Trade is holy growth grail - EUbusiness Week newsletter 604
EUbusiness Week 604 top stories: EU leaders inch toward first EU budget cut; EU steps up measures against money laundering; Eurozone inflation nears ECB target, jobless steady; EU maps out new cyber-security plan; Iceland cuts mackerel quota but fails to meet EU demands; Work begins on Pompeii's EUR 105 m makeover
This Week's Top Stories
1. EU leaders inch toward first EU budget cut
2. EU steps up measures against money laundering
3. Eurozone inflation nears ECB target, jobless steady
4. EU maps out new cyber-security plan
5. Iceland cuts mackerel quota but fails to meet EU demands
6. Work begins on Pompeii's EUR 105 m makeover
Publisher's Note
With public spending being cut by Member States as well as the EU,
bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are seen as Europe's best way to
kickstart growth and employment, through new deals with the United
States and Japan.
Europe has to fight ever harder for its share of world trade.
But "an ambitious trade agenda" could lead to an increase of two per
cent in growth and the creation of over two million jobs, says EC head
Jose Manuel Barroso.
An FTA with South Korea is seen as the template for talks with
Singapore, Canada, India, Japan ... and the main prize of the U.S.
Though hopes for a deal with Washington to be announced at the next EU
summit in March may be optimistic.
More ...
Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. EU leaders inch toward first EU budget cut
EU leaders appeared poised Friday to cut the bloc's budget for the first
time in its six-decade history, with a tentative agreement to trim
spending by three percent over the rest of the decade.
More ...
Facts and figures on the EU's 2014-20 budget
EU budget, commitments, payments and the details
2. EU steps up measures against money laundering
The Commission said Tuesday it needs to step up the fight against money
laundering as criminals and terrorists constantly find new ways around
existing regulations.
More ...
3. Eurozone inflation nears ECB target, jobless steady
The eurozone crowned a week of steadily improving economic data with
inflation almost down to the European Central Bank's medium-term target,
falling to 2.0 per cent in January after overshooting for more than two
years.
More ...
4. EU maps out new cyber-security plan
The Commission has launched a new cyber-security plan, aimed at
safeguarding vital information systems and bolstering the bloc's
defences against a growing criminal threat.
More ...
5. Iceland cuts mackerel quota but fails to meet EU demands
Icelandic officials say the country will cut its mackerel fishing quota
by 15 per cent, but the EU nonetheless criticised the decision, saying
the amount of fish to be taken remained "excessively high".
More ...
6. Work begins on Pompeii's EUR 105 m makeover
Conservation workers at the long-neglected Roman city of Pompeii began a
105-million euro makeover partly funded by the EU on Wednesday, a day
after former site managers were put under investigation for corruption.
More ...
EUROPEAN LAW
Iceland: Iceland celebrated a major victory in its four-year battle with
Britain and the Netherlands over failed bank Icesave when a European
court vindicated its stance that taxpayers don't have to pay for
bankers' mistakes.
More ...
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
More ...
Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Zimbabwe: global rights monitor Human Rights Watch urges the EU to
insist on tangible human rights reforms and free and fair elections as a
precondition for lifting targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe.
More ...
Damaged by scandal, Spain PM holds on
Italian front-runner vows to continue Monti reforms
Council ...
Commission Watch
Kosovo: the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo met for the first time
Wednesday in talks mediated by the EU to defuse tension in one of the
continent's last simmering hot-spots.
More ...
Barroso reminds Romania of democratic shortcomings
Commission ...
Parliament Watch
Laos: the European Parliament announced Thursday its "strong concern"
for a prominent Laos activist missing since December, calling on the
government to speed up its investigation into the disappearance.
More ...
In plenary this week, MEPs said if American wines were to be sold under
the "Château" labels in the EU, then they must meet EU quality
standards; and gave their go-ahead for EU accession talks with Serbia to
start before June 2013.
More ...
EU diary
7-8 Feb, European Council
12 Feb, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
15 Feb, Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
18 Feb, Foreign Affairs Council
18-19 Feb, Competitiveness Council
22 Feb, Transport, Telecommunications & Energy Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary
RESOURCES
EU Law Firms
Summaries of EU Legislation
EU Decision-Making
Treaties of the European Union
Key EU Legal Terms
Other news on EUbusiness this week
Canada opposition leader backs free trade with EU 7-FebRomania adopts 2013 draft budget with 2.1% deficit 7-Feb
Turkey blasts 'unforgivable' delays in accession talks 5-Feb
Germany 'relatively closed' to non-graduate workers 4-Feb
EU studies Google's bid to avoid anti-trust fine 2-Feb
Furore in Poland over EU freeze on road funds 1-Feb
Grey economy shrinks in Bulgaria, report shows 1-Feb