Better access to EU databases - EUbusiness Week no 400

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 400
16 May 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Finance ministers take aim at 'scandalous' executive pay
2. EU mulling retail sector probe in inflation fight
3. Eurozone growth a silver lining but clouds remain
4. EU issues compromise plan to reform energy giants
5. Brazil warns Europe against biofuel import barriers
6. Bulgaria seeks to lure back migrant workers

Publisher's Note
================
The rules on public access to EU documents came under
scrutiny this week, when the European Ombudsman launched a
Europe-wide consultation on public information databases.

The move follows a Danish journalist's complaint about the
Commission's refusal to disclose data on the beneficiaries
of EU agricultural subsidies. It justified this on grounds
of confidentiality, and suggested EU rules on access to
documents apply to databases only "if the data can be
easily retrieved".

At a time of imminent reform of EU rules on public access
to documents, the Ombudsman is not the only one unconvinced
by this approach. The Commission should aim for maximum
public access to databases and transparency in all the
administration's dealings.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/ombudsman.33

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

MARKET RESEARCH: Carbon Emissions Trading
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The impact of carbon emissions trading across the
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1. Finance ministers take aim at 'scandalous' executive pay
-----------------------------------------------------------
Corporate fat cats in Europe faced renewed pressure on
Wednesday over huge bonuses untied to their performance
as soaring inflation and stagnant wages eat into
ordinary workers' purchasing power.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210770126.14

2. EU mulling retail sector probe in inflation fight
----------------------------------------------------
The Commission is considering launching a probe into the
retail sector to check if competition is working properly
in the face of record inflation, says Monetary Affairs
Commissioner Joaquin Almunia.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210700823.83

3. Eurozone growth a silver lining but clouds remain
----------------------------------------------------
The eurozone economy rebounded with unexpected growth of
0.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2008, boosted by a
German surge. Analysts warn the rally could be short-lived.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210851144.92

4. EU issues compromise plan to reform energy giants
----------------------------------------------------
The Commission has put forward a new compromise proposal in
its bid to require energy companies to split their
generation businesses from their transmission networks.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210782722.41

5. Brazil warns Europe against biofuel import barriers
------------------------------------------------------
Brazil is warning the EU not to "distort" trade in biofuel,
saying it is ready to defend its interests before the World
Trade Organization if necessary. A study in Europe raised
the possibility of limiting biofuel imports that do not
respect environmental and social criteria.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210355231.91

6. Bulgaria seeks to lure back migrant workers
----------------------------------------------
Bulgaria has announced plans to counter a shortage of
skilled labour by luring home thousands of people who left
to work and live abroad after the fall of Communism.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210696325.79

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

Council Watch
-------------
IMF: senior eurozone officials have called for a single
voice for the bloc on the international stage.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210870023.17
EU welcomes pro-European vote in Serbia
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210599122.88
Mediterranean Union no alternative to enlargement: UK
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210773722.26
Lithuania will not budge on EU-Russia talks deal
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210770134.09
France leads EU push to bar illegal migrants amnesties
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210694522.96
New Irish PM launches campaign for EU treaty poll
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210599153.8
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Car emissions: Industry Commissioner Verheugen said on
Sunday that an EU deadline to cut carbon dioxide
emissions from new cars by 2012 was unrealistic.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210528933.34
Commissioner sees support for tax haven clamp-down
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210780023.39
Bulgaria probes ex-road chief over EU money
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210864623.58
Aid chief urges Myanmar to open air strip
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210850225.54
Eurozone inflation undesirably high at 3.3 pct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210840322.06
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Parliament's political groups devoted much the week to
preparations for next week's plenary session in Strasbourg.
Main items on the agenda include the interim report of the
Temporary Committee on Climate Change and a report on
Turkey's progress towards EU accession, plus legislation
on transport covering access to the road freight market,
rules on passenger road transport and licensing for
transport operators.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
16 May, Summit EU - LAC (Latin America & Caribbean)
15-16 May, EU-US Open Skies Agreement 2nd stage talks
19 May, Maritime Policy - European Maritime Day
19-20 May, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
19 May, EP plenary
21-22 May, European Competition and Consumer Day
21-22 May, Education, Youth and Culture Council

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

EUbusiness Community
====================

EUpress
-------
European Banks welcome TEC Statements on Market Access
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ebf-press.08-05-15

FoE: EU and business on trial for crimes in Latin America
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/foe-press.08-05-14

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
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Press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

EUguides
--------
EU - Latin America / Caribbean trade facts and figures
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/eu-latin-america

Counterfeiting and Piracy
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/counterfeiting-piracy.22

European Social Fund (ESF) 2007-2013
http://www.eubusiness.com/Social/social-fund.0713

EC to boost confidence in statutory audit
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/statutory-audit.24

EU - UEFA helpline for fans travelling to EURO 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/euro-2008-helpline
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUevents
--------
3 June, Bled: European Charter for Small Enterprises
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/charter-conference.08

20 June, London: Annual Competition Policy Conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/chatham.0608
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
------
Chief Executive Officer, EUROCITIES
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eurocities.08-05-01

Senior Manager, European Crop Protection Association
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ecpa-job.08-05-01
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUlinks
-------
Enforcement of intellectual property rights
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/ipr-enforcement

Lobbyists activities - EP Legislative Observatory texts
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/eu-lobbyists

EU Consumers Helpline Euro 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/consumer-euro-2008
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

EUbooks
-------
Biofuels for Transport: Implications for Energy & Farming
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/biofuels-for-transport

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
----------------------------------
EU and S Korea agree to speed up free trade talks 15-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210867323.59
EU,US launch new round of 'Open Skies' talks 15-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210861923.16
EU issues final warning to Spain on Endesa takeover 15-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210852023.37
Chavez confirms he will attend EU-LatAm summit 15-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210837623.62
EU green light for TomTom takeover of Tele Atlas 14-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210755721.51
Queen Elizabeth underlines UK support for Turkey bid 13-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210709823.01
EU to debate ending ban on US poultry 13-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210685522.14
Malta aims to erase fiscal deficit by 2010 10-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210424522.03
Majority of Danes in favour of adopting euro, poll 10-May
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1210342625.71

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