archnewsjuly07

Commission provides ?15 million for conflict victims and refugees in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, Brussels, 25 July 2007

The European Commission has allocated a ?15 million humanitarian package to help conflict-affected people in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, India. This new allocation, including a specific ?3 million for food aid activities, will cover basic needs such as shelter, water, sanitation, food security and healthcare. Funds are channelled through the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel. Louis Michel said: "The Commission is extremely worried by the increase in violence that is affecting Sri Lanka. The brutality of the conflict is appalling and there are major violations of international humanitarian law by both sides. Thousands of innocent civilians are caught up in the conflict. Since April 2006, at least 30 aid workers have been killed.The humanitarian space is diminishing. This is unacceptable! Security and access constraints hamper the implementation of humanitarian operations. Aid agencies need to have access to victims with full security and protection for their personnel. I urge both parties involved to respect international humanitarian law, to halt their pursuance of a military solution and to bring back peace and prosperity to Sri Lanka." Since 1983, the conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government in the North and East of the country, has claimed more than 70,000 lives. Around 800,000 people have been internally displaced during almost 25 years of civil war. A further 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamils have fled to refugee camps in neighbouring India. 4500 people have been killed in the last 12 months including at least 1500 civilians. Unfortunately, the conflict is expected to intensify in the short to mid term which will have a major impact on the humanitarian aspects of the situation. This new allocation will meet the vital needs of the conflict communities in Sri Lanka, but will also improve access to water and sanitation for the Sri Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu, India. Conflict victims will be supported through a wide range of humanitarian interventions - shelter, food, food security, water/sanitation, basic items, healthcare, education, livelihood support, protection activities and disaster preparedness programmes. Projects will be implemented by the Commission's humanitarian partners already working in the field - NGOs, UN agencies and the ICRC. Since 2004, the Commission has given a total of ?79 million in aid for victims of humanitarian crises in Sri Lanka, including ?3 million of food aid and ?42 million for the tsunami victims. For further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/field/sri_lanka/index_en.htm

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EU seeks to dominate mobile TV market, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007

The European Commission seeks to boost Europe's chances of dominating the emerging market for mobile television technology by pushing for a single European standard.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Media/1184760016.01

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EU threatens legal action if Polish roadworks resume, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007

The Commission is threatening to resume court action against Poland if it goes ahead with a highway construction project through an environmentally fragile forest.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1184673617.01

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EU suspends WTO complaint against India, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007

The EU temporarily suspended its World Trade Organisation complaint against India's import duties on alcoholic drinks after India cut some of the tariffs.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1184583611.84

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EU split over GM potato, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007

EU farm ministers have failed to reach an agreement on allowing a new genetically modified potato on the market, leaving the decision by default to the Commission.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1184608811.18

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Russia 'forced' to apply EU chemical standards, EU Business Week,20 July 2007

Russia will be "forced" to apply EU safety standards in the chemical industry, which will cost Russian companies up to 10 per cent of their export earnings, Russian officials said on Monday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Chemicals/1184590802.0

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'New Europe' up in arms over EU wine reform plan,EU Business Week, 20 July 2007

Wine producers from new EU members in central and eastern Europe say that EU's plans to reform the wine sector will come at their expense and could have "dramatic" implications.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1184288401.69

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Court orders EU regulators to pay damages in landmark case, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007

The European Court of First Instance has ordered EU antitrust regulators to pay damages to French firm Schneider for wrongfully blocking its takeover bid of a rival, potentially opening a floodgate to other cases.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1184144416.61
Ryanair sues Commission over competition complaint
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1184068801.43

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WTO takes up US complaint against EU's banana duties, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007

The World Trade Organisation on Thursday agreed to rule on a US complaint against the EU's banana import regime.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1184241601.79

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EU proposes complete elimination of tariffs, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007

The EU has called for the complete elimination of tariffs in its proposal to South Korea before a second round of free trade negotiations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1184047201.83

