EU confronts new reality - EUbusiness Week newsletter 725

19-11-2015

EUbusiness Week 725 top stories: EU call for unity in terror fight; Greek government takes losses in home foreclosures vote; Volkswagen scandal puts brakes on European car market; Rich powers cut export aid for coal plants; Eurozone economy cools as China slowdown hurts exports; Europe relies on 'queen' Merkel more than ever

Publisher's Note

The attacks in Paris were an attack on our freedoms, an attack against our European values and our way of life, said European Parliament president Martin Schulz this week.

Reaction has begun. MEPs urge improvement in information-sharing between intelligence services. The Commission has brought forward revision of the Firearms Directive.

There is also concern that the EU will change its approach to the migration crisis. Leading German MEP Elmar Brok warns against confusing migration and terrorism: "Refugees are victims of terror, not part of the terror."
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU call for unity in terror fight

European foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday called for unity in the fight against terror following the attacks in Paris.
More ...
EU to toughen external border checks
France says new security to cost EUR 600m in 2016
Paris attacks intensify migrant debate in EU

2. Greek government takes losses in home foreclosures vote

Greece's government narrowly pushed a bailout reform vote through parliament Thursday, but saw its majority dwindle after axing two lawmakers who refused to support a home foreclosures bill.
More ...
Greece creditors ready to pay out EUR 12bn: Dijsselbloem

3. Volkswagen scandal puts brakes on European car market

European car market growth slowed in October, says the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, as the Volkswagen emissions scandal took its toll on auto sales.
More ...
VW whistleblowers were EU officials, say US authorities

4. Rich powers cut export aid for coal plants

Advanced economies including the United States, Japan and European Union have agreed for the first time to restrict state aid for exports of large, inefficient coal-fired power stations, the OECD has announced.
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Coal subsidised with EUR 10 bn a year in EU: study

5. Eurozone economy cools as China slowdown hurts exports

Growth in the eurozone slowed in the third quarter as low demand from China hurt Germany and applied a stiff handbrake on an already weak recovery in Europe.
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6. Europe relies on 'queen' Merkel more than ever

Ten years after she took office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands alone as the leader of a European Union that is grappling with multiple crises, despite the fact she has been weakened domestically.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Firearms: the EU is to push through plans to tackle the trade in illegal firearms, ahead of a crisis meeting of interior ministers in Brussels following the Paris attacks.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

UK: Britain's government is under pressure to let 16 and 17 year-olds have the vote in the referendum on EU membership after suffering a defeat in parliament.
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Greece, Turkey boost cooperation to tackle migrant crisis
Spain backs France's decision to miss EU deficit target
Council ...

Commission Watch

Migrants: the EU said Tuesday it was ready to ease budgetary rules for eurozone countries to help them deal with an unprecedented influx of migrants from war and repression in Syria and other conflict zones.
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'Brexit' is not going to happen, says Juncker
Commission ...

Parliament Watch

This week a delegation from Parliament's constitutional affairs committee went to London to discuss the upcoming EU membership referendum with ministers, parliamentary committees and think-tanks; Parliament agreed an informal deal with ministers on new rules to attract non-EU students, researchers and interns to the EU; and in committee, MEPs said a revised Neighbourhood Policy must focus on security and migration, and discussed the impact of organic food with experts.
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EU diary

23 Nov: Eurogroup
23-24 Nov: Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
23-26 Nov: European Parliament plenary session
23 Nov: Research conference: Fiscal policy after the crisis
24-26 Nov: AFIF 2015: Africa Finance & Investment Forum
26 Nov: Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
26-27 Nov: The European culture forum
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary