EU chemicals agency opens - EUbusiness Week no 359

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 359
8 June 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Serbia heralds EU decision to resume rapprochement talks
2. EU to tighten rules on time-share holidays
3. Court rules against Swedish alcohol import controls
4. EU tackles back-ache at the workplace
5. Belgium launches fraud probe over EU cleaning contract
6. Swiss burrow a hole in the EU's free cheese trade

Publisher's Note
================
The European Chemicals Agency was declared open in Helsinki
on 1 June, its remit being to implement REACH, the EU's new
chemicals legislation to eliminate dangerous chemicals.

REACH shifts the obligation to prove a chemical's safety
from the authorities to industry. Companies will need to
register all chemicals they use and provide information
about them as well as any potential hazards.

The task of converting the REACH regulation into reality
depends on the quality and effectiveness of the new
agency's work. With some 30,000 chemical substances
expected to be registered over the next 11 years, the new
agency is likely to have its work cut out when it becomes
operational in June next year.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Chemicals/1180688424.95

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Serbia heralds EU decision to resume rapprochement talks
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Belgrade has welcomed the EU's decision to resume talks
with Serbia on closer ties next week as "extremely
positive" for the Balkan country.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Serbia/1181232001.91
EU presses Turkey to pursue reforms
http://www.eubusiness.com/Turkey/1180965601.55

2. EU to tighten rules on time-share holidays
---------------------------------------------
The Commission proposed Thursday to shake up rules on
time-share holidays in order to crack down on abuses by
plugging loopholes in existing regulations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/1181235605.19

3. Court rules against Swedish alcohol import controls
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Swedish wine lovers could crack open the champagne on
Tuesday after a European court ruled that a Swedish ban
on individuals importing alcohol was an unjustified bar
to the movement of goods.
http://www.eubusiness.com/EUlaw/1181037607.17

4. EU tackles back-ache at the workplace
----------------------------------------
The Commission is debating whether new laws are needed to
help prevent job-related physical problems like back and
muscular pain, which hits around one in four workers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/1180980011.16

5. Belgium launches fraud probe over EU cleaning contract
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Belgian authorities have launched a fraud investigation
over a multi-million euro cleaning contract for EU
buildings in Brussels, Europe's Anti-Fraud Office confirms.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1180972802.33

6. Swiss burrow a hole in the EU's free cheese trade
----------------------------------------------------
A long battle came to a close on 1 June when the EU and
non-member Switzerland formally removed barriers to the
trade in cheese, a product that stimulates national
pride and commercial acumen as much as tastebuds.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/swiss-cheese.12

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

Council Watch
-------------
Roaming: telecoms ministers have backed rules slashing the
cost of cross-border mobile phone calls by up to 70 per
cent, lifting the last political hurdle to their
application.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1181214001.89
EU drops deficit action against Germany
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ecofin-council.06
EU to back Galileo bailout, but tough talks on funds
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/1181131220.03
EU presidency optimistic about reform accord this month
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/1181214014.46
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Immigration: Justice Commissioner Frattini launched a
scathing attack Wednesday on EU countries for failing to
show solidarity as their partners struggle to deal with
illegal immigrants.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Living_in_EU/1181131234.48
Commission tests new climate friendly cars
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1181070001.21
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Galileo: the Security and Defence subcommittee broadly
agreed that public funding now looks to be the best
financing option for Europe's satellite navigation
project Galileo.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/galileo.07-06-07
Euro-MPs threaten to oppose stripped-down treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/1181152813.66
Euro-MPs accused of setting bad example on smoking
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/1181138420.34

Also this week, the Employment Committee said job
qualifications earned in any Member State should be
comparable throughout the EU by 2012, but with an extra
year to implement the proposed European Qualification
Framework. In plenary, Parliament adopted a report on the
draft estimates of the EP's revenue and expenditure for
2008; as well as a report on the Pruem Treaty, which will
allow the EU27 to exchange DNA data to fight crime. MEPs
also voted for flexible forms of farm aid tailored to the
needs of different types of fruit and vegetables; and
called for better protection for performing artists working
outside their home country.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
6-8 Jun, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
11-12 Jun, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
12-13 Jun, Justice and Home Affairs Council
18 Jun, EP Plenary
18 Jun, EU - Moldova Cooperation Council
18 Jun, EU - Ukraine Cooperation Council
18-19 Jun, General Affairs & External Relations Council
21-22 Jun, European Council

The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
Long-term diary: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary

Community Resources
===================

Comments
--------
Commenting on our piece "Malaysia on palmoil charm
offensive in Europe", Andrew Boswell writes:

"European policy makers must be aware that many unanswered
concerns remain for European NGOs about the sustainability
and human rights of Palm Oil production. These are critical
when the recent EU Biofuels directive of 10 per cent target
for biofuels will force massive imports of biofuel from
tropical countries like Malaysia. Environmentalists are
concerned that despite well documented environmental damage
from the Palm Oil industry, this delegation is seeking to
greenwash its lucrative industry and hijack calls for
greater scrutiny of both Palm Oil and biofuels."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1181138401.73

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

EUpress
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Spirits producers sign up to EU Alcohol & Health Forum
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/ceps.07-06-07

Aviation industry against Emission Trading Scheme
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/iaca.07-06-06

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EUevents
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14 Jun, Paris: Managing diversity in the workplace
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/diversity

3 Sep, Manchester: Int'l Industrial Relations Assoc.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/iira.07-06-04
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Business Analyst, Emerging Markets Group
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/emg.07-06-06

Office Manager, European Cyclists Federation
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European Business Council in Japan
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EUguides
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Timeshare and long-term holiday products in the EU
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/timeshare.qa

The EU and musculoskeletal disorders
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/msd-eu

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and REACH
http://www.eubusiness.com/Chemicals/reach-eu.qa
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU urges more action to limit over-fishing 7-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/1181239208.85
EU boosts access to finance for 'risky' projects 6-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/rsff.07-06-06
Galileo receives backing of European public 6-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/galileo.63
EU, Japan agree joint priorities for R&D 6-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eu-japan-research.57
EU wine deal phases out Australian 'Champagne' 6-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/1181131250.97
Germany, Luxembourg join Euro electricity market 6-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/1181059201.48
Eurozone retail sales growth slows in April 6-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/1181037601.61
European postal workers to protest liberalisation 5-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/1181052001.8
WTO to rule in EU complaint on US anti-dumping 4-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1180969203.03
EU approves TUI's takeover of First Choice travel 4-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1180976401.78
EU studies reintroducing animal remains to farm feed 1-Jun
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1180702808.64

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