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Euro-Parliament
adopts rules on new medical treatments, 27 April 2007
The European Parliament on Monday adopted new rules on the authorisation of
cutting-edge medical treatments, overcoming considerable misgivings from s ome
MEPs over ethical questions.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/medical-treatments.36
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EU public
deficits down sharply in 2006, 27 April 2007
European countries made strides last year in cleaning up their public finances,
with deficit levels down sharply from the previous year, according to official
EU figures.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/eu-deficit.59
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EU launches
legal action over investment services, 27 April 2007
The Commission has launched legal action against 24 Member States for dragging
their feet on adopting new EU investment services regulations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/investment-services.66
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EU nets major
haul of Asian counterfeits, 27 April 2007
EU customs officials have intercepted millions of fake cigarettes and products
ranging from toys to watches as part of an international crackdown on Asian
counterfeits.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/asia-counterfeits.33
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Corruption in
Bulgaria: big problem, big losses, 27 April 2007
Corruption in Bulgaria has become the country's biggest problem, leading to
billion-euro losses each year and posing a threat to expected funding from the
EU to the Balkan newcomer.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/bulgaria-corruption.31
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Five million
children obese in EU, 27 April 2007
Around 22 million of the's 75 million children are overweight and 5.1 million
are obese, delegates told a conference last Sunday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Health/obesity-eu.21
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European Commission welcomes adoption of negotiating mandates for
new Free Trade Agreements with India, Korea and ASEAN
, EU Trade News, 27 March 2007
Brussels, 23 April 2007
The European Commission
has today welcomed the formal adoption by European Member States of negotiating
mandates for a new generation of Free Trade Agreements with India, South Korea
and ASEAN. New independent research released by the European Commission today
suggests that the agreements could add more than 40 billion euros to EU exports
annually and provide wide new trade opportunities for all sides. The European
Commission, which will negotiate on behalf of EU Member states, expects to
launch negotiations in the months to come.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said: "Combined with a successful
conclusion to the Doha Round, these agreements will open new markets to EU
businesses and give a valuable boost to global trade."
Real benefits for EU exporters, and a boost for global trade
The initial results of analysis undertaken by CEPII and Copenhagen Economics
suggest that the agreements will create significant new trade and give a
valuable boost to global trade, especially in services. Analysis released by
the Commission today concludes:
-
The agreements will
boost EU exports to ASEAN by 24.2%, to India by 56.8% and to Korea by 47.8%.
The three deals combined could increase total EU exports (1.3 trillion euros in
2005) by 3.23%.
-
They offer an increase
of GDP of 0.13% for the EU.
-
ASEAN would see an
increase of its exports to the EU of 18.5%, Korea would see exports to the EU
rise by 36% and India by 18.7%.
-
The biggest gains for
the EU would include: business services to ASEAN; industrial and manufactured
goods to India; business services to Korea. Europe's vehicle exports to India
are expected to increase by 700% - worth 1.8 billion euros.
-
The three agreements
will result in large net additions to global trade, with trade diversion
effects from the three agreements likely to be minimal. By focusing on areas
currently outside the WTO such as business services, the three agreements will
complement the multilateral system well.
Background
A central part of the European Commission?s Global Europe trade policy
framework, the new Free Trade Agreements will complement the EU?s strong
commitment to the multilateral trading system by focusing on areas not
currently covered by WTO rules such as investment, trade in certain services
and the removal of non-tariff barriers.
The key economic criteria for these FTAs is market potential (economic size and
growth) and the level of protection against EU export interests (tariffs and
non tariff barriers). The EU also takes account of potential partners?
negotiations with EU competitors and the likely impact of this on EU markets
and economies. Based on these criteria, ASEAN, Korea and India emerge as
priorities. They combine high levels of protection with large market potential.
In terms of content these FTAs are competitiveness-driven: comprehensive and
ambitious in coverage, aiming at the highest possible degree of trade
liberalisation including far-reaching liberalisation of services and
investment. They will also seek stronger protection of intellectual property
rights.
To have an overview of preliminary analysis of the potential benefits of the
new generation of FTAs or to know more about Global Europe and EU trade policy
visit: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/index_en.htm
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Turkey
unveils EU reform plan despite talks slowdown, 20 April 2007
Turkey unveiled on Tuesday a programme of technical reforms until 2013 to bring
the country in line with EU norms, despite a slowdown in its turbulent
accession process.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/turkey-eu.36
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EU moving
towards cross-border roaming caps by summer, 20 April 2007
Calling home from European beaches will be cheaper for mobile phone users this
summer if MEPs and the Commission get their way on planned caps for so-called
roaming rates.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/eu-roaming.38
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EU boosts aid
to neighbours on renewable energy, 20 April 2007
The EU has agreed to step up cooperation with its neighbours to the south and
the east on energy efficiency and renewable energies.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/energy-aid.03
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Regulators
call time on Dutch beer cartel, 20 April 2007
EU regulators have brought their "no-tolerance" anti-cartel campaign to the
Dutch beer market, fining brewers Heineken, Grolsch and Bavaria EUR 274
million.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/beer-cartel.09
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SKorea ready
to start free trade talks next month, 20 April 2007
South Korea is ready to open talks next month with the EU on a free trade
agreement, President Roh Moo-Hyun said on Wednesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/skorea-trade.81
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Scandinavians
top European happiness poll, 20 April 2007
Denmark is the happiest nation in Europe, according to research published in
Britain on Tuesday, which ranks Scandinavians -- and the Irish -- top for
contentment and Mediterraneans at the bottom.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Living_in_EU/eu-happiness.82
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12th European
Union Film Festival in India (27th April - 24th May 2007)
New Delhi, 18 April 2007
The European Union film Festival will be organised in New Delhi (27th April –
04 May), Pune (04 – 11 May), Calicut / Kozhikode (14 – 18 May) and Kolkata (19
– 24 May).
