EUbusiness Week 520 top stories: Putin puts foot down in Brussels over EU gas; EU urges more anti-corruption efforts in Romania, Bulgaria; EU agrees to allow traces of GM crops in EU animal feed; Italy’s Draghi a good ECB candidate: German bank head; Eurozone business activity highest since 2006: survey; One in six live in over- crowded homes in Europe
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Putin puts foot down in Brussels over EU gas
2. EU urges more anti-corruption efforts in Romania, Bulgaria
3. EU agrees to allow traces of GM crops in EU animal feed
4. Europe to unveil new bank stress tests in March
5. Eurozone business activity highest since 2006: survey
6. One in six live in overcrowded homes in Europe
Publisher’s Note
The Commission has released a review of the Small Business Act for Europe, its package to help smaller businesses, with some new measures to help them invest and grow.
Small business bodies welcomed a focus on improving access to finance for SMEs through a strengthened loan guarantee scheme, as well a plan to improve access to venture capital and capital markets and to improve matching of offers and requests of venture capital within the Enterprise Europe Network.
SMEs represent more than 99% of all businesses and employ more than 90 million in Europe. As the engine of our economy, they must be kept strong, competitive and innovative.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
EUROFFICE Euroffice, the UK’s largest supplier of stationery and office supplies online, selling to the UK and Italy – have sold to over 220,000 small businesses and will not be beaten on price. |
1. Putin puts foot down in Brussels over EU gas
Russian premier Vladimir Putin tore into the EU Thursday over new laws banning state-owned Gazprom from controlling pipelines pumping gas into the world’s biggest individual market.
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Nabucco pipeline still in limbo
2. EU urges more anti-corruption efforts in Romania, Bulgaria
Romania and Bulgaria have made strides in their efforts to fight corruption and reform their judiciaries but still have a way to go before meeting EU standards, says the Commission.
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3. EU agrees to allow traces of GM crops in EU animal feed
Crops containing tiny traces of genetically modified produce will be allowed to enter the European food chain for the first time under plans approved by EU governments Tuesday and attacked by environmental campaigners.
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4. Europe to unveil new bank stress tests in March
The European Union will announce a new round of bank tests to determine their financial health on March 2 after last year’s results were criticised for failing to spot a huge black hole at Irish lenders.
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5. Eurozone business activity highest since 2006: survey
Eurozone manufacturing and service activity in February hit levels last seen in July 2006 but inflation, an increasing concern, also jumped sharply, a closely watched survey shows.
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6. One in six live in overcrowded homes in Europe
One in six people live in overcrowded homes in Europe, with many living without indoor flushing toilets or showers in former Communist states, EU figures showed on Wednesday.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW
Croatia: Croatian President Ivo Josipovic says the UN war crimes court is blocking the final phase of his country’s EU path over Zagreb’s past mistakes.
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Hungary vote on media law changes maybe Monday
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law …
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Libya: Italy clamoured for help Thursday to face a looming Libya exodus of unparalleled proportions but failed to bring all its EU partners onside despite warning of a potential tsunami of up to 1.5 million migrants and refugees.
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Turkey wants to attend EU summits, liberal visa regime
EU may give Irish voters rude awakening on bailout
Council …
Commission Watch
Mediterranean: Europe rethinks relations with its southern Mediterranean rim this week, sending its top diplomat to Egypt and reassessing aid priorities to avoid being seen as turning a blind eye to authoritarian regimes.
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EU bemoans lack of job applicants from Britain
EU calls for Philippines free trade pact
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
This week was set aside for MEPs to work in their constituencies or to take part in interparliamentary meetings outside the EU or other working visits. These included EP delegations meeting their counterparts in Turkey and South Africa, as well as joining a meeting of the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Tromso, Norway.
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EU diary
24-25 Feb, Defence Ministers Meeting (Informal)
24-25 Feb, Justice and Home Affairs Council
28 Feb, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
7-19 Mar, European Parliament Plenary Session
11 Mar, Informal eurozone summit
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
Greece to draw up list of state assets for sale 24-Feb
EU economic reform plan too timid: ECB 23-Feb
Bulgaria mulls ‘financial pact’ to buttress stability 22-Feb
Poland expects no labour exodus to Germany 22-Feb
