EUbusiness Week 574 top stories: Greece readies for polls as euro crisis hits Spain, Italy; EU strikes deal to improve bank capital buffers; EU, Iraq sign first ever partnership deal; EU won’t budge on Ukraine deal; Poland seeks competitive edge with technology; Singapore shippers welcome EU strike on Somali pirates
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Greece readies for polls as euro crisis hits Spain, Italy
2. EU strikes deal to improve bank capital buffers
3. EU, Iraq sign first ever partnership deal
4. EU won’t budge on Ukraine deal
5. EU issues warning to carbon tax rebels China, India
6. Singapore shippers welcome EU strike on Somali pirates
Publisher’s Note
The Commission tightened its scrutiny of health claims made on food labelling and in advertising this week, approving a list of 222 health claims, to be available online.
Food health claims, for example on the role of calcium and bone health or vitamin C and the immune system, are powerful marketing tools. But consumers expect accurate information on products they buy, particularly on health claims.
Food manufacturers now have six months to adapt their practices to the new requirements. All claims that are not authorised and not on hold or under consideration will be prohibited from December 2012.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Greece readies for polls as euro crisis hits Spain, Italy
A caretaker government took office in Greece Thursday to organise a second election in six weeks after an inconclusive May 6 vote as fears over a possible disorderly euro exit rocked Spain and Ital.
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Cameron ups pressure on eurozone leaders
2. EU strikes deal to improve bank capital buffers
EU finance ministers have ended a year-long battle over how to implement new international rules governing the capital banks need in reserve to protect taxpayers from providing more bailouts.
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Austria, Luxembourg frustrate EU plans to fight tax evasion
3. EU, Iraq sign first ever partnership deal
The EU and Iraq have signed their first partnership agreement, opening the way to a slew of trade and energy deals as well as improved cooperation to combat terrorism.
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4. EU won’t budge on Ukraine deal
The European Union has told Ukraine there can be no further progress in years of efforts to clinch an ambitious trade and political accord until Kiev improved its rights record.
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5. EU issues warning to carbon tax rebels China, India
The European Union on Tuesday gave China and India a month to comply with a new airline carbon emissions fee coming into effect across the bloc, or face penalties for flights in and out of Europe.
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6. Singapore shippers welcome EU strike on Somali pirates
Singapore’s shipping association on Wednesday welcomed the first foreign strike against a pirate stronghold in Somalia and urged that the campaign be sustained.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Pirate Bay: a founder of Swedish file-sharing site The Pirate Bay will take his case to Europe’s top court after the Supreme Court in Sweden refused to hear his appeal.
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EU asks court if online piracy pact violates rights
Council of Europe says Hungary must do more on media law
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Hollande: Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Francois Hollande Tuesday stressed a shared desire to keep Greece in the eurozone, with the new French president adding that all options must be kept open in confronting the crisis.
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Germany’s Schaeuble ready to lead Eurogroup
Third of Irish voters undecided on EU treaty: poll
Council …
Commission Watch
Turkey: Turkey and the EU officially launched Thursday a “positive agenda” to put Ankara’s stalled accession negotiations back on track after years of stagnation.
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EU sanctions hit Syrian tobacco, oil firms
EU must ‘stay the course’ in debt war: Barroso
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Greece: the radical leftist Syriza party that stormed to second place on an anti-austerity ticket in Greece’s recent polls now wants to push its message across Europe.
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Czech police find $1.5m cash-stash at lawmaker’s home
In committee this week, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs said bank capital requirements must be strengthened, and bankers’ bonuses should not exceed their fixed pay; and the Agriculture Committee said that cutting animal transport times is just the start.
Parliament …
EU diary
21-24 May, European Parliament plenary session
21 May, Commission presents annual Taxation Trends report
23 May, Informal meeting of the European Council
23 May, Report on EU’s bathing water quality
29 May, General Affairs Council
30-31 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
Obama to raise ‘specific’ euro ideas at G8 summit 17-May
Serbia run-off vote will be ‘referendum on EU’ 17-May
Spain secures EUR 30bn loan to aid local governments 17-May
EU approves Greek state aid for sale of T Bank 16-May
Eurozone inflation eases to 2.6% in April 16-May
Dublin airport fails some EU security tests 15-May
