Europe's workers demand higher wages - EUbusiness Week no 389

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 389
22 February 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU eases internal trade restrictions
2. EU chops back eurozone 2008 growth forecast
3. EU split over biotech maize, potato
4. Ukraine, EU launch free trade talks
5. Turkish parliament adopts EU-required law
6. Europeans wary of Russia as energy provider

Publisher's Note
================
Corporate 'fat cats' are the main target of a drive for
higher wages by the European Trade Union Confederation,
launched on Wednesday by general secretary John Monks.

According to the ETUC, rises are due because the share of
wages in European gross domestic product has been declining
in recent years, while the share of profits has been
growing.

The risk to inflation of rapid growth in wages will not be
welcomed by the European Central Bank. However, Mr Monks
will not be short of support when he argues that calls
for pay moderation should "be directed to the boardroom,
the people at the top who are getting the huge rises
and bonuses."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203511621.54

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU eases internal trade restrictions
---------------------------------------
Members of the European Parliament approved on Thursday
plans to sweep away the last few obstacles to the free flow
of goods in the EU by easing internal trade restrictions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203607034.1

2. EU chops back eurozone 2008 growth forecast
----------------------------------------------
The Commission this week cut sharply its 2008 growth
estimate for the 15 countries in the eurozone to 1.8 per
cent from 2.2 per cent, blaming financial market turmoil,
a US slump and record oil prices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203589921.73

3. EU split over biotech maize, potato
--------------------------------------
EU farm ministers have failed to agree whether to allow
new strains of genetically modified maize and potato, amid
persisting divisions over biotech products.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203356825.19

4. Ukraine, EU launch free trade talks
--------------------------------------
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and EU Trade
Commissioner Peter Mandelson launched talks on Monday on
creating a free trade area, after Kiev successfully
sealed a bid for WTO membership.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203330738.04

5. Turkish parliament adopts EU-required law
--------------------------------------------
Turkish lawmakers have adopted for a second time a bill to
improve the rights of Turkey's tiny Christian and Jewish
communities, one of the EU's key membership demands.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203530536.97

6. Europeans wary of Russia as energy provider
----------------------------------------------
Most voters in five major European countries are wary of
Russia as a supplier of their energy needs, according to
a poll published on Monday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203302821.53

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

Council Watch
-------------
Kosovo: Britain and France led a majority of EU nations on
Monday in announcing their intention to recognise Kosovo's
independence, despite staunch opposition from Spain,
Cyprus and Romania.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203370324.44
EU envoy to Kosovo begins his mandate
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203500823.1
Serbia will never give up its European future: Tadic
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203607925.88
Battle over neutrality clouds Irish EU poll
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203573735.83
Britain's place at centre of Europe, says Brown
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203609721.84
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Antitrust: Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes on
Wednesday rejected persistent criticism of Europe's
antitrust policies, arguing that protectionism was not
a credible alternative.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203517022.06
EU ready to help Pakistan strengthen democracy: Barroso
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203528723.71
EU stresses goal of democracy in Cuba
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203424321.42
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Lisbon Treaty: the European Parliament has overwhelmingly
approved the EU's reforming Lisbon Treaty, aimed at replacing
the bloc's failed constitution, amid protests by MEPs
backing national referendums.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203509820.92
Europeans jeopardising Serbia's EU future: FM
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203521522.07
EU audit uncovers 'abuse of funds for MEP assistants'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203617830.23
Bullfighting exhibition to be held in EP in June
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203621423.84
British MEP expelled from group over Hitler remark
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203508920.97

At this week's Strasbourg plenary, MEPs called for measures
to prepare for demographic change, including cutbacks in
early retirement, pension bonuses for parents, a guaranteed
right to infertility treatment, and sanctions against
employers of clandestine immigrants. In a report on the
monitoring the application of Community law, Parliament
urged better use of Community law infringement procedures
against Member States.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
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
29 Feb, Employment, Social Policy, Health, Consumer Council
3 Mar, Environment Council
4 Mar, Economic and Financial Affairs 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 set to study risks of Baltic gas
pipeline", Algimantas Bereisa writes:

"If we are still ex-communist countries and you use this
meaning, that we can use ex-fascist countries, Germany,
Italy and so on. How many times you EU can use these words
with out any reason? In my opinion it is a time to stop to
do that, it's simply a dishonest way to treat these three
Baltic states."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203081421.39
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

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

6 Apr, Berlin: Impact Assessment of Land Use Changes
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/land-use-changes
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUpress
-------
Intel case: BEUC wants consumer voice to be heard
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc-press.08-02-21

FoE: European business: stop greenwashing the economy
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/foe-europe.08-02-21

BASF GM potato authorisation - Greenpeace statement
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/greenpeace.08-02-19

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

EUguides
--------
Common framework for the marketing of products
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/marketing-products-guide

Modernised Community Customs Code
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/community-customs-code.01

Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships guidance
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ippp
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUjobs
------
Communications Officer, European Spirits Organisation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ceps-job.08-02-19

Director, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/unfccc-job.08-02-19
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
New Internal Market Package for Goods
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/internal-market-goods

Interim Economic Forecasts, February 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/economic-forecasts.0208
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
The Case for Kosova: Passage to Independence
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/the-case-for-kosova

My Life - Fidel Castro
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/my-life-fidel-castro
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Microsoft compatibility move doesn't answer concerns 21-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203616024.61
Trans-Eurasia Net initiative set for EU funding boost 21-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/trans-eurasia-internet
Northern Rock nationalisation 'will respect EU rules' 21-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203604321.47
European steelmakers attack iron ore price rise 21-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203592621.4
Hungary framework contract for Nabucco gas pipeline 20-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203518821.49
EU awards Bosnia EUR 440m development grant 20-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203524221.08
EU regulators approve Thomson takeover of Reuters 20-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203432459.26
Merkel stands by ECB, but wants dialogue 19-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203423421.04
Ireland faces struggle to retain new immigrants 17-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1203212828.13

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