State aid boost for SMEs - EUbusiness Week no 408

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 408
11 July 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Conditions not right for WTO trade deal: Sarkozy
2. Euro-MPs force CO2 caps on airlines
3. EU proposes sales tax cut for restaurants, haircuts
4. EU agrees to publish weekly oil stocks data
5. EU to release EUR 600m in aid for fishermen
6. EU proposes free fruit and veg scheme for schools

Publisher's Note
================
The Commission this week adopted plans which would make it
easier for smaller businesses to benefit from state support
for projects involving training, innovation, energy
efficiency and job creation. The new plans allow Member
States to award up to EUR 7.5 million in investment aid
without having to notify the Commission.

SME association UEAPME has welcomed the plans and urged
Member States to use the new rules to grant more aid to
SMEs. Larger companies and "unproductive national champions"
swallowed the vast majority of state aid granted in 2007, it
says, with only 12 per cent benefitting SMEs. Smaller
companies will hope to see this figure change in coming
years.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215434894.96

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Conditions not right for WTO trade deal: Sarkozy
---------------------------------------------------
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday that the
right conditions were not in place to reach a new global
trade deal ahead of a crunch WTO meeting on July 21.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215692259.27

2. Euro-MPs force CO2 caps on airlines
--------------------------------------
The European Parliament has voted to force airlines to rein
in their fast-growing greenhouse gas emissions from 2012,
infuriating a sector struggling to cope with soaring
fuel prices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215523028.42

3. EU proposes sales tax cut for restaurants, haircuts
------------------------------------------------------
The Commission has proposed sales tax cuts on locally
provided services like restaurants and haircuts, as part
of proposals to shake up EU value added tax rules.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215428542.31

4. EU agrees to publish weekly oil stocks data
----------------------------------------------
EU finance ministers agreed on Tuesday to publish weekly oil
inventories data in an effort to bring more transparency to
the market.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215516725.47

5. EU to release EUR 600m in aid for fishermen
----------------------------------------------
The Commission is aiming to release up to EUR 600 million
in aid to EU fishermen to help them cope with soaring fuel
prices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215530352.77

6. EU proposes free fruit and veg scheme for schools
----------------------------------------------------
European schoolchildren could soon receive free fruit and
vegetables as part of an EU effort to keep them from
becoming overweight, according to a Commission proposal
lodged on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215531128.68

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

Council Watch
-------------
Immigration: Member States have unanimously welcomed
sweeping new guidelines for controlling immigration and are
on track to sign the pact in October.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215453723.52
Belgium wraps up parliamentary ratification of treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215713824.74
French plans on EU defence 'need British backing'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215616654.85
EU tells Britain to rein in budget deficit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215511358.17
EU drops legal action against Poland over deficit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215515827.73
EU unable to agree child alert system
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215507722.06
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
EC President: French President Sarkozy said on Thursday he
supported a second mandate for Commission chief Jose Manuel
Barroso.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215694049.72
Barroso urges help for farm aid plan for poor nations
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215688624.03
I won't be bullied by Sarkozy: Mandelson
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215524833.42
Bulgarian farming agency chief quits over EU funds
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215019021.69
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Zimbabwe: MEPs called Thursday for tougher EU sanctions
against Zimbabwe, including putting businessmen who finance
President Robert Mugabe's regime on a visa ban list.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215679625.9
MEPs demand end to gypsy fingerprinting in Italy
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215697630.72
Parliament moves to squeeze out radical parties
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215613022.93
Parliament calls for biofuel targets to be cut
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215471721.59

At this week's plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs gave
their green light to derogations to the European Fisheries
Fund for a period of two years; demanded reliable space
assets for an independent European Security and Defence
Policy; said public support, good neighbourhood policy and
greater institutional efficiency were needed for continued
success in EU enlargement; and welcomed positive
developments in EU-China relations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
13 Jul, Paris Summit for the Mediterranean
15 Jul, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
17 Jul, Economic and Financial Affairs Council - Budget
17 Jul, Informal Competitiveness Council
20 Jul, Meeting of Ministers for space affairs
22 Jul, General Affairs and External Relations Council
24 Jul, Justice and Home Affairs 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 challenges Italy for explanation
on Roma fingerprint plan", Bernard Sullivan writes:

"I would draw your attention to an abuse not too far away
from the shores of Italy, where in Kosovo, Roma have been
and continue to be severely abused, being forced to live in
camps where children have the highest levels of lead in
medical history. We have to be very cautious to protect
these very vulnerable people."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215441122.9
Discussion: http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

EUpress
-------
CEA responds to consultation on Insurance Guarantee Schemes
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.08-07-09

Standby electricity plan: toward greener products in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/eeb-stand-by.08-07-09

IACA: airlines faced with an unacceptable deal on ETS
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/iaca-press.08-07-08
More press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

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EUguides
--------
2008 report on education systems in the EU
http://www.eubusiness.com/Education/eu-education-systems.08

Reducing standby electric power consumption
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/standby-power-guide

Greening Transport Package
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/greening-transport-guide

EU package to tackle fuel crisis in fisheries sector
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/fish-fuel-guide
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

EUevents
--------
8 Sep, Ghent: European Conference on Ecological Restoration
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/ecological-restoration.08

11 Sep, Brussels: SME Banking in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/jacobfleming
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
------
Junior Consultant, ADS Insight
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ads-insight.08-07-09

Paris Representative, Food & Water Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/food-water-job.08-07-09
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

EUbooks
-------
Trends in EU Health Care Systems
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/eu-healthcare-systems

Competition in Energy Markets
http://www.eubusiness.com/Books/energy-competition
More books: http://www.eubusiness.com/EUbooks

EUlinks
-------
Review of the international role of the euro
http://www.eubusiness.com/Euro/role-of-the-euro.08

The Treaty of Lisbon
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/eu-treaty-of-lisbon
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU regulators raid grain traders, distributors 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215696722.45
EU raises pressure on Poland over aid for shipyards 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215611224.11
Cyprus consumers get more time for euro changeover 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215712023.71
Hungary to organise Nabucco gas pipeline summit 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215693122.68
Canada rejects Brussels ban on its seal skins 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215714723.03
Tender: IPv6 curricula
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/tender-ipv6
EU immigration plan draws flak in Africa 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215715623.47
EU court refers Sony merger ruling to lower tribunal 10-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215683221.9
Back pain burns holes in European pockets 9-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/back-pain.02
EU agrees to step up scrutiny of ratings agencies 8-Jul
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1215525721.66

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