Cyprus bows out on a high - EUbusiness Week newsletter 599

This Week's Top Stories

1. EU, Google to seek anti-trust accord
2. EU, Singapore agree on free-trade deal
3. Fishing nations, campaigners split on new EU quotas
4. Crackdown on tobacco stops short of plain packets
5. EU puts EUR 1.2 bn into pilot renewable energy projects
6. Alcohol causes a quarter of Europe road deaths

Publisher's Note

Cyprus's term as president of the EU comes to an end with agreements on Greece, banking supervision, the single European patent, fishing quotas - and the award to the EU of the Nobel Peace Prize. We can only hope the new Irish presidency now lead us out of recession towards growth.
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I wish you the Season's Greetings and best wishes for a healthy, peaceful and successful New Year. Service: EUbusiness moves to its reduced service over the break. The next newswire will go out in January.
Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. EU, Google to seek anti-trust accord

The European Union will seek an accord with US Internet search giant Google as progress has been made in resolving EU anti-trust concerns, Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on Tuesday.
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EU says to set out anti-trust case against Samsung soon
EU decision on Microsoft probe close

2. EU, Singapore agree on free-trade deal

The Union has completed final negotiations on a free-trade deal with Singapore, the bloc's 13th-largest trading partner and home to more than 8,000 EU companies.
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EU urges quick trade talks after Japan vote

3. Fishing nations, campaigners split on new EU quotas

Fisheries ministers have struck a deal on 2013 quotas viewed as a "compromise" between efforts to protect endangered stocks while ensuring jobs for Europe's fishermen.
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4. Crackdown on tobacco stops short of plain packets

With menthol cigarettes to be banned and cigarette packs sold with repulsive images of rotting lungs, the EU released new anti-tobacco proposals on Wednesday, the first in over a decade.
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5. EU puts EUR 1.2 bn into pilot renewable energy projects

The Commission has announced it is putting 1.2 billion euros into renewable energy demonstration projects, but it has found no carbon capture ventures to back.
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6. Alcohol causes a quarter of Europe road deaths

Alcohol abuse is responsible for around a quarter of the 30,000 people who die in road accidents across the European Union every year, the bloc's drugs agency says in a report.
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Irish presidency: the way forward out of the crisis for Europe is to secure growth and jobs, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore said on Monday as his country prepares to take over the rotating EU presidency.
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EU to take closer look at defence as costs soar
Hungary wades into Greece-Macedonia naming row
Council ...

Commission Watch

Iceland: Iceland made "substantial progress" in its quest to join the Union, though the contentious issue of fishing rights has yet to be tackled, the EU said on Tuesday.
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EU, Montenegro make progress in accession talks
Tough-talking Putin visits Brussels
Nobel cash to kids from Syria, Colombia, Congo, Pakistan
Commission ...

Parliament Watch

Sakharov prize: Iran has slammed the European Parliament for its "political" selection of two Iranian rights activists jailed in the Islamic republic for its Sakharov prize.
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This week, guidelines for developing the Trans-european Transport Networks (TEN-T) in 2014-2020 were amended by the Transport and Tourism Committee; the Environment Committee backed a plan to reduce motor vehicle noise; and MEPs backed a paper-free EU customs union with targeted funding.
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EU diary

20-21 Dec, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
1 Jan 2013, start of Irish presidency
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary

RESOURCES

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