news

Proposed alternative energy sector reform a 'step forward',11 feb. 2008

The Commission said on Thursday that an alternative by a group of EU members to plans to split up big energy groups was a "step forward," but the panel also signalled reservations.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202313722.44
Industry shelving investments over EU emissions plans
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202313722.44

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EU, aviation industry to fund research into green aircraft,11 feb. 2008

The EU and the aerospace industry have launched a project to pump EUR 1.6 billion into less polluting aviation technology over the coming seven years.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202232727.91

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Eurozone business activity weakest in over three years,11 feb. 2008

A service sector slump in January plunged business activity in the nations sharing the euro to the lowest level in over three years, a widely watched survey shows.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202216569.24

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German firms drawn to eastern Europe and China,11 feb. 2008

German firms that move activities abroad head above all to eastern Europe and China, and then to other EU member states, according to a study released Thursday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202376722.97

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Brazil offers EU new farm list to get beef ban lifted,11 feb. 2008

Brazil will next week give the EU a revised list of cattle farms it believes meet EU beef import requirements in a bid to get a European ban on its meat lifted.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1202401923.83

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EU offers prize of gold for choosing two-euro coin design,11 feb. 2008
EU citizens are being invited to vote for the design of a special two-euro coin to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of the common European currency, with a golden prize to lure entries.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1201887122.48

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Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
"Revisiting EU-India relations - prospects for a deepened strategic partnership to face global challenges"
Indian Council for World Affairs
Delhi, 4 January 2008

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you Director General Ashok Kumar for your kind remarks and for inviting me to address you today. It is a real pleasure to be with you and to start the New Year 2008 in India.

Indeed it is very fitting to see in the New Year in one of the oldest civilisation and also one of the world's most dynamic economies and emerging powers. It fills me with great excitement and enthusiasm for the year ahead. It is also, I must confess, a real pleasure to enjoy the Indian hospitality as I did in Rajasthan during the last days. Incredible India!
This is a necessary rekindling of energy, because I am convinced that the coming year will present us with no fewer challenges than the year gone by. It is important that we are ready to meet them and that two world powers like the EU and India work effectively together to ensure that our partnership is fully mobilised.

The subject of my talk today is the prospects for a deepened strategic partnership between the EU and India, which is oriented towards meeting the global challenges we both face.

The prospects are certainly bright. The EU and India share the same concerns and the same basic approach to addressing them.

On that note perhaps it is worth addressing head on the misconception that, because the EU is India's most important donor, investor and trade partner, we are no more than an economic unit. Nothing could be further from the truth - although the EU's principal strength lies in its economic power we are increasingly wielding the political weight necessary to protect our interests on the world stage. We are a unique and multi-faceted entity with growing capacity to project our power on a range of global challenges from climate change to non-proliferation to inter-cultural dialogue.

The most recent institutional changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty signed just last month by the EU's 27 leaders show just how global our ambitions are. Once the new Treaty is ratified - hopefully over the next year - it will bring greater coherence to the EU's external policies and our capacity to act internationally.

And it will thus increase our ability to respond to the global challenges we all face.

As global powers, the EU and India both have a responsibility to take the lead in the international effort to tackle pressing global challenges such as addressing climate change and global poverty; guaranteeing energy security; fighting terrorism and organised crime; dealing with mass migration; and succeeding in a more competitive economic environment.

There are a number of challenges which I believe should be the focus of EU-India partnership in the year ahead.

1) Effective Multilateralism

Globalisation presents us with no alternative to multilateral co-operation on a basis which reflects the realities of today's world. The EU believes we can protect Europe more effectively by being active in the world and making the international system more open and inclusive to others. This perspective informs our approach to external policy not only bilaterally, but also at the UN and the international financial institutions.

The EU is committed to more effective and more inclusive multilateral governance. India is a natural partner for us in this effort and it is time for increased EU-India cooperation in this area.

We already have a strong shared approach on global trade issues. At the recent EU-India Summit, India and the EU again reaffirmed their commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system and stressed that the Doha multilateral trade negotiations are our shared trade policy priority.

On a bilateral level you may remember that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently stated that he hoped the EU-India Free Trade Agreement would be agreed in 2008. Concluding this FTA will undoubtedly be a very important step in the development of the EU-India Strategic Partnership. We too hope the negotiations will proceed as quickly as possible towards a broad-based trade and investment agreement.

