Japan and EU cement ties - EUbusiness Week no 397

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 397
25 April 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Hopes for German-French car emissions accord by June
2. Alitalia rescue plan hits EU turbulence
3. Confidence signals turn down lights for European growth
4. EU begins consultation on updating oil stocks regime
5. EU seeks to protect children from video game nasties
6. EU clinches deal on return of illegal immigrants

Publisher's Note
================
Japan and the EU looked to strengthen their strategic
partnership at an annual summit in Tokyo this week. The
leaders called for urgent action on rising global food
prices, as well as "ambitious and binding" global targets
to fight climate change - with a view to forcing a
breakthrough at the coming G8 summit in July.

European companies, however, were more keen that the leaders
focus on issues that still prevent European companies from
fully benefiting from EU-Japan trade. These include action
to tackle the considerable non-tariff barriers with respect
to the Japanese market, improvements to the investment
environment and better openness and transparency in
Japanese government procurement.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208928723.02

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Hopes for German-French car emissions accord by June
-------------------------------------------------------
France and Germany could be close to an agreement on
reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars, as part
of broader EU goals to cut down on greenhouse gases.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208943140.56
Porsche could meet EU emissions with VW takeover
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208863923.6

2. Alitalia rescue plan hits EU turbulence
------------------------------------------
The Commission has voiced concern about Italian plans for a
bailout of Alitalia, raising the prospect that EU regulators
might block a vital state loan to the ailing airline.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209052057.21
EU regulator studying Bank of England lending package
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208778421.05

3. Confidence signals turn down lights for European growth
----------------------------------------------------------
The rise of the euro and soaring commodities prices are
hitting business confidence in Europe, casting a pall over
a growth outlook already clouded by financial crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209037622.84

4. EU begins consultation on updating oil stocks regime
-------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has launched a public consultation exercise
on revising its emergency oil stocks system, amid soaring
oil prices and growing concerns over the security and
reliability of supplies.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208866653.51

5. EU seeks to protect children from video game nasties
-------------------------------------------------------
The Commission on Tuesday called for strengthened rules on
video games, saying children should be protected from the
worst excesses of the multi-billion euro industry.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208881925.45

6. EU clinches deal on return of illegal immigrants
---------------------------------------------------
The EU has clinched an agreement on new rules to govern the
return of illegal immigrants to countries outside the EU,
ending three years of wrangling over the issue.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208975534.44

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

Council Watch
-------------
Russia: European nations made efforts on Thursday to
convince Lithuania to lift its objections to the opening of
talks with Moscow on a key EU-Russia partnership agreement.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209061922.07
Lisbon treaty approved by Denmark, Austria
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209066422.24
EU mulls new Myanmar sanctions
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208965623.41
EU to criminalise Net-based incitement to terrorism
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208530020.93
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Greek landfills: time is running out for Greece to close
hundreds of illegal landfills as ordered by the European
Court of Justice, the Environment Commissioner says.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208597520.09
EU boosts food aid to world's poorest as prices spiral
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208879223.69
EC calls on Israel to ensure fuel supplies to Gaza
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209036722.57
Commissioner urges China to talk with Dalai Lama
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209005222.43
Italy set to lose EU justice portfolio in reshuffle
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208881023.26
Verheugen says he will step down in 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208866647.84
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Galileo: Europe's long-delayed Galileo satellite navigation
system passed its final legal hurdle after Parliament gave
the flag-ship project its green light.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208945823.73
Euro-MPs agree to ban employing relatives
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208875623.38
EU must stand up to Russian energy pressure: EP chief
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209052922.77
Parliament urges China to stop arms exports to Zimbabwe
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209053822.49
EU should maintain arms embargo on China, say Euro-MPs
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208966523.73
EP debates crimes of communism
http://www.eubusiness.com/Enlargement/communism-eu.01

Also at this week's plenary session, Euro-MPs called for
more transparency and accountability in international
accounting standards; urged the introduction of a more
democratic system of decision-making at the WTO; and
adopted a report on the Green Paper on market-based
instruments for environment.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
28 Apr, EU-Croatia Stabilisation and Association Council
28-29 Apr, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council
5 May, Informal Meeting of Transport Ministers
7 May, EP Plenary Part-Session
9 May. Europe Day celebration
14 May, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
15 May, Summit EU - LAC (Latin America & Caribbean)

The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
Long-term diary: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary

EUbusiness Community
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EUpress
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EEB: European Ecolabel - back to drawing board
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/eeb-press.08-04-24

FEE: support for EC measures to reduce admin burdens
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/fee-press.08-04-23

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Mediation in civil and commercial matters
http://www.eubusiness.com/EUlaw/mediation-guide.02

EU - Japan trade statistics 2007
http://www.eubusiness.com/Japan/eu-japan-trade.07
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUevents
--------
14 May, Slovenia: Responding to Environmental Change
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/bridgingthegap.08

15 May, Brussels: Brussels Economics Forum 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/brussels-forum.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
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Associate Banker, Transport, EBRD
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ebrd-job.08-04-23

Public Affairs Officer, Workability Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/we-job.08-04-23
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
Putting Trade Policy at the service of development
http://www.eubusiness.com/Development/tradoc-138597

Consultation on emergency oil stocks legislation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/oil-stocks.01
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Reforming Early Retirement in Europe, Japan and USA
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/early-retirement.bk

Japanese Multinationals in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/japanese-multinationals.bk
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Italian gov't to detail Alitalia loan terms to EU 24-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209052045.98
Worrying state of European teens' health: study 24-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/helena-project.01
Moves to boost pro-West Serbs risk backfiring 23-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208968323.12
Germany backs EU biofuels targets 23-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208964723.71
Eurozone business activity ticks up in April 23-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208946723.2
Defenders of ECB counter French-Italian assault 23-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208917022.94
EU upholds Slovakia pig and pig product ban 21-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208792821.07
EU struggles to reduce dependence on Russian gas 20-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208661420.72
EU funds forest firefighting exercise in Sardinia 20-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1208614620.67

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