Eastern march slows down - EUbusiness Week newsletter 676 - EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 676 top stories: EU wants Turkey as anti-IS ally despite rights concerns; Juncker looks for new Slovenian to complete line-up; EU snags Amazon as tax deal probe widens; EU releases US trade pact details in transparency bid; EU approves UK’s first nuclear plant for a generation; Europe ‘well armed’ to prevent an Ebola epidemic

Publisher’s Note

The Commission brought out its annual strategy paper on enlargement this week, assessing progress made over the past year by countries wishing to join the EU. While highlighting the important role of Turkey as a strategic partner, the report marks a clear slow-down of the EU’s enlargement process.

There is no standstill, however, even if incoming EC boss Jean-Claude Juncker has promised to freeze expansion over the next five years. The EC is continuing to work closely with eastern neighbours, and recently made available details on how it will deploy EUR 11bn for countries in the western Balkans and Turkey over the next seven years.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU wants Turkey as anti-IS ally despite rights concerns

Brussels needs Turkey as a strategic ally against the Islamic State group and should carry on membership talks with Ankara despite concerns over human rights, the Commission said on Wednesday.
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2. Juncker looks for new Slovenian to complete line-up

Jean-Claude Juncker was in urgent talks with Slovenia to find a new Commissioner on Thursday after its nominee humiliatingly resigned in a move that could prevent the Brussels boss taking office on time.
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3. EU snags Amazon as tax deal probe widens

The EU has snagged US Internet shopping giant Amazon in a widening probe into sweetheart tax deals for major multi-nationals, saying they are unfair to competitors and taxpayers.
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4. EU releases US trade pact details in transparency bid

Brussels released the playbook for its talks with Washington on the huge EU-US trade deal on Thursday, saying it wanted to be transparent about a pact that has been criticised for favouring big business.
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5. EU approves UK’s first nuclear plant for a generation

The EU has approved Britain’s ambitious plan to build its first nuclear plant for a generation, with French and Chinese help, marking a major victory for nuclear energy three years after the Fukushima disaster.
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6. Europe ‘well armed’ to prevent an Ebola epidemic

The EU must fill gaps to stop the spread of Ebola now that an infected nurse in Spain has exposed these failings, but it is well armed to prevent an epidemic, say experts.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Medical tourism: the EU’s top court, ruling on a so-called “medical tourism” case, said patients seeking treatment in another Member State should have the cost covered by their home authorities if local care is not available in “good time.”
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Russia sets ‘high price’ for release of Lithuanian trawler
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

French deficit: France on Wednesday stepped up its fight for a relaxation of the budget rules for members of the eurozone, setting the stage for a clash with Germany.
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France, Germany seek revamp of Schengen laws for jihadists
Bosnia holds vote amid mounting discontent, economic woes
Danish PM pledges referendum on EU opt-outs
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Commission Watch

Kazakhstan: a new political and economic accord with Kazakhstan, a key member of Russia’s rival economic bloc, will help bolster security in an unsettled region.
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Russian ‘bear’ needs firmness and tact: Mogherini
New Brussels No. 2 promises a less intrusive EU
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Parliament Watch

Commissioner-hearings: MEPs rejected Slovenia’s Commission nominee in a blow to Jean-Claude Juncker Wednesday.
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Kurds burst into Parliament to protest Islamic State
Conchita sings for peace, love and understanding
Also this week, the Budgets Committee put figures on the 2015 EU budget; and Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs stressed the need to better communicate the results of the EU enlargement process, and selected the finalists for the 2014 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
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EU diary

13-14 Oct: Agriculture and Fisheries Council
14 Oct: Smart Regulation in the EU – conference and Final Report on Administrative Burden Reduction
14 Oct: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
16 Oct: Commission adopts monthly infringements package
16 Oct: Employment, Social, Health, Consumer Council
16 Oct: European Parliament Committee Meetings
16-17 Oct: ASEM – Summit Asia-EU
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary