The cost to our data privacy - EUbusiness Week no 430

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 430
30 January 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU unveils international climate change blueprint
2. EU bans allergy-causing chemical DMF
3. European economic confidence hits new low
4. EU extends rules for supporting film industry
5. UK should change 'discriminatory' inheritance tax law
6. 'Buy American' stimulus bill stirs protectionism debate

Publisher's Note
================
The cost to our privacy of new online technologies was
highlighted by BEUC, the European Consumers' Organisation
on the occasion of European Data Privacy Day on Wednesday.
Three initiatives to watch are currently being debated at
European level:

- the e-privacy directive, where consumers would be
notified when a security breach could compromise their
personal data;
- a Recommendation on privacy, data protection and security
aspects of the radio-frequency identification (RFID)
technology, which allows data access at a distance; and
- the so-called "graduated response", which would mean an
invasion of internet users' privacy for the purposes of
enforcing copyright.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc-data

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU unveils international climate change blueprint
----------------------------------------------------
The Commission on Wednesday called for 30 per cent cuts
in greenhouse gases for developed countries along with
other steps it hopes will provide a blueprint for
global talks in Copenhagen.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233152222.84
Brussels proposes billions for energy projects
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233145922.98
Europe pins hopes on Nabucco gas pipeline project
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233064024.34

2. EU bans allergy-causing chemical DMF
---------------------------------------
EU Member States voted on Thursday to ban dimethylfumarate
(DMF), an allergy-provoking chemical used to protect
leather furniture or footwear from mould.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233255721.54

3. European economic confidence hits new low
--------------------------------------------
European consumer and business confidence slumped to a
record low in January in the face of recession, but the
drop was not as sharp as expected, according to the EC's
economic sentiment indicator.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233226022.21

4. EU extends rules for supporting film industry
------------------------------------------------
The Commission has extended until the end of 2012 rules
allowing Member States to support film-makers with public
money.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233155821.47

5. UK should change 'discriminatory' inheritance tax law
--------------=-----------------------------------------
The Commission is threatening Britain with court action if
it does not change "discriminatory" inheritance tax rules,
which grant tax relief on agricultural and forestry
property on British territory, but not elsewhere in the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233232322.61

6. 'Buy American' stimulus bill stirs protectionism debate
----------------------------------------------------------
The mega US economic stimulus bill passed by the House of
Representatives on Wednesday contains a "Buy American"
provision that is raising hackles in Europe.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233240422.13

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

Council Watch
-------------
Iran: foreign ministers struck the main Iranian opposition
group in exile from the EU's list of terrorist organisations on
Monday, but refused to rule out future action against it.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232963229.71
EU tightens Zimbabwe sanctions, freezes firms' assets
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232989322.12
EU to launch 'Eastern Partnership' at May summit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233229622.89
Czech house defers vote on key EU reform treaty
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233064921.64
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Russia: Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso will lead a
delegation to Moscow next week for talks with Russian
officials on the economic crisis and the recent gas
supply shutdown.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233243123.12
No 'ambition' to head EU Commission: Dutch PM
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233076622.39
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Sanctions directive: employers of clandestine immigrants
could soon be penalised throughout the EU. A directive
laying down standard penalties to combat illegal
immigration and trafficking in human beings, from fines
to prison terms, will be put to the vote at the
Strasbourg plenary session next week.

Committee meetings and political groups week.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
2-5 Feb, EP Plenary Session
4-5 Feb, Meeting of EU ministers for Family Affairs
9-10 Feb, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
11-12 Feb, EU - Russia Ministerial Meeting (Troika)
16 Feb, Education, Youth and Culture 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 "Czechs warm to EU Lisbon Treaty:
poll", Sigurd Jakobsen writes:

"How on earth could the reduction in the number of
commissioners pose a threat to SOVEREIGNTY? Anyway, I
thought this was a news site dedicated to EU politics; I
would have assumed that you're aware of the conclusions
of the European Council in December? One commissioner
per member state."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233170221.14
http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

Briefing
--------
EU ban on dimethylfumarate (DMF)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/dmf-guide

Review of the VAT invoicing rules
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/vat-invoicing-eu-guide

Commission film support rules
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/eu-film-support

Commission earmarks EUR 1bn for investment in broadband
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/investment-broadband
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Policy Forum
------------
ECAR renews call for EC "Repairs Clause"
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/ecar-press.09-01-29

Commission fails to put its euros where its mouth is
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/greenpeace.09-01-28

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Events
------
23 March, London: Revenue Management 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir

21 Apr, Prague: European Future Technologies Conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/events/fet.09
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Project Procurer, Economic Analyst, Fusion for Energy
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/fusion-energy.09-01-24

Advisor/Project Coordinator, European Committee for
Cooperation of the Machine Tool Industries
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/cecimo-job.09.01.21
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
On-line tool for SME funding
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/sme-funding-tool
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Over 4,000 industrial plants without proper permits 29-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233237721.25
EU concerned over Albanian secret police law 28-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233174722.76
Crisis funding boosts corruption in Bulgaria: study 28-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233154922.81
Data Privacy Day: online dangers and defences 28-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233143222.79
Farmers package conforms to EU law: Greece 28-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233154021.98
Lithuanian airline collapse hits culture-fest 28-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233144121.44
EU fines Bridgestone, Dunlop, others for cartel 28-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233140522.64
Belgrade to apply EU trade accord 26-Jan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232992022.86

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