EC seeks longer maternity leave - EUbusiness Week no 415

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 415
3 October 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU proposes tougher banking rules
2. ACP nations seek one voice over trade ties with EU
3. Poland wants fresh review of shipyard salvage plans
4. New EU law demands more battery recycling
5. EU agrees to keep fishing quota system despite doubts
6. EU bans Chinese milk products for children

Publisher's Note
================
Despite the turmoil caused by the global banking crisis,
life goes on. This Friday, the Commission unveils plans to
extend minimum maternity leave in Europe from 14 to 18
weeks. Currently the rights of European mothers vary widely,
with Germany offering a 14-week minimum, while women in
France, the Netherlands and Spain are entitled to 16 weeks.

Member States are in general not over-keen on harmonising
social rules. However, with financial problems on the
increase, maybe now is the time to find "a better balance
between professional, private and family life", as Social
Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla put it.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222873327.92

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU proposes tougher banking rules
------------------------------------
The Commission called Wednesday on banks to hold more
capital to cover their risks as part of proposals to
update regulation of the crisis-struck sector.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222863421.78
EU to recommend tougher 'golden parachute' rules
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222966029.37
Economists urge united EU response to financial crisis
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222943522.26

2. ACP nations seek one voice over trade ties with EU
-----------------------------------------------------
Leaders of the world's poorest nations have begun talks on
tackling food and energy crises, but also sought to
conclude a crucial joint deal on trade with the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222957022.47

3. Poland wants fresh review of shipyard salvage plans
------------------------------------------------------
Poland's Treasury Minister has called on Competition
Commissioner Neelie Kroes to order a fresh expert review
of plans to restructure Poland's troubled shipyards.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222865224.69

4. New EU law demands more battery recycling
--------------------------------------------
New EU-wide rules to boost the collection and recycling of
used domestic batteries have come into force to reduce the
environmental and health hazards posed by mercury, lead,
cadmium and other metals.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222424222.82

5. EU agrees to keep fishing quota system despite doubts
--------------------------------------------------------
Member States agreed on Monday to maintain existing fishing
quotas despite their flaws and frequent criticism.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222705929.49

6. EU bans Chinese milk products for children
---------------------------------------------
The EU has banned all imports on Chinese milk-related
products for children such as biscuits and chocolate as
Beijing struggles to contain the contamination scandal.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222525025.09

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

Council Watch
-------------
India: Indian and French leaders vowed to boost nuclear
energy cooperation at an annual summit on EU-India ties
dominated by trade, global warming and the finance crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/eu-india.1223528622.11
France satisfied with progress on EU defence
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222862532.22
EU not boldly funding space ambitions
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222442222.73
EU agrees to piracy security operation off Somalia
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222882322.04
EU kicks off Georgia peace mission
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222879622.27
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Financial crisis: the Commission is calling for a co-
ordinated EU response to the crisis ravaging the financial
sector, with tougher regulations and cross-border oversight.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222867025.78
Sarkozy criticises Brussels competition policy
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222432325.53
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
External Parliamentary Activities week.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
2-3 Oct, Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Affairs
7 Oct, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN)
8-9 Oct, Additional EP plenary session
10 Oct, Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council
27 Oct, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
4 Nov, Ecofin Council

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

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

EUpress
-------
CEA: financial turmoil confirms case for supervision
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.08-10-02

Eurofound: the flexicurity concept in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/eurofound.08-10-02

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EUevents
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http://www.eubusiness.com/events/acad-conf.08-06-13
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

EUjobs
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Research Officer, Eurofound
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http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eib-job.08-10-02
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EUlinks
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NAIADES - inland waterway transport in Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/naiades
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Ryanair complains to EU over Alitalia bailout 2-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222946224.07
Radiation shut down EU test satellite for 2 weeks 2-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222972321.99
Slovenia's road tax system unfair to foreigners 2-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222971421.81
EU clears Deutsche Telekom to raise OTE stake 2-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222959721.68
Macedonia ready for name compromise with Greece 2-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222949821.67
EC fines "paraffin mafia" cartel EUR 676m 1-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222855321.9
EU opens probe into state aid for WestLB bank 1-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222857121.52
WTO rules against US over anti-dumping calculations 1-Oct
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1222870621.88

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