Euro-MPs back Blue Card scheme - EUbusiness Week no 422

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 422
21 November 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU preparing green help for ailing car industry
2. EU hammers out farm subsidy reforms
3. Massive EU online library looks to compete with Google
4. EU expansion didn't bring migrant worker wave: report
5. EU-China deal to boost 'Made in China' product safety
6. Huge gaps in 'good health' lifespan across Europe: study

Publisher's Note
================
The way is clear for the creation of a European Blue Card
scheme for skilled migrant workers, following Thursday's
European Parliament vote in Strasbourg. Based on the US Green
Card, the fast-track system would allow skilled workers to
enter the EU and obtain longer-term residence status more
quickly.

EU home affairs ministers will consider the issue next week,
but EUROCHAMBRES is calling for a more ambitious text to
respond to "alarming" skills gaps in Europe's labour market.
Most highly qualified migrants opt for the U.S. or Canada,
says Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini. "With this watered-
down directive, we cannot expect the EU to become a magnet
for workers in an unbureaucratic... and efficient way".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227195121.46

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU preparing green help for ailing car industry
--------------------------------------------------
The EU is preparing targeted action rather than an overall
bailout to help the car sector, one of Europe's biggest
employers that is in crisis as the credit crunch bites.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227100623.14
EIB proposes more loans to troubled car sector
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226928723.3

2. EU hammers out farm subsidy reforms
--------------------------------------
EU Member States on Thursday hammered out a deal to revamp
massive farm aid, despite British objections, with increases
in milk quotas, cuts in production subsidies and more
support for eco-friendly projects.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227187029.64

3. Massive EU online library looks to compete with Google
---------------------------------------------------------
The EU has launched its Europeana digital library, an online
digest of Europe's cultural heritage that aims to draw
together millions of books and other items.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227154622.29

4. EU expansion didn't bring migrant worker wave: report
--------------------------------------------------------
The long-feared Polish plumber phenomenon, an invasion of
workers from eastern European countries taking jobs from
their EU neighbours, has not materialised, according to
the EC Employment Report released on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226945822.66

5. EU-China deal to boost 'Made in China' product safety
-------------------------------------------------------
The EU and China have signed a deal to improve consumer
safety amid continuing health fears over Chinese products
imported into Europe.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226933222.99

6. Huge gaps in 'good health' lifespan across Europe: study
-----------------------------------------------------------
Residents in the Union's wealthier nations live in good
health up to 14 years longer than their more recent EU
neighbours to the east, according to a major study.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226881022.59

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

Council Watch
-------------
Economic government: Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker on
Monday criticised French President Sarkozy for proposing an
'economic government' for the eurozone.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226948521.74
Czech PM says EU preferable to Russian influence
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227178021.78
Ireland, mulling new referendum, seeks EU guarantees
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226920622.23
Welsh language makes EU debut
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227211322.21
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Fiscal stimulus: Europe needs a continent-wide fiscal
stimulus plan, EC chief Barroso said on Monday, adding that
"exceptional moments... need exceptional measures."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226920634.15
EU fiscal stimulus plans 'will respect budget rules'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227191522.05
Brussels urges Bulgaria to get tough on EU fraud
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227184331.97
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Bail-out fund: Euro-MPs have approved plans to more than
double the amount of money available to the Union's non-euro
members in case they run into economic troubles.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227185229.87
MEPs block phone tap evidence involving Italian minister
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227011521.87
EP strips far-right Belgian MEP of immunity
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227009722.17

Also at this week's Strasbourg plenary, MEPs opposed a
Commission plan to deal with disparate environmental
inspections through a non-binding Recommendation; called for
the formulation of a strategy on HIV to promote early
diagnosis; called on Member States to sign, ratify and
implement cluster bomb ban; and said that immediate action
is required to tackle the drastic decline in bee colonies
throughout Europe.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
21 Nov, ECOFIN Budget Council
27 Nov, Justice and Home Affairs Council
27 Nov, Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council
28 Nov, Agriculture Council
1 Dec, Competitiveness Council
2 Dec, ECOFIN Council
4 Dec, Environment Council

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

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

Policy Forum
------------
BEUC: great concerns about pharmaceutical Package
http://www.eubusiness.com/Pharma/beuc-press.08-11-20

Greenpeace: last chance saloon for car emissions legislation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/greenpeace.08-11-19

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
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Briefing
--------
CAP Health Check
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/cap-health-check

Equal opportunities for women and men at the Commission
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/gender-equality-ec.07

EU School Fruit Scheme
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/school-fruit-guide

European development days
http://www.eubusiness.com/Development/development-days
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Events
------
27 Nov, Brussels: Credit Crunch and Late Payments
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/intrum-justitia

26 Jan, London: Telecoms Business Services
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir/business09
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Legal Experts, College of Europe
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/coe-job.08-11-19

Head of Communications, European Railway Industry Assoc
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/unife-job.08-11-19
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
Employment in Europe Report (2008)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/employment-europe.08

Europeana - the European Digital Library
http://www.eubusiness.com/Culture/europeana
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU shelves airport body scanner plan 20-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227183448.02
Britain not in favour of EU farm policy changes 20-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227185226.69
Latvia to seek EU, IMF economic crisis aid 20-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227191525.71
EU agreement boosts supervision of insurance industry 19-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227131222.22
EU school children to get free fruit 19-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227110522.13
Danes happiest, Bulgarians most miserable: EU study 19-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227129422.24
Tobacco workers protest EU subsidy cuts 19-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227111425.44
Preston scoops EU crime prevention prize 19-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227025926.92
New EU email address for passengers in difficulty 17-Nov
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1226937723.26

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