Energy the issue at Russia-EU talks - EUbusiness Week no 411

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 411
5 September 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Poland says investors agree to save historic shipyards
2. EU urged to diversify energy sources
3. EU to propose 11-cent price cap for cross-border texts
4. EU appeals against WTO banana rulings
5. Car-makers falling short on EU emissions targets
6. Slovaks struggle to get to grips with euro prices

Publisher's Note
================
Welcome back to the newswire, after an anything-but-sleepy
EU summer break dominated by Russia's military action in
Georgia. At their emergency summit this week, European
leaders stopped short of sanctions, but suspended talks
with Moscow on a new EU-Russia partnership pact until
Russian troops pull back.

However, it is the issue of energy which is likely to
overshadow the crisis meeting between the French and Russian
presidents on Monday. While Russia has promised to fulfil
its contractual gas export commitments to the EU, there are
fears that the conflict could threaten existing and planned
Caucasus energy routes - seen by Europe as vital supply
corridors that avoid Russian territory.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220291226.54

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Poland says investors agree to save historic shipyards
---------------------------------------------------------
Eight days before a Commission deadline, the Polish
government said on Thursday that private investors have
agreed to save Polish shipyards from bankruptcy, but
subsidies are still needed to keep the yards afloat.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220557623.44

2. EU urged to diversify energy sources
---------------------------------------
The International Energy Agency has urged EU Member States
to diversify their energy sources and speak with one voice
when negotiating with suppliers such as Russia.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220537822.11

3. EU to propose 11-cent price cap for cross-border texts
---------------------------------------------------------
Telecommunications Commissioner Viviane Reding has drafted
plans to regulate the price of sending cross-border text
messages by mobile phones in the bloc with a cap of
11 euro cents, an official said on Wednesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220464021.95

4. EU appeals against WTO banana rulings
----------------------------------------
The Commission has launched an appeal to overturn a WTO
ruling against Europe in a long running trade dispute
over bananas with the United States and Ecuador.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1219935722.21

5. Car-makers falling short on EU emissions targets
---------------------------------------------------
Car-makers are not doing enough to meet proposed EU targets
for cutting carbon dioxide emissions, according to a report,
with some German and Japanese brands facing the biggest
challenge to make the grade.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1219767082.09

6. Slovaks struggle to get to grips with euro prices
----------------------------------------------------
Slovakia's switch to the European single currency has got
off to a stuttering start as shoppers puzzle over prices
given in both the local koruna and euro.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220152623.0

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

Council Watch
-------------
Georgia: the EU will boost ties with Georgia by backing
reconstruction after its conflict with Russia, but the
strife-torn former Soviet republic's hopes of joining the
EU remain distant.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220359623.06
France plans conference on stability in Caucasus
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220461322.6
Eurozone chief rejects French proposal on ties with ECB
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220437022.91
Irish minister says second EU treaty vote necessary
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1219655823.36
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Serbia: Commission President Barroso said on Wednesday it
was "possible" that Serbia could get EU candidate status
in 2009 if all conditions were met.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220439722.41
Serbia's Radicals to back EU accord in policy switch
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220548622.05
EU tells Bulgaria to step up anti-corruption drive
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1219862823.36
Commissioner says Macedonia needs more reform
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220528823.79
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Brussels: MEPs will hold another plenary session in Brussels
this month as the normal Strasbourg chamber is still unsafe
after a roof collapse.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220536021.11
Euro-MPs call for ban on cloned farm animals
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220446927.07
Parliament eases road for hydrogen cars
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220455921.96
Dalai Lama, Tsvangirai, Betancourt on Sakharov prize list
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220467623.2

At this week's plenary session in Brussels, MEPs adopted a
first-reading legislative report on proposals to modernise
the rules for the computerised reservation systems used by
high-street and online travel agents to book airline tickets
for customers; urged the Commission to adopt guidelines on
state aid to ports by the end of this year; and called on
the Commission to allocate at least 40 per cent of EU
transport infrastructure appropriations to the railways
and to prioritise freight.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
13 Sep, Informal ECOFIN meeting
21 Sep, Informal Agriculture meeting
25 Sep, Justice and Home Affairs Council
25-26 Sep, Competitiveness Council
29 Sep, Agriculture and Fisheries Council

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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Greenpeace: A North Sea Electricity Grid Revolution
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/greenpeace.08-09-03

Friends of the Earth: huge support for fuel efficient cars
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/foe-press.08-08-28

AmCham EU Urges WTO Members Not To Give Up
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/amcham-eu.08-07-31
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Revised Ecolabel scheme
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/revised-ecolabel
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EUevents
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23 Sep, Prague: Annual CEE & CIS Pharmaceutical Challenges
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
WTO rules in favour of Mexico in EU olive oil dispute 4-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220543230.71
EC puts forward marine and maritime research strategy 4-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/maritime-research.02
Ghana, EU deal to crackdown on illicit timber trade 3-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220464027.89
Ukraine's EU hopes set to take a knock 3-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220463120.92
EU court threatens to annul terror funds freeze 3-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220446022.72
Eurozone manufacturing activity ticks up 1-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220261522.12
Court ruling threatens Denmark's immigration policy 1-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220245322.26

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