2) Energy Security and Climate Change

One of the themes of the last EU-India Summit was how to address the dual challenges of climate change and energy security.

The EU recognised its global responsibility early last year when it adopted a comprehensive Climate Change and Energy Package in March. Its aim was a comprehensive overhaul of our energy policy with a view to tackling climate change.

Together the EU and India have developed significant bilateral cooperation in these areas and we would like to go further, through the EU-India Initiative on Clean Development and Climate Change and the EU-India Energy Panel. We have also invited India to become a key partner in the Initiative launched by the EU to establish an international platform for energy efficiency.

The key to energy security and tackling green house gas emissions is making consumption and production patterns sustainable. The private sector will play a key role in providing the needed technologies and developing the global carbon market via the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). That will mean many exciting opportunities for co-operation between European and Indian companies.

It will also be important that the EU and India cooperate closely in the follow up to last month's climate change conference in Bali. We were very happy that it managed to break-through some of the long-standing opposition to taking effective action and we believe there is a good chance that the international community will agree on the necessary measures to address this awesome challenge. However, that will require everyone's commitment to make next year's intensive negotiations a success, and I hope very much we will be able to work closely with India to achieve that goal.

We have to go beyond the per capita emissions and the development vs. emissions cap debates. The situation is too serious to avoid our responsibilities. And any strong economic growth must use energy efficiently to be sustainable.

3) Security

The proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction is another pressing global challenge we face together as partners. India and the EU agree that all States must comply with their non-proliferation and disarmament obligations including through national implementation of effective export control measures as detailed in UNSC Resolution 1540.

We are both very conscious of the risk these weapons falling into the hands of terrorists and other non-State actors. We plan to intensify our counter-terrorism cooperation through both bilateral cooperation and in the framework of the United Nations, where we hope to advance implementation of the UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The EU and India continue to work actively towards a swift finalisation of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

We must also deepen our cooperation on policing, intelligence sharing and border management and do more to deny the terrorists their networks of support. Effective multilateral diplomacy is needed to address the issues that drive such support, such as the problems in the Middle East. We also recognize the need to fully address the conditions and aspirations of the migrants we have welcomed to Europe.

Part of our approach to security issues is doing more to manage and prevent potential crises, as we are doing with Iran and North Korea, and Darfur. We strongly believe in working closely with others to tackle such situations, and indeed we believe we have been most successful when we have worked jointly with others, as in the Balkans, Aceh and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We would like to extend that approach to other areas and want to explore with India how best we could work together; especially in countries like Burma and Sri Lanka, where you are uniquely positioned to play a key role in advancing peace and democracy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you see, there is no shortage of global challenges to keep the EU and India occupied in the year ahead.

2007 was an excellent year for EU-India relations with our cooperation growing ever stronger. We announced the establishment of a European Business and Technology Centre in Delhi and we renewed our Science and Technology Co-operation Agreement with India. We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Euro 260 million of assistance on education, health and the implementation of the EU-India Joint Action Plan.

2008 gives us the opportunity to build on this progress and deepen our cooperation still further: in trade, building effective multilateral institutions, tackling climate change and fighting the many security challenges we face.

You may not be aware that for the last year I have been chairing the Kimberley Process, which aims to tackle the trade in blood diamonds by certifying the origin of diamonds. I have just handed chairmanship of this process over to India, and I am sure you will do an excellent job in keeping the mechanism on track in 2008.

That the EU and India are so closely linked in this process is no coincidence: we are both united by the understanding that with global influence come not only rights, but also responsibilities.

I am confident that this common understanding gives us a sound basis for deepening our strategic cooperation in the year ahead. And that the prospects are bright for us working together to create a better world.

Thank you.

