EC gives way on trade deals - EUbusiness Week no 372

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 372
12 October 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU in drive to boost financial market stability
2. EU shelves idea of European coast guard, ship registry
3. EU to scrap quota limits for Chinese textiles
4. Brussels proposes car brake assist systems from 2009
5. Romania fears drop in farming aid following reform delays
6. Ryanair files European fuel surcharges complaint

Publisher's Note
================
The European Commission has signalled an easing of its
ambitions in the race to conclude Economic Partnership
Agreements (EPAs) with the ACP group of 78 African,
Caribbean and Pacific-rim countries.

It may now aim for goods-only, rather than services oriented
agreements, in a bid to conclude EPAs by the end of the year
- when current preferential market access, ruled illegal by
the World Trade Organisation, is due to expire.

Nevertheless, there will be concern in many ACP countries
that they could face higher tariffs in January if the EPAs
are not agreed in time. Many believe that more time is
needed to agree deals which are development-friendly
and which do not go beyond WTO rules.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1191867424.54

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU in drive to boost financial market stability
--------------------------------------------------
EU finance ministers launched a drive on Tuesday to bolster
Europe's defences against financial crises after recent
market turmoil concentrated minds on potential dangers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1191939421.72

2. EU shelves idea of European coast guard, ship registry
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The Commission has dropped the idea of a European coast guard
and a single EU ship registry in an action plan for maritime
policy presented on Wednesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1192025822.25

3. EU to scrap quota limits for Chinese textiles
------------------------------------------------
The Commission and China have agreed to scrap the current
quota restrictions on Chinese textiles next year in favour
of a monitoring system.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1191928622.53

4. Brussels proposes car brake assist systems from 2009
-------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has proposed the mandatory introduction of
brake assist systems into new cars from 2009, in order to
cut down the number of deaths on Europe's roads.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1191853023.83

5. Romania fears drop in farming aid following reform delays
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Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu says he fears delays
to agricultural reforms in his country requested by the EU
would cause the bloc to reduce aid to farmers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Romania/1192015021.16

6. Ryanair files European fuel surcharges complaint
---------------------------------------------------
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair said Thursday it had lodged a
formal complaint with the Commission over recent fuel
surcharge increases from Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and Swiss.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1192119420.98

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

Council Watch
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Galileo: the EU on Tuesday failed again to break a deadlock
over how to fund the ambitious but troubled Galileo satellite
network, meant to rival the US Global Positioning System.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1191943021.86
EU drops deficit action against Britain
http://www.eubusiness.com/UK/1191924122.43
EU unveils new reform treaty draft ahead of key summit
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/1191600122.31
EU to finalise EU-Africa summit list end-October
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1192130222.16
54 pct of Danes for referendum on EU reform treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/Denmark/1192099626.44
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Seats: Parliament voted on Thursday to cut the number of
seats allocated to 17 EU member states for its next
legislature starting in 2009, a plan which has angered Italy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/1192099627.04
MEPs hold minute silence for death penalty victims
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1192029421.78

Also at their Brussels mini-plenary this week Euro-MPs gave
the green light to the EU-US Open Sky agreement signed at the
EU-US summit in April 2007; called for a 'master plan' for
enhanced airport capacity; welcomed a Commission proposal to
improve the transparency and budgetary implementation of EU
farm aid; adopted a report on the collection and management
of data on the Common Fisheries Policy; and adopted a report
on cigarette smuggling (EC-Philip Morris agreement).
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

Commission Watch
----------------
Tax: Economic Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia has warned
EU members against squandering windfall revenues from strong
economic growth by failing to use extra cash to cut their
public deficits.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1191934921.62
AU-EU summit must not be derailed by Zimbabwe row: Barroso
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1191858424.07
EU urges Turkey to step up reform momentum
http://www.eubusiness.com/Turkey/1191938522.34
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

EU diary
--------
15 Oct, General Affairs and External Relations Council
18 Oct, Lisbon Informal Summit / Intergov'tal Conference
20 Oct, 6th EuroMed Trade Ministerial Conference
22 Oct, Agriculture and Fisheries Council

The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
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Community Resources
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EUpress
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EU must say no to palm oil for energy - Friends of the Earth
http://www.eubusiness.com/Press/foe.07-10-09

Undeclared Work in Construction Sector - European
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http://www.eubusiness.com/Press/ebc.07-10-08

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Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative
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Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union - Q&A
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EUlinks
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU fails to agree on GMO potato 11-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/1192030322.41
Bosnian leaders fail to agree on key police reforms 11-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Bosnia/1192122122.26
EU sees 'steady' eurozone growth 11-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1192099622.91
EU probes Spanish tax loophole for foreign takeovers 11-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1192012325.4
Reuters CEO plays down EU probe into Thomson deal 10-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/1191987123.09
SKorea may make concessions to spur EU trade talks 10-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1191987121.9
Polish fishermen dump fish heads in anti-EU protest 10-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/1192027621.47
Corporate R&D investments still rising: EU study 8-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/rd-investments.01
EU, China to carry out joint study on regions 8-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/China/1191857522.04
Clinical Trials Directive: 'room for improvement' 8-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/Pharma/clinical-trials.01

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