EC plans audit help for micro companies - EUbusiness Week no 434

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 434
27 February 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU wants banks to come clean on toxic assets
2. EU warns Microsoft over Windows web browsers
3. EU makes fresh proposal to end banana trade dispute
4. Ministers fail to agree on key energy projects
5. European economic confidence hits new low
6. EU reassures German bakers over salt level rules

Publisher's Note
================
A Commission proposal to exempt the EU's smallest
businesses from harmonised accounting rules should be
welcome in the deteriorating economic climate. But both
the European Federation of Accountants and SME employers'
organisation UEAPME agree the plan is unlikely to generate
a net cost reduction.

Most firms will still file accounts for national
authorities, banks, suppliers and customers, they say. And
with governments being free to either adopt or ignore the
new rules, it is not surprising that the welcome has
been less than universal.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235655123.27

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Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION: CONSULTANT NEEDED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
IFC is looking for a Consultant on Food Safety Regulations
(either a company or an individual). It is an international
assignment. For details, see
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/ifc
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. EU wants banks to come clean on toxic assets
-----------------------------------------------
The Commission has unveiled plans for a common EU approach
to handling "toxic assets," with banks having to come clean
about the size of the problem in order to give them
"a clean sheet".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235566921.44
EU advisers urge new financial risk bodies
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235573230.98

2. EU warns Microsoft over Windows web browsers
-----------------------------------------------
The Commission may order US software giant Microsoft to
give Windows users a clear and easy choice of web browsers,
even allowing customers to disable the company's Internet
Explorer system, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235493121.78
Google backs EU antitrust complaint
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235512922.34

3. EU makes fresh proposal to end banana trade dispute
------------------------------------------------------
The Union has made a fresh proposal to Latin American
banana producers in a bid to end a decade-old dispute
over the bloc's banana import policies.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235395025.36

4. Ministers fail to agree on key energy projects
-------------------------------------------------
Member States have failed to agree on how to fund a key
economic stimulus measure which would put EUR 3.75 billion
of Community money into energy projects.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235402222.86

5. European economic confidence hits new low
--------------------------------------------
European consumer and business confidence slumped to a
record low in February, a fresh sign of the deepening
recession.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235643422.21

6. EU reassures German bakers over salt level rules
---------------------------------------------------
The Commission is seeking to reassure anxious German bakers
that their favourite salt-rich bread is not under threat,
while insisting that consumers need new nutrition
information.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235491322.8

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

Council Watch
-------------
Bank deposits: ministers on Thursday agreed to increase
protection for bank depositors, raising the state guarantee
levels from EUR 20,000 to EUR 50,000 in July and to EUR
100,000 from 2011.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235668627.6
Sarkozy urges EU car sector plan
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235665021.58
Russia, Turkey may be invited to EU partnership talks
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235417521.55
French Cuba visit backs EU move to normalise ties
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235582222.94
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Protectionism: EC president Barroso and Czech PM Topolanek
are urging European leaders to commit to the fight against
economic protectionism when they meet at the Brussels
summit on Sunday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235666821.78
Austria must get rid of banking secrecy: Commissioner
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235668630.9
Brussels urges more financial aid for ex-Soviet states
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235395021.29
Budget Commissioner to seek presidency in Lithuania
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235653323.22
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Gaza: a parliament delegation toured Gaza on Monday to
assess the damage caused by Israel's war on the Hamas-run
territory.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235395921.49

Parliament this week launched an action plan to reduce its
carbon footprint. At committee meetings, the Foreign
Affairs Committee called for a closer and deeper strategic
partnership with the USA; and the International Trade
Committee urged Parliamentary assent for the economic
partnership agreement between the Cariforum states
and the EU, with conditions.
Texts: http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/oeil
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
1 Mar, Informal Meeting of Heads of State and Gov'ts
2 Mar, Environment Council
5-6 Mar, Competitiveness Council
9 Mar, Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Council
9-12 Mar, EP Plenary Session
10 Mar, Economic and Financial Affairs 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 "EU sweetens energy plan for France,
Italy", Mike Parr writes:

"At the Sustainable Energy week Claude Termes made an
interesting point. He noted that given the continuing
increase in Turkish gas demand, by the time the Nabbucco
pipeline is built perhaps most of the gas will tend to be
used by..errr... Turkey. I wonder if anybody has thought
of that one? or is this an 'inconvenient truth'?"
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235073722.71
http://www.eubusiness.com/discussion

Briefing
--------
Financial Reporting: burden reduction for micro-entities
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/financial-reporting-guide

EU support to fight the crisis in the automotive sector
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/car-sector-support

EC guidance for treatment of toxic assets in banking sector
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/eu-toxic-assets-guide
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Policy Forum
------------
Accounting rules and micro entities - when simplification
becomes complication
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/efaa-press.09-02-26

Recovery action must go beyond big businesses
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/ueapme.09-02-25

Plan welcomes "Slumdog Millionaire" Oscar triumph
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/plan-press.09-02-23

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

Events
------
25 March, Brussels: The Pharmaceutical Forum
http://www.eubusiness.com/Pharma/pharmaceutical-forum.09

31 Mar, Lisbon: Managed Services Summit
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir/managedservicessummit
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Legal Advisor, European Chemicals Agency
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/echa-job.09-02-23

Junior Consultant, European Business Associates
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eba-job.09-02-17
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
High level group on financial supervision report
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/de-larosiere-report.09

Enterprise Europe Network
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/enterprise-europe

Five years of an enlarged EU - Communication
http://www.eubusiness.com/Enlargement/enlarged-eu-com
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Poland to sell massive shipyards in March 26-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235669522.74
Europe mulls new Iran nuclear sanctions 26-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235668632.7
Germany only euro member to shrink in 2010: EEAG 25-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235576821.76
EU seeks May date for summit with China 25-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235539922.99
EU to unblock more emergency funding to Hungary 24-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235491331.12
EU, Pakistan sign aviation deal 24-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235486823.81
China buying mission leaves for Europe spree 24-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235466121.29
EU firm on ASEAN food standards 22-Feb
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235287021.59

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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