EU eyes public smoking ban - EUbusiness Week no 342

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 342
2 February 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
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1. Antitrust watchdog eyes retail banking crackdown
2. EU seen reducing backlog of unimplemented laws
3. Brussels introduces plans for greener car fuels
4. European economic optimism sours in January
5. EU urges 'more ambitious' cuts in US farm aid
6. Japan, EU agree to slash tuna catch amid extinction fears

Publisher's Note
================
As the trend towards smoke-free environments continues, the
Commission on Tuesday launched a major debate on the need
for EU-wide legislation for a smoking ban in public areas
throughout Europe.

Options set out in the Green Paper range from doing nothing
to imposing binding European legislation, With passive
smoking in the EU killing more than 79,000 adults every
year, Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou - a former 60-a-
day man - is in favour of a total ban in public places and
offices, including bars and restaurants. The consultation
ends on May 1, after which the Commission will make
proposals on the basis of responses.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/eu-smoking-ban.21

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Antitrust watchdog eyes retail banking crackdown
---------------------------------------------------
Europe's top regulator Neelie Kroes vowed on Wednesday to
crack down on banks and payment card companies that stifle
competition, after finding obstacles were driving up costs
for consumers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/retail-banking-eu.45

2. EU seen reducing backlog of unimplemented laws
-------------------------------------------------
Member States have reduced the backlog of unimplemented
EU laws on the bloc's vast internal market to a record low.
http://www.eubusiness.com/EUlaw/eu-laws.5

3. Brussels introduces plans for greener car fuels
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The Commission has announced plans to introduce EU-wide
rules for cleaner vehicle fuels.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/car-fuels-eu.84

4. European economic optimism sours in January
----------------------------------------------
Economic optimism fell in Europe in January amid "subdued"
confidence across the economy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/economic-optimism.59

5. EU urges 'more ambitious' cuts in US farm aid
-----------------------------------------------
Washington must make "more ambitious" cuts in aid to its
farmers if stalled WTO talks are to be concluded
successfully, the Commission said in reaction to US plans
to reduce farm spending.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/us-farm-aid.29

6. Japan, EU agree to slash tuna catch amid extinction fears
------------------------------------------------------------
The EU and Japan have agreed to slash their tuna quotas by
more than 20 per cent.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/tuna-japan-eu.17

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

Council Watch
-------------
French deficit: France, once one of the worst violators of
EU fiscal rules, was cast on Tuesday as a model of sound
budget management as Paris' EU partners dropped
disciplinary action over its public finances.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/france-eu-deficit.07
EU states, except France, back fruit and veg aid proposals
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/eu-agri-council.39
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Finance: Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin
Almunia has voiced optimism about economic growth in the
eurozone, saying his forecasts needed to be lifted.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/eurozone-growth.01
Mandelson's WTO methods unacceptable: French minister
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1170090029.87
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Far-right: Euro-MPs closed ranks on Thursday to exclude
members of a new extreme right group from key committee
positions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/far-right-eu.1
Free-trade foe to head Parliament's trade body
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/ep-trade.59
MEPs observe minute's silence for slain Turkish journalist
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1170259201.9
Constitution is key to success says new president Pottering
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/constitution.05

At committee meetings this week, the German Presidency
briefed MEPs on its programme. At their mini plenary
session, MEPs pronounced themselves in favour of a universal
moratorium on the death penalty; adopted an own-initiative
on the prevention of overweight, obesity and chronic
diseases; and called for harmonisation of limitation
periods for cross-border disputes over accidents.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
11 Feb, Meeting of Trade Ministers, Brussels
12-13 Feb, Informal Meeting of Culture Ministers, Berlin
12-13 Feb, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations, Brussels
13 Feb, EP Plenary, Strasbourg
The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
Long-term diary: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary

Community
=========

PressZONE
---------
Retail banking: the banking industry is fully committed to
achieving a high level of competitiveness and providing a
high level of service to EU banking consumers - European
Banking Federation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ebf.2007-01-31

Commission report on banking mobility: no surprise! - BEUC
European Consumers' Organisation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/beuc.2007-01-31

Join PressZONE and publish your organisation's policy papers
and news directly onto EUbusiness.
http://www.eubusiness.com/press

Events
------
5 Mar, Berlin: International Symposium EU-Funds
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/eu-funds-symposium

7 Mar, Brussels: Lobbying in the EU
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/eu-lobbying
Events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Other stories on EUbusiness this week
-------------------------------------
EU watchdog raps ECB over US data transfers 1-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ecb-data-transfers.56
EU to rule on Sony BMG merger by 1 March 1-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/sony-bmg.95
Eurozone manufacturing activity slows in January 1-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/manufacturing.68
Bulgarian nuclear shut-downs could lead to instability 1-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Bulgaria/1170331225.3
Italy illegally blocked Autostrade-Abertis merger 1-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/autostrade-abertis.66
European growth still lagging US 31-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/european-growth.36
EU regulators drop De Beers probe 31-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/de-beers.94
Eurozone jobless falls to record low of 7.5 per cent 31-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/eurozone-jobless.76
Europe stubs out trade in Asian cigarette lighters 31-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/asian-cigarettes.48
Court confirms abuse of position by France Telecom 31-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/france-telecom.5

Internet Monitor
================
Internal Market Scoreboard
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/internal-market-scoreboard

Smoke-free options - Green Paper
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/tobacco.2007-01-31

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