EU talks tough with Russia - EUbusiness Week no 365

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 365
20 July 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU seeks to dominate mobile TV market
2. EU threatens legal action if Polish roadworks resume
3. EU suspends WTO complaint against India
4. EU split over GM potato
5. Russia 'forced' to apply EU chemical standards
6. 'New Europe' up in arms over EU wine reform plan

Publisher's Note
================
Britain's EU partners have rallied behind her in her
growing row with Russia, which has failed to cooperate
with a probe into the murder of a former agent in London.

People in general and business in particular fear a
crackdown on everyday cooperation between the blocs. But
relations between the EU and Russia have deteriorated in
line with falls in the country's standards of human rights,
media freedom and democratic government. In reality,
little is expected to change in these fields before next
year's presidential election in Russia.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Russia/1184792401.29

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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU seeks to dominate mobile TV market
----------------------------------------
The European Commission seeks to boost Europe's chances of
dominating the emerging market for mobile television
technology by pushing for a single European standard.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/1184760016.01

2. EU threatens legal action if Polish roadworks resume
-------------------------------------------------------
The Commission is threatening to resume court action
against Poland if it goes ahead with a highway construction
project through an environmentally fragile forest.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1184673617.01

3. EU suspends WTO complaint against India
------------------------------------------
The EU temporarily suspended its World Trade Organisation
complaint against India's import duties on alcoholic
drinks after India cut some of the tariffs.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1184583611.84

4. EU split over GM potato
--------------------------
EU farm ministers have failed to reach an agreement on
allowing a new genetically modified potato on the market,
leaving the decision by default to the Commission.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1184608811.18

5. Russia 'forced' to apply EU chemical standards
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Russia will be "forced" to apply EU safety standards in
the chemical industry, which will cost Russian companies up
to 10 per cent of their export earnings, Russian officials
said on Monday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Chemicals/1184590802.0

6. 'New Europe' up in arms over EU wine reform plan
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Wine producers from new EU members in central and eastern
Europe say that EU's plans to reform the wine sector will
come at their expense and could have "dramatic"
implications.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1184288401.69

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

Council Watch
-------------
Wine: farm ministers battled on Monday over proposals to
shake up Europe's wine sector by uprooting excess vines
and launching an overseas marketing blitz.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1184587201.44
Britain to brief EU on Russia ties next week
http://www.eubusiness.com/Russia/1184864401.77
France does not question ECB independence: minister
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1184868007.3
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Competition: with only a few months to go before he retires
in September, Judge Bo Vesterdorf is keeping the pressure
on the Commission with tough rulings for the EU
competition watchdog.
http://www.eubusiness.com/EUlaw/1184468401.8
EU says new WTO proposals 'useful step forward'
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1184688001.64
Ukraine: fair polls 'a must' for further rapprochement
http://www.eubusiness.com/Ukraine/1184680802.21
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Vietnam: Vietnam has expressed "regret" over Parliament's
adoption of a resolution on the deteriorating human
rights situation in the communist country.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Asia/1184400002.15

Giscard d'Estaing, former President of the Convention on
the Future of Europe, has told the Constitutional Affairs
Committee that the EU Reform Treaty was a cosmetic change
to avoid referendums. Also this week, the Agriculture
Committee urged reform the milk market, though not at
excessive cost to producers, and examined the possibility
of a ban on EU imports of Brazilian beef; and the Industry
Committee endorsed EU coordinators for key energy projects.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
21 Jul, Informal Meeting of Ministers for Development
23 Jul, General Affairs and External Relations Council
24 Jul, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
26 Jul, Ministerial Conference: Cultural Forum for Europe
28 Aug, Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers

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

Community Resources
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Comment of the Week
-------------------
Commenting on our piece "Estonia urges EU to defend small
countries against Russia", Christoph Suess writes:

"I think smaller EU countries' fears are understandable.
The Schroeder government has been very close to Putin, so
now may be the time to address fears by those middle and
eastern European countries of being shut out once again by
Merkel. I think that with her personal background she has a
lot of credibility, and there may be a great chance to
accommodate both: Eastern European fears and German
geopolitical interests. As Wess Mitchell is arguing on
Atlantic-Community.org, I think that some transatlantic
approach may also help in order to avoid dividing Europe
once more."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1184176816.14

Please note: any comments considered offensive or
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EUpress
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lobbyists.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/eu-lobbying.64

EU drought/water-scarcity strategy 'ignores water-wasting
farmers' - EEB
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/eeb-press.2007-07-18

Europe not hungry for GM potatoes: Friends of the Earth
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/foe.07-07-16

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http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/eurogas.07-07-05
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Safety and health at work - EU report 2006
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/safety-at-work.06

Risks from hormone residues in beef: latest review
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/hormone-residues-beef
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EUguides
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EU Strategy for Mobile TV - frequently asked questions
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/mobile-tv.guide

Bridging the Gender Pay Gap - guide
http://www.eubusiness.com/Social/eu-gender-gap

China and product safety: frequently asked questions
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU agrees deal on US-bound air passenger data 19-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1184842802.0
EU examines reach of foreign funds amid complaints 19-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1184850001.78
Depression danger of weight loss pill: EMEA 19-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Pharma/1184875201.76
EC thumbs up for 'broadband over powerlines' 19-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/opera2.86
EU orders Greece to recover illegal tax relief 18-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1184756401.42
Eurozone trade surplus narrows 26 pct in May 18-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/1184752822.46
Cheer over Indian drinks duty cut short-lived? 18-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1184724001.63
EU approves capital injections for German banks 18-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1184752816.4
Court countdown to landmark Microsoft ruling 17-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1184677201.32
Eurozone inflation tame in June at 1.9 pct 16-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/1184580015.03
India-Myanmar helicopter sale 'threatens' EU ban 16-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1184547601.49
Electricity consumption up despite efficiency drive 16-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/energy-consumption.52

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