EUbusiness Week 600 top stories: Allies urge Britain to stay in EU; EU moves to end state rail monopolies; 2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU; Eurozone contracts sharply end 2012, rebound mid-2013; Poland bans cultivation of GM maize, potatoes; EU launches public consultation on sweetener aspartame
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Allies urge Britain to stay in EU
2. EU moves to end state rail monopolies
3. 2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU
4. Eurozone contracts sharply end 2012, rebound mid-2013
5. Poland bans cultivation of GM maize, potatoes
6. EU launches public consultation on sweetener aspartame
Publisher’s Note
Welcome back to EUbusiness Week after the Christmas break, as Irish prime minister Enda Kenny unveils his country’s priorities for its stint as president of the European Union over the next six months.
Ireland’s European agenda focuses on jobs, stability and growth, as well as a way to deal with Europe’s place in the wider world. Mr Kenny was clear about his main priority, however: dealing with the scale of the Irish banking debt. Dublin is lobbying the ECB to restructure EUR 31 bn in promissory notes used to rescue the former Anglo Irish Bank.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Allies urge Britain to stay in EU
British Prime Minister David Cameron faced warnings Thursday from the United States, Germany and his own coalition partners about London’s plans to renegotiate its relationship with the EU.
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British business leaders warn Cameron over risks of EU exit
2. EU moves to end state rail monopolies
In proposals likely to infuriate Germany, the Commission will this month urge an end to Europe’s last rail monopolies and so open the lucrative passenger market to competition from 2019.
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3. 2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU
Under new Union rules to combat pollution, trucks and buses rolling off assembly lines this year will produce significantly less harmful exhaust fumes.
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4. Eurozone contracts sharply end 2012, rebound mid-2013
The eurozone’s recession likely sharpened at the end of last year but the single currency zone will begin to rebound in the second quarter of this year, say forecasters at German, French and Italian agencies.
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5. Poland bans cultivation of GM maize, potatoes
Poland has imposed new bans on the cultivation of certain genetically modified strains of maize and potatoes, a day after an EU required green light for GM crops took effect.
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6. EU launches public consultation on sweetener aspartame
The EU’s food safety agency on Tuesday launched a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion regarding the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame.
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EUROPEAN LAW
Cybercrime: in a bid to seize the initiative from increasingly sophisticated online criminals, the EU has unveiled a new cybercrime centre.
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Latest Court of Justice judgements
EU Law Firms
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Britain: European leaders have stressed the importance of keeping Britain in the EU, but say they oppose treaty changes demanded by Prime Minister David Cameron.
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Turkey claims progress in EU bid despite Brussels criticism
Belgrade seeks autonomy for Kosovo’s Serb minority
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Commission Watch
Euro: investors no longer think there is a risk that the eurozone could break up, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in Lisbon on Thursday, while acknowledging that the situation in Europe remained “difficult”.
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EU welcomes French economic reform efforts
Bulgaria hopes to use all available EU funds
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Parliament Watch
Bank debt: Eurozone head Jean-Claude Juncker offered MEPs some hope Thursday that the eurozone’s new rescue fund could help ease the burden on countries that had to bail-out banks before it became operational.
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MEPs want inquiry into EU tobacco scandal
MEPs returned this week to committee and political group meetings, to prepare for next week’s plenary session, when the House votes on a range of economic and monetary issues.
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EU diary
10 Jan, Launch of the European Year of Citizens 2013
14-17 Jan, European Parliament plenary session
20 Jan, Kosice – 2013 European Capital of Culture
22 Jan, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
24 Jan, Commission adopts monthly infringements package
28-29 Jan, Agriculture and Fisheries 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
Tallinn first EU capital to give residents free ride 10-Jan
No deal this month on Cyprus bailout: Juncker 10-Jan
Eurozone could emerge from crisis in 2013: S&P 10-Jan
Finland asks EU to probe France ship deal 8-Jan
EU Investment Bank confirms EUR 10 bn capital boost 8-Jan
Euro unemployment hits ‘unacceptable’ high 8-Jan
