EUbusiness Week 632 top stories: ECB ready to use ‘all available instruments’; EU and Google near anti-trust deal; Eurozone recovery gathers pace as south picks up; EU prepares to charge Gazprom in anti-trust probe; Indonesia, EU seal pact to stop illegal timber exports; Bulgaria holds out hope of entering visa-free Schengen
This Week’s Top Stories
1. ECB ready to use ‘all available instruments’
2. EU and Google near anti-trust deal
3. Eurozone recovery gathers pace as south picks up
4. EU prepares to charge Gazprom in anti-trust probe
5. Indonesia, EU seal pact to stop illegal timber exports
6. Bulgaria holds out hope of entering visa-free Schengen
Publisher’s Note
40 per cent of EU economic activity is generated by IPR-intensive industries, says this week’s European Patent Office – Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market report.
This highlights the importance of intellectual property rights in stimulating innovation and creativity, says the Commission. It is key to jobs, GDP and trade, while patents can open the door to capital and business partners, especially for SMEs.
The main message for the Commission – which says the report underpins its “evidence-based policy-making” – is that Europe needs to encourage even further the development and use of new technology and innovation.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. ECB ready to use ‘all available instruments’
The European Central Bank is prepared to use all means at its disposal to curb any unwarranted rise in money market interest rates, ECB chief Mario Draghi said on Wednesday.
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US shutdown risk to global economy if protracted: ECB
2. EU and Google near anti-trust deal
The EU is hoping to end the high-stakes anti-trust dispute with Internet giant Google by next spring, says Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, with a settlement seeming increasingly possible.
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Samsung moves to appease EU on Apple patent fight
3. Eurozone recovery gathers pace as south picks up
Eurozone business activity continued to pick up in September, hitting a 27-month high, with an improved performance from Europe’s battered south feeding hopes of continued recovery.
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4. EU prepares to charge Gazprom in anti-trust probe
The European Union says it is preparing to charge Gazprom in an anti-trust probe on concerns the Russian energy giant has been hindering competition in central and eastern Europe.
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5. Indonesia, EU seal pact to stop illegal timber exports
The deal, negotiated over six years, aims to ensure that all Indonesian timber entering the EU is produced legally, and makes Indonesia the first Asian nation to enter such an agreement.
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6. Bulgaria holds out hope of entering visa-free Schengen
Bulgaria’s foreign minister said Wednesday that his country is holding out hopes to join Europe’s visa-free Schengen zone despite strong French opposition over the last week.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Seal fur ban: the European Court of Justice has rejected an appeal by Inuit seal hunters and fur traders against an EU ban on products derived from the Arctic animals.
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Arrest warrant issued against former Cyprus bank chief
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Conservative Party: Britain has won allies in Europe in its battle to win back powers from Brussels by taking a strong stance on the issue, said Prime Minister David Cameron.
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Tony Blair to advise Albania on joining EU
Lithuania warns Russia risks EU ties in trade spat
Lithuania refuses probe into CIA ‘black site’ allegations
Council …
Commission Watch
Italy: Commission president Barroso on Wednesday hailed the Italian Senate’s vote in favour of the government as “decisive” not just for Italy, but for the eurozone and European Union as a whole.
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EU, US aim to overcome key trade talks barrier by January
Romania gets EUR 2 bn IMF standby aid
Ukraine says EU ties should not depend on Tymoshenko fate
Commission …
Parliament Watch
This week Budgets Committee MEPs reversed proposed cuts in investment to stimulate growth and jobs in 2014 – but did agree on real-terms cuts to Parliament’s own budget; Transport MEPs voted against new air flight time limitation measures; and Parliament revealed the Sakharov Prize finalists, including NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and Pakistani campaigner for girls’ education Malala Yousafzai.
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EU diary
7-8 Oct, Justice and Home Affairs Council
8 Oct, Commission and the OECD present results of the Survey of Adult Skills
10 Oct, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
14 Oct, Environment Council
15 Oct, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
15 Oct, Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Affairs 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
Portugal says EU-IMF creditors approve bailout measures 3-Oct
US shutdown risk to global economy if protracted: ECB 2-Oct
EU plays down deadline for Iran talks 1-Oct
Troika announces pause in aid discussions with Greece 29-Sep