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EU proposes fines for car makers,EU Business Week,21 Dec 2007

The European Commission sparked controversy on Wednesday with plans to fine car makers that miss proposed cuts in carbon emissions from new cars, receiving criticism from both industry and environmentalists.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198072925.72

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EU agrees watered-down wine sector reform,EU Business Week,21 Dec 2007

EU members have agreed to shake up Europe's struggling wine industry to compete better with cheaper New World rivals, but only after watering down the controversial plans.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198075620.5

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Court rules against union in Swedish wage-dumping case,EU Business Week,21 Dec 2007

Europe's top court has ruled against a Swedish trade union that tried to force a Latvian company to pay its staff higher rates, in a widely-watched wage-dumping test case.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197975734.38

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EU orders MasterCard to scrap fees or face fines,EU Business Week,21 Dec 2007

EU antitrust regulators have ordered payments card giant MasterCard to scrap fees they consider unjustified on cross-border transactions or face hefty daily fines.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198062121.71

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EU online gambling firms challenge US ban,EU Business Week,21 Dec 2007

A European online gaming trade association has lodged a complaint with the Commission over a United States ban on online gambling, despite the US saying on Monday it would widen access to some of its services as compensation for a WTO dispute over the ban.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198169227.88

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In blow to purists, EU backs broad definition of vodka,EU Business Week,21 Dec 2007

EU nations backed plans on Monday to produce vodka from raw materials other than traditional sources such as cereals or potatoes, dealing a blow to purists from Finland to Poland.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197910022.45

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EU leaders sign landmark reform treaty,EU Business Week,14 Dec 2007

Leaders of the European Union signed a landmark treaty Thursday to revitalise EU decision-making, but the show of unity was marred by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's absence from the ceremony.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197550928.43
EU Lisbon Reform Treaty - main points
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197554526.83

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Court defends firms' right to move abroad to save costs,EU Business Week,14 Dec 2007

The European Court of Justice on Tuesday upheld the right of EU companies to shift activities to another member state, dealing a blow to trade unions seeking to prevent so-called social dumping.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197379025.62

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Schengen creates panic among visa-less Americans,EU Business Week,14 Dec 2007

More European borders come down this month and there is panic among Prague's large US community with a last minute rush to get visas in order or quit the country.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197336726.73

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EU agrees free trade access for 15 poor nations,EU Business Week,14 Dec 2007

EU foreign ministers on Monday adopted rules allowing practically free access to the European market for products from 15 African, Caribbean and Pacific nations who have agreed an interim trade deal with the bloc.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197307026.23

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EU acts over excessive advertising on Italian TV,EU Business Week,14 Dec 2007

The Commission has begun infringement procedures against Italy for allowing too many advertisements on television in violation of EU rules.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197390721.63

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Road accidents in Bulgaria way above EU average,EU Business Week,14 Dec 2007

The number of road accidents in Bulgaria exceeds the EU average by around 20 per cent, costing the economy more than EUR 500 million a year, a World Bank road safety study shows.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1197294425.36

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Strong euro, tight credit hits eurozone growth,EU Business Week,07 Dec 2007

A strong euro and tougher credit conditions will weigh on the eurozone economy next year, the OECD predicted on Thursday, cutting its 2008 growth forecast to 1.9 per cent from 2.3 per cent previously.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196937121.69
EU, IMF also see darker economic outlook
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196720222.22

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EU agrees shake-up of e-trade sales tax,EU Business Week,07 Dec 2007

EU finance ministers agreed a shake-up of tax on electronic commerce after overcoming deep opposition from Luxembourg, which feared losing its role as an e-trade hub.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196173921.76

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EU-US 'green' WTO proposals protectionist: Brazil,EU Business Week,07 Dec 2007

Brazil has sharply criticised joint proposals by the USA and EU for fewer tariffs and other trade barriers on "green" goods and services as protectionist and only serving their own interests.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196789524.06

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Bosnia takes symbolic step towards EU,EU Business Week,07 Dec 2007

Bosnia took its first tentative step on the road towards eventual EU membership on Tuesday after rival ethnic leaders reached a breakthrough agreement on long-delayed reforms.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196784121.17

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EU seeks to boost defence industry competition,EU Business Week,07 Dec 2007

The Commission has moved to discourage EU countries from using a national defence clause to buy military clothing and spare parts and avoid the bloc's competition laws.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196866921.22

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Europeans, Americans fret over China's rise,EU Business Week,07 Dec 2007

A majority of Europeans and Americans view China's emergence as a major economic power as a threat, with only the British seeing an opportunity, according to a survey.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196874121.27

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India-European Union Summit: Joint Statement and Joint Action Plan - Implementation Report, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

