EUbusiness Week 652 top stories: Ukraine PM says EU accord may be signed next week; Ecofin ministers tweak bank closure plans; EU edges towards renewable energy targets; EU ready to plug in to ‘universal’ mobile phone charger; EU mackerel deal with Norway and Faroes angers Iceland; Romanian, Bulgarian students hit by UK migrant crackdown
Publisher’s Note
The Commission on Tuesday set out a new vision for EU justice policy, aiming to boost progress towards a common European area of justice based on trust, mobility and growth by 2020.
The new framework looks to improve trust in other Member States’ justice systems, reinforce rights for buying and selling across borders, improve access to justice and help resolve cross-border disputes – by means of consolidation, codifying EU law and practice and new initiatives where necessary. “We have come a long way, but there is more to do to develop a true European area of Justice,” said Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. Ukraine PM says EU accord may be signed next week
Ukraine’s new leaders are likely to sign the long-awaited political accord with the EU next week, interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said after talks at the White House.
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European Parliament calls for EU sanctions on Russia
Baltic states jittery over ‘unpredictable’ Russia
2. Ecofin ministers tweak bank closure plans
EU finance ministers have agreed changes to their scheme for closing down failing banks, aiming to strike a compromise deal with the European Parliament which opposed original plans.
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3. EU edges towards renewable energy targets
The Union is making steady progress towards its 2020 renewable energy target, a key effort in curbing the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, Eurostat data shows.
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4. EU ready to plug in to ‘universal’ mobile phone charger
The European Union took another step on Thursday towards the mandatory introduction of a common mobile phone charger, which could power-up all makes of handsets.
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5. EU mackerel deal with Norway and Faroes angers Iceland
The EU has reached an agreement over controversial mackerel quotas with Norway and the Faroe Islands, prompting an angry reaction from Iceland on Thursday.
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6. Romanian, Bulgarian students hit by UK migrant crackdown
Forced to choose between food and their books, Bulgarian and Romanian students in Britain are hitting back at the government’s decision to suspend their financial lifeline.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Syria sanctions: a European court has upheld EU sanctions against the sister of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, finding that her strong family ties justified the decision.
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Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Serbia polls: Serbs will vote in snap polls on Sunday with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) tipped to capitalise on a wave of public support after opening EU membership talks.
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Merkel welcomes Czech ‘yes’ to EU fiscal rules
Chinese president to make first EU visit
EU leaders to meet in Flanders to commemorate WWI
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Commission Watch
Ukraine: the EU will offer Ukraine trade breaks worth EUR 500m a year as an immediate gesture of support, Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said on Tuesday.
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In Iran, Ashton says no guarantee on nuclear deal
EU’s four top jobs up for grabs
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Parliament Watch
Conservatives: European conservatives have picked former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker as their candidate to be the next Commission president, igniting the centre-right grouping’s campaign for the European elections.
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Populists to make inroads in EU parliament election
MEPs back sanctions on Uganda, Nigeria over gay rights
This week, MEPs rejected new labelling rules for engineered nanomaterials by the Commission; criticised failure to support SMEs, spur growth and fight unemployment; and debated how to reconcile industrial competitiveness with climate targets.
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EU diary
14 Mar, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
17-23 Mar, European Parliament Committee Meetings
17 Mar, Foreign Affairs Council
20-21 Mar, European Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
Other news on EUbusiness this week
ECB to act decisively if needed on deflation risk 13-Mar
Serbia: from pariah state to EU path 13-Mar
Eurozone industrial output falls in January 12-Mar
