EUbusiness Week 625 top stories: EU-US security talks on spy row set Monday in Washington; Eurozone crisis cools, but unemployment hits record; Merkel’s EU talks vow action for jobless youths; MEPs greenlight 2014-2020 EU budget proposal; EU investigators accuse top banks in derivatives probe; China officially opens EU wine investigations
This Week’s Top Stories
1. EU-US security talks on spy row set Monday in Washington
2. Eurozone crisis cools, but unemployment hits record
3. Merkel’s EU talks vow action for jobless youths
4. MEPs greenlight 2014-2020 EU budget proposal
5. EU investigators accuse top banks in derivatives probe
6. China officially opens EU wine investigations
Publisher’s Note
Welcome and congratulations to Croatia on its historic accession to the European Union on 1 July as its 28th member.
Considering Europe’s economic difficulties, and fears that membership could add to its economic burden and indeed to that of the EU itself, why are they joining?
Membership offers an opportunity to put behind it the conflict of twenty years ago, and a route to stability and prosperity, with new opportunities for businesses and customers. And Croatia – which this week chose 12 Euro-MPs and appointed its first Commissioner – now has a voice in its European destiny.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
1. EU-US security talks on spy row set Monday in Washington
European security experts are set to meet their US counterparts in Washington next week as Member States, incensed by reports of US snooping, link negotiations on a mega EU-US trade deal with talks on intelligence-swapping.
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Cyber-savvy Estonia urges EU to rely less on US ‘clouds’
French intelligence “spying on emails, phone calls”
2. Eurozone crisis cools, but unemployment hits record
The economic crisis in southern Europe may be easing, a key survey signalled on Monday, but new data shows the eurozone jobless rate returned to a record high of 12.1 pct in May.
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Eurozone recession eases as confidence returns
3. Merkel’s EU talks vow action for jobless youths
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces elections in less than three months, and EU leaders have pledged action on tackling mass youth unemployment to help Europe’s almost six million jobless under 25-year-olds.
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4. MEPs greenlight 2014-2020 EU budget proposal
The European Parliament has at last endorsed a compromise proposal on the trillion-euro EU budget for 2014 to 2020 that had been held up by months of squabbling between governments, Parliament and Commission.
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5. EU investigators accuse top banks in derivatives probe
EU investigators accused 13 top banks including Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs of colluding over derivatives trading, in a new move to tighten banking standards.
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6. China officially opens EU wine investigations
China has officially launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into wines imported from the EU – the latest move in a series of trade disputes.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Mafia: the Italian mafia is ramping up investment in wind farms to launder money and benefit from EU subsidies, according to a Europol report published on Thursday.
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Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Serbia: EU leaders agreed they would soon open talks with Serbia on joining the bloc, as they wrapped up their two-day summit last Friday that also freed up billions of euros to battle youth unemployment.
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Germany says Tymoshenko fate key to Kiev-EU ties
Central America closer to free trade with EU
Council …
Commission Watch
Portugal: the Commission president has urged Portugal to clarify its political crisis “as soon as possible”, to avoid jeopardising the nation’s economic credibility.
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EU calls for swift Egypt elections after Morsi ousted
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Parliament Watch
Le Pen: Parliament on Tuesday lifted immunity for French National Front leader Marine Le Pen, opening the way for her to face charges for likening the sight of Muslims praying in the street to Nazi occupation during World War II.
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Cuba dissident Farinas finally picks up 2010 Sakharov prize
Schulz ‘sympathetic’ to Snowden asylum
In plenary this week, MEPs agreed on funds for Croatia; demanded stronger EU controls on arms exports; and said candidates for the next Commission President should present their political programmes in all EU countries and hold a series of public debates.
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EU diary
5 Jul, Lithuanian Presidency opening ceremony
9 Jul, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
10 Jul, Innovation Investment Package
10 Jul, Commission modernises travel rules for consumers and businesses
10 Jul, Commission adopts Communication on European higher education in the world
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
Greek officials say hopeful of creditor deal 4-Jul
Talk of new Greek debt haircut ‘unhelpful’: ECB 3-Jul
Trucks stuck at Croatian border in EU accession glitch 2-Jul
Alarm sounded over state of Italy’s historic monuments 2-Jul
Austria asks Brussels for more time for stricken bank 1-Jul
