EC under pressure on lobbying - EUbusiness Week no 412

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 412
12 September 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Europe flirting with recession
2. Euro-MPs seek to limit use of biofuels
3. Commission welcomes Google move on data stocking
4. EU plans 'threaten ratings agencies' independence'
5. EU proposes to hike eastern Baltic cod quota
6. EU clears imports of GM soybean strain

Publisher's Note
================
In June, the European Commission announced a voluntary
lobbyists' registry to tighten up on lobbying activities in
Brussels. On Monday, the EU's anti-fraud office opened an
enquiry into media allegations that a senior EC official
gave market-sensitive information to reporters posing as
business lobbyists.

At its launch, the registry was criticised as weak. So far,
only 316 groups have registered across Europe - from around
15,000 EU lobbyists. The latest allegations will put the
Commission under added pressure to live up to its promise
of improved transparency and make the registry compulsory.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220885243.73

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Europe flirting with recession
---------------------------------
The countries of the eurozone are teetering on the brink of
recession but should just escape the worst, the Commission
said on Wednesday, slashing its economic forecasts for 2008.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221044522.08
EU officials fear divisions in case of banking crisis
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221153423.22

2. Euro-MPs seek to limit use of biofuels
-----------------------------------------
European parliamentarians have approved EU plans to decrease
greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent, but called for
stricter limits to be set on the use of biofuels.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221147122.11

3. Commission welcomes Google move on data stocking
---------------------------------------------------
The Commission has welcomed as a "good step" the decision
by Internet giant Google to halve the time that it keeps
certain private web search data.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221134570.43

4. EU plans 'threaten ratings agencies' independence'
-----------------------------------------------------
EU plans to tighten regulatory oversight of credit rating
agencies after the subprime debacle could threaten their
independence, a senior Standard and Poor's executive warns.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221129123.1

5. EU proposes to hike eastern Baltic cod quota
-----------------------------------------------
The Commission is proposing to raise cod fishing quotas in
the eastern Baltic after a bitter clash with Poland last
year over restrictions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220881623.01

6. EU clears imports of GM soybean strain
-----------------------------------------
The Commission authorised on Monday the import of a
genetically modified strain of soybean for use in feed
and food for 10 years.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220878024.44

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

Council Watch
-------------
Finance: averting a recession in Europe will be the burning
issue for finance ministers meeting this weekend on the
French Riviera, as the euro and stocks tumble on fears of
a downturn.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221146222.64
EU ministers back Georgia observer mission
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220634124.22
Lack of information 'main reason' for Irish EU rebuff
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221068823.09
Lumps for Czech campaign to sweeten European Union
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220980892.2
Serbia ratifies key pacts that balance EU, Russia ties
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220961723.98
EU ministers set to broaden Zimbabwe sanctions
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221158822.82
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Ukraine: Ukraine on Tuesday took a step toward closer ties
with the EU but failed to win a pledge of membership at a
Paris summit overshadowed by the Russia-Georgia conflict.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220977922.29
Georgia has EU 'solidarity' after Russia conflict
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220910421.66
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Symbols of the Union: Parliament is set next month to use
the EU flag, anthem and motto for all formal business,
following a committee vote on Thursday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221140822.65

During African Week in Brussels, EP President Poettering and
Pan-African Parliament President Gertrude Mongella called for
a strengthening of cultural and parliamentary ties between
the EU and Africa. In committee, the Industry Committee said
renewables should make up 5 per cent of road transport fuels
by 2015; the Economics Committee called for legislation to
improve financial market supervision; and the Employment and
Social Affairs Committee approved an own-initiative report
on a Commission proposal to step up efforts to combat
undeclared work, as well as advocating a holistic approach
to eradicating poverty.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
13 Sep, Informal ECOFIN meeting
15-16 Sep, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council
18 Sep, Informal meeting of family ministers
18 Sep, EU-Central Asia Ministerial Forum on security issues
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

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EUbooks
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EUlinks
-------
Interim economic forecast, September 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/interim-forecast.09-08

Europarltv, web TV of the European Parliament
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/europarltv
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Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Little chance of reopening Serbia trade deal talks 11-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221153442.77
EU to respect court ruling on terror funds 11-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221153450.91
COST open call: next deadline approaching 11-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/cost-call.08
EU probes housing discrimination in Belgium 10-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221058955.2
EU seeks to deepen ties with Nigeria 10-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1221060723.76
EU experts to 'closely inspect' European airlines 10-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220978823.16
EU prepares court action against Germany over VW law 9-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220968022.34
Foreign firms watch Coca-Cola China deal: EU business 9-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220941922.81
EU 'to extend anti-dumping duties' on Chinese shoes 8-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220899623.67
Croatia backed to conclude EU talks by mid-2009 8-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220881651.97
EU lifts Bulgarian air safety restrictions 8-Sep
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1220887025.52

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