Europe's EUR 63bn app boom - EUbusiness Week newsletter 648
EUbusiness Week 648 top stories: EU urges crisis-hit Ukraine to adopt 'urgent' reforms; Swiss vote to curb EU migrants sparks warnings; New GM corn gets controversial EU go-ahead; EU sets new course on Cuba; EU to suspend Zimbabwe sanctions: source; Chanel No. 5 at stake as EU sniffs out allergens?
Publisher's Note
From zero to digital superhero is how the Commission describes the
performance of the app sector over the last 5 years. Its report
forecasts it could employ some 4.8m people by 2018 and contribute EUR 63
bn to the EU's economy. The good news is that this is an area where
Europe is close to taking a global lead. Currently, EU and North
American developers generate the same levels (42% each) of app revenues
in EU and US markets.
While the future appears bright, benefiting jobs and growth,
there are concerns that the skills gap, connectivity and fragmentation
could put the app boom at risk. Commissioner Neelie Kroes warns that
completion of the telecom single market is essential if these concerns
are to be addressed.
More ...
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. EU urges crisis-hit Ukraine to adopt 'urgent' reforms
Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele in Kiev Thursday called on Ukraine
to take "urgent steps" to form a new government and reform the
constitution, key opposition demands.
More ...
EU relations facing 'moment of truth' over Ukraine: Russia
2. Swiss vote to curb EU migrants sparks warnings
Switzerland's knife-edge decision to curb immigration from the EU raises
major problems, Germany warned Monday, as Swiss authorities moved to
limit the damage to ties with the Union.
More ...
Swiss immigration vote impact on EU ties
3. New GM corn gets controversial EU go-ahead
A new genetically modified corn, US firm Pioneer's TC1507, won EU
approval in controversial fashion Tuesday after a large majority of
Member States failed to block it.
More ...
4. EU sets new course on Cuba
The European Union set its ties with Cuba on a fresh course Monday,
opting to launch political talks with Havana while keeping an eye on
political reform and human rights.
More ...
5. EU to suspend Zimbabwe sanctions: source
The Union is ready to suspend most of its remaining sanctions against
Zimbabwe but President Robert Mugabe and his wife will remain
blacklisted, says an EU diplomatic source.
More ...
6. Chanel No. 5 at stake as EU sniffs out allergens?
Europe's perfume houses and organic cosmetic newcomers may be looking at
a major clean-out as the EU sniffs out ingredients blamed for skin
allergies in up to 15 million people.
More ...
EUROPEAN LAW
ECB bond-buying: Germany's top court has voiced doubts about the
European Central Bank's bond-buying programme, credited with calming the
eurozone crisis, and is sending the case to the European Court of
Justice.
More ...
Slovenian Euro-MP sentenced over bribery sting
Judge who arrested Ukraine protesters killed: ministry
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Ukraine: EU foreign ministers on Monday reiterated offers of assistance
to Ukraine - but only to a new reforming government - and stopped short
of any immediate threat of sanctions.
More ...
Cuba cautiously welcomes EU's new approach on ties
France in race to find troops for EU Central Africa mission
Council ...
Commission Watch
Turkey: the Commission has hailed Turkey's support for the latest talks
on a Cyprus settlement and welcomed its progress as a candidate member
country in meeting EU standards.
More ...
EU to review Swiss ties after vote curbing immigration
Commission ...
Parliament Watch
Israel: Israeli newspapers bristled Thursday after Parliament president
Martin Schultz criticised the Gaza Strip blockade and suggested that
Israelis received four times more water than Palestinians.
More ...
Eurosceptic Farage hails 'wonderful' Swiss immigration vote
Catalonia, Scotland, Venice? Italian party eyes autonomy
World Cup can improve 'appalling' Qatar rights record: FIFA
In committee this week, MEPS urged the EU to keep its cautionary
approach to the approval of new products despite the US-EU trade talks;
called for a jobs and social recovery plan Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and
Ireland; and tabled proposals to protect EU citizens' privacy with
regard to NSA surveillance of EU citizens.
More ...
EU diary
17-20 Feb, European Parliament Committee Meetings
17 Feb, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
18 Feb, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
19 Feb, Commission adopts new state aid guidelines for airports and airlines
20-21 Feb, Competitiveness Council
20 Feb, Commission to launch coastal tourism strategy
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
ECB survey sees lower eurozone inflation in 2014, 2015 13-FebPortugal passes new IMF rescue program review 12-Feb
Norway rules out referendum on immigration 12-Feb
Eurozone industrial output falls in December 12-Feb
ECB insists bond buying programme 'within mandate' 10-Feb