Slovenia takes over EU Presidency - EUbusiness Week no 383

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 383
11 January 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU presidency expects economy to weaken in 2008
2. EU drops antitrust case against Apple's iTunes
3. EU mulling changes to rules for public broadcasters
4. Germany to exempt EU groups from investment limits law
5. Liverpool to launch EU culture capital celebrations
6. Belgium destroys over 3,000 bottles of sham US champers

Publisher's Note
================
Happy New Year and welcome back to all our readers. The New
Year began with Slovenia, a country with a population of two
million, assuming the six-month rotating presidency of the
27-member-state European Union.

The first former communist state to take over the presidency
has put Kosovo at the top of its agenda, hoping to exploit
its position as a former Yugoslav state. It also wants to
accelerate the process of EU accession for former
Yugoslav countries Croatia and Serbia.

The Slovenia presidency has promised "an offensive of
friendship, partnership [...] understanding and solidarity".
As Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstroem said, it
also "puts an effective end to the division between new
and old member states".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199143021.79

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU presidency expects economy to weaken in 2008
--------------------------------------------------
Europe's economy faces a rougher time in 2008 than last year
in the face of financial market stress and surging oil and
food prices, the Slovenian presidency warned on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199800921.9
Economic confidence in Europe stronger than expected
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199701021.64

2. EU drops antitrust case against Apple's iTunes
-------------------------------------------------
Apple has escaped a potentially costly antitrust battle with
EU competition regulators after promising to cut British
prices for music downloads on its popular iTunes online
media store.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199872921.68
Regulators studying Intel response to antitrust charges
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199717221.68

3. EU mulling changes to rules for public broadcasters
------------------------------------------------------
The Commission said Thursday it was considering making
proposals to revise rules on EU members' funding of their
public broadcasters.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199975522.65

4. Germany to exempt EU groups from investment limits law
---------------------------------------------------------
Germany will bow to pressure from the Commission and amend
a proposed law on foreign investment limits to exempt
EU-based investors, according to a press report.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199956622.21

5. Liverpool to launch EU culture capital celebrations
------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool launches its year as European Capital of Culture
this weekend with events including a musical about its
past and future starring ex-Beatle Ringo Starr.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199931422.67

6. Belgium destroys over 3,000 bottles of sham US champers
----------------------------------------------------------
Belgian customs this week destroyed 3,288 bottles of fake
champagne from California seized at Antwerp's port. Under
strict EU labelling rules, only bubbly from the Champagne
region may bear the prestigious name.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199980922.26

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

Council Watch
-------------
Kosovo: EU president Slovenia may see Kosovo's independence
as inevitable, but it has no illusions about the challenge
of uniting EU members on the issue.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199737921.71
Portugal symbolically hands over presidency to Slovenia
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198346522.2
Slovenia calls for budget discipline from France
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199714530.01
Serbia should sign EU agreement 'within a month'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199789224.33
Presidency sets out research priorities
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/slovenia-research.01
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Economy: the Commission warned Thursday that high oil
prices, currently trading close to a record 100 dollars
a barrel, would affect economic growth in the bloc.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199377020.47
EC to propose partnership with China over Africa
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199895422.8
Northern Ireland leaders on 'historic visit' to Brussels
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199970122.13
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Parliament's political groups devoted most of this week to
preparation for the 14-17 January plenary session. Among the
main points on the agenda are the presentation by Slovenian
Prime Minister Jansa of his presidency programme; a
second-reading vote on the consumer credit directive; and
first reading votes on legislation on airport charges and
on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fuels.

Review of the European Parliament in 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/ep-review-2007
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
15 Jan, European Parliament Plenary Session
21 Jan, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
22 Jan, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
28 Jan, General Affairs and External Relations Council

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 "EU cautious on Georgia's election
results", Georget writes:

"It is so clear that elections are fabricated. You think
that in country with dictatorship regime, is possible fair
elections? Unfortunately, NO. There is no free justice,
free media, and business is under pressure. Saakashvili is
not pro-western. He is typical dictator. Georgia needs
support from western countries. Do not push Georgia away."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199709121.36
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

EUpress
-------
Friends of the Earth: Saab warned to withdraw 'greenwash'
ads or face legal challenge
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/foe-press.08-01-10

EEB: Commission recasts industrial emissions directive
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/eeb-press.08-01-09

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
policy papers and news directly onto EUbusiness.
Press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

EUguides
--------
Schengen enlargement: background
http://www.eubusiness.com/Living_in_EU/schengen-guide

MasterCard's intra-EEA Multilateral Interchange Fees
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/interchange-fees

Revised Common Market Organisation for wine: main points
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/wine-cmo-guide
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUevents
--------
14 Jan, Brussels: SME Involvement in R&D Calls
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/sme-rd.08

29 Jan, Brussels: Conference on Local Energy Action
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/managenergy.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
------
Director, European Peacebuilding Liaison Office
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/peacebuilding.08-01-09

Standardisation Auditor, European Aviation Safety Agency
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/easa-job.08-01-09
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
State Aid reform
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/state-aid-reform

Programme and Priorities of the Slovenian EU Presidency
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/slovenia-programme

Lead market initiative
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/lead-market-initiative

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Culture/intercultural-dialogue
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Slovenia (New EU Countries and Citizens)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/slovenia-citizens-bk

The Year of the Euro
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/year-of-the-euro.bk

Eurodollar Futures and Options Handbook
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/eurodollar-futures-bk
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Ireland to ban low-efficiency light bulbs 10-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199992621.37
InnoSME: innovative SMEs in new Member States 10-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/innosme.01
EC to propose partnership with China over Africa 9-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199895422.8
BA to launch 'open skies' airline linking US with EU 9-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199896323.36
Eurozone third-quarter growth revised slightly higher 9-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199874722.11
Commission puts forward lead markets initiative 8-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/lead-markets-initiative.01
Sarkozy ready to consider ban on GM crops in France 8-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199788321.93
ASEAN long way from EU-style integration: Lee Kuan Yew 8-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199762221.45
Deaths of Europe-bound boat people down in 2007 7-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199736121.61
Eurozone inflation remains elevated at 3.1 per cent 4-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199442722.07

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