Go to the Content   Tuesday, 14 October 2008
 
 
News
rss

UK, Irish crisis plans approved

European Commission praises UK plan, forces Ireland to include non-Irish banks.


Data retention directive wins backing

Advocate-general accepts the view of most EU states that the directive is primarily a market issue.


 

EU ends Lukashenka travel ban

Belarusian leader free to travel to the EU; some of his officials remain barred.


EU lifts Uzbek travel bans

Uzbek officials are now free to travel, but arms embargo remains in place.


Millions of music lovers risking deafness

As many as 10 million people in the EU are listening to music at factory-level volumes each day.


Ashton hearing brought forward

Deal with European Parliament could limit the disruption caused by the handover of the trade portfolio to the UK's new commissioner.


'Sin list' of EU chemicals published

Preliminary list finds that 15 chemicals used in the EU are "of very high concern".


EU tightens ties with Morocco, Moldova

Morocco gains 'advanced status', while Moldova wins a promise of deeper, closer ties.


EU synchronises crisis moves

Eurozone states join the UK in outlining huge rescue plans for their banking systems.


EU official criticises Israel

Peace in Palestine is "inconceivable" under current Israeli restrictions.

Lithuanians turn their back on ruling parties

First round of Lithuania's parliamentary elections suggests coalition talks will be tough; Ignalina referendum fails.


Energy package wrapped up

EU ministers tie up ‘unbundling' issue and the question of ownership by non-EU companies.


Russian withdrawal from Georgia confirmed

EU confirms that Russia has dismantled checkpoints in the buffer zones in Georgia and withdrawn its troops.


Western Balkans faces 'crucial' year

EU commissioner places enlargement prospects against a backdrop of Europe's ‘most serious challenges' since the Cold War.


 

This week's paper 

MONEY MARKETS Rate-cut gambit

news_trichet0910

A GRIM OUTLOOK. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet announced a cut of half a percentage point in the eurozone lending rate on 8 October, in a move co-ordinated with the US Federal Reserve and the central banks in the UK, Switzerland, Canada and Switzerland. The move to restore confidence to global financial markets caused a brief rally in European stocks, but they fell back in the face of continuing fears over bank failures and the seizing up of money markets and interbank lending. REUTERS

France wants EU pledge to cut energy use in emergency You need an active subscription to read this article

EU presidency wants a substantial show of solidarity if any EU country's energy supplies are disrupted.


MEP casts doubt on climate change deal You need an active subscription to read this article

First-reading agreement in Parliament unlikely; economic crisis ‘has changed public priorities'.


Ashton faces wait to assume full powers You need an active subscription to read this article

European Parliament to consider fast-tracking the process of approving the new UK commissioner.


EU looks to re-establish relations with Russia You need an active subscription to read this article

Bilateral November summit remains uncertain; Geneva talks to include breakaway regions.


Resistance to tougher working-time rules You need an active subscription to read this article

Industry says opt-outs would add much-needed flexibility.


Cypriot leaders put power-sharing on agenda You need an active subscription to read this article

Latest meeting on possible reunification will focus on veto powers.


Verheugen accused of 'waging war' against parallel traders You need an active subscription to read this article

New re-packaging rules will ‘destroy business'; Commission says it wants to tackle counterfeiting.


Canadian elections ensnare summit You need an active subscription to read this article

Free trade removed from the table as Canada calls snap general election.


France in bid to keep 'three strikes' approach You need an active subscription to read this article

France rejects European Parliament attempts to put courts in charge of cutting off internet services.


 

Politics  

Parliament in Strasbourg fit for purpose

European Parliament to meet in Strasbourg in October, two months after repairs began.


EU assembly embraces EU symbols

European Parliament will increase its own use of the EU's flag, anthem and motto.


Ireland 'needs time' for Lisbon solution

Foreign minister blames “lack of information” for Ireland's rejection of the EU's reform treaty.


Lowering of voting age touted

Proposals aimed at boosting turnout at European Parliament elections include an end to closed voting and a change in scheduling.


 

Other recent news:

 

World

Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize

Finnish president garlanded for his role in trouble-spots ranging from Kosovo and Northern Ireland to Aceh.


