Go to the Content   Thursday, 20 November 2008
 
 
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Parliament wants stronger watchdog

European Parliament backs calls to reform the EU's anti-fraud unit; member states criticised for failure to prosecute.

EU seeks role in the Arctic

European Commission urges EU to seize the energy and commercial opportunities created by a melting Arctic.


EU adjusts its agricultural policy

EU agrees to reduce direct payments to farmers and limit state intervention until deeper reforms are agreed.


Happiest Europeans are in Nordic countries

Dutch join the EU's northernmost states at the top of quality-of-life rankings that correlate closely with health, work and wealth.


Ship-breaking rules should be tightened

 EU executive vows to impose stricter controls on old ships sent for dismantling in the developing world.


 


 

News in the newspaper 

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Commission forced to scale down nuclear safety plans You need an active subscription to read this article

Regulators warn against common EU standards.


Commission to present economic recovery plan You need an active subscription to read this article

Soft loans to help carmakers go green; short-term tax cuts to boost consumer demands.


Staff transferred to deal with crisis You need an active subscription to read this article

Response to the financial crisis leaves some Commission departments under-staffed.


ETS money could be spent on low-carbon technologies You need an active subscription to read this article

Carbon revenues could be used on green projects; MEPs want a binding resolution.


Czechs seek rapid deal on Caspian energy You need an active subscription to read this article

Next EU presidency wants “strong backing” for Nabucco pipeline.


Ministers set to send home foreigners awaiting trial You need an active subscription to read this article

Decision would leave fewer people in custody; bar association raises concerns about basic rights.


EU props up police force in Palestine You need an active subscription to read this article

Reinforcement caused by deterioration in safety likely to be followed by extension of mission's mandate.

EU and Russia to resume partnership deal talks You need an active subscription to read this article

Technical meetings will be followed by start of full talks on 2 December.

National differences could scupper telecoms legislation You need an active subscription to read this article

Parliament warns of cost of failure to agree; plans for independent national regulators resisted.

Procurement plans to include security gear You need an active subscription to read this article

Member states are reportedly moving in favour of directive to create a single market for defence goods.

 

Politics

Italy, Greece are EU's biggest laggards

Hungary and Romania join Italy and Greece on the list of countries that are particularly slow to adopt EU legislation.


Rules on equal pay 'ineffective'

European Parliament calls for fresh legislation and, possibly, sanctions to bring pay for men and women into line.


Eurosceptic to lead Swedish socialist campaign

Social Democrats name their candidates for the European Parliament elections.


Five-fold increase in TB research needed

Médécin Sans Frontières says the European Commission needs to multiply its "deeply inadequate" spending as tuberculosis returns to Europe.


Commissioner: Modernise and simplify EU budget

European commissioner laments budget's inflexibility, which leaves the EU “running after events”.


British MEP ordered to repay €600,000

European Parliament orders British MEP Den Dover to repay €609,000 that he received for staff and office costs and paid to a firm employing his wife and daughter.


 

World

EU to monitor vote in Bangladesh

Despite continued emergency rule, the EU will send observers to monitor elections that it hopes will return Bangladesh to full democratic, civilian rule.


Russia brought to court by former Yukos owners

Investors in dismantled energy giant believe case highlights Russia's failure to honour treaty governing EU's energy relations with Russia.


EU, China sign safety agreement

Agreement particularly aims to reduce the number of products whose makers are unknown.


G20 summit sheds light on path out of crisis

Gathering fails to produce major breakthroughs, but the EU finds support on a number of key issues.


Russia, EU call for security summit

Concerns about the Georgia crisis and missile systems dispute could be aired in a large, OSCE-chaired summit in mid-2009.


European assembly urged to forestall Kosovo partition

Leading voice in the European Parliament expresses anxiety about UN plan for the EU's mission in Serb areas of Kosovo.


Commission presents energy security plan

José Manuel Barroso and Andris Piebalgs have presented proposals to help the EU meet its ambitious ‘triple-twenty' energy targets.


 

Business & economics

EU adopts cod recovery plan

Fisheries ministers make quotas more sustainable, order use of larger nets and expand area covered by new measures.


Internal migration 'positive' for EU

European Commission report says migrant workforce from EU's newest members has "made a significant contribution to sustained economic growth".


Points system suggested for fishermen

European Commission plans fundamental overhaul of its control system, including a points system that could strip fishermen of their licences.


Finnish and Italian bail-outs cleared

EU competition authorities approve Italy's guarantee and debt-swap schemes, but has yet to decide on a proposed recapitalisation of the country's banks.


EU tax evaders put on notice

European Commission sets out plans to plug loopholes that have allowed EU citizens to park money abroad tax-free.

ING rescue package approved

EU competition authorities clear the Dutch government's cash-for-equity bail-out of ING.

 

  
Careers

Finding your voice in a multi-accented Europe You need an active subscription to read this article

A Brussels-based think-tank is exploring new ways to get its voice heard in Europe's economic policy discussions.

Thursday, 20 November 2008


The week ahead

20 November: Sweden's parliament to vote on ratification of Lisbon treaty.

20-21 November: Foreign ministers of the EU and African Union presidencies meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On the agenda: initial assessment of Joint Africa-EU Strategy, funding for African peace operations.

20-21 November: Education, youth and culture council, Brussels. On the agenda: European heritage label, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, multilingualism, launch of European digital library ‘Europeana', health and well-being of young people, education.

21 November: Economics and finance ministers meet in Brussels. On the agenda: 2009 budget. 

21 November: Commission President José Manuel Barroso briefs presidents of political groups in European Parliament on financial crisis response.

