EUbusiness Week 629 top stories: Parliament approves EU-wide banking supervisor; EU unveils major telecom reforms, end to roaming charges; Google offers EU new competition proposals; Main car makers seen on track for EU’s 2015 CO2 target; WHO accuses tobacco giant of ‘sabotaging’ EU health bill; Europe must ‘save gas plants for energy security’
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Parliament approves EU-wide banking supervisor
2. EU unveils major telecom reforms, end to roaming charges
3. Google offers EU new competition proposals
4. Main car makers seen on track for EU’s 2015 CO2 target
5. WHO accuses tobacco giant of ‘sabotaging’ EU health bill
6. Europe must ‘save gas plants for energy security’
Publisher’s Note
MEPs this week backed plans to cap the use of traditional biofuels, as well as a speedy switchover to new biofuels from alternative sources such as seaweed and waste.
However, by capping at a level higher than the current one, the vote has displeased environmentalists, who say that biofuels, originally meant to lower the climate impact of European transport, are now seen to increase carbon emissions and can undermine food security.
MEPs may now consider whether the use of food for fuel is justified or if it should be abandoned altogether.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Parliament approves EU-wide banking supervisor
Euro-MPs on Thursday agreed the first step in an ambitious EU banking union scheme, giving the European Central Bank the power to oversee the eurozone’s biggest banks.
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2. EU unveils major telecom reforms, end to roaming charges
The European Commission adopted controversial telecom sector reforms Wednesday which it said would create a ‘fully connected’ Europe and include an end to hugely unpopular mobile phone roaming charges.
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3. Google offers EU new competition proposals
US Internet giant Google has submitted new proposals to remedy EU concerns that it is abusing its dominant position in the search market, says the Commission.
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4. Main car makers seen on track for EU’s 2015 CO2 target
The world’s main car makers are generally on target for meeting the EU’s carbon emissions target for 2015 but some are lagging in the race to meet its goal for 2020.
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5. WHO accuses tobacco giant of ‘sabotaging’ EU health bill
The World Health Organisation chief has accused tobacco giant Philip Morris of seeking to “sabotage” a proposed EU measure to clamp down on tobacco industry marketing aimed at women and youngsters.
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6. Europe must ‘save gas plants for energy security’
Europe must save its gas-fired electricity plants by paying for them to remain available for peak demand or face a threat to its energy security, warns the head of GDF Suez, the top non-nuclear power producer in the world.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Iran: one of the EU’s top courts has annulled an EU asset freeze imposed on seven Iranian banks and other companies for their alleged involvement in the country’s contested nuclear programme.
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Romanian MEP to stand trial for corruption
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Iceland: Icelandic Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson said Thursday the island had suspended European Union accession talks indefinitely, following up on an election promise made earlier this year.
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German anti-euro party prompts wild card fear for Merkel
British PM to challenge Brussels over welfare powers
Council …
Commission Watch
State of the Union address: Commission President Barroso has defended the measures taken to tame the debt crisis, putting eurosceptics on notice ahead of EU elections next year.
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Commissioner insists ‘Robin Hood’ tax legal
EU conveys fresh concerns on NSA snooping
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Parliament Watch
Insider trading: MEPs have backed tougher penalties and fines for insider trading and other financial market abuses, aiming to bring rogue bankers to account and restore public trust.
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Snowden nominated for EU’s Sakharov prize
In plenary this week, MEPs called for an end to roaming fees by 2015; backed rules allowing suspension of visa-free travel only as a last resort; and urged Russia to respect ex-Soviet countries’ right to choose ties with EU.
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EU diary
15-16 Sep, European Heritage Days
16-22 Sep, European Mobility Week
17 Sep, Commission takes action against designer drugs
18 Sep, Commission to propose draft legislation on benchmarks
18 Sep, Conference on e-procurement and e-invoicing in the EU
18 Sep, Commission to propose draft legislation on benchmarks
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 urges Latvians to be ‘vigilant’ during euro switch 12-Sep
Cyprus seals better terms for Russia loan 12-Sep
Eurozone industrial output drops 1.5% in July 12-Sep
Portugal seeks easing of 2014 deficit goal 11-Sep
Belgrade dissolves Kosovo Serb councils 10-Sep
