EU seeks new Africa partnership - EUbusiness Week no 380

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 380
7 December 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Strong euro, tight credit hits eurozone growth
2. EU agrees shake-up of e-trade sales tax
3. EU-US 'green' WTO proposals protectionist: Brazil
4. Bosnia takes symbolic step towards EU
5. EU seeks to boost defence industry competition
6. Europeans, Americans fret over China's rise

Publisher's Note
================
EU leaders meet their African counterparts at the EU-Africa
summit this weekend looking to improve wide-ranging ties
between the two continents.

The EU wants to discuss strategies to stem the tide of
illegal migration to Europe. It is also keen to show that
it has shed colonial attitudes, and that it can counter
China's growing influence in the region.

The theme of the summit is partnership, however, and African
concerns about the impact of trade accords currently being
forged with ACP countries will not go away. Perhaps the key
issue is whether the EU really does see the summit as a
stepping-stone in a long-term process, and not just an
end in itself.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196912829.91

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Strong euro, tight credit hits eurozone growth
-------------------------------------------------
A strong euro and tougher credit conditions will weigh on
the eurozone economy next year, the OECD predicted on
Thursday, cutting its 2008 growth forecast to 1.9 per
cent from 2.3 per cent previously.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196937121.69
EU, IMF also see darker economic outlook
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196720222.22

2. EU agrees shake-up of e-trade sales tax
------------------------------------------
EU finance ministers agreed a shake-up of tax on electronic
commerce after overcoming deep opposition from Luxembourg,
which feared losing its role as an e-trade hub.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196173921.76

3. EU-US 'green' WTO proposals protectionist: Brazil
----------------------------------------------------
Brazil has sharply criticised joint proposals by the USA and
EU for fewer tariffs and other trade barriers on "green"
goods and services as protectionist and only serving
their own interests.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196789524.06

4. Bosnia takes symbolic step towards EU
----------------------------------------
Bosnia took its first tentative step on the road towards
eventual EU membership on Tuesday after rival ethnic leaders
reached a breakthrough agreement on long-delayed reforms.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196784121.17

5. EU seeks to boost defence industry competition
-------------------------------------------------
The Commission has moved to discourage EU countries from
using a national defence clause to buy military clothing
and spare parts and avoid the bloc's competition laws.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196866921.22

6. Europeans, Americans fret over China's rise
----------------------------------------------
A majority of Europeans and Americans view China's emergence
as a major economic power as a threat, with only the British
seeing an opportunity, according to a survey.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196874121.27

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

Council Watch
-------------
Working rules: employment ministers have failed to reach
long-sought agreements on granting temporary workers more
protection and working time rules due to resistance from
some Member States.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196880422.03
EU moves to more coordinated financial sector oversight
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196787726.4
EU endorses entry of 9 nations into border-free zone
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196955125.23
EU 'reflection group' will not focus on enlargement
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196950621.81
EU to have death penalty day thanks to new Polish govt
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196965021.61
'No need' for Danish referendum on EU treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196783221.53
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Energy: Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said Monday he
saw wide support for controversial proposals from the
Commission to split up big power and gas companies to
boost competition.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196705831.4
Counterfeit Commissioner a 'priority' for Rome
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196788621.6
Russian elections 'not up to international standards'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196787725.64
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Political groups spent the week preparing for next week's
Strasbourg plenary session. Legislation due for vote
includes reform of the wine market and the EU budget for
2008, plus the air quality rules and the remaining part
of the rail interoperability package.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
12 Dec, EU-Africa Summit
10 Dec, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council
13 Dec, Signing ceremony of the Treaty of Lisbon
14 Dec, European Council
17 Dec, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
20 Dec, Environment Council
21 Dec, Ceremony of opening of Schengen borders

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

EUbusiness Community
====================

Comment
-------
Commenting on our piece "Stalled reforms expose fragility of
post-war Bosnia", Nicholas Klinsman writes:

"When you say Bosnian then you could be talking about a
person either Serbian Orthodox, Croatian Catholic, or
Muslim. France and England are distinct nationalities with
distinct languages so nobody would refer to them as
Catholic or Anglican. In Bosnia-Hercegovina the differences
between the three groups is religion so in order to
identify them, religion is obviously what is used."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1189477023.91
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

EUpress
-------
IACA: Member States must correct EP's punitive ETS Design
http://www.eubusiness.com/Press/iaca-press.07-12-0

UEAPME: Council's agreement on VAT package a boon for SMEs
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/ueapme-press.07-12-06

GCAP: No to Africa-EU Strategy based on unfair trade deals
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/gcap-press.07-12-05

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
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Press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

EUevents
--------
1Jan 08, Graz: Central European Biomass Conference 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/european-career-fair.07

11 Mar, Villach: Trust2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/trust2008.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
------
Intern, European Turbine Network
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/etn-job.07-11-28

Scientific Officer, European Food Safety Authority
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/efsa-job.07-11-28
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUguides
--------
EU trade deficit of EUR 35bn with Africa in 2006
http://www.eubusiness.com/Africa/eu-africa-trade-06

Guide on EU defence procurement
http://www.eubusiness.com/Defence/eu-procurement-guide

EC approval of UK rescue aid package for Northern Rock
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/northern-rock-guide
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUlinks
-------
Air passengers' complaints in 2006: report
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/air-passengers.32

EC Philanthropy for Research website
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/philanthropy-for-research

Industrial relations in EU, Japan, US and others
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/ind-relations.07
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
European Security Law
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/european-security-law

Security and Defence Policy in the European Union
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/security-defence-eu.bk

The Kosovo Crisis: Post-Cold War European Security
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/kosovo-crisis.bk
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU regulators approve Northern Rock bailout 6-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196853421.45
Europe squeezed by China's Africa push 6-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196912826.27
US shuttle ready to take European lab to space 6-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196908322.8
EU urges philanthropic contributions to research 6-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/philanthropy-forum
Eurozone retail sales weaker than expected Oct 5-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196851621.71
South Africa holds back signing trade pact with EU 5-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196859721.41
EU orders Spain to drop Endesa takeover conditions 5-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196859731.93
Regulators hit rubber cartel with EUR 243m fines 5-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196855221.5
Attitudes to science in the media: new survey 5-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/science-media.01
Europe urges steeper greenhouse gas cuts 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196756222.48
EU eases foot-and-mouth restrictions on UK, Cyprus 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196706724.59
Eurozone unemployment rate hits record low 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196678821.96

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