By presenting a selection of modern European cinema to the Indian public, this
Festival aims to project the excellence of the European film art, contributing
to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures and to the promotion of
mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among Indian and European
citizens. The EU Film Festival is composed of a bouquet of films that give
vivid reflections of the cultural streams of Europe and stories that describe
the European life in a certain socio-economic and cultural environment.
The event symbolizes an important facet of the growing cultural relations
between the EU and India. The EU Film Festival is now part of the EU-India
strategic partnership established at the 6th EU-India Summit in September 2005.
This year the EU Film Festival showcases a package of 26 films from 23 EU
Member State. The films being screened have in general been widely acclaimed in
Europe and some have been awarded prestigious prizes in recent years.
The films that will be screened are Step by Step (Belgium), Crazy Day
(Bulgaria), Journey to Jerusalem (Bulgaria), Hanele (Czech Republic), Wallah Be
(Denmark), The Life of Others (Germany), Four Minutes (Germany), Shop of Dreams
(Estonia), Dancing at Lughnasa (Ireland), Iberia (Spain), By the Pricking of My
Thumbs (France), Three Days of Anarchy (Italy), Honey and Wine (Cyprus), Small
Secrets (Luxembourg), A Long Weekend in Pest and Buda (Hungary), Do Not Disturb
(Netherlands), Workingman’s Death (Austria), Summer with the Ghosts (Austria),
Persona Non Grata (Poland), A Shot in the Dark(Portugal), The Death of Mr.
Lazarescu (Romania), Labour Equals Freedom (Slovenia), Rain Falls on our Souls
(Slovakia), Mother of Mine (Finland), As it is in Heaven (Sweden) and Warrior
(United Kingdom)
The Festival is being staged thanks to the precious support of the Nandan West
Bengal Film Centre, Kolkata; Kerala State Chalchitra Academy,
Calicut/Kozhikode; British Council, New Delhi; India Habitat Center, New Delhi;
and National Film Archives India, Pune. The support of Max Mueller Bhavan,
Delhi and Pune; British Library, Pune; Alliance Francaise, Pune and the
Corporation of Kozhikode has been instrumental for the staging of the EU Film
Festival 2007.
The inauguration of the Film Festival will take place at 6:15 PM on 27 May 2007
at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The German inaugural film “The Lives of
Others” (Das Leben der Anderen) is by Director Florian Henckel von
Donnersmarck. Limited seats will be reserved for Habitat Film Club members
while the rest will be available on first-come-first-serve basis.
Information about the venue, dates and the programme schedule is available at
the website:
http://www.delind.ec.europa.eu/en/euff2007
EU offers
full market access to former colonies, 09 April 2007
The EU this week offered to scrap most tariffs and quotas on exports from
African, Caribbean and Pacific nations to boost talks on new trade pacts, but
the proposition has met with some scorn.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/trade-pacts.64
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EU gives
airlines six months on passenger rights, 09 April 2007
The EU this week offered to scrap most tariffs and quotas on exports from
African, Caribbean and Pacific nations to boost talks on new trade pacts, but
the proposition has met with some scorn.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1175680823.14
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Competition
watchdog bites Apple over iTunes prices, 09 April 2007
After launching action against Microsoft and Intel, the Competition DG has
taken aim at another US computer giant, Apple, over the price of songs on its
online music store.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/apple-itunes-eu.3
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EU vows
action against Spain despite E.ON withdrawal, 09 April 2007
The EU's competition watchdog also vowed to continue legal action against
Spain, despite German energy group E.ON's decision to give up its bid for
Spanish utility Endesa.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/endesa-eu.56
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EU delays
court action over Polish road link, 09 April 2007
The Commission delayed court action against Poland to stop it building a road
through a fragile ecosystem, after Warsaw ordered a temporary halt.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1175608809.82
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EU remains
top aid donor in 2006: OECD, 09 April 2007
The EU remained the world's biggest aid donor last year but members Greece,
Italy and Portugal fell well short of their goals, according to data published
on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/oecd-eu-aid.2
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EU to
participate in Doha talks, India 11-12 April
Brussels, 4 April 2007
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has today confirmed that he will
participate in ministerial-level discussions in the ongoing WTO Doha trade
talks scheduled to take place in Delhi on 11-12 April 2007. India, the US and
Brazil are also expected to participate.
Mandelson said: "These talks are timely and important. If we are to use the
remaining window of opportunity open to us, we need to intensify and accelerate
the process of negotiation. If we fail, Doha's prospects for this year will be
lost."
Doha: the state of play
This is a crucial moment for the Doha Development Agenda. The next few weeks
will determine its eventual outcome. Since January, some of the major players,
including the EU, the US, and Brazil and India on behalf of the G20, have been
given space by the rest of the WTO membership to establish a greater degree of
convergence among themselves. It is not for these negotiators to reach a final
agreement, but other WTO members expect them to come back to the membership
with a consensus-building package and initiate the final collective stage of
the negotiation.
Recent bilateral discussions have made progress on establishing a framework for
convergence in agriculture, but a large amount of work remains to be done and
the negotiations urgently need to move beyond agriculture into the economically
vital areas of trade in goods and services. The clock is now ticking until the
US negotiator?s fast track negotiating authority runs out at the end of June.
For more information: Peter POWER +32 498 980348 or Stephen ADAMS +32 498
963166.