Serbia deadlock on EU deal - EUbusiness Week no 387

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 387
8 February 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Proposed alternative energy sector reform a 'step forward'
2. EU, aviation industry to fund research into green aircraft
3. Eurozone business activity weakest in over three years
4. German firms drawn to eastern Europe and China
5. Brazil offers EU new farm list to get beef ban lifted
6. EU offers prize of gold for choosing two-euro coin design

Publisher's Note
================
This week's planned signing of an EU cooperation deal with
Serbia has been scrapped, following what the European
Commission terms the "obstruction" of Serbia's prime minister.

The Union's foreign ministers made the offer of a deal with
Serbia on political dialogue, free trade, visa relaxation and
educational cooperation just days before the country's
election run-off on Sunday, and before an expected
declaration of independence by Kosovo.

Following the intervention of nationalist PM Vojislav
Kostunica, who opposes rapprochement with the EU, the
standoff has paralysed the work of the government. The
EC, for its part, has made clear that the EU commitment
is firm and "the invitation remains on the table".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202386621.5

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Proposed alternative energy sector reform a 'step forward'
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission said on Thursday that an alternative by a group
of EU members to plans to split up big energy groups was a
"step forward," but the panel also signalled reservations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202395629.51
Industry shelving investments over EU emissions plans
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202313722.44

2. EU, aviation industry to fund research into green aircraft
-------------------------------------------------------------
The EU and the aerospace industry have launched a project to
pump EUR 1.6 billion into less polluting aviation technology
over the coming seven years.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202232727.91

3. Eurozone business activity weakest in over three years
---------------------------------------------------------
A service sector slump in January plunged business activity in
the nations sharing the euro to the lowest level in over three
years, a widely watched survey shows.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202216569.24

4. German firms drawn to eastern Europe and China
-------------------------------------------------
German firms that move activities abroad head above all to
eastern Europe and China, and then to other EU member
states, according to a study released Thursday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202376722.97

5. Brazil offers EU new farm list to get beef ban lifted
--------------------------------------------------------
Brazil will next week give the EU a revised list of cattle
farms it believes meet EU beef import requirements in a bid
to get a European ban on its meat lifted.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202401923.83

6. EU offers prize of gold for choosing two-euro coin design
------------------------------------------------------------
EU citizens are being invited to vote for the design of a
special two-euro coin to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the
launch of the common European currency, with a golden prize
to lure entries.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1201887122.48

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

Council Watch
-------------
Reform Treaty: France's lower house of parliament on Thursday
approved the European Union's new reform treaty, three years
after rebellious French voters shot down the EU's ill-fated
constitution.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202402825.54
Slovakia postpones EU treaty ratification
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202402821.03
Could Ireland torpedo Europe's plans again?
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202398338.22
Portuguese parliament rejects treaty referendum
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202421721.6
Campaigners seek to "Stop Blair" becoming EU president
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202384821.13
Juncker warns Russia over sovereign wealth fund
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202359620.65
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Societe Generale: SocGen's failure to uncover a rogue trading
scandal earlier is "inexcusable", Services Commissioner
Charlie McCreevy said in a speech, accusing the bank of
"abject carelessness".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202386628.2
Croatia to close negotiating chapters with EU by 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202327221.89
Development Commissioner eyes breakthrough on Kenya visit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202398321.11
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Serbia: Parliament president Poettering said Tuesday the EU
should make clear it would eventually accept both Serbia and
Kosovo in hopes of easing tensions over the smaller
country's independence.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202216553.48
MEPs urge Putin to allow treatment for former Yukos exec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202309222.05
Euro-MP praises Croatia for refugee returns
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202401031.03

Also this week, a delegation from the Temporary Committee on
Climate Change, visiting New Delhi, welcomed India's
readiness to be part of an international climate agreement.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
11-12 Feb, EU - Arab League meeting
14 Feb, Education, Youth and Culture Council
18 Feb, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
18-19 Feb, General Affairs and External Relations Council
19-21 Feb, European Parliament plenary
21-22 Feb, Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers
25-26 Feb, Competitiveness Council
28 Feb, Justice and Home Affairs
28 Feb, Transport, Telecoms and Energy 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 "Eight member states oppose EU plan
to split up energy giants", Mike Parr writes:

"There is no particular reason why one needs integrated energy
companies (i.e. the company that owns and operates the power
stations also owns the grid to transmit power). The recent
raids in Germany (Bundeskartelampt plus EC) suggest that
there is widespread anti-competitive behaviour. By splitting
ownership of power generation and grid, the EC addresses
causes rather than symptoms."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1201724221.94
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

EUpress
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UEAPME: Small Business Act: beware of the paper tiger
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/ueapme.press.08-02-07

EEB: Commission Proposal out of Fuel
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/eeb-press.08-01-24

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24 Apr, Berlin: EU in International Affairs Conference 2008
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EUbooks
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More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU urges Gazprom, Ukraine to resolve gas dispute 7-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202404626.55
Commission sets EU research institute in motion 7-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eit.12
EU poised for anti-dumping probe of Chinese candles 6-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202314621.6
Ukrainians block border crossing with Poland 6-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202313732.49
EU mulls WTO action on Chinese media restrictions 6-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202300221.12
RWE taps into EU's Nabucco gas pipeline 6-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202235423.21
Bosnia police reforms stall again 6-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202230020.62
Lithuania seeks EU deal to boost reactor life-span 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202217433.57
Eurozone retail sales weaker than expected December 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202216521.59
EU warns Bulgaria, Romania on corruption 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202127420.55
EU to boost ties with energy-rich Azerbaijan 4-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202141822.14
Commission targets Germany over pharmacy rules 2-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1201871822.86

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