Small businesses need EU help - EUbusiness Week no 398

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Week - Issue 398
2 May 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU, Serbia ink deal on closer ties
2. Tide turning on Eastern European influx in Britain
3. Eurozone inflation eases but economic confidence wilts
4. EU to recommend tougher tax fraud rules
5. Five cities bid to host EU's technology institute
6. EU's ageing population transforming the bloc

Publisher's Note
================
Small businesses are looking to the EU for help in coping
with the global credit crunch, British PM Gordon Brown told
the Institute of Directors' annual conference on Wednesday.

Both he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are proposing an
action plan to help small businesses across Europe. This
supports Commission plans for a Small Business Act later
this year, and urges the European Investment Bank to
improve access to finance for medium-sized firms.

Much of what is proposed is already under way. Smaller
businesses will however welcome any help they are offered,
if it helps them through what is a time of unprecedented
turbulent global change.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209567724.96

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

MARKET RESEARCH: REACH REGULATION OF CHEMICALS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
REACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of
Chemicals: this Rapra Review Report presents the essential
details of the legislation's objectives and timescales.
http://www.eubusiness.com/market-research
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. EU, Serbia ink deal on closer ties
-------------------------------------
The EU signed up to closer ties with Serbia on Tuesday,
moving it closer to EU membership despite disputes over
Kosovo's independence and Belgrade's failure to catch war
criminals.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209480421.98
New Serb parliament to 'annul' EU pact: Kostunica
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209478622.65

2. Tide turning on Eastern European influx in Britain
-----------------------------------------------------
One million immigrants came to Britain after the Union's 2004
expansion but half of them have now gone home, a study says,
reporting a reversal of the massive influx of workers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209559629.69

3. Eurozone inflation eases but economic confidence wilts
---------------------------------------------------------
Inflation in the eurozone eased in April off record highs in
March, but confidence in the economy sank to the lowest
point in two and a half years, EU data shows.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209548822.78

4. EU to recommend tougher tax fraud rules
------------------------------------------
The Commission is to recommend tightening EU rules against
tax dodgers who stash their cash in offshore accounts.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209566834.56

5. Five cities bid to host EU's technology institute
----------------------------------------------------
Five cities -- in Hungary, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and
Austria -- have put their municipal hats in the ring in
the contest to host the planned European Institute of
Innovation and Technology.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209385022.8

6. EU's ageing population transforming the bloc
-----------------------------------------------
As life expectancy grows and birth rates slump across the EU,
around one third of the bloc's population could be over the
age of 65 by 2050, a social shift with the potential to
transform the lives of Europeans.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209259033.83

.EU AND EUROPEAN DOMAIN NAMES
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lowest prices and free DNS Services! Fast, Easy & Centralised
Registration! http://www.eubusiness.com/EUdomains
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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

Council Watch
-------------
Zimbabwe: the EU called Tuesday for a global arms embargo
against Zimbabwe in line with an EU ban on weapons and
equipment which could be used to crack down on political
dissent there.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209469623.13
EU set to sign key pact with Bosnia next month
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209498441.44
EU extends Myanmar sanctions for another year
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209495721.78
Lithuania blocks EU deal on talks with Russia
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209479522.03
Germany's Merkel gets Charlemagne Prize
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209658622.47
CAP is answer to high food prices: French minister
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209339122.23
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
China: EC President Manuel Jose Barroso said he agreed in
talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the need to balance
trade, an apparent reference to China's huge trade surplus.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209098822.54
EU eyes early warning on French finances
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209383238.05
EU to take legal action against Britain over deficit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209392222.9
Turkish free speech reform 'step forward': EU
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209564123.14
Barroso extends Italian Commissioner's leave
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209410222.9
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Iraq: a group of Members of the European Parliament urged EU
countries on Tuesday to accept more asylum seekers from
conflict-torn Iraq, during a visit to Jordan, which hosts
hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209471436.99

Also this week, MEPs in Washington were concerned about
America's capacity to meet the Bali timetable and contribute
to a global climate change agreement by 2009; and the first
Charlemagne Youth Prize went to a Hungarian youth project
"Students without Boundaries".
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

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

EUpress
-------
UEAPME: SMEs call to improve General Block Exemption
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/ueapme.08-04-28

CEA comments on key Solvency II issues
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.08-04-28

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

EUguides
--------
EU wine market reform
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/eu-wine-market.02

European Chemicals Bureau
http://www.eubusiness.com/Chemicals/european-chemicals
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

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

9 June, Mannheim: Summer workshop for young economists
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/zew.08
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
------
Deputy Director General, European Central Bank
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ecb-job.08-05-01

Head of Unit, Executive Office, European Chemicals Agency
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eca-job.08-05-01
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
Spring economic forecasts 2008 - 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/spring-forecasts.08

Small Business Act for Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/small-business-act

Long-term Care in the European Union
http://www.eubusiness.com/Social/long-term-care-eu
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Smart Business Solutions for E-commerce
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/smart-business-solutions

SMEs and European Integration
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/smes-eu-integration
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Trades unions urge Africa to cancel EU trade deals 1-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209655022.48
D-day imminent for European Chemicals Agency 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/Chemicals/echa.20
Second EU test satellite 'in good health' 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209566830.88
EU warns Italy on renationalising Alitalia 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209552423.78
EU clears EUR 1.1bn aid for Italian post office 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209550633.24
EU approves state rescue aid for German bank WestLB 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209550622.55
New chapter in EU-China Climate Change Partnership 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/China/climate-change.23
EU set to sue Italy over Naples rubbish crisis 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209493922.94
Biodiesel lobby urges US exports anti-dumping probe 27-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1209127623.89

Market Research: http://www.eubusiness.com/market-research
Companies: http://www.eubusiness.com/europages
EUfunding: http://www.eubusiness.com/funding
RSS: http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus/eubusiness-rss
http://www.eubusiness.com/Currency-converter

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

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Week is a free service - please help us keep it
that way. Pass it on to your colleagues and friends and
suggest they register for their own copy.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Subscription Information
========================
To subscribe:
Register at http://www.eubusiness.com/Newswire

To unsubscribe:
To change your subscription options, go to
http://lists.eubusiness.com/mailman/listinfo/newswire

Any problems email service@eubusiness.com

Privacy Statement
http://www.eubusiness.com/privacy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright (c) 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced in any medium for non-commercial purposes
as long as attribution is given.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Ltd
Westminster House, Kew Road
Richmond, Surrey TW9 2ND, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7193 7242
http://www.eubusiness.com
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Registered in England and Wales number 3803196