy
