Cleanest bathing in Cyprus - EUbusiness Week newsletter 619
EUbusiness Week 619 top stories: Summit calls time on banking secrecy; Leaders face up to shale challenge; EU seeks China investment accord; EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed; EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants; Germany 'most popular country' in the world: poll
This Week's Top Stories
1. Summit calls time on banking secrecy
2. Leaders face up to shale challenge
3. EU seeks China investment accord
4. EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed
5. EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants
6. Germany 'most popular country' in the world: poll
Publisher's Note
As we shiver through unseasonal weather, the European Environment
Agency's annual bathing water report assures us we can go on our
holidays feeling safer than ever before.
Every year, the EEA compiles bathing water data from local
authorities across Europe, measuring levels of bacteria from sewage and
livestock. Coastal beaches make up two thirds of sites, rivers and lakes
the remainder.
'Nul points' to Belgium and, to a lesser extent, the UK, with
the highest proportions of non-compliant bathing sites. Good news, at
last, for Cyprus, whose beaches come equal top - with Luxembourg, which
has some very nice lakes.
More ...
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Summit calls time on banking secrecy
European leaders targeted a year-end deadline to undo banking secrecy,
ultimately hoping to recoup a trillion euros in lost tax each year to
help beat recession and unemployment.
More ...
Luxembourg will meet US tax-law requirements
2. Leaders face up to shale challenge
EU leaders have agreed to face up to the challenge posed by the shale
oil and gas revolution which has slashed US energy prices, undercutting
Europe's competitive edge.
More ...
European power firms sound alarm over energy policy
3. EU seeks China investment accord
The EU wants to negotiate an investment protection accord as a first
step towards a wider Free Trade Agreement with China, one of its biggest
trading partners despite a series of tit-for-tat disputes.
More ...
EU, China have much to lose if trade war breaks out
4. EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed
The European Union on Monday denied an Israeli media report that it was
delaying labelling of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank
and east Jerusalem.
More ...
5. EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants
Hard pressed to justify a proposition slammed by critics, the Commission
withdrew on Thursday a planned ban on restaurants serving olive oil in
jugs on diners' tables pending consultations with the industry and
consumers.
More ...
6. Germany 'most popular country' in the world: poll
Germany is the most popular country in the world despite well-publicised
protests against its insistence on austerity measures within the
European Union, an annual poll for the BBC World Service revealed on
Thursday.
More ...
EUROPEAN LAW
Hungary: Hungary's constitutional court has thrown out an appeal by the
country's parliamentary ombudsman to annul a controversial set of
constitutional changes which have drawn ire from the EU.
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EU urges impartiality after Georgia ex-PM's arrest
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Iceland: the two parties that emerged victorious from Iceland's general
election in April have agreed to form a government and vowed to hold a
referendum on EU membership.
More ...
Hollande announces Franco-German economic initiative
Britain, France to drum up support to arm Syrian rebels
Council ...
Commission Watch
Syria: urgent action is needed to protect countries bordering Syria from
spillover from the spiralling civil war there, says Humanitarian Aid
Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
More ...
EU approves Libya border support mission
Afghan EU envoys push private sector in Herat
Commission ...
Parliament Watch
US trade: MEPs have voted for cultural and audiovisual services to be
excluded from upcoming talks on what would be the world's largest free
trade deal with the United States, which insists there should be no
exceptions.
More ...
In plenary this week, MEPs said Bosnia and Herzegovina is far from
meeting the conditions for entry into force of the stabilisation and
association process with the EU, but the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia is ready to launch accession talks. They also voted to ease
rules on cross-border pet travel.
More ...
EU diary
27-28 May, Foreign Affairs Council
29-30 May, Competitiveness Council
29 May, EC presents 2013 Country-Specific Recommendations
30 May, Commission monthly infringements package
6-7 Jun, Justice and Home 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
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Most Portuguese reject bailout conditions 20-May
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