EU renews attack on roaming charges - EUbusiness Week no 388

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 388
15 February 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU unveils plans to fortify Europe's borders
2. EU plans copyright boost for musicians
3. EU says US moves on air passenger data 'unacceptable'
4. WTO upholds US complaint over EU banana imports
5. Eurozone outpaces US growth in 2007 at 2.7 per cent
6. Polish-Slovakian cheese-name war ends with EU deal

Publisher's Note
================
The European Commission is taking another swipe at mobile
phone operators over their 'rip-off' roaming charges - this
time focusing on the high price of sending text messages
and accessing the Internet while abroad.

At the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona,
Communications Commissioner Viviane Reding set a deadline of
1 July for the telecoms companies to reduce the cost of SMS
and data transfer while 'roaming' - i.e. travelling outside
your home country.

Since last year's EU regulation which forced price caps on
the mobile operators, the cost of roaming calls have fallen
by up to 60 per cent. The Commission - and business
travellers - will hope this new push leads to similar
reductions on the current very high costs of data
transfer in particular.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202744821.13

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU unveils plans to fortify Europe's borders
-----------------------------------------------
The Commission forged ahead with efforts Wednesday to
fortify Europe's borders to the outside world, including
plans to collect fingerprints and photographs from
foreigners entering the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202898723.63

2. EU plans copyright boost for musicians
-----------------------------------------
The Commission has unveiled plans to help ageing rockers and
other artistes beat the financial blues during retirement
with a proposal to extend copyright in the music industry.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202991421.46

3. EU says US moves on air passenger data 'unacceptable'
--------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has described as "unacceptable" US moves to
negotiate bilateral agreements with some EU states
expanding a June 2007 accord on exchanging air
passengers' personal data.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202911327.44

4. WTO upholds US complaint over EU banana imports
--------------------------------------------------
The World Trade Organisation has ruled in favour of a
complaint by the United States against the EU's banana
import regime.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202480231.32

5. Eurozone outpaces US growth in 2007 at 2.7 per cent
------------------------------------------------------
Eurozone economic growth eased only slightly last year to
2.7 per cent, but still easily outpaced the US economy for
the first time since 2001.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202985121.26

6. Polish-Slovakian cheese-name war ends with EU deal
-----------------------------------------------------
A cheese-name war pitting Poland against its southern
neighbour Slovakia has formally come to an end, with peace
sealed by an EU decision to register a prized Polish
mountain delicacy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203001321.16

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

Council Watch
-------------
France: finance ministers urged France on Tuesday to respect
a promise to balance its budget within two years, refusing
to relax fiscal discipline despite slowing economic growth.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202825828.02
French ratification of EU treaty becomes official
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202954520.47
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Energy security: Commission President Barroso said Thursday
EU members must work together with other nations to
diversify energy supply, as he began a two-day visit
to the Latvian capital.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203026521.93
EU police and justice mission to Kosovo
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202959925.44
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Turkey: a senior member of the European Parliament urged
Turkey on Monday to amend a much-criticised law restricting
freedom of speech, warning that EU patience is "running
out".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202737621.18
EU Socialists lift ban on Slovakian PM's party
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203010343.07
Prince calls for greater EU efforts on climate change
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202989622.21
Hirsi Ali to Euro-MPs: 'I don't want to die'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203013926.08

Also this week, a Joint Parliamentary Meeting on the Lisbon
Strategy to promote competitiveness, growth and jobs
recommended free movement of knowledge, cutting red tape,
investment in education and the labour markets, and more
support for SMEs; as well as completion of the EU's
internal market and more investment in research.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
18 Feb, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
18-19 Feb, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l 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 "Japan flouting whaling ban under
guise of research: EU", Ants Viirlaid writes:

"I believe this whale hunt is utterly unnecessary,
mindlessly cruel, deeply hypocritical, and an activity not
worthy of modern humankind. Our purpose today should be to
protect and serve life. Otherwise we can lose our way and
jeopardize our primary motivation for living, the
celebration of life itself."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202502725.35
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

EUpress
-------
ALTER-EU rings alarm bell over EC backtracking on lobbying
transparency
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/alter-eu.08-02-13

CEA: Environmental Liability Directive - Enhancing
sustainable insurance solutions
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/cea-press.08-02-13

UEAPME: EU economic slowdown: stability must prevail over
interventionism
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/ueapme-press.08-02-12

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EUevents
--------
12 Mar, Brussels: World Biofuels Markets Congress
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/world-biofuels-markets.08

13 Mar, London: Air transport network workshop
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/acare-event.08-02-14
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

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EUjobs
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Deputy Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/foundation-job.08-02-12

Communication officer, Red Cross/European Union Office
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/red-cross-job.08-02-12
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
Private Copying Levies - EC consultation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/private-copying-levies.01

Protection of conditional-access services directive
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/conditional-access.01
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Doing Business in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/doing-business-in-europe

The Future of Russian Gas and Gazprom
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/russian-gas-and-gazprom
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Court rules against Spain law protecting energy groups 14-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202992321.0
Cyprus takes legal action against EU over north aid 14-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203004021.45
EU top court rules against Greece over airline aid 14-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202992327.95
Brazil admits some beef did not meet EU standards 14-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202945521.32
Tender: Study on Galileo mission evolution 13-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/galileo-evolution-tender
Europeans provide health insurance for Africa's poor 13-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Africa/africa-health-insurance
EU targets Spanish film studio in state aid probe 13-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202901424.66
EU orders China to prove that rice is GMO free 12-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202838420.98
EU antitrust regulators raid Intel, retailers 12-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202825821.79

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