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EU increases cash to rival Fulbright programme, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007

The EU says it will increase financing for its Erasmus Mundus exchange for students from outside the bloc in a bid to rival the prestigious US Fulbright programme.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Education/1184248802.42

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Estonia to appeal EU ruling cutting carbon emissions, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007

The Estonian government is to launch a legal challenge to the Commission's decision to slash its 2008-2012 carbon dioxide emissions quota.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1184238001.29

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Eurozone institutes see 3.0 per cent growth this year, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007

Three eurozone economic institutes, Insee in France, Ifo in Germany and the Italian Isae forecast growth of 3.0 per cent in the 13-nation area this year.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/1184252402.35

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First EU-India Macroeconomic Dialogue Organised in New Delhi , New Delhi, 12 July 2007

The 1st EU-India Macroeconomic Dialogue took place in New Delhi on 12 July 2007. The Indian side, which included officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India, was led by the Finance Secretary, Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao. Director General for Economic and Financial Affairs, at the European Commission, Brussels, Mr. Klaus Regling led the EU side. The European Central Bank (ECB) was represented by ECB Board Member, Mr. Bini-Smaghi. The dialogue took place in a cordial atmosphere and allowed a fruitful and useful exchange of views on the economic outlook for India and the EU, by reviewing fiscal, monetary and exchange rate developments in the two areas, and discussing structural policies that can raise the growth potential of the respective economies. From the Indian side, the government indicated that the priority going forward is to accelerate growth while making it inclusive, with the primary goal of the outcomes reaching the poor effectively. The two sides also discussed global imbalances and other international economic issues, regional economic integration in Europe and Asia, and financial market-related issues. An in-depth discussion took place on the challenges the two economies are facing, some of which are common (e.g., how to raise productivity growth, how to take advantage of good times, like the current ones, to promote reform and fiscal consolidation). The EU side welcomed India in ASEM. Secretary Subbarao and DG Regling stressed that they both were looking forward to a successful meeting of ASEM Finance Ministers next year in Korea. Both sides recognized that this first meeting of the EU-India macroeconomic dialogue was very productive. It helped enhance mutual understanding and proved to be a useful platform for dialogue and cooperation on macroeconomic issues. The two sides agreed to hold the 2nd EU-India Macroeconomic Dialogue next year in Brussels and, between the two meetings, to continue to have informally exchanges of views and information at the occasion of international meetings (ASEM, G20, etc.).

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EU moves to ease energy consumer concerns, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007

The European Commission on Thursday launched a project to help consumers choose electricity and gas suppliers, after EU energy markets were thrown open to competition at the weekend.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/1183640401.59
EU highlights biofuel drawbacks
http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/1183636805.22

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Brazil, EU ink partnership pact at landmark summit, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007

The EU and Brazil on Wednesday signed a "strategic partnership" to cement relations at the first ever summit with one of the world's major developing economies.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1183579201.94
EU, Brazil insist Doha round trade talks can be rescued
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1183636811.52

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Commission aims to shake up wine industry, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007

The Commission has proposed uprooting excess vineyards and launching an overseas marketing blitz under a new wine industry strategy aimed at soaking up glut and countering New World producers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1183564833.54

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EU to scrutinise Spanish conditions on Endesa bid, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007

The Commission has vowed to study conditions Spanish energy regulator CNE has imposed on a bid for Spanish power company Endesa, after past concerns about protectionism.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Competition/1183636802.16

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EU fines Spanish telecom group EUR 151m, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007

EU antitrust regulators have slapped a 151.9-million-euro fine on Spanish operator Telefonica in a crackdown on uncompetitive practices in Europe's communications market.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1183543202.08

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Property market booms across ex-communist EU, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007

The urban property market is booming across ex-communist EU member states as foreign investors flood in and locals climb onto the property ladder -- even in the region's dour concrete tower-block estates.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1183435201.35