EUbusiness Week 661 top stories: Dutch buck populist trend as Euro polls begin; EU tackles massive food wasting ‘best before’ labelling; Sweden to sue EU for delay on hormone disrupting chemicals; EU challenges Russia at WTO over van duties; EU bans import of Israeli settler poultry produce; Pulp friction: Indian mango ban prompts protest in Britain
Publisher’s Note
Voting in the Euro-elections is at last under way, with polls predicting a swing towards populist right-wing parties. Nearly 400 million Europeans voters are electing 751 Euro-MPs, whose job will be to examine and vote on directives, regulations and international agreements covering issues such as unemployment, debt, foreign policy, trade and climate change.
The challenges faced by the EU will no doubt prove a challenge to many of the new MEPs. Voters should consider which candidates are most qualified and capable of doing this work on their behalf. Don’t forget to vote.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. Dutch buck populist trend as Euro polls begin
Dutch anti-EU populist Geert Wilders appeared to suffer a setback as the European Parliament elections took place in the Netherlands and Britain on Thursday, despite predictions of continental gains for the far-right.
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2. EU tackles massive food wasting ‘best before’ labelling
Several EU countries have pressed to change ‘best before’ food labelling, blamed for millions of tons of food being thrown away when getting a square meal is a daily struggle for many.
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3. Sweden to sue EU for delay on hormone disrupting chemicals
Sweden on Thursday said it would sue the Commission over a delay in identifying harmful chemicals in everyday products, which it blamed on chemical industry lobbying.
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4. EU challenges Russia at WTO over van duties
The European Union has launched a fresh challenge to Russia at the World Trade Organization, seeking to strike down Moscow’s import duties on vans from Germany and Italy.
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5. EU bans import of Israeli settler poultry produce
The EU has banned the import of poultry and eggs from Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, Israeli news website Walla reports.
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6. Pulp friction: Indian mango ban prompts protest in Britain
A ban on European imports of India’s Alphonso mango — prized for its perfumed aroma and buttery flesh — is drawing anger from British Indians, who say the move is unfair and deprives them of one of summer’s sweetest flavours.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Benefit tourism: EU citizens travelling to another Member State do not automatically have a right to social welfare benefits there, a lawyer at the EU’s top court said Tuesday.
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Orban slams rights court’s rebuke of life-in-prison law
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Merkel: largely untouched by the eurosceptic wave sweeping the continent, Germany’s Angela Merkel looks set to emerge the biggest winner of Sunday’s European elections.
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Bulgaria torn between EU and Moscow as Ukraine crisis lingers
Ukraine PM rejects Russia’s demand to pre-pay for gas
Muted US opposition to Atlantic trade treaty
Council …
Commission Watch
Overseas aid: Member States are only slowly increasing overseas aid and need to nearly double their efforts if they are to hit their 2015 target, a report said on Monday.
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EU needs energy union to safeguard industry
EU aims to complete Google antitrust deal this year
EU, Georgia see no Russian move against association accord
Parliament Watch
Blog: a Dutch blog hopes to scoop the results of Thursday’s Euro-Parliament elections by using a loophole to get around Brussels’ demand that results be kept secret until Sunday.
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10 key facts on the European Parliament elections
Key dates in 2014 European elections
Daily snippets from the Euro-elections campaign trail
The elections for the next European Parliament are underway. EUbusiness’ 2014 European elections results service is available at
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EU diary
22-25 May, European Elections 2014
26 May, Competitiveness 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
WTO rejects Canada, Norway appeal against EU seal ban 22-May
British migration figures help anti-EU party in polls 22-May
Eurozone business activity slips, France struggles 22-May
Eurozone gold rush into resurrected southern eurobonds 18-May
Cyprus recession shallower than expected 18-May
