EC under pressure on late payments - EUbusiness Week no 441

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Week - Issue 441
17 April 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU tentatively agrees EUR 4bn energy package
2. EU takes legal action against UK over Internet privacy
3. EU seeks deep cuts in fishing capacity
4. Euro-MPs call for 20 weeks' minimum maternity leave
5. EU to 'reflect' on Germany's GM maize ban
6. French against rose wine made by mixing red and white

Publisher's Note
================

Before Easter, the Commission's recent proposals for
combating late payment in commercial transactions were
generally welcomed by business. However, ESBA, the European
Small Business Alliance, points out how important it is, in
these difficult economic conditions, that EU Institutions
lead by example and also pay their suppliers on time.

Companies, associations, NGOs, universities and other
organisations involved in EU-funded projects and contracts
will give their full backing to the European Ombudsman's
new enquiry into the Commission's own payment practices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/esba-press.09-04-09

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

FIND AN OFFICE IN EUROPE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Instant Offices Europe offers serviced office space in
European markets. http://www.eubusiness.com/Instant-offices
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1. EU tentatively agrees EUR 4bn energy package
-----------------------------------------------
Members of the European Parliament and the current Czech
presidency have reached a tentative agreement on a package
worth nearly four billion euros to boost Europe's economy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239893221.38

2. EU takes legal action against UK over Internet privacy
---------------------------------------------------------
The Commission is to launch legal action against Britain
over concerns about the British government's failure to
protect Internet users' privacy.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239710523.12

3. EU seeks deep cuts in fishing capacity
-----------------------------------------
EU fishing fleet capacity should be cut drastically to
revive dwindling fish stocks, the Commission warns in a
draft paper seen Thursday, despite fears of the social
impact of such a move.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239895921.96

4. Euro-MPs call for 20 weeks' minimum maternity leave
------------------------------------------------------
The European Parliament committee on women's rights has
called for a minimum 20 weeks of maternity leave, including
six weeks fully paid, to be introduced throughout the EU.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239889622.49

5. EU to 'reflect' on Germany's GM maize ban
--------------------------------------------
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas says the Union will
reflect on Germany's decision to ban a type of genetically-
modified maize produced by US biotech giant Monsanto.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239807722.48

6. French against rose wine made by mixing red and white
--------------------------------------------------------
An overwhelming majority of 87 per cent of French consumers
are opposed to an EU scheme to allow a blend of red and
white wines to be sold as rose, according to a poll.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239441423.0

APPLY FOR THE PLATINUM CARD!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Become an American Express Platinum Card member and enjoy
airport lounge access, worldwide annual travel insurance
for you and your family and preferential treatment when
you travel. http://www.eubusiness.com/amex
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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

Council Watch
-------------
Budget: EU governments are to receive a total of EUR 1.79bn
in unspent money back from the bloc's combined 2008 budget.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239799621.73
Czech gov't collapse hurts small EU countries: Topolanek
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239444123.05
EU readies for Malawi election mission
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239904929.74
Ireland axes EU treaty forum as spending slashed
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239300121.61
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Internet: the Commission called on Tuesday for tougher
protection of Internet users' privacy, urging a review of
rules protecting personal information in the light of
technological progress.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239703321.86
Austria expects slap from EU over deficit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239800523.11
EU proposes panel to resolve Slovenia-Croatia row: report
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239793321.84
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Elections: EU parliamentary elections could see record low
turnouts, with only a third of eligible voters planning to
vote in the June poll, and even less in eurosceptic
Britain, an official survey showed on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239707822.41

Also this week, Parliament and Council representatives met
in talks on the Working Time Directive, but no final
agreement was reached. A series of informal negotiations
are also taking place between Parliament and Council with
the aim of striking deals ahead of the 4-7 June elections
on key pieces of legislation - working time, telecoms
regulation, the economic recovery plan and the
supervision of banking and insurance companies.
Texts: http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/oeil
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
21-24 Apr, EP Plenary Session
22-24 Apr, Ministers for Regional Development informal
23-24 Apr, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
27-28 Apr, General Affairs and External Relations Council
28-30 Apr, Informal Meeting of Transport Ministers

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

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

Policy Forum
------------
Destructive potential of EU billions
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/foe-press.09-04-16

CEA responds to EC consultation on financial services
supervision
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.09-04-15
More press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

PREMIUM PARTNERSHIP
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
--------
EIB loans for cleaner cars
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/eib-cars.01
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Events
------
11 May, Amsterdam: Telecoms Business Process Management
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir/

21 May, London: Financial Institutions and Economic Security
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/ikd.09
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Project Manager, TEN-T Executive Agency (TEN-T)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ten-t-job.09-04-14

Head of Liquidity Management Division, EIB
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eib-job.09-04-07
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
European Quality of Life Survey - EUROFOUND
http://www.eubusiness.com/Living_in_EU/quality.09

Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) Overview
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/rasff-review
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
EU to check whether French aid for fishermen legal 16-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239881522.94
EIB to double investments in Poland in 2009 16-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239888722.14
EBRD takes 25pct stake in stricken Latvian bank 16-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239884222.62
Eurozone factories suffer record output slump 16-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239874323.06
EU approves extension of British bank aid 15-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239791523.22
Turkey, with eye on EU, says determined to reform 15-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239805023.06
EU cuts Mediterranean tuna fishing to protect stocks 15-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239797822.06
EU and GCC to resume talks on free trade deal 15-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239822122.21

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

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Week is a free service - please help us keep it
that way. Pass it on to your colleagues and friends and
suggest they register for their own copy.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Subscription Information
========================
To subscribe:
Register at http://www.eubusiness.com/Newswire

To unsubscribe:
To change your subscription options, go to
http://lists.eubusiness.com/mailman/listinfo/newswire

Any problems email service@eubusiness.com

Privacy Statement
http://www.eubusiness.com/privacy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright (c) 2009 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced in any medium for non-commercial purposes
as long as attribution is given.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EUbusiness Ltd
Westminster House, Kew Road
Richmond, Surrey TW9 2ND, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7193 7242
http://www.eubusiness.com
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Registered in England and Wales number 3803196