Globalisation on EU agenda - EUbusiness Week 285
**This Week's Top Stories**
1. EU agency reassures on bird flu food risk
2. Bulgaria, Romania on track for EU entry
3. Turkey delays signature of EU energy pact
4. Greece wins exclusive European rights to feta name
5. EU unveils new maritime strategy
6. Europe launches new war on red tape
**Publisher's Note**
As European Union leaders discussed Europe's response to globalisation and tougher competition from China and India Thursday, the UK presidency was keen to stress the importance of economic reform to spur growth and improve the EU's economic outlook.
With the eurozone, dominated by Germany and France, suffering from an unemployment rate of 8.6 per cent, Europe's social challenge becomes ever greater.
Things are unlikely to change while European countries do not invest enough in research and education, and labour and product markets remain too rigid to remain competitive. While most leaders understand that increased spending will only be affordable if the EU faces up to these problems, key member states are dragging their feet due to the political cost.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/051027190945.gql2qxbv
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1 **EU agency reassures on bird flu food risk**
The European Food Safety Authority said on Wednesday there was no evidence to suggest that bird flu could be transmitted to humans through eating cooked poultry meat and eggs, though it did not completely rule out such foodstuffs being a possible route to infection.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/051026132215.p79n6l0h
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Expert warns bloc to think big to beat bird flu":http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/051027163230.pvf2srqs
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Three European region states not ready for flu pandemic: WHO":http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/051026113016.x37mm8hf
2 **Bulgaria, Romania on track for EU entry**
Bulgaria and Romania are on track to join the EU as planned in 2007, the Commission announced on Tuesday, but warned they need to make further progress on reforms.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/051025130649.0j4zbicv
3 **Turkey delays signature of EU energy pact**
Turkey has withheld its signature from an energy pact with the EU, a setback for a plan to extend the single market for gas and electricity in southeast Europe.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/051025133200.0nw05xrc
4 **Greece wins exclusive European rights to feta name**
The EU's top court has ruled that the name "feta" can only be used by Greek producers of the salty white cheese, sparking delight in Athens and setting a potentially important legal precedent.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/051025104816.68tr8lnn
5 **EU unveils new maritime strategy**
The Commission has unveiled its new strategy to protect Europe's marine environment. The Marine Framework Directive aims to ensure that all EU marine waters are *environmentally healthy* by 2021.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/maritime.2005-10-24
6 Europe launches new war on red tape**
The Commission stepped up its war on bureaucratic red tape on Tuesday, pledging to simplify or even scrap hundreds of EU laws.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/051025150603.nae9hkiu
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**Community**
_Comment of the Week_
Commenting on our piece "Australia attacks EU over farm subsidies", Anonymous writes:
*Rather than giving instructions to the EU, little Australia should cease to be one of the biggest polluters in the world by agreeing to bring carbon dioxide levels in check. Furthermore, it should work to improve its image amongst the developed world in respect of human rights considerations both in its home front (with its Indigenous population) and abroad (distancing itself from the imperialist policies of Bush and the establishment).*
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/051024092242.mdfpayzt
Please note: any comments considered offensive or unsuitable will be removed immediately.
_PressZONE_
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Commission has grasped the nettle of complicated laws-UEAPME":http://www.eubusiness.com/press/ueapme.2005-10-26
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Chemicals industry wrecks fluorinated gases phase-out -
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_Events_
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "14-15 Nov, Germany: Workshop on microforming":http://www.eubusiness.com/events/4m.2005-10-11
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "22 Nov, Cambridge: EU Research Projects":http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/singleimage.2005-10-20
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**Inside the EU Institutions**
_Council Watch_
UK presidency: by staging a summit focused on Europe and globalisation, Prime Minister Tony Blair hopes to confound critics who think Britain's turn at the EU presidency has so far been a dud.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/051027130913.slbrbca4
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "EU slams Iran president's comments on Israel":http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/051027123111.s3sapewu
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Hurdles remain to EU free trade deal with Gulf states":http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/051026103755.p9tguy8b
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Cyprus, Britain vow to improve soured relations":http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/051025121126.41xz3t78
"Folder link":img:/folder_icon.gif "European Council":http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council
_Commission Watch_
Work Programme: the Commission adopted its work programme for 2006 Tuesday, describing next year as a critical one for turning words into deeds under the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission/work-prog.2005-10-27
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "EU is within EU guidelines at WTO: Barroso":http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/051026074313.mfeexdq3
"Folder link":img:/folder_icon.gif "European Commission":http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission
_Euro-Parliament Watch_
Budget: in a speech greeted by both applause and jeers, British PM Tony Blair told Euro-MPs Wednesday he would break a deadlock on the EU long-term budget in December.
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Story":http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/051026115141.2vlmfzng
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Cuban group, Nigerian lawyer, media watchdog win rights prize":http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/051026102840.w4hgffca
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Euro deputies urge Brussels to prepare flu pandemic fund":http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/051026121834.m9q29s4y
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "MEPs call on Italy to explain immigrant camp abuses":http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/051025180529.xha6is90
In plenary session in Strasbourg this week, Parliament voted at first reading to restore much of the 2006 budget cut by the Council. Areas set to benefit include research, education and youth programmes, reduced by Council in July.
"Folder link":img:/folder_icon.gif "European Parliament":http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl
_EU diary_
- 8 Nov, Ecofin Council, Brussels
- 14-15 Nov, Education, Youth and Culture Council, Brussels
- 21-22 Nov, General Affairs and External Relations Council
- 22-24 Nov, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels
- 24 Nov, Ecofin Council (budget), Brussels
- 28-29 Nov, Competitiveness Council, Brussels
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "The Week Ahead":http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Long-term diary":http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary
**Other stories on EUbusiness this week**
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "WTO rules against EU banana tariff 27-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/051027182130.5spsucmv
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Commission readies new trade opening proposals 27-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/051027174812.15jv1mhm
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Brussels decides against examining Endesa bid 27-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/051027163849.o48oj6ih
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Frankfurt ready for first test landing of A380 jumbo 27-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/051027103330.sgzwu6w6
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "High-tech SMEs call for a European Small Business Act 26-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/SMEs/high-tech.2005-10-26
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Swiss EU membership still an option, but not for now 26-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/051026211656.80c1exja
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Greece to host bird flu conference 26-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/051026160806.w9prwr7h
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Angry Kenya lashes out at EU aid cut threat 26-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/051026135901.ibqubowc
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "EU raids drug firms in competition probe 25-Oct ":http://www.eubusiness.com/Pharma/051025125925.rxm2ppug
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Polish right wins huge power - analysts 24-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/051024193745.cid3fda6
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "EU clears France Telecom's buy of Amena 24-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/051024162425.4qikrnpu
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Gas Natural asks for rapid EU ruling on takeover 24-- Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/051024143953.0b4fcvul
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Danish labour market model eyed by Europe 23-Oct":http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/051024020903.g5vczzqq
"News article":img:/PloneArticle.gif "Czechs step up anti-corruption drive 23-Oct ":http://www.eubusiness.com/East_Europe/051023195129.zeyzei7o
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