Two Balkan states recognise Kosovo

Macedonia and Montenegro support Kosovo's statehood, prompting Serbia to expel Montenegro's ambassador.


Eulex struggling to catch up

EU's mission to Kosovo still needs to fill four in five posts.


Ukrainian parliament dissolved

Collapse of Ukraine's governing coalition is latest episode in the strained relationship between Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko.


Nationalists win Bosnian elections

Early results from Bosnia's in local elections suggest a clear-cut victory for nationalists.


Dane to head EU police mission in Afghanistan

Kai Vittrup, the EU's top police officer in Sudan, to take up Afghanistan mandate.


Russia sees no obstacle to EU partnership talks

Russian envoy believes talks should resume this month, expects EU monitors not to be allowed to enter South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  


Morocco's reforms to be rewarded You need an active subscription to read this article

Morocco to be first country to be accorded the legally insignificant honorific of 'advanced status' neighbour.


 

Other recent world news:

 

Business & economics

Barroso sets up crisis groups

European Commission president will set up a group of experts and a mini-college of commissioners and proposes fresh regulation of hedge funds and private equity.


ECB cuts interest rates

Rate cut is part of an unprecedented, co-ordinated move by six central banks.


Eurozone economy contracts

Fall-off in economic activity in the second quarter adds to concerns about the European economy.


Majority of Europeans against animal cloning

An overwhelming majority of Europeans share the concerns of ethicists and the European Parliament.


Commission proposes stronger consumer rights

EU executive pushes for longer cooling-off periods, tougher delivery standards and for an end to hidden charges.


EU increases deposit guarantees

Finance ministers agree to increase guarantees for bank customers and on principles for action to deal with the financial crisis.


Insurance rules divide EU

EU finance ministers differ on the cross-border supervision of insurance companies and on treatment of equity.


Setback for industry on green 'Super Tuesday'

European Parliament's environment committee refuses to ease conditions of emissions-trading scheme.


 

Other recent business and economic news:


 

  
Careers

Telecoms operators find their 'trusted' voice You need an active subscription to read this article

How a former journalist came to speak for the film industry and then for telecoms.

Go north, my son?

What a visit to Job Days reveals about Europe's (im)mobile labour market.



 More articles on EU careers

The week ahead

11-13 October: Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly plenary session, Jordan. On the agenda: developments in the Barcelona Process and declaration on Middle East peace process.

13-14 October: Meeting of EU foreign ministers, Luxembourg. On the agenda: preparation for the European Council, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Moldova and Uzbekistan.

13-16 October: Committee and political group week in Parliament. On the agenda: NATO and the European Security and Defence Policy, Solidar Silver Rose awards, dialogue with religions and cultures, business incentives in EU regions, the role of the arms industry in Africa's underdevelopment.

15 October: Weekly Commission meeting, Brussels. On the agenda: green paper on the quality of agricultural products, draft legislation on illegal logging.

15-16 October: Meeting of EU leaders, Brussels. On the agenda: economic and financial situation, energy/climate change proposals, Ireland's report on the Lisbon treaty.

Views

The urge to protect

Australia's former foreign minister, Gareth Evans, explains the genesis of his effort to define the international's responsibility to protect.


Russia's true intentions revealed

The Georgia crisis suggests the EU and NATO should ease the conditions of accession for Georgia, writes a former Bulgarian prime minister.


Leaping beyond the Lisbon treaty

The Lisbon treaty should be buried and new approaches, based on a popular consensus, should be explored.


Out, but soon underground

Bosnia's first attempt at a Gay Pride festival brought the lurking intolerance in Sarajevo out violently onto its streets.


Advertisement


Europe's wounds will not heal easily You need an active subscription to read this article

Solidarity, co-ordination and co-operation – not words to apply to Europe's response to the financial crisis.


oped_rain0910

Don't blame capitalism You need an active subscription to read this article

It is the management of the financial system that deserves scorn for today's turmoil, not the financial system itself.

The two sides of second-hand politicians You need an active subscription to read this article

Should Peter Mandelson hand back his salary?

