EU Expert Groups need reform - EUbusiness Week newsletter 636 - EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 636 top stories: EU trims 2014 eurozone growth prospects; Turkey, EU see ‘new spring’ as talks resume; EU faces decision on GM crop cultivation; EU signals end to high subsidies for renewable energy; Fewer banks with fewer assets in euro area: ECB; EU beef heading back to US as mad cow ban ends

This Week’s Top Stories

1. EU trims 2014 eurozone growth prospects
2. Turkey, EU see ‘new spring’ as talks resume
3. EU faces decision on GM crop cultivation
4. EU signals end to high subsidies for renewable energy
5. Fewer banks with fewer assets in euro area: ECB
6. EU beef heading back to US as mad cow ban ends

Publisher’s Note

A report this week from a group concerned with the influence of corporate lobbyists on Europe’s political agenda says many of the Commission’s Expert Groups, which play an influential role in advising on EU law, are dominated by big business interests. ALTER-EU says this is at the expense of SMEs.
The Commission promised MEPs last year it would tackle the corporate culture in its Expert Groups. Yet the report suggests tax dodgers have advised on tax reform, and telecoms giants dominated debate on data privacy. It looks as if the need for reform of these Expert Groups is greater than ever.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

1. EU trims 2014 eurozone growth prospects

Hopes of eurozone recovery momentum were dashed on Tuesday, as the autumn economic forecasts saw more agony for the millions on the dole, as Brussels stepped up pressure on Germany and France to re-shape their economies.
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Brussels takes on oversight of EU budgets, deficits

2. Turkey, EU see ‘new spring’ as talks resume

The freeze has lasted 40 months, but Turkey resumed talks to gain entry into the EU on Tuesday, with both sides hailing a potential “turning point” in Ankara’s bid to join the club.
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3. EU faces decision on GM crop cultivation

European governments need to decide once and for all if they are to block or permit the cultivation of genetically modified crops on the continent, the Commission said on Wednesday.
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4. EU signals end to high subsidies for renewable energy

On Tuesday, the Commission issued new guidelines which could end costly and controversial subsidies for renewable energy, and open the way for state-aid backing of gas or coal-fired electricity generation projects.
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5. Fewer banks with fewer assets in euro area: ECB

The number of banks in the 17-country eurozone has declined over the past five years and they significantly reduced their balance sheets, the European Central Bank reports.
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6. EU beef heading back to US as mad cow ban ends

The EU will soon be able to re-start beef exports to the United States, which have been frozen since 1998 due to mad cow disease, the Commission said on Monday.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Bulgarian land: Bulgarian lawmakers have filed a request with the constitutional court to overrule a ban on sales of farmland to foreigners, arguing it breached Bulgaria’s EU commitments.
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EU gay asylum ruling gets divided reception
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

EU finance minister: Europe needs more integration, including a single finance minister, if it is to remain competitive in the years to come, says former German Chancellor Schroeder.
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Business leaders call for Britain to stay in EU
In some cases, US spying ‘has reached too far’: Kerry
EU ‘deplores’ latest Israel settlement plan
Council …

Commission Watch

Budget audit: the EU needs to rethink its budget approach to ensure citizens get a fair deal for their money, auditors said as they reported an increase in spending errors for 2012.
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Germany can do more for eurozone: Barroso
EU, World Bank pledge over USD 8 bn in aid for Sahel
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Parliament Watch

Ukraine: the European Parliament’s special envoys arrived in Kiev this week in a new bid to find a compromise for jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to go abroad, as Ukraine seeks to agree a key step for EU integration.
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EP head Schulz to run for top Commission job
At a hearing experts said Parliament should rethink data transfer deals with the US; while in committee, MEPs approved a deal with Council on the new Cohesion Policy 2014-2020, paving the way for the EUR 325 bn investment tool for EU regions to come into force on time.
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EU diary

11-12 Nov, EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region forum
11 Nov, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget)
12-13 Nov, Conference on Vocational Education and Training
13 Nov, Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing
13 Nov, EC adopts new Communication on state aid for cinema
14 Nov, Eurogroup
15 Nov, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary