EP backs new consumer credit rules - EUbusiness Week no 384

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Week - Issue 384
18 January 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Europe voices ethical doubts over 'Frankenfood'
2. EU sounds new alarm about mobile phone bills
3. EU seeks to 'lift smokescreen' on Boeing WTO claims
4. EU launches antitrust probe into pharmaceutical sector
5. EU launches new antitrust probes against Microsoft
6. Culture capital celebrations hit high note in Liverpool

Publisher's Note
================
The European Parliament this week ended five years of
discussion by backing plans to make it easier for people
to shop across borders for the best deals on consumer
credit loans.

The plans require lenders to give standard, comparable
information for consumer credit across Europe. They also
increase consumer rights when they contract such loans,
which are often used for holidays and cars.

Consumers' organisation BEUC says the plans fail to tackle
problems of over-indebtedness, while the European Banking
Federation says too many national discretions still remain.
The main gap, however, is probably that the new rules do
not cover home mortgages - in the news lately due to
increasing concern over the meltdown in the US
sub-prime lending market.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200497527.79

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

COLUMBUS DIRECT TRAVEL INSURANCE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
High quality travel insurance to meet all your travellers
needs - from the best-known brand in the travel insurance
market. http://www.eubusiness.com/ColumbusDirect
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. Europe voices ethical doubts over 'Frankenfood'
---------------------------------------------------
A European report voicing ethical misgivings over cloned
animal products on Thursday fuelled a growing debate in the
EU on "frankenfood", despite approvals granted this week by
US food authorities.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200591121.98
EU seeks to ease 'Frankenfood' fears
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200331922.63

2. EU sounds new alarm about mobile phone bills
-----------------------------------------------
Mobile phone users in Europe are often billed 20 per cent
more than the actual time of their calls because they are
charged by the minute, the Commission said on Thursday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200580323.83

3. EU seeks to 'lift smokescreen' on Boeing WTO claims
------------------------------------------------------
EU officials said they would seek to "lift the smokescreen"
on US subsidies to rival aerospace giant Boeing when
hearings on a long-running subsidy dispute resumed at
the World Trade Organisation.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200484021.69

4. EU launches antitrust probe into pharmaceutical sector
---------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has launched an antitrust probe into the
pharmaceutical industry on concerns about uncompetitive
behaviour in the sector.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200480421.22

5. EU launches new antitrust probes against Microsoft
-----------------------------------------------------
EU competition regulators have launched two new antitrust
probes against Microsoft, opening fresh fronts in their
battle against the US software giant's dominant market
power.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200323822.64

6. Culture capital celebrations hit high note in Liverpool
----------------------------------------------------------
The British city of Liverpool continued festivities to mark
the start of its year as European Capital of Culture over
the weekend with an all-star musical about its rich history.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200181622.05

FIND AN OFFICE IN EUROPE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Instant Offices Europe offers serviced office space in
European markets.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Instant-offices
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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

Council Watch
-------------
Presidency: Slovenian PM Janez Jansa has vowed to focus on
"substance" rather than style at the helm of the EU, with
his country's presidency overshadowed by that of France.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200484921.83
French deputies adopt constitutional change for EU treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200515522.69
Belgium vows to go into overdrive to ratify treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200497521.8
Blair charms France's ruling party amid talk of EU top job
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200160921.49
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Anti-dumping: Trade Commissioner Mandelson said on Monday
that plans to shake up rules against nations which sell
goods at below cost price were being shelved due to a
lack of consensus.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200312122.37
Barroso refuses to compromise on greenhouse plan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200480430.55
Barroso to join London meeting on economy
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200513721.83
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Egypt: MEPs adopted a resolution on Thursday criticising
Egypt's human rights record, as Cairo threatened to sever
ties with the assembly and summoned EU ambassadors to
complain.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200583921.99
Parliament calls for more funding for automotive R&D
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/automotive-rd.45
MEPs call for Kenya aid freeze
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200587522.86

At this week's plenary session, Parliament adopted the
consumer credit directive; called for barriers to adult
learning to be lifted; adopted a draft Council decision
converting Europol into an EU agency; adopted a report on
remote sensing applications developed within the CAP; and
a report encouraging the participation of women in the
technology sector; called for more regional cooperation in
the Black Sea and South Caucasus regions; and backed an EU
strategy on the rights of the child.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
21 Jan, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
22 Jan, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
24 Jan, EU Presidency - OSCE Permanent Council
24-26 Jan, Justice and Home Affairs ministers, informal
28-29 Jan, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council
29 Jan-2 Feb, Employment, Social Affairs, Gender Equality

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 "Ireland to ban low-efficiency
light bulbs", Thierry Lesieur writes:

"I am wondering how far this measure is compatible with the
EU directive on Energy Using Products (EUP). This will
create a barrier to the free trade between EU countries."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1199992621.37
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

EUpress
-------
IACA: EP airport charges vote reinforces monopolistic
behaviour
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/iaca-press.08-01-15

Greenpeace: car industry's green claims a fairy tale
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/greenpeace-press.08-01-17

BEUC: Statement on Consumer Credit
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc-press.08-01-16

EBF: Consumer Credit - first step but reservations remain
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/ebf-press.08-01-16

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

EUguides
--------
Consumer Credit Directive - background
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/consumer-credit-guide

Antitrust sector inquiry into pharmaceuticals
http://www.eubusiness.com/Pharma/antitrust-pharma-guide

Safe Novel Foods in the EU
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/novel-foods-guide
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

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

19 Feb, Stockholm: Screening Europe conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/screening-europe.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
------
Administrators in the field of taxation, Commission
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ec-job.08-01-17

Membership Assistant, Business & Innovation Centres
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ebn-job.08-01-17
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
Eurotariff rates: benchmarks
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/eurotariff-benchmarks.08

European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/ethics-in-science

EU Strategy for Biofuels
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/eu-biofuels-strategy

Novel Foods - EU Authorisations
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/novel-foods-eu
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Secured Lending in Eastern Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/secured-lending-bk

EU Pharmaceutical Regulation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/eu-pharmaceutical-regulation
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU climate measures 'threaten German industry' 17-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200576720.98
Eurozone trade surplus slumps in November 17-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200570421.72
EU, Ukraine resolve final obstacle to WTO membership 17-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200566821.86
US consumers unfazed by GM foods 17-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200557822.17
Ukrainians block crossing to Poland to protest visa regime
16-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200509221.81
Slovakia halts EU legal challenge over CO2 emissions 16-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200502924.73
Turkish PM rejects alternative to full EU membership 16-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200505621.38
Bulgaria wants EU approval to reopen nuclear reactors 16-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200500222.37
Eurozone inflation steady in December at 3.1 per cent 16-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1200480428.52

Companies: http://www.eubusiness.com/europages
EUfunding: http://www.eubusiness.com/funding
http://www.eubusiness.com/Currency-converter
http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus/eubusiness-rss

Newswire online: http://www.eubusiness.com/Newswire

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Week is a free service - please help us keep it
that way. Pass it on to your colleagues and friends and
suggest they register for their own copy.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Subscription Information
========================
To subscribe:
Register at http://www.eubusiness.com/Newswire

To unsubscribe:
To change your subscription options, go to
http://lists.eubusiness.com/mailman/listinfo/newswire

Any problems email service@eubusiness.com

Privacy Statement
http://www.eubusiness.com/privacy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright (c) 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced in any medium for non-commercial purposes
as long as attribution is given.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Ltd
Westminster House, Kew Road
Richmond, Surrey TW9 2ND, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7692 4848
http://www.eubusiness.com
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Registered in England and Wales number 3803196