Pharma companies 'block cheaper drugs' - EUbusiness Week no 424

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 424
5 December 2008
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU talks on climate change heat up as summit nears
2. EU offers closer ties with ex-Soviet states
3. Member States agree on car emission cuts
4. China calls for dialogue after EU bans foods
5. Bulgaria foots bill after EU blocks funds
6. EU increases duty-free for travel into Europe

Publisher's Note
================
Drug companies are blocking generic treatments and rival
medicines from entering the market, according to preliminary
findings of a Commission probe into Europe's pharmaceutical
sector.

Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes is threatening
antitrust action against companies who are using patents and
litigation to keep more affordable medicines from coming to
market. While the industry says the findings are unfounded,
the Commission is making clear it will not hesitate to open
antitrust cases against companies who may have breached
EU rules.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227864722.42

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU talks on climate change heat up as summit nears
-----------------------------------------------------
European officials warned Thursday of tough talks ahead if
the EU is to seal a major climate change accord this month,
amid demands from Germany, Poland and others to protect
their industries.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228416423.05

2. EU offers closer ties with ex-Soviet states
----------------------------------------------
The Commission has proposed closer ties with Georgia, Ukraine
and other ex-Soviet states, but it denies it is seeking a
"sphere of influence" in Moscow's former fiefdom.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228318322.04

3. Member States agree on car emission cuts
-------------------------------------------
EU nations on Monday reached a compromise agreement on new
rules to cut CO2 emissions from new cars from 2012, a deal
swiftly criticised by green groups as being too diluted
to be effective.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228169823.1

4. China calls for dialogue after EU bans foods
-----------------------------------------------
China on Thursday stressed its commitment to safe food
exports and called for dialogue with the European Union
after the bloc announced an extended ban on suspect
Chinese imports.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228384922.75

5. Bulgaria foots bill after EU blocks funds
--------------------------------------------
Bulgaria's government will cover the EUR 75m cost of a number
of contracts following the European Union's decision to cut
off its access to hundreds of millions of euros in EU
funding.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228325522.26

6. EU increases duty-free for travel into Europe
------------------------------------------------
The EU has increased its duty-free allowances for travellers
arriving in the bloc, with rules eased for wine and perfume
but not for cigarettes.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228146428.05

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

Council Watch
-------------
Finance: ministers adopted on Tuesday a proposal to more than
double the amount of loans available to non-eurozone Member
States in case they run into economic troubles.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228242721.84
EU split over food aid plans for the poor
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227883621.76
British, French ministers launch EU anti-piracy HQ
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228419122.24
EU to launch justice mission in Kosovo
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228330028.23
Irish PM in pre-summit talks on stalled treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228312925.84
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Asylum: the Commission on Wednesday proposed extra rights
and protections for asylum seekers and said it wanted to
take the burden off the main receiving nations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228332732.76
EU relaunches partnership talks with Russia
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228249921.6
EU chief says China had no reason to cancel summit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228073521.59
German state leader hits out at EC over 'Volkswagen Law'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227964623.01
Mandelson denies sparking Britain euro suggestions
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228306623.14
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
China: China lacks the moral authority, including over the
question of Tibet, to be a true superpower, the Dalai Lama
said on Thursday in an address to Parliament in Brussels.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228403823.01
European socialists see opportunity for political gains
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228218423.14

Also at this week's additional plenary, MEPs backed a plan
to prevent VAT fraud through improved data collection and
exchange; urged the Council to approve the Small Business
Act and make its provisions binding; and approved a EUR 1bn
budget facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in
developing countries. The Legal Affairs committee endorsed a
new employment and payment system for MEPs' assistants.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
8-9 Dec, Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council
8-9 Dec, Gen'l Affairs and External Relations Council
11-12 Dec, European Council

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

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

Comment of the Week
-------------------
Commenting on our piece "China blames France for row over
Tibet", Jay Casey writes:

"China is the one that started this problem by cancelling the
summit in an attempt to bully Europeans into tossing their
principles in exchange for cash. China needs to grow up
and only they can do that."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1227778321.98
http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

Policy Forum
------------
Small Business Act: crucial to Europe's economic recovery
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/eurochambres.08-12-03

Business sceptical about revision of EUROVIGNETTE directive
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/eurochambres.08-12-02

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
press releases and other content directly onto EUbusiness.
http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus/premium-partners

Briefing
--------
Eastern Partnership
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/eastern-partnership

Dangerous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/rohs-guide

Revised laws on recycling electrical and electronic equipment
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/weee-rohs-guide

New duty-free allowances
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/duty-free.08
More guides: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Events
------
13 Jan, Brussels: European conference on software services
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/eu-ecss.08-11-11

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

Jobs
----
Information and Communication Officer, Eurochild
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eurochild-job.08-12-01

Lawyer - Private Equity, European Investment Fund
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eif-job.08-11-12
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
New Czech Presidency website
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/eu2009.cz

European Prize for Contemporary Literature
http://www.eubusiness.com/Culture/european-lit-prize
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Corruption could keep Bulgaria out of Schengen zone 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228394822.33
China urges talks with EU on screw dumping decision 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228381323.04
EU was wrong to freeze Iran group's funds: court 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228387624.11
EU data confirm eurozone in recession 4-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228385822.42
EDF moves for EU backing for British Energy takeover 2-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228230122.85
Health of elderly Europeans shows north-south divide 2-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/share.10
EU, Australia wine deal phases out 'champagne' names 2-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228156336.44
Montenegro to apply for EU candidacy this month 1-Dec
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1228133821.68

Market Research: http://www.eubusiness.com/market-research
Companies: http://www.eubusiness.com/europages
RSS: http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus/eubusiness-rss
http://www.eubusiness.com/Currency-converter

Newswire online: http://www.eubusiness.com/Newswire

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