Glimmer of how over EU-NATO co-operation You need an active subscription to read this article

Both EU and NATO missions will benefit from closer co-operation between the two organisations.

Gazing towards Russia is not enough You need an active subscription to read this article

The EU and NATO need to re-assess how to deal with Russian subversion of Western interests.

Purging the toxins

Deregulation was the root cause of the financial crisis; more regulation is needed to uproot the causes.


SpecialReport_banner_0910 


 

Analysis  

Adamkus-0910

Voting on a nuclear future You need an active subscription to read this article

A referendum on a nuclear power plan could affect the outcome of Sunday's general election.


Enhanced co-operation on divorce law? You need an active subscription to read this article

Jacques Barrot weighs option of untried mechanism; harmonisation of laws to avoid ‘litigation shopping'.


Bank bail-outs pose tough questions You need an active subscription to read this article

Though troubles in the banking sector have now arrived in mainland Europe, national governments and the European Commission seem resistant to a new EU single regulator and disagreements remain over Solvency II.


Immigration policy takes shape, but lacks weight You need an active subscription to read this article

Asylum and immigration is watered down; member states still at odds on migrant workers.


 

This Europe

thiseurope_bosnia0910

RIVAL ATTRACTIONS. Nationalist parties were the clear winners in local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5 October. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the main Serb party, more than doubled the number of mayors in Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia's two ‘entities'. By contrast, the main multi-ethnic opposition party, the Social Democrats (SDP), won in only two of Sarajevo's four municipalities and in a handful of other towns. The international community continues to encourage greater co-operation within the country, but its presence is likely to be reduced in coming months, leaving responsibility for most of the task to the EU special representative in Sarajevo. REUTERS

 

Letters

letters_gazprom0910

Why the Nord Stream gas pipeline is offshore You need an active subscription to read this article

The pipeline bypassed EU states en route to Germany for technical, financial and environmental reasons.


Biofuels can result in more emissions You need an active subscription to read this article

A government- as opposed to industry-sponsored study shows the real dangers of biofuels.

UK proposal would penalise European biofuel production You need an active subscription to read this article

Targets can be met without hurting food supplies or changing land use.


Moore's Law and car emissions You need an active subscription to read this article

Left to the car lobby, progress would be snail-like; with the same application as computer-makers, they could make exponential progress.


 

People

Borut Pahor

profile_borut0910

The pin-up leader You need an active subscription to read this article

Is Slovenia getting its first truly post-Yugoslav prime minister in Borut Pahor?


Kallas does it his way You need an active subscription to read this article

Singing and joking on the (wrong) road to the auditors.


Past, present and future You need an active subscription to read this article

Who wasn't present and correct in our Commission forecasts.


A sensible Frenchman... You need an active subscription to read this article

Leaving Paris and heading for Brussels?


... and sensible thinking You need an active subscription to read this article

A climate-change committee fails to evolve.


Swedish feminism You need an active subscription to read this article

Could the European Parliament bring together the Parmesan-loving wife of Carl Bildt and a homestead unionist?


Recharged batteries You need an active subscription to read this article

Just the ticket for weary presidents and premiers.


Books

books_sarkoetal2509

Europe's southern challenges You need an active subscription to read this article

The Mediterranean region continues to provide the EU with threats and opportunities.


How Europe brought the euro to life You need an active subscription to read this article

The father of the European Central Bank's monetary policy pulls back the curtains, a little.


It's my party and I'll leave if I want to You need an active subscription to read this article

A study of political families in Europe finds national parties reluctant to surrender power.


 

 
 

The newspaper

0910_EPV_animation

The e-paper
(for subscribers only)
Comment

Adamkus-0910

Lithuania's elections You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Comment

oped_rain0910
Capitalism's woes You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Special report

rail_sarko0910
Europe's railways You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Transatlantic news

RollCall-logo


 

Economist Group

Economist group logo

  

The Economist

Economist Intelligence Unit

Economist Conferences

The World In

Intelligent Life

CFO

Roll Call

EuroFinance

Economist Shop

Advertisement

 

 

 

 

 
Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Terms & conditions