EU leaders focus on climate change - EUbusiness Week no 392

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 392
14 March 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. US defends EU visa waiver policy
2. EU launches probe of US online gambling restrictions
3. Croatian parliament gives up EU-opposed fishing zone
4. Bulgaria at odds with EU over frozen development funding
5. European technology institute gets the go-ahead
6. London most expensive, dirty city in Europe

Publisher's Note
================
At this week's two-day Spring Summit which started on
Thursday in Brussels, EU leaders have approved a
controversial French proposal for a Mediterranean Union
aimed at strengthening cooperation with countries from
Morocco to Turkey.

Friday's main focus is to thrash out differences over
environment policy. Business has in general welcomed EC
calls for a shake-up of the energy internal market, and
sees the sense in diversifying the energy mix to include
a fair share of renewables. But EU leaders will be well
aware of warnings that European plans to cut greenhouse
gas emissions might export jobs and pollution abroad.

http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205435823.36

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. US defends EU visa waiver policy
-----------------------------------
The United States defended Thursday its policy of
negotiating visa deals with European nations on a
country-by-country basis, saying it was not up to
Washington to resolve inter-European disputes.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205442137.79

2. EU launches probe of US online gambling restrictions
--------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has launched an investigation into
allegations that a US online gambling ban discriminates
against EU firms, an action that could lead to a WTO case.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205342848.71

3. Croatian parliament gives up EU-opposed fishing zone
-------------------------------------------------------
The Croatian parliament has given up full implementation of
a controversial Adriatic Sea environmental and fishing zone,
strongly opposed by Brussels.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205407026.61

4. Bulgaria at odds with EU over frozen development funding
-----------------------------------------------------------
A row has broken out over the suspension of European
development funding for Bulgaria during a corruption probe,
with Sofia and Brussels disputing figures running into
hundreds of millions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204919251.82

5. European technology institute gets the go-ahead
--------------------------------------------------
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology will
open for business by the summer, following the European
Parliament's approval of the Council's common position on
its establishment.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eit-ep.11

6. London most expensive, dirty city in Europe
----------------------------------------------
London is the dirtiest and most expensive city in Europe,
while Brussels is the most boring, according to a survey
published on Wednesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/UK/tripadvisor-survey.08

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

Council Watch
-------------
Mediterranean: EU leaders approved late on Thursday the
French proposal for a Mediterranean Union.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205450232.05
EU hopes for pro-Europe victory in Serbia polls
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205137023.22
Serbia at the crossroads over its European future
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205063224.74
France aims for EU partnership pact with Russia
http://www.eubusiness.com/Russia/france-russia-eu.21
EU treaty clears House of Commons
http://www.eubusiness.com/UK/eu-treaty.27
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Women: only men's names have been put forward for top
positions being created in the EU, Commission Vice
President Margot Wallstroem lamented on the eve of
International Women's Day.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204900339.54
EU signs deal on Belarus offices
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1204907548.98
Mandelson not to seek second stint as EC trade chief
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205432222.09
Croatia should complete membership talks next year
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205402539.38
Commissioner says time right to renew Cuba dialogue
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205004728.0
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Payments: Parliament announced on Tuesday it is launching a
review of the way its deputies pay their assistants, after
revelations of abuses of the system.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/ep-payments.05
Parliament cuts cake to celebrate 50th anniversary
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205342860.8
Serb PM's party suspended from EU centre-right group
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205435832.36
Senior MEP warns French leader against dividing Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205342859.77

At this week's plenary session, Euro-MPs called for minimum
taxes for diesel to rise to equal petrol tax minimums;
welcomed a Commission proposal for a Global Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund; approved the "Ambient
Assisted Living" programme on new technologies for active
ageing and longer independent living; and backed a report on
gender equality and women's empowerment in development
cooperation.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
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
====================

EUevents
--------
31 Mar, Noordwijk: 21st European Energy Law Seminar
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/europea-energy-law.08

6 May, Riga: Eastern Baltic Aquaculture Conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eurofish.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUpress
-------
Social Summit: SMEs call for labour markets overhaul
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/social-summit-smes.32

Safer lighters in our shops? - BEUC
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc.2008-03-11

CEA sets out concerns over EC's VAT review
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.08-03-11

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

EUguides
--------
European Institute of Innovation and Technology
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eit-guide
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
-------
European Institute of Innovation and Technology
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eit-technology
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
The Price of Gender Equality
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/price-of-gender-equality

National Parliaments and European Democracy
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/european-democracy.bk
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Austria 'should re-think' banking secrecy laws 13-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205416030.98
Estonia fears English too dominant in its schools 13-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205427728.79
EU probes state aid for Polish printing plant 13-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205409733.09
EU grants Togo EUR 123 million for 2008-2013 12-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205342853.1
EU clears Google's DoubleClick takeover 12-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1205342856.31
EU regulators raid airlines in antitrust probe 12-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/eu-airlines-antitrust.02
Intel chief fights EU antitrust charges 12-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/intel-eu.43
EU R&D spending remains unchanged 11-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eu-research-spending.04
Tender: connecting African networks to GEANT 11-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/Africa/africa-geant.01

Companies: http://www.eubusiness.com/europages
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http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus/eubusiness-rss

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

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