22-27 November: Joint parliamentary assembly of the EU and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific bloc meet in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. On the agenda: EU-ACP partnership.

24-26 November: Informal meeting of EU ministers for housing, urban and regional planning and cohesion policy, Marseille. On the agenda: possible regional synergies in housing and urban development.

25 November: EU and African migration and development ministers meet in Paris. On the agenda: multiannual programme of co-operation on legal migration, combating illegal migration, and synergies between migration and development policy.

25-26 November: Informal meeting of education ministers, Bordeaux. On the agenda: vocational education and training.

26 November: Weekly Commission meeting, Brussels. On the agenda: pharmaceuticals package, Lisbon strategy, nuclear safety, consumer collective redress.

Views
ECONOMY The hunt for cash

“Cash cow”, a mascot of the Frankfurt stock exchange. REUTERS

NOT SO BULLISH “Cash cow”, a mascot of the Frankfurt stock exchange. The question on the minds of carmakers on both sides of the Atlantic is now not whether the markets will provide them with cash, but whether their governments and the EU will. REUTERS

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Opinion

Opposition in Iceland to EU membership begins to thaw You need an active subscription to read this article

Iceland's financial crisis has galvanised support for joining the EU.
By Dick Leonard
Thursday, 20 November 2008

Hungary's elite faces up to an abnormal financial reality You need an active subscription to read this article

Mismanagement has turned Hungary into a not-so-normal country.
By Bálint Szlankó
Thursday, 20 November 2008

Putting asset freezes on ice? You need an active subscription to read this article

A key foreign-policy tool – financial sanctions – faces failure. A few tweaks and it could be saved.
By Ashley S. Deeks
Thursday, 20 November 2008

A better return for our money

The European Union wants the EIB to play a role in its response to the economic crisis – but it must make sure the EIB meets its existing responsibilities better
By Desislava Stoyanova
Friday, 14 November 2008

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Columns

Barroso must free himself of fiscal fears You need an active subscription to read this article

Tinkering as the economy burns will not do.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Flawed tactics in the Balkans You need an active subscription to read this article

Kosovo should either be left do its own business or should shut up.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Why waste time over a name? You need an active subscription to read this article

Alexander the Great, emperor of Macedonia and exemplar for modern leaders and diplomats.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

The good news and the bad news about Estonia's security You need an active subscription to read this article

A spy scandal rocks Tallinn, while Estonia receives mixed messages on defence from its Finnish neighbours.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Europe must back up words with action in Congo You need an active subscription to read this article

As the situation in Congo worsens, the EU must consider reinforcing the UN peacekeeping mission.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

 

Special report

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Commission wants EU-wide strategy for rare diseases You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Industry needs to inform and reform (II): Dagmar Roth-Behrendt You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Industry needs to inform and reform (I): Françoise Grossetête MEP You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Fake medicines regulation in dispute You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Improving the safety of drugs You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Battle looming over medicine information You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Big pharma shows vital competition You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Where have all the drugs gone? You need an active subscription to read this article

 

A stirred pharma industry fears the big shake-up You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Under threat from a generic attack You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Budgeting for development aid (I): Danute Budreikaite You need an active subscription to read this article

 

Budgeting for development aid (II): Josep Borrell Fontelles You need an active subscription to read this article

 


 

Analysis  

Reform emphasises energy and R&D You need an active subscription to read this article

Public consultation adds support for flexibility; cuts in farming sector funds expected.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

 

 

People

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The quiet Corsican You need an active subscription to read this article

The French civil servant behind the EU's response to the financial crisis.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Going in search of the pet vote You need an active subscription to read this article

The European Parliament comes up with a pet night without pets.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Taking lessons from the best You need an active subscription to read this article

Want to convince Sarko? Perhaps Dominique de Villepin isn't your man, Mr Stanishev.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Transparent MEPs You need an active subscription to read this article

MEPs will soon be able to discover for themselves just how revealing bodyscanners are.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

He's an MEP...let him stay You need an active subscription to read this article

Kilroy-Silk heads down and out to Australia's outback for more public trials and humiliations.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Books

Ups and downs of US foreign policy You need an active subscription to read this article

From the Philippines to Egypt and Mali, this is a colourful description of how the US has attempted to ‘democratise' the world.

Thursday, 13 November 2008

 

Letters

letters2011

Can do Metal cans can be recycled numerous times. BELGA

Co-ordination of national systems must go ahead You need an active subscription to read this article

How the Nordic states trash cans is an example of the value of cross-border co-ordination on environmental issues.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Repealing 'frivolous' directives will improve image of EU You need an active subscription to read this article

Dumping rules on knobbly veg should be only the start.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Biofuels and the use of independent research You need an active subscription to read this article

The last salvo in a long-running correspondence about biofuels and their environmental impact.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Ireland should look for Lisbon compromises You need an active subscription to read this article

Given a choice between discussing the minutiae of EU institutions and sweeping necessary reforms under the carpet, the choice should be obvious.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Green investments must not fall victim to carbon trade You need an active subscription to read this article

The EU's prime objective must be to make green investments attractive; it is failing to do that.

Thursday, 20 November 2008

 
 

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Turkey and the EU
 

Special report

Special report on Europe's pharmaceutical industry
Europe's pharmaceutical industry special report  made available online for all visitors thanks to

EFPIA - the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations

 

Analysis

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Audit of the EU You need an active subscription to read this article
 

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Ireland and the EU
 

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Russia: Energy treaty
 

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