Recession hits women hardest - EUbusiness Week no 435

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 435
6 March 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU leaders open door to fast-track euro membership
2. EU calls for crisis talks over GM's ailing Opel
3. Member States refuse to force members to farm GM maize
4. Forced retirement due to age can be justified: Court
5. EU zeroing in on VAT tax deal
6. EP committee votes for ban on seal products

Publisher's Note
================
The global economic slowdown is hitting working women
harder than men, according to a Commission report out this
week. The report shows that women earn on average 17.4 per
cent less than men across the EU, hold fewer positions of
responsibility and work part-time more often.

More investment in human capital and social infrastructure
is needed, to help both men and women better confront the
economic downturn. The Commission is also hinting it may
present new legislative proposals on the issue, and it is
to hold a technical seminar later this month. "Only by
reaping the potential of all our talents can we face up to
the crisis," said Equal Opportunities Commissioner Spidla.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236099721.13

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU leaders open door to fast-track euro membership
-----------------------------------------------------
Several EU leaders on Sunday opened the door for the first
time to the possibility of fast-track membership of the
eurozone, while ruling out a relaxation of the tough
rules for adopting the currency.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235934121.78
Euro membership would boost Baltics: Standard & Poor's
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236252726.07

2. EU calls for crisis talks over GM's ailing Opel
--------------------------------------------------
The Commission called on Thursday for crisis talks among EU
countries hosting General Motors plants in order to
coordinate aid to the bankruptcy-threatened US carmaker.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236253624.36
Euro car output to fall 25 per cent in 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236196922.86

3. Member States refuse to force members to farm GM maize
---------------------------------------------------------
EU Member States have refused to force Austria and Hungary
to allow the cultivation of Monsanto genetically modified
maize, defying a call from the Commission.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235999822.9

4. Forced retirement due to age can be justified: Court
-------------------------------------------------------
The European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that forced
retirement due to age can be justified as part of broader
social policy aims.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236251822.26

5. EU zeroing in on VAT tax deal
--------------------------------
EU governments are getting closer to an agreement, possibly
next week, on allowing a greater number of services that
can apply especially low value added tax rates.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236187922.21

6. EP committee votes for ban on seal products
----------------------------------------------
The Union has taken a step closer towards banning products
made from seals with a vote against the practice by the
Parliament's internal market and consumer affairs committee.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236020522.07

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

Council Watch
-------------
Informal summit: EU leaders at their summit last week ruled
out a regional bailout plan for eastern Europe despite a
Hungarian warning of a "new iron curtain" while rejecting
protectionism as a response to the economic crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235932327.78
EU fails to pledge climate aid to poor nations
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236036044.93
EU-US summit with Obama on April 5 in Prague
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1235925122.18
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Brussels: Belgian authorities and the Commission unveiled
on Thursday plans to spruce up Brussels main EU district,
long plagued by snarled traffic and construction sites.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236268021.21
EU 'very concerned' about new gas crisis: Barroso
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236270722.32
EU urges Slovenia, Croatia to accept border mediation
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236272521.6
EC refuses to rule out downgrading economic forecasts
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236070021.21
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
This week, MEPs debated opinions and expectations for the
coming European elections. At committee meetings, the
Culture Committee urged better school support for migrant
children; and the Economic Affairs Committee backed
cigarette tax of at least EUR 1.50 per pack from 2014.
Texts: http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/oeil
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
9 Mar, Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Council
9-12 Mar, EP Plenary Session
10 Mar, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
12-13 Mar, Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers
16-17 Mar, Gen'l Affairs and Ext'l Relations Council

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

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

Policy Forum
------------
Roaming II: are MEPs chickening out?
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc-press.09-03-05

Environment ministers drop climate funding hot potato
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/greenpeace.09-03-03

Extraordinary European Council: intangible outcome
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/eurochambres.09-03-02

Reach Europe's decision-makers! Publish your organisation's
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Briefing
--------
Commission buildings policy in Brussels
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/ec-buildings.02

EU campaign on the gender pay gap
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/gender-pay.1
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

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

11 May, Prague: Future of the Internet conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/fi-prague.09
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Project Officer, Forests and EU Resource Network
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/fern-job.09-03-05

Communications Officer, European Network of Equality Bodies
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/equinet.09-03-05
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
EVE - results from EU projects in Education and Culture
http://www.eubusiness.com/Culture/eve

Publication: Europe for women
http://www.eubusiness.com/Social/europe-for-women
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Canada, EU closer to trade pact 5-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236286023.01
Eurozone recession deepens 5-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236249122.04
EFSA sees little health risk from breakfast cereal ink 5-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236192422.31
EU eases antitrust policing of Microsoft 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236165421.82
EU countries agree clampdown on ratings agencies 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236184321.54
Commission seeks sanctions regime for bankers 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236162723.16
China seeks Europe takeover targets 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236148323.03
EU countries to impose duties on US biodiesel 4-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236090721.97
EIB agrees EUR 58m loans for Slovenian groups 2-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1236004322.08

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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