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Business news and information from the European Union

Eurozone could emerge from crisis in 2013: S&P — 10 January 2013, 16:46 CET

The eurozone could emerge from its debt crisis this year, Standard & Poor's said in a report titled "The Eurozone Debt Crisis: 2013 Could Be A Watershed Year".

Tallinn first EU capital to give residents a free ride — 10 January 2013, 16:25 CET

Tallinn has become the first capital city in the European Union to give its residents a free ride on public transport.

World must prepare to step up Syria response: Britain — 10 January 2013, 14:47 CET

World powers will have to step up their response to the Syrian conflict if the violence worsens, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday, warning that all options were on the table.

No deal this month on Cyprus bailout: Juncker — 10 January 2013, 14:22 CET

Cyprus, the next eurozone bailout candidate after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, is unlikely to see a rescue accord agreed this month, eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday.

South Korean Kia posts record 2012 production in Slovakia — 10 January 2013, 14:18 CET

South Korean car maker Kia Motors said on Thursday that it had raised output by 15 percent at its Slovak plant last year, assembling 292,000 cars despite a gloomy outlook for the European Union -- its key export market.

Shah Deniz group to decide on Nabucco route before July — 10 January 2013, 13:42 CET

The consortium developing a huge gas field in Azerbaijan will decide by the end of June whether to pick the EU's flagship Nabucco pipeline as its preferred transport route to Europe, a Nabucco representative said on Thursday.

Armenia eases visa rules for EU countries — 10 January 2013, 13:41 CET

Armenia on Thursday lifted visa requirements for EU travellers in a bid to build closer ties with the 27-nation bloc and balance Moscow's sway on the ex-Soviet state.

Juncker backs French woman to head new bank supervisor — 10 January 2013, 13:41 CET

The head of the European Union's new banking regulator should be a woman and in this first instance, come from France, outgoing eurozone head Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday.

Italian rates sharply down in EUR 8.5 bn bond sale — 10 January 2013, 12:32 CET

Italian borrowing rates dropped sharply on Thursday in the Treasury's first bond sale of 2013, which raised 8.5 billion euros in short-term paper.

EU 'dismayed' at Saudi beheading of Sri Lankan maid — 10 January 2013, 11:18 CET

The European Union expressed dismay Thursday that Saudi Arabia had beheaded a Sri Lankan maid convicted of murdering her employer's baby, despite repeated appeals for a stay of execution.

Deal on Irish bank debt is EU presidency priority — 09 January 2013, 22:54 CET

Dealing with the scale of the Irish banking debt is a priority of Ireland's EU presidency, Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Wednesday.

EU leaders want UK in union, but not treaty change — 09 January 2013, 22:54 CET

European leaders on Wednesday stressed the importance of keeping Britain in the EU, but said they opposed treaty changes demanded by Prime Minister David Cameron.

EU wants dialogue with Gambia — 09 January 2013, 22:54 CET

The European Union insisted Wednesday that it wanted dialogue with Gambia after President Yahya Jammeh charged that it was trying to destabilise his country by insisting on respect for human rights.

EU unveils cybercrime unit in bid to turn criminal tide — 09 January 2013, 18:42 CET

In a bid to seize the initiative from increasingly sophisticated online criminals, the European Union unveiled a new cybercrime centre on Wednesday.

MEPs want inquiry into EU tobacco scandal — 09 January 2013, 18:19 CET

Leading lawmakers from Europe's Greens called Wednesday for an inquiry into a tobacco lobby scandal that cost the bloc's top health official his job late last year.

Belgrade seeks autonomy for Kosovo's Serb minority — 09 January 2013, 17:34 CET

Serbia will ask for "autonomy" for its Serb minority in breakaway Kosovo as part of EU-backed talks with Pristina, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Wednesday.

Merkel says 'no special conditions' for Cyprus bailout — 09 January 2013, 17:33 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Cyprus would not be allowed any exceptional terms from its European partners as it seeks a bailout worth 17 billion euros ($22 billion).

Eurozone contracts sharply end 2012, rebound mid-2013 — 09 January 2013, 17:31 CET

The eurozone's recession likely sharpened at the of last year but the single currency zone will begin to rebound in the second quarter of this year, say forecasters at German, French and Italian agencies.

British business leaders warn Cameron over risks of EU exit — 09 January 2013, 14:28 CET

Major British business figures warn Prime Minister David Cameron that the renegotiation of the country's relationship with Europe could risk its exit from the EU, with "damaging" consequences for the economy and businesses.

British official trade deficit narrows in November — 09 January 2013, 13:03 CET

Britain's trade-in-goods deficit narrowed in November, as rising oil and chemicals exports were offset by a six-year high in imports from the European Union, official data showed on Wednesday.

Relaxing bank liquidity rules sparks hope for euro lending boost — 09 January 2013, 10:30 CET

The loosening of liquidity rules due to come into effect on banks raises hopes among some analysts to a recovery of lending the eurozone.

Jammeh accuses EU of trying to destabilise Gambia — 09 January 2013, 00:10 CET

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh on Tuesday accused the European Union, which has urged him to respect human rights, of trying to destabilise his country and blackmail him "with chicken change."

Macedonia seizes EU-bound marijuana, arrests 15 — 08 January 2013, 22:02 CET

Macedonian police have seized some 350 kilogrammes (771 pounds) of marijuana bound for the European Union, worth up to one million euros ($1.3 million), and arrested 15 people, a minister said on Tuesday.

EU launches public consultation on sweetener aspartame — 08 January 2013, 21:56 CET

The EU's food safety agency on Tuesday launched a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion regarding the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame.

Ireland hopes Britain will stay in EU — 08 January 2013, 21:39 CET

Ireland hopes Britain will not turn its back on the European Union but it must abide by the same conditions as other member states, Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore said on Tuesday.