Obesity increase alarms Europe - EUbusiness Week 323

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 323
15 September 2006
<a href="http://www.eubusiness.com">www.eubusiness.com</a>
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU to clip wings of central banks to fight protectionism
2. EU sees deal on financing cross-border transport projects
3. EU to restrict liquids in hand luggage for air passengers
4. Microsoft urges EU not to jeopardise security in Vista row
5. EU inaugurates European Maritime Safety Agency
6. EU delays decision on reforming banana subsidy system

Publisher's Note
================
A quarter of men and a third of women are now considered
obese in some European countries, said the Commission this
week as it presented the results of a major public
consultation on diet and exercise.

Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are among the
leading causes of avoidable death in Europe, while obesity-
related illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease
account for as much as seven per cent of total healthcare
costs in the EU.

There is increasing pressure for concerted EU-wide action.
Options put forward include encouraging daily physical
activity at the workplace as well as making healthy foods
more available in canteens and vending machines.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/060911143043.axb5mpid

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU to clip wings of central banks to fight protectionism
-----------------------------------------------------------
The European Commission on Tuesday proposed setting strict
limits on the powers of central banks to block mergers and
takeovers in the banking sector.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/060912153728.zrekj90a


2. EU sees deal on financing cross-border transport projects
------------------------------------------------------------
EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot voiced confidence
Wednesday that the European Union would rapidly reach a deal
on financing big, but costly, cross-border projects.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/060913143920.ag31b2l2


3. EU to restrict liquids in hand luggage for air passengers
------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission is to restrict the amount of liquids allowed
in hand luggage for air passengers, in a new security measure.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/060913114506.6yyhjem4


4. Microsoft urges EU not to jeopardise security in Vista row
-------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft's top legal advisor in Europe urged the Commission
on Tuesday not to insist that key security features be
stripped from its new Windows Vista operating system.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/060912122737.om7zmbrs


5. EU inaugurates European Maritime Safety Agency
-------------------------------------------------
The permanent headquarters of the European Maritime Safety
Agency was officially inaugurated in Lisbon on Thursday,
after operating temporarily from Brussels since its creation
in 2002 in the wake of the Erika oil tanker disaster.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/060914144931.a6kmxkhm


6. EU delays decision on reforming banana subsidy system
--------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has pulled back from proposing changes to the
rules for EU aid to banana producers that are aimed at
decoupling subsidies from prices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/060911155742.vdfokjnq


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Inside the EU Institutions
==========================

Council Watch
-------------
ASEM6: European leaders on Sunday called on their Asian
counterparts to help stop workers being exploited and let
them profit more from the globalisation that has turned Asia
into an economic powerhouse.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/060911083701.qs5g3lkc
China presses EU to lift arms embargo
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/060909162647.4jp3tpcb
EU set to renew funding mechanism for Palestinians
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/060913172900.1rdv6o0u
Euro finance ministers pledge tax windfall for debt reduction
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/060908123849.8c7hvr5i
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Sept 11: the Commission's two top officials have pledged that
Europe will further increase its cooperation with the United
States on counter-terrorism.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/060910215920.d5tt7w2k
EU gives Montenegro green light for talks
http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/060911152316.wrr75d4r
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Sakharov prize: Parliament on Tuesday announced the shortlist
for the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/060912140820.uiibm6kd
Britain's anti-EU party UKIP names new leader
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/060912171208.mg2ukj8u

At committee meetings this week, the Internal Market committee
embarked on the second reading of the services directive; and
it made a number of changes to a draft law on the sale of
fireworks. The Environment Committee voted for new emission
limits for motor vehicles known as Euro 5, due to apply from
1 September 2009; and expressed concern that the Posting of
Workers directive (which applies to firms that send employees
to work temporarily in another Member State) is not being
implemented properly in some countries. Finally, the
Budgetary Control Committee recommended discharge for the
EP's 2004 budget; and gave its green light for the EP to buy
Strasbourg buildings.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
14-15 Sep, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations, Brussels
18-19 Sep, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels
20-21 Sep, Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council, Tampere
24-26 Sep, Informal Agriculture Council, Oulu
25-28 Sep, EP Plenary, Strasbourg
The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
Long-term diary: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary


Community
=========

PressZONE
---------
Health and environment NGOs have welcomed the European
Parliament Environment Committee's vote supporting a ban on
measuring devices containing mercury, including those used
in hospitals and doctors' surgeries.
http://www.eubusiness.com/press/eeb.2006-09-14
MEPs satisfied with their payment services - unlike most
other people! - BEUC
http://www.eubusiness.com/press/beuc.2006-09-12

PressZONE: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

Comment
-------
Commenting on our piece "Thousands could be grounded by US-EU
air security spat: IATA", EUeckvillo writes:

"These two programs should work both ways. I do not
understand why the EU and its Members States do not ask these
type of information from US airlines or any other airline
travelling to the EU. I mean, only the US has enemies?"
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/060831073054.syknf1nj

Please note: any comments considered offensive or unsuitable
will be removed immediately.

Events
------
9-10 Oct, London: European Pensions 2006
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/chatham.2006-05-09

23-24 Oct, London: Building China's Communications and
Information Future
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/chatham2.2006-05-09

Events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

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Other stories on EUbusiness this week
-------------------------------------
EU launches ambitious new 10-point innovation plan 14-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/innovation.2006-09-14
EU project develops allergy database 14-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/allergies.2006-09-14
Slovak, Czech PMs protest delay in Shengen extension 14-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/060914130418.ba21cfcr
Ankara confident on EU prospects 13-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/060913191420.n21egnma
EU not planning "safeguard clauses" on Bulgaria, Romania 13-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/060913191201.u5p8uyev
14 firms fined for road bitumen cartel in Netherlands 13-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/060913100952.cf6elnkq
Sweden's monopolies in the firing line 12-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/060913030055.je4x3d8e
EIB boosts Mediterranean SMEs 12-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/eib.2006-09-12
Almost four out of 10 Czechs oppose euro adoption 12-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Euro/060912141420.a3ods3y8
EU newcomers fuel Irish immigration boom 12-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/060912125500.kw41mcvf
EU current account deficit falls in second quarter 12-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/060912090107.m95p7dy2
Energy giants face more competition under EU proposals 12-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/060912010219.5rjkle1l
EU allows in part of suspect US GM rice shipment 11-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/060911180058.ye300put
Launch of 2nd Galileo test satellite delayed till 2007 11-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/060911074448.vn1nf4we


Internet Monitor
================
Rural Development in the European Union - Stats 2006
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/rural.2006-09-14

Commission study on Ageing and Employment
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/ageing.2006-09-14

2007 Communication on culture - consultation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/culture.2006-09-14


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