EU strategy for electric cars – EUbusiness Week 477

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EUbusiness Week – Issue 477
12 February 2010
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week’s Top Stories
=======================
1. EU vows Greek solidarity, but no hard cash yet
2. Parliament blocks key EU-US security data deal
3. EU greenlights EUR 2.6 billion in aid to Bulgaria
4. New EU organic logo set for Europe’s supermarkets
5. Sth Korea says EU free trade deal to be signed April
6. EU fights flow of contraband cigarettes from east

Publisher’s Note
================
As Greece struggles, EU business goes on. At an informal
meeting in San Sebastian, northern Spain, industry
ministers were this week focused on developing a
common EU strategy for electric cars.

These are seen not just as an environmental necessity, but
as an opportunity for economic growth. With research
efforts currently fragmented throughout the Member States,
and strong competition expected from the U.S. and China,
ministers want swift action.

Discussion steered clear, however, of what is likely to be a
key issue, the awkward question of public funding – which
manufacturers are asking for to kick-start the sector.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/spain-environment.2ly

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU vows Greek solidarity, but no hard cash yet
————————————————-
Europe pledged solidarity on Thursday with debt-stricken
Greece, but stopped short of offering an immediate
injection of hard cash.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/summit-economy.2nr
Short of hard cash, what can EU do for Greece?
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/summit-economy-debt.2ns
Greece, the EU, deficits and debt
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/summit-economy-debt.2nk

2. Parliament blocks key EU-US security data deal
—————————————————-
MEPs have decisively blocked a key agreement allowing US
authorities to use data about Europeans in terror probes,
in a move slammed by the United States and Britain.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/us-attacks-banks.2na

3. EU greenlights EUR 2.6 billion in aid to Bulgaria
—————————————————-
The Union gave the green light Wednesday to more than 2.6
billion euros in aid to Bulgaria to improve transport
infrastructure and boost competitiveness.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/bulgaria-funds.2m7

4. New EU organic logo set for Europe’s supermarkets
—————————————————-
The EU has unveiled a new Green logo that will have to be
shown on all pre-packaged organic products produced in
Europe from July.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/environment-logo.2ky

5. Sth Korea says EU free trade deal to be signed April
——————————————————-
South Korea and the EU will sign a free trade agreement in
April and it will come into force before the end of the year
if ratified by EU members, officials said on Wednesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/skorea-fta-trade.2m3

6. EU fights flow of contraband cigarettes from east
—————————————————-
On the eastern border of the EU, the fight against
cigarette smuggling from Ukraine, Russia or Moldova is
intensifying as traffickers cash in on the lucrative trade.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/eeurope-tobacco.2n5

EU LAW
======
Russia: the EU has welcomed Russia’s ratification of a key
protocol on overhauling the European Court of Human Rights.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/russia-europe.2k1
EC protected sites can be contested only on environmental
grounds
http://www.eubusiness.com/eulaw/euenvironment.01
Germany’s age law ruled incompatible with EU Directives
http://www.eubusiness.com/eulaw/Euagediscrimination.02
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
————-
Iran: the EU could announce sanctions against Iran over its
nuclear program within “days or weeks” if the UN Security
Council fails to do so, says Finland’s foreign minister.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/iran-nuclear-canada.2o5
New EU president has trouble being heard
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/summit-vanrompuy.2o9
EU congratulates Yanukovich on Ukraine vote victory
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/ukraine-vote.2o4
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Euro-Parliament Watch
———————
Commission vote: the European Parliament on Tuesday gave
overwhelming approval to the new team of Commission chief
Jose Manuel Barroso who urged governments to step up the
fight against the economic crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/parliament-vote.2lc
Euro-MPs urge China, India, Russia to pressure Myanmar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/myanmar-rights-un.2o1

At their Strasbourg plenary session, MEPs also gave the
green light for EU funding to help Europe’s unemployed
start up small businesses; welcomed an agreement to prevent
needle-stick injuries in hospitals; called for paternity
leave to be addressed at EU level; and backed a trade
ban on blue fin tuna and polar bears.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

Commission Watch
—————-
Romania: the Commission on Monday gave Romania an extra
year, till 2012, to bring its swollen public deficit back
to the EU’s limit of three per cent of GDP, due to the
gravity of the economic crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/romania-economy.2kz
The new Commission team
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/politics-commission.2lm
Prodi to teach at China business school
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/china-italy-prodi.2m4
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

EU diary
——–
12-13 Feb, Transport Ministers’ Informal
15 Feb, Council of Education, Youth and Culture
16 Feb, Council of Economy and Finances (ECOFIN)
17 Feb, Meeting of Development ministers
18-19 Feb, Informal meeting of Regional Policy ministers

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
——–
Influence: the European Union is hoping that its revamped
leadership can reverse a decline in global influence, wary
of being marginalised by the United States and emerging
Asian powers such as China.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/commission.2lh
http://www.eubusiness.com/features

Policy Forum
————
Greenpeace welcomes EP support for bluefin tuna trade ban
http://www.eubusiness.com/environ/greenpeace.10-02-10

Instantly online – 17 golden rules to combat online risks
and for safer surfing mobile social networks
http://www.eubusiness.com/internet/enisa.10-02-09
More press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

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Events
——
23 May, Seville: SETAC Europe Conference on science and
technology for environmental protection
http://www.eubusiness.com/environ/setac.10-02-11

6 Jul, Heidelberg: Eighth International Network Conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/research/inc-2010
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
—-
Lawyers, DG Competition
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ec.10-02-04

Legal Specialist, Human Resources Unit, Europol
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/europol.10-02-09
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Briefing
——–
Telecoms: 112 – Europe’s single emergency number
http://www.eubusiness.com/telecoms/112-number
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Publications
————
Commission assessment on Romania
http://www.eubusiness.com/europe/romania/ec-assessment.10
More publications: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
———————————-
Pressure eases on Greek bonds after EU pledge 11-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/summit-economy.2ob
EU clears sale of Solvay pharmaceuticals to Abbott 11-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/belgium-us-pharma.2o7
EU strengthens R&D ties with Egypt 11-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/research/egypt-rd.10-02-11
EU acts over freight cartel with China, US links 10-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/competition-freight.2ml
Putin says Nord Stream poses no environmental risks 10-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/russia-energy-gas.2mf
Standard and Poor’s warns of south eurozone downgrade 9-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/ratings-finance.2m0
EU backs Dutch aid to AFN AMRO, Fortis, extends probe 8-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/competition-banking.2kv

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