EUbusiness Week 518 top stories: Europe launches trillion euro energy revamp; Eurozone debt crisis: the calm before the storm; Europe’s cars switch to daytime lights to boost safety; EU institutions ordered to cut spending; EU, South Korea trade pact clears key parliament hurdle; Prince Charles decries ‘reckless roulette’ over climate
This Week’s Top Stories
1. Europe launches trillion euro energy revamp
2. Eurozone debt crisis: the calm before the storm
3. Europe’s cars switch to daytime lights to boost safety
4. EU institutions ordered to cut spending
5. EU, South Korea trade pact clears key parliament hurdle
6. Prince Charles decries ‘reckless roulette’ over climate
Publisher’s Note
An end to the ‘ridiculous’ dual sittings of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg is demanded by leading Euro-MPs in a report out this week. The report focuses on the cost and the carbon impact of a two-seat Parliament, where MEPs, assistants, interpreters and truckloads of paper have to shuttle regularly from one city to the other.
It may be the right time to reopen this tricky issue. “In today’s climate the economic and environmental cost of two seats can no longer be justified,” says MEP Edward McMillan-Scott. He knows only too well, however, that giving Parliament the right to choose its own seat requires a treaty change. And this decision remains in the hands of the Member States.
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Regards,
Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness
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1. Europe launches trillion euro energy revamp
The launch by European leaders of a trillion-euro bid to slash dependency on Middle East oil and Russian gas clears the way to place nuclear power at the centre of 21st century needs.
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2. Eurozone debt crisis: the calm before the storm
After taking a pounding from the markets last year, the eurozone is breathing easier these days, but analysts warn it may be the calm before another storm for the debt-stricken EU.
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3. Europe’s cars switch to daytime lights to boost safety
New cars and small vans rolling out of European factories as from Monday 7 February had to be equipped with automatic daytime lights in a new bid to raise road safety.
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4. EU institutions ordered to cut spending
The EU’s main institutions, from its parliament to the court of justice, have been ordered to cut spending in line with national austerity policies across Europe.
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5. EU, South Korea trade pact clears key parliament hurdle
A key European Parliament committee endorsed Monday a major free trade deal with South Korea after securing safeguards to protect Europe’s car-makers.
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6. Prince Charles decries ‘reckless roulette’ over climate
Britain’s Prince Charles has hit out at climate change doubters for playing a “reckless game of roulette” with Earth’s future and urged Europe to take ambitious action against global warming.
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EUROPEAN CASE LAW
Ukraine: allowing the use of cheaper foreign decoders to watch matches would damage the interests of viewers across the EU, said the English Premier League following European Court advice. An ECJ legal opinion threatens a massive shake-up in the broadcast of sports programming.
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Spanish prosecutors urge Madrid to reduce air pollution
Latest Court of Justice judgements
Latest General Court judgements
EU Law …
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Inside the EU Institutions
Council Watch
Debt summit: the leaders of the 17 eurozone countries will hold a special summit on March 11 to hammer out a plan of action to prevent future debt crises.
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Leaders meet as Poland gears up for EU helm
Foreign ministers to discuss Bosnia on February 21
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Commission Watch
Egypt: the time for Egypt to secure a change in government “is now,” the EU’s chief diplomat Catherine Ashton said Thursday after President Hosni Mubarak clung on in a televised speech.
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Hungary agrees to amend controversial media law
Straight talking needed on Romania’s Schengen bid
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Euro-Parliament Watch
Economy: top Euro-MPs attacked Tuesday a Franco-German drive for closer economic policy coordination in the eurozone as an attempt by the two powers to impose their will on the bloc.
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Top Euro-MP derides EU ‘Muppet Show’ on Egypt
EU’s envoy to Tunisia must go: MEP
In committe this week, the Civil Liberties Committee said a “single permit” should enable third-country workers to live and work in the EU; and the Foreign Affairs Committee favoured EU accession talks with Montenegro, but had concerns about corruption.
Parliament …
EU diary
14 Feb, Education, Youth & Culture Council
14 Feb, Brussels, Eurogroup
14-17 Feb, European Parliament Plenary Session
15 Feb, Economic and Financial Affairs Council
17 Feb, Governing Council of the European Central Bank
22-23 Feb, Informal meeting of Sports Ministers
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
Slovakia amends controversial dual citizenship ban 10-Feb
Croatia faces key period in EU talks: Hungarian PM 8-Feb
Euro-US partners eye ‘low-cost’ space launcher: report 8-Feb
Russia resumes sturgeon caviar exports to Europe 7-Feb
Greek doctors strike against revamp 7-Feb
