Working hours deal scuppered - EUbusiness Week no 443

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 443
1 May 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. Swine flu pandemic 'very likely': Commission
2. EU yields to calls for clampdown on hedge funds
3. European economic confidence turns positive
4. Court backs return of northern Cyprus property
5. Albania officially submits EU candidacy papers
6. Pro-piracy party soars in Swedish EU poll

Publisher's Note
================
Many were disappointed by the European Parliament and
Council's failure Tuesday to reach an agreement on the
controversial Working Time Directive. A deal was scuppered
mainly by MEPs' opposition to current opt-outs from rules
which cap the working week at 48 hours.

In fact, a bad agreement could have made the situation worse
for workers in general and doctors in particular, said
Parliament's rapporteur Alejandro Cercas. So with no
agreement forthcoming, the current directive remains in
force - a fact welcomed by the European Small Business
Alliance, which says "Europe's small businesses and their
staff can continue to work the hours that suit them and
not the hours that suit Brussels".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240909329.32

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Swine flu pandemic 'very likely': Commission
-----------------------------------------------
Swine flu is set to reach pandemic levels in Europe but
unlikely to cause widespread deaths, EU health chiefs said
on Thursday as they struggled to overcome differences on
how to contain the virus.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241115421.49
EU rejects proposed French ban on Mexico flights
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241107321.33

2. EU yields to calls for clampdown on hedge funds
--------------------------------------------------
The Commission this week yielded to months of political
pressure for a clampdown on hedge funds and private equity
firms with proposals for tougher regulation of the industry.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241009223.63

3. European economic confidence turns positive
----------------------------------------------
Business and consumer confidence in the European economy
rose in April for the first time in nearly two years, an
EU survey shows, adding to signs the slump is stabilising.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240996621.59

4. Court backs return of northern Cyprus property
-------------------------------------------------
The European Court of Justice has backed the right of Greek
Cypriots to reclaim property they abandoned in the north of
the island when it was divided, and which was then sold to
foreigners.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240908422.64

5. Albania officially submits EU candidacy papers
-------------------------------------------------
Albania has formally applied for EU membership, less than
a month after joining NATO. "This act has historic
significance, marking the return of my nation to the
family of European nations", said Albanian Prime
Minister Sali Berisha.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240921021.43

6. Pro-piracy party soars in Swedish EU poll
--------------------------------------------
A Swedish pro-piracy party may win a seat in the June 7
European elections, a poll showed on Thursday, as its
support soars after a Stockholm court jailed the
founders of file-sharing site The Pirate Bay.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241092932.17

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

Council Watch
-------------
Eastern Partnership: tensions between "old" and "new" Europe
revived ahead of an EU summit with six ex-Soviet states over
a draft statement drawn up by the Czech presidency.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241119022.58
Czech presidency limping towards finish line
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240969622.31
EU extends sanctions against Myanmar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240838223.03
Election win for Iceland's left is a step closer to EU
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240835522.45
Czechs read Lisbon Treaty to prove it's not 'unreadable'
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240935421.97
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Deficits: the EU has officially launched disciplinary
action against France, Greece, Ireland and Spain for
allowing their deficits to rise past the EU limit.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240841824.09
EU officials row over upgrading Israeli ties
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240837321.99
EU rejects Russia proposal to replace Energy Charter
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241089322.03
New EU members feel voices not heard in Brussels: study
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240930921.89
Europe's main party backs second term for Barroso
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241106421.94
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Belarus: the president of the Parliament called for the
democratisation of Belarus at the opening of the
European People's Party congress in Warsaw.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241038021.39
Eurosceptics to field 200 candidates in EU polls
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241110027.02
Italian prince eyes Euro-parliament seat
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240952529.65

This week the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee
debated the role of women in Turkey in social, economic and
political life; the Civil Liberties Committee approved a
package of measures to improve the way the EU asylum system
works and to strengthen asylum seekers' rights; and MEPs
adopted a written declaration in support for Special
Olympics in the EU.
Texts: http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/oeil
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
3-5 May, Informal Meeting of Ministers for Competitiveness
4-7 May, EP Plenary Session
5 May, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
6 May, EU - Canada Summit
7 May, Eastern Partnership Summit
7 May, Employment Summit

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 "EU Court backs return of northern
Cyprus property", Andreas E Alexandrou writes:

"The ruling of the ECJ was neither complex nor political.
Any consideration of the same would show that it was simply
a legal interpretation of the existing law. It was Mr
Justice Jacks of the English High Court whose decision in
refusing to enforce a judgement issued by the Cyprus Court
that was political, particularly as it was based on public
policy and not law."
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240908422.64

Policy Forum
------------
Consumer privacy and data protection must be addressed in
RFID Recommendation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc-press.09-04-30

Europe's SMEs welcome breakdown in working time talks
http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/esba-press.09-04-30
More press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

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Briefing
--------
Recommendation on remuneration in financial services sector
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/finance-pay-guide

Recommendation on directors' remuneration
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/directors-remuneration

Human swine influenza A(H1N1)
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/swine-flu-guide

E-money and cross-border payments
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/e-money-payments.01
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Events
------
8 Jun, Prague: 2nd Annual CEE HR Solutions
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/jacobfleming/cee-hr.09

8 Jun, Amsterdam: BSS Summit 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir/BSS
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Senior Expert in Skills Analysis and Forecasting, Cedefop
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/cedefop-job.09-04-27

Lawyer - Banking and Finance, European Investment Fund
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eif-job.09-04-27
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
FP7 Progress Report 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/fp7-progress.09

European Elections 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/euro-elections-2009
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Walesa urges Poland's Gdansk shipyard be saved 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241098325.77
Swine flu used as diversion over economy: Ryanair 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241092925.38
Court reduces 2002 Brussels fine against Nintendo 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241093825.03
China-EU economic dialogue set for next week 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1241083921.98
EPO honours top inventors in Prague ceremony 30-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/epo-inventors.01
Microsoft seeks EU hearing in new antitrust case 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240998422.31
Turkey goes cold on EU 29-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240971421.54
EU greenlights free trade talks with Canada 28-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240850821.9
EU to boost ties with Egypt 27-Apr
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1240831027.5

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