Farm protests grip Europe - EUbusiness Week no 431

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 431
6 February 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Europe struggles for unity in face of recession
2. EU sees 'reasonable' US moves on 'Buy American' feud
3. EU proposes new crackdown on bank secrecy
4. Brussels proposes new rules to protect shark stocks
5. EU cooks up tighter olive oil labelling rules
6. Cell phone health effects still uncertain: EU study

Publisher's Note
================
The banks say they need financial help, so do the carmakers,
and the farmers are struggling to make their voice heard
above the clamour. From Greece to Bulgaria and Latvia,
Europe's farmers have been protesting as the economic
crisis causes prices - milk in particular - to collapse.

Now they are having to deal with "trade distorting" support
in the latest US farm aid package, highlighted by the
Commission in a study of America's five-year Farm Bill
released this week. As the crisis bites even further,
the voice of farmers in the EU is likely to be
heard even louder.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233759722.55

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

MARKET RESEARCH: Green Power
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Green Power Retail Strategies in European Utilities - buy
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1. Europe struggles for unity in face of recession
--------------------------------------------------
Despite promises to tackle recession together, EU
governments are scrambling each in their own corner to
come up with new measures to revive their economies,
threatening the Union's unity.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233458221.67

2. EU sees 'reasonable' US moves on 'Buy American' feud
-------------------------------------------------------
The EU's envoy to Washington says he is optimistic that US
lawmakers will water down "Buy American" restrictions in
their economic stimulus bill.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233766923.07

3. EU proposes new crackdown on bank secrecy
--------------------------------------------
The Commission has opened a new front in the struggle
against tax fraud with proposals taking aim at bank
secrecy laws in Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233585121.52

4. Brussels proposes new rules to protect shark stocks
------------------------------------------------------
The Commission on Thursday proposed tighter rules to
protect sharks, including obliging fishermen to throw back
sharks caught accidentally, but Green groups are
expressing doubts about the moves.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233845223.79

5. EU cooks up tighter olive oil labelling rules
------=-----------------------------------------
The origin of olive oil sold in Europe will have to be
clearly labelled in the future under new rules adopted
in order to prevent consumers from being misled.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233756122.83

6. Cell phone health effects still uncertain: EU study
------------------------------------------------------
Mobile telephone use is unlikely to cause cancer, although
the effects of long term use and on children are still
unknown, according to an EU study released on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233680524.87

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

Council Watch
-------------
Bank secrecy: Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker
said he was open to consider limiting bank secrecy in
Europe after the Commission proposed tougher rules.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233681421.65
World's crisis-hit poor should get EU aid
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233345723.06
Guantanamo delegation to Washington in March
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233749821.68
Ireland's Lisbon 'No' guru launches Polish party
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233606722.97
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Euro: the euro is a "protective shield" amid the global
economic crisis, Commission President Barroso said on
Wednesday, dismissing fears of a eurozone break-up.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233746222.37
EU, China agree to hold new summit 'soon'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233315121.68
Iceland almost ready to join EU before applying
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233856030.29
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Kosovo: Parliament on Thursday called for all Member States
to recognise Kosovo as independent of Serbia, something
which a handful have not done.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233838021.83
Too early for Iceland membership: EP head
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233745322.64
Austrian far-right hopes to join parliamentary faction
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233497822.1
Euro-MPs urge EU states to help shut down Guantanamo
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233676922.92

Also at this week's splenary session, MEPs approved
compromise plans to redraft EU rules on the authorising and
labelling of animal feed; said the Union must "recognise
the ACP states as equal partners in the negotiation and
implementation process" of Economic Partnership Agreements;
urged help for SMEs to expand their export activities and
internationalisation; and highlighted "intolerable
conditions" in detention centres throughout the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
9-10 Feb, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
11-12 Feb, EU - Russia Ministerial Meeting (Troika)
16 Feb, Education, Youth and Culture Council
18 Feb, EP Plenary Session
19 Feb, Energy Council

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

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

Comments of the Week
--------------------
Commenting on our piece "Turkish PM threatens new EU gas
pipeline", Kufi Seydali writes:

"The EU is behaving very arrogantly in relation to Turkey.
Pity that the true reason for the stalemate was not
mentioned in this article! That being that, Turkey as a
major partner and financer in this project would have no
say in the decision making mechanisms just like in
defence related decision making process."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232369223.35

Also read our heated discussion on Sri Lanka and the Tamil
Tigers at http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233677821.43

And apologies to the Russian Mission to the EU for our
mistake in the article on Russia's attitude to the EU's
eastern partnership plan.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233685022.41
http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

Briefing
--------
TEN-T policy review: Green Paper
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/ten-t-review.09

Fight against tax fraud: Commission proposals
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ec-tax-fraud-guide

Conservation & Management of Sharks: action plan
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/sharks-action-guide
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Policy Forum
------------
Services Directive: concerns over impact - survey
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/eurochambres.09-02-06

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
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Events
------
23 March, London: Revenue Management 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir

6 Apr, Sofia: Renewable Energy Congress
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/renewable-energy.09
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Senior Research Fellow in Private International Law
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/biicl-job.09-02-04

Food Policy Officer, Euro. Assoc. Consumer Cooperatives
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eurocoop-job.09-01-31
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
Commission analysis of new US Farm Bill
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/map

Scientific Committee on Emerging Health Risks
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/scenihr
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU car makers oppose Sth Korea free trade talks 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233856033.47
Ukraine needs EUR 2.5bn for gas network: EC 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233853321.61
EU steelmakers set for 'unprecedented downturn' 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233851522.52
EU targeting steel companies with cartel charges 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233834423.29
EU expert suggests cut in fine on Olympic Airways 5-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233830821.45
EU warns France over protectionism with car aid 4-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233772322.62
Commission defends free worker movements 4-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233779522.03
WTO upholds ruling against US over anti-dumping 4-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233766021.6

Market Research: http://www.eubusiness.com/market-research
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