EUbusiness Week 573 top stories: EU bids to surf Hollande growth wave; EU marks 62nd birthday in Florence with ‘turning point’; EU caps smartphone roaming prices to fight ‘rip-offs’; Fewer toxic toys and textiles in EU stores; Ukraine scores own goal as Euro debacle looms; Czech PM expects eurozone entry in 8-10 years
This Week’s Top Stories
1. EU bids to surf Hollande growth wave
2. EU marks 62nd birthday in Florence with ‘turning point’
3. EU caps smartphone roaming prices to fight ‘rip-offs’
4. Fewer toxic toys and textiles in EU stores
5. Ukraine scores own goal as Euro debacle looms
6. Czech PM expects eurozone entry in 8-10 years
Publisher’s Note
Responding to growing concern about patents on plants, seeds and farm animals and their impact on farmers, breeders and biodiversity, MEPs this week called for conventionally-bred plants or animals to be exempt from patents.
Patents are “an important tool for the transfer of technology”, they said. But products such as anti-carcinogenic broccoli or high-yield dairy cows, produced by conventional breeding techniques, should not be patented.
The vote, while non-binding, will be welcomed by many who are concerned about the monopolisation of food resources. Excessive patent protection can stifle innovation and progress. The European Patent Office should take note.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
EUROFFICE Euroffice, the UK’s largest supplier of stationery and office supplies online, selling to the UK and Italy – have sold to over 220,000 small businesses and will not be beaten on price. |
1. EU bids to surf Hollande growth wave
Surfing a wave favouring growth policies after Francois Hollande’s presidential victory, the Commission refreshed its pitch on Tuesday for a big increase in the EU budget.
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Hollande pursues crusade for growth
2. EU marks 62nd birthday in Florence with ‘turning point’
The EU marked its 62nd birthday at a conference of key EU officials hosted by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti amid a renewed eurozone crises over Greek debt on Wednesday.
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British bookies suspend betting on Greek euro exit
3. EU caps smartphone roaming prices to fight ‘rip-offs’
Europeans will pay less roaming charges when using their smartphones or tablets across EU borders from July 1 under new price caps adopted Thursday to end exorbitant bills for consumers.
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4. Fewer toxic toys and textiles in EU stores
Europe last year saw its first drop in the number of toxic toys and skin-irritating textiles stacked on its supermarket shelves, more than half of them made in China.
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5. Ukraine scores own goal as Euro debacle looms
Ukraine has failed to anticipate the angry Western reaction to its treatment of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the dispute risks ruining its hosting of the Euro 2012 football.
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6. Czech PM expects eurozone entry in 8-10 years
The Czech Republic is likely to join the eurozone in eight or ten years said its PM as lawmakers approved an EU treaty change allowing the eurozone to set up a key rescue fund.
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EUROPEAN LAW
France: the European Court of Justice has ruled against France over discriminatory tax treatment of foreign investment funds that could cost Paris 4.5 billion euros.
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London bankers win EUR 50m court battle
EU rights charter equal to constitution: Austrian court
Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Hollande: the head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker, on Thursday briefed France’s president-elect Francois Hollande on the Greek financial crisis.
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Ukraine scraps Europe summit after boycott
Germany approves expansion of EU anti-piracy mission
Council …
Commission Watch
Rio summit: the Commission is flying six top officials plus an unspecified number of aides to June’s Rio Summit on sustainable development but plans to tighten spending.
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No re-negotiation of budgetary pact: Barroso
Trade chief warns of imminent action against Argentina
Ashton sees ‘progress’ in Zimbabwe
Commission …
Euro-Parliament Watch
Myanmar: Myanmar lawmakers paid the country’s first ever visit to the Parliament on Thursday in a new sign of growing warmth between the EU and the Southeast Asian nation.
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In plenary this week, MEPs safeguarded strict conditions for the EU’s toxic chemical exports; called for trade to build democracy in Arab Spring countries; and approved accounts for the lion’s share of EU spending in 2010.
Parliament …
EU diary
10-11 May, Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
11 May, Spring 2012 economic forecast
14-15 May, Agriculture and Fisheries Council
14 May, Foreign Affairs (Development) Council
15 May, Economic & Financial Affairs 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: Europe was not decisive on crisis 10-May
Eurotunnel in EUR 65m bid for SeaFrance assets 10-May
Croatian economy to shrink 1.0 % in 2012 10-May
Spain to miss 2012 deficit target: EU source 10-May
Former Bulgarian Commissioner to form political party 9-May
Lagarde urges flexibility on fiscal targets 7-May
