ARCHIVED NEWS ITEMS FOR JULY 2007
Commission provides ?15
million for conflict victims and refugees in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu,
Brussels, 25 July 2007
EU seeks to dominate mobile
TV market, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007
EU threatens legal action if
Polish roadworks resume, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007
EU suspends WTO complaint
against India , EU Business Week, 20 July 2007
EU split over GM potato, EU
Business Week, 20 July 2007
Russia 'forced' to apply EU
chemical standards, EU Business Week, 20 July 2007
'New Europe' up in arms over
EU wine reform plan , EU Business Week, 20 July 2007
Court orders EU regulators
to pay damages in landmark case, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007
WTO takes up US complaint
against EU's banana duties, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007
EU proposes complete
elimination of tariffs, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007
EU increases cash to rival
Fulbright programme, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007
Estonia to appeal EU ruling
cutting carbon emissions, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007
Eurozone institutes see 3.0
per cent growth this year, EU Business Week, 13 July 2007
First EU-India Macroeconomic
Dialogue Organised in New Delhi , New Delhi, 12 July 2007
EU moves to ease energy
consumer concerns, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007
Brazil, EU ink partnership
pact at landmark summit, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007
Commission aims to shake up
wine industry, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007
EU to scrutinise Spanish
conditions on Endesa bid, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007
EU fines Spanish telecom
group EUR 151m, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007
Property market booms across
ex-communist EU, EU Business Week, 06 July 2007
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
'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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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.).
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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
Top
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