EU targets tax havens - EUbusiness Week no 391

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 391
7 March 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU nations voice objections to climate change plan
2. China to follow WTO rules in EU financial news spat
3. Court rules against Spain in Endesa takeover saga
4. Europe's GEANT computer network extends its reach
5. EU seeks answers from Italy over olive oil labels
6. EU announces biggest ever food aid package

Publisher's Note
================
EU finance ministers made another stab this week at cracking
down on tax dodgers who stash their cash in offshore
accounts. At their Ecofin meeting, they agreed to step up
scrutiny of tax havens, and called on the Commission to
bring forward a review of the savings tax directive.

However, Member States that practice banking secrecy, such
as Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, show little enthusiasm
for reform, which would need unanimous backing to go ahead.
"I look forward to many years of fascinating and fundamental
discussions", said Luxembourg's finance minister Jean-Claude
Juncker ominously.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204654668.56

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU nations voice objections to climate change plan
-----------------------------------------------------
Several former Eastern-bloc Member States on Monday
criticised proposals from the Commission for new measures
to slash the continent's greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204551123.32

2. China to follow WTO rules in EU financial news spat
------------------------------------------------------
China says it will comply with World Trade Organisation
rules after the US and the EU filed a complaint at the
global trade body over restrictions on foreign news
providers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204624920.26

3. Court rules against Spain in Endesa takeover saga
----------------------------------------------------
Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday that Spain
illegally defied EU demands to drop restrictions on a
foreign takeover of a power company in a case that
fuelled fears of protectionism between European countries.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204796830.39

4. Europe's GEANT computer network extends its reach
----------------------------------------------------
The world's highest-speed computer network, Europe's GEANT,
is linking up with others worldwide to create a global
research network.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204307227.78

5. EU seeks answers from Italy over olive oil labels
----------------------------------------------------
The Commission has given Italy two months to explain why it
obliges olive oil producers to mark the origin of the
olives on product labels in contravention of EU laws.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204304521.23

6. EU announces biggest ever food aid package
---------------------------------------------
The Commission this week announced its biggest ever food aid
package, to alleviate hunger among the world's poorest, and
warned swiftly rising prices could yet force it to increase
the amount.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204638420.97

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

Council Watch
-------------
Shipping: environment ministers agreed Monday that European
action is needed to tackle toxic shipping emissions as
international maritime authorities had failed to do enough.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204578137.17
EU backs German candidate to lead EBRD
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204649223.17
Belgian senate approves EU's Lisbon treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204829220.93
Still no date for Irish EU poll as bill published
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204820239.89
British government fends off EU referendum calls
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204744635.13
France and Germany at odds over car emissions targets
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204568221.77
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Balkans: the EU made yet more proposals Wednesday to try
to ensure stability in the Balkans, amid simmering regional
tensions fuelled by Kosovo's decision to declare
independence.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204726632.89
EU says Macedonia can begin accession talks this year
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204824732.82
Brussels seeks European disaster response force
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204731121.0
Rice joins women's conference in Brussels
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204807631.84
Commissioner for talks with Raul Castro government
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204820244.81
EU warns Croatia over fishing row
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204813922.56
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
New technologies: to keep unemployment at a minimum,
strategies for increasing the employability of low-skilled
workers must also be embraced, according to a study carried
out for Parliament's Science and Technology Options
Assessment.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/new-technologies.04
World parliaments still have glass ceiling for women
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204825637.71

The Industry Committee this week backed draft rules
providing for systems providing mobile satellite services -
such as broadband internet or mobile TV - to be selected at
EU level in the future. The Climate Change Committee's
Fifth Thematic Session debated the best policy mix to
reduce CO2 emissions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
10-11 Mar, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council
13-14 Mar, European Council
17-18 Mar, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
28-29 Mar, Ministers of Foreign Affairs informal
4-5 Apr, Finance Ministers informal
7-8 Apr, 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 "EU finance chiefs discuss tax haven
clampdown", Hop Scotch writes:

"It is incredible how fast the politicians respond to plug
a tax loophole. I guess it is the self preservation response
to protect their hefty salaries, pension plans and untold
benefits that come out of the tax payers pockets...The only
other time they act faster is when they cover up their fraud
like the recent under the table payments to their families,
friends and relatives. Have you ever met an honest
politician? Of course not. There is no such animal.
They are all legalized crooks and lowlife slimeballs."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204629439.56
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

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

9 Apr, Cork: 13th Energie-Cites' Annual Rendezvous
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/energie-cites.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUpress
-------
Alter-EU: EC fails to act against conflicts of interest
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/alter-eu.8-03-06

Solvency II: CEA position on SMEs and group supervision
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.08-03-06

EGBA/gaming: EC opposes payment blocking in France
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/egba-press.08-03-05

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
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EUguides
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Feed Marketing
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/feed-marketing-guide

Transparency of Debtors assets
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/transparency-debtors

Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/rfid-guide

Financial assistance to the Western Balkans
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/finance-balkans

Chinese treatment of foreign financial news providers
http://www.eubusiness.com/China/financial-information
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUjobs
------
Associate/Senior Associate, APCO Worldwide Inc
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/apco-job.08-03-04

Officer Goods Division, EFTA
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/efta-job.08-03-04
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
Women and men in decision-making
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/women-men-decisions

GEANT European research network
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/geant2

IT Girls: IT careers for women
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/itgirls
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/iran-nuclear-ambitions

The European Union and Developing Countries
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/eu-developing-countries
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Europe seeks common visa deal with US 6-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204831021.53
What do new technologies mean for EU labour market? 6-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/new-technologies.04
WFP chief warns EU about biofuels 6-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204816621.47
Gas supplies assured as Russia, Ukraine end crisis 5-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204734724.63
EU targets Greek power company's 'virtual monopoly' 5-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204721221.06
Dutch think tank criticises EU climate change plan 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204655542.82
Eurozone 2007 growth slows 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204626722.24
France proposes tougher EU rules for modified crops 3-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204581733.6
MasterCard challenges EU antitrust ruling 3-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204549336.1

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