EC gets tough on services - EUbusiness Week newsletter 578

his Week's Top Stories

1. Spain's rescue loan sows debt fears
2. EU studies options if Greece abandons euro
3. EU fish compromise to see discard ban -- by 2019
4. Air industry head asks EU to postpone carbon tax
5. EU to greenlight Montenegro membership talks
6. Half of Britons want immediate EU vote: poll

Publisher's Note

The Commission is to get tough on discriminatory regulations on services still existing in some Member States. A new Communication outlines plans to crack down on violations of the Services Directive, and to eliminate rules which discriminate on the basis of nationality, e.g. obliging service providers to carry out "economic needs tests".

A priority is to ensure the Services Directive applies in areas where Member States previously decided to keep the status quo, such as business services, construction, tourism and retail. With services accounting for more than 45% of EU GDP, better implementation of existing rules could provide a significant boost to economic growth.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

PUBLIC TENDER - MACEDONIA Granting of state-owned agricultural land under lease - Public Notice, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in Macedonia More ...

1. Spain's rescue loan sows debt fears

Investors' euphoria over the huge eurozone rescue loan for Spain's banks has evaporated as they fret over the details and fear a stormy Greek exit from the eurozone.
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Audit to show Spain banks need up to EUR 65 bn: report

2. EU studies options if Greece abandons euro

The Commission said on Tuesday that eurozone officials had held contingency "discussions" in case Greece abandons the euro, after press reports of possible capital controls.
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3. EU fish compromise to see discard ban -- by 2019

After 20 hours of talks into the wee hours of Wednesday, fisheries ministers struck a compromise deal to save the oceans from overfishing, but failed to satisfy environmentalists.
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4. Air industry head asks EU to postpone carbon tax

The head of airline industry group IATA has urged the EU to postpone its controversial carbon tax scheme, amid warnings it could spark a trade war that would penalise Europe.
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5. EU to greenlight Montenegro membership talks

EU leaders are set to approve the opening of negotiations with Montenegro on joining the Union at a summit this month otherwise dominated by eurozone problems.
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6. Half of Britons want immediate EU vote: poll

Half of Britons want an immediate say on the country's relationship with the EU, while 81 per cent believe a vote should be held "in the next few years", according to a poll.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Sport TV: major football TV rights-holders could face restrictions on fees charged to other broadcasters for news clips, according to European Court advice released Tuesday.
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EU opens probe into Kosovo war atrocity
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Transactions tax: finance ministers will seek to open a path during talks in Luxembourg on Thursday towards an inner circle, probably of eurozone-only countries, for launching a tax on financial transactions.
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Don't overestimate Germany as euro crisis fighter: Merkel
EU to greenlight Montenegro membership talks
Romania leaders spar over who should go to EU summits
Council ...

Commission Watch

Kosovo: the EU on Thursday handed Kosovo a stringent list of almost 100 conditions to meet before Kosovans can travel to the EU's passport-free Schengen zone without a visa.
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EU to fight until 'very last moment' at Rio summit
EU says deal with China key to fight fake wine
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Parliament Watch

Schengen: Parliament blocked talks with Member States on five draft laws Thursday to protest against being stripped of a say in the running of the visa-free Schengen area.
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This week, Parliament and Council struck a provisional deal on the proposed energy efficiency directive. In plenary, MEPs approved rules to subject sites containing dangerous chemicals to more regular inspections; adopted new rules for baby milks and gluten-free food; and proposed stricter safety checks for breast implants.
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EU diary

18 Jun, Agriculture Council
18-19 Jun, G20 summit
20-22 Jun, Rio+20: UN conference on sustainable development
21-22 Jun, Employment, Social, Health & Consumer Council
22 Jun, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
28-29 Jun, European 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

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