Shake-up for EU energy sector - EUbusiness Week no 369

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 369
21 September 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Microsoft loses landmark EU antitrust case
2. EC presents finance plans to save Galileo satnav project
3. EU watching Northern Rock bailout for state-aid problems
4. EU seeks new tools to prevent animal disease outbreaks
5. EU bans tuna fishing as quotas breached
6. EU hopes to open new borders in time for Christmas

Publisher's Note
================
The Commission's plans to shake up Europe's energy markets,
announced on Wednesday, have been welcomed by the BEUC
consumer association. They see these as delivering lower
prices for consumers and making energy supplies more secure.
Not so keen, however, are energy giants such as Germany's
EON and France's EDF - concerned about the call to split big
gas and electricity suppliers from their power networks; or
Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom - likely to resent the tough
conditions imposed on foreign companies looking to buy
assets in Europe.

The Commission awaits their response and that of the
European Parliament. However, it believes the current
situation, which stifles competition and discourages
companies from investing in Europe's ageing energy
infrastructure, is no longer an option.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/1190204225.28

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Microsoft loses landmark EU antitrust case
---------------------------------------------
A top European court on Monday handed Microsoft a surprise
defeat in its epic antitrust battles, backing the
Commission's 2004 record fine of EUR 497 million on
the software giant.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1190019721.84

2. EC presents finance plans to save Galileo satnav project
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The Commission has proposed funding the troubled
multi-billion-euro satellite navigation project Galileo
wholly from EU coffers, rather than with money from
private industry or member states.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1190205125.81

3. EU watching Northern Rock bailout for state-aid problems
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EU antitrust regulators are keeping an eye on state aid to
struggling British mortgage lender Northern Rock for
potential competition issues, but currently see "no
problem", according to a spokesman.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1190115121.34

4. EU seeks new tools to prevent animal disease outbreaks
---------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has unveiled wide-ranging proposals to reduce
to "a negligible level" the serious threats which animal
diseases, such as bird flu, pose to human health and the
rural economy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/1190197929.6

5. EU bans tuna fishing as quotas breached
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The Commission is banning bluefin tuna fishing in the
eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean for the rest of
the year because of overfishing and dwindling stocks.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/1190200621.47

6. EU hopes to open new borders in time for Christmas
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The EU is hoping to open up its land borders to nine new
countries ahead of schedule so that citizens can enjoy
freer intra-EU travel for Christmas.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1190125928.23

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

Council Watch
-------------
Agriculture: farm ministers are growing anxious to ramp up
cereals and milk production as farmers, used to an output
glut, struggle to keep up with soaring demand and prices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1190139421.48
It's Mugabe or me at EU-Africa summit: British PM
http://www.eubusiness.com/Africa/1190305021.31
Turkey does not belong in Europe: Sarkozy
http://www.eubusiness.com/Turkey/1190317621.45
EU agrees new mandate for 'anti-terror' chief
http://www.eubusiness.com/Living_in_EU/1190111521.96
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Microsoft: Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has warned
Microsoft that she expects it to cut its dominant market
share to comply with a 2004 Commission anti-trust ruling.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1190029621.53
Bulgaria honours Commissioner for Libyan AIDS case
http://www.eubusiness.com/Bulgaria/1190026922.27
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Groups week. Parliament's political groups devoted most of
the week to preparations for next week's Strasbourg plenary.
Main points on the agenda include reports on immigration,
the third-reading agreement on the third railway package,
reform of the sugar market and prospects for a common
foreign policy on energy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
21 Sep, Informal Meeting of Ministers for Development
21 Sep, Ministerial Troika EU/New Zealand
24 Sep, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation meeting
26 Sep, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
27 Sep, Competitiveness Council
28 Sep, Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers
1 Oct, Transports, Telecommunications and Energy Council

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

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

EUpress
-------
Energy market proposals fail to meet real challenges - ETUC
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/etuc-press.07-09-20

Energy sector shake-up lacks clout on regulation - UEAPME
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/ueapme.press.07-09-19

Banks favour further integration of retail banking markets -
European Banking Federation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ebf.press.07-09-19

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EUevents
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1 Oct, Trier: European Family Law and Law of Succession
http://www.eubusiness.com/EUlaw/family-law.07

8 Oct, Estoril: Financing Innovation from ideas to market
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/financing-innovation.07
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EUbooks
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Employment Law Questions & Answers
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Future of Investing in Europe's Markets after MiFID
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/europe-markets.bk
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EUjobs
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Project Officer - Environment, EUROCITIES
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eurocities-job.07-09-17

Human Factors Expert, European Aviation Safety Agency
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/easa-job.07-09-17
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EUguides
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New EU energy policy
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/eu-energy-policy.qa

European Community Animal Health Policy 2007-13
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/animal-health-eu

EUlinks
-------
eSafety website
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/esafety

Intelligent Car Initiative
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/intelligent-car
Links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Poland wants its migrants to come home: president 20-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Poland/1190222221.36
EU regulators clear RBS-led bid for ABN Amro 20-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1190220422.0
Cancer research spending on the rise in Europe 19-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/cancer-research.19
Gazprom to make voice heard in EU energy debate 19-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/1190213223.4
EU hits zips cartel with EUR 328 million in fines 19-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1190197926.91
Germany opens job market to east European engineers 19-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/1190205121.2
EU eases visa restrictions with five Balkans states 18-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1190130422.3
EU plans safer, greener and smarter cars 18-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/eu-green-cars.35
EUR 7.6 million for EU - US university cooperation 18-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Education/eu-us-education.01
EU fund for poor nations to fight global warming 18-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1190125921.81
Cyprus seeks to delay EU-mandated tax hikes 17-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Cyprus/1190041321.96
ECB bats away latest French swipes 17-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1190032321.66

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