E-shoppers stay at home - EUbusiness Week 325

EUbusiness Week 325 top stories: Bulgaria and Romania to join EU in 2007; EU to dismantle shipping price-fixing system; EU to restrict liquids on flights, for security reasons; EU proposes sharp reduction in deep-sea fishing; European court annuls EU ban on Glaxo's dual pricing system; EU condemns Spain for hindering E.ON-Endesa bid

This Week's Top Stories

1. Bulgaria and Romania to join EU in 2007
2. EU to dismantle shipping price-fixing system
3. EU to restrict liquids on flights, for security reasons
4. EU proposes sharp reduction in deep-sea fishing
5. European court annuls EU ban on Glaxo's dual pricing system
6. EU condemns Spain for hindering E.ON-Endesa bid

Publisher's Note

European consumers are increasingly confident about shopping online, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. But most of those indulging in a bit of home shopping still prefer to do so in their home market.

Consumer concerns about cross-border shopping include difficulties in resolving complaints when buying from another country, and fears about the risk of falling victim to a fraud or scam.

While the Internet provides an ideal tool to boost competition in the Internal Market, the Commission acknowledges that more work is needed to improve consumer confidence. Businesses will also be looking for help to overcome current obstacles to marketing and selling their products across EU borders.

Story

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Bulgaria and Romania to join EU in 2007

The Commission on Tuesday gave Bulgaria and Romania the go-ahead to join the Union in January, but with the closest monitoring system ever imposed on new members.

Story

Analysis: impact of entry into the EU

2. EU to dismantle shipping price-fixing system

The EU has announced that it will outlaw a system dating back to the 1870s which has allowed shipping companies to fix freight rates in exchange for ensuring regular services.

Story

3. EU to restrict liquids on flights, for security reasons

EU Member States have agreed to restrict the amount of liquid allowed to be taken on board planes in hand luggage in order to increase security.

Story

4. EU proposes sharp reduction in deep-sea fishing

The Commission proposed on Thursday a tightening of protection for endangered deep-sea fish stocks in EU waters.

Story

5. European court annuls EU ban on Glaxo's dual pricing system

Pharmaceuticals company Glaxo Wellcome won a victory in the EU courts on Wednesday over its attempts to stop drug wholesalers from re-exporting its medicines at high profits.

Story

6. EU condemns Spain for hindering E.ON-Endesa bid

The Commission ruled Tuesday that Spain had breached EU regulations in trying to protect Spanish electricity giant Endesa from a takeover bid by German energy group E.ON.

Story

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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Enlargement: Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, on Thursday said membership of the Union should remain open to countries that wished to join.

Story

Iran-EU nuclear talks 'positive' but no accord
European ministers seek to hold back illegal immigration wave
Council adopts common position on FP7

European Council

Commission Watch

Agriculture: the Commission has called for radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy after the next budget period expires in 2013.
Story
EC weighs steps to shield public services from competition
Enlargement Commissioner to visit Turkey ahead of key report

European Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch

Strasbourg seat: EP President Josep Borrell on Thursday signed a deal with Strasbourg mayor Fabienne Keller to buy the complex of buildings around the EU parliamentary seat.
Story
One million people urge EU to scrap Strasbourg parliament seat
Euro-MPs deplore Turkey's slow reform progress
Parliament calls for fund to cope with illegal immigration
EP's 'Mr Clean' suspected of fraud

Also at this week's plenary session, Euro-MPs adopted a report on the quality and certification of organic farming; voted on three reports on fisheries issues; adopted an own-initiative report on EU's economic and trade relations with India; welcomed progress on the Galileo programme but called for creative solutions; and gave their support for nanosciences if managed ethically.

European Parliament

EU diary

2-3 Oct, Informal defence ministerial meeting, Kittila
5-6 Oct, Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg
6-7 Oct, Informal Gender Equality meeting, Helsinki
10 Oct, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Luxembourg
12 Oct, Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council, Luxembourg
16-17 Oct, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council

Week Ahead
Lond-term Diary

Community

PressZONE

Recycling: Europe is already the global champion in paper recycling with a regional rate of 55.4%, higher than either Asia or America, but today the industries along the paper value chain raised the bar with the launch of the 'European Declaration on Paper Recycling' and an ambitious new target.
Story

Responsible drinking: compliance with the alcohol industry's responsible marketing guidelines has improved significantly according to an independent monitoring exercise, carried out annually by National Advertising Standards bodies and made public by the European Forum for Responsible Drinking for the first time.
Story

PressZONE: PressZONE

Comment

Commenting on our piece "Biggest EU political grouping calls for Hungarian government to quit", S Moore writes:

"Calling for the Hungarian government to step down only months after it won general elections is hardly promoting democracy. Indeed, the faith of the Hungarian public in the country's democratic institutions (which is already very low) would be shaken further were the government - which is still supported by a significant proportion of the population - to step down in the face of street protests by no more than a small fraction of a percent of Hungarians."
Story

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

Events

16-17 Oct, Brussels: European Energy Policy Conference
18-20 Oct, Paris: World e-government forum

Events: Events

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