The eighth India-European Union Summit was held in Delhi on 30 November 2007. The Republic of India was represented by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister, Shri Kamal Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri M K Narayanan, National Security Adviser.The EU was represented by Mr Jose Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal, in his capacity as President of the European Council, by Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Mr Peter Mandelson, European Commissioner for Trade, and Mr Joao Gomes Cravinho, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

The following documents from the Summit are available at the website of the Delegation of the European Commission in India: www.delind.ec.europa.eu

1. India-EU Joint Statement
2. India-EU Joint Action Plan: Implementation Report EU adopts new television advertising rules

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EU nations endorse standard system for mobile TV, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

The rapid roll-out of television on mobile phones across Europe took a key step forward on Thursday with Member States supporting an industry standard for the bloc.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196353021.95
EU adopts new television advertising rules
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196344023.57

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Brussels proposes fishing cuts amid dwindling stocks, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

The Commission has proposed a 25 per cent cut in cod fishing quotas for most of the EU's waters, warning that with cod and other fish "most stocks remain overfished".
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196257622.19
EU tightens controls on tuna fishing
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196173921.76

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EU reaches agreement on satnav project, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

EU countries, excluding Spain, reached agreement Thursday on the Galileo satellite navigation project, after lengthy talks on how the work would be divided up.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196376422.28

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EU initials trade deal with East African nations, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

The Commission has initialled an interim trade accord with five east African nations that will replace preferential tariff agreements due to expire this year.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196180221.82

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Youngsters missing out on EU employment boom, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

The Commission admitted on Monday that while unemployment within the EU is falling, the situation is not so rosy for young workers with 17.4 per cent of 15-24 year olds registered jobless.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196090225.34

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Cyprus euro campaign ditches Santa, EU Business Week,30 Nov 2007

Santa Claus has been abandoned by Cyprus this Christmas as the island resorts to Greek mythology and tennis ace Marcos Baghdatis to win over Cypriots in its euro campaign.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1195823821.96

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Mandelson: EU seeks ambitious trade pact with "indispensable" India,New Delhi, 29 November 2007

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has today argued that an ambitious Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU could provide a big boost to both economies and shore up global demand if the world economy begins to cool. Speaking to the EU-India Business Summit ahead of the EU-India Summit tomorrow he said that reinforcing strong Indian economic growth was now an "integral part of maintaining global economic demand and a healthy global economy" and "a mark of India's growing weight in the world. India is now an indispensable part of the global economic architecture".

Urging European and Indian businesses to push for an ambitious outcome to the FTA negotiation launched earlier this year, Mandelson said: "Business on both sides should throw its weight behind a deal that does justice to the ambition we brought to the table a year ago".

At the heart of a deal: manufacturing, services, investment

Mandelson argued that an EU-India FTA could provide a strong boost to the Indian manufacturing sector through new access to the European market and by making European industrial exports to India cheaper. Mandelson noted that 7 million Indians formally work in manufacturing compared to 100 million Chinese.

Mandelson argued that an EU-India FTA could help attract new EU investment to India, helping the Indian government to attract the investment it wants for infrastructure improvements: "European services companies bring with them capital, skills and experience that India wants". Mandelson cited the successful Indian experience of mobile telephone liberalisation, which boosted mobile phone ownership in India by 100% in 2006. Mandelson said the EU would like to see openness in services and investment trade extended into government procurement in India, and would reciprocate any new access India offered.

Full text of the speech available at:www.delind.ec.europa.eu

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EU-India Summit: setting the path for a growing strategic partnership,Brussels, 29 November 2007

The 8th EU-India Summit will take place on 30 November 2007 in New Delhi. This year's Summit will confirm in many respects the strengthening of EU-India relations: on the agenda are issues like trade, energy, climate change, WTO talks, as well as regional issues such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan. It is expected that the two sides will sign the renewal of their cooperation agreement on science and technology as well as a Memorandum of Understanding on EC- India development cooperation 2007 - 2010 amounting to 260 million euro covering health, education, civil aviation and academic and cultural cooperation. In addition, the EC will also be providing 7 million euro for the creation of a European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) in New Delhi to foster links between the business and scientific communities from both sides. On 29th November, in the margins of the Summit, the EU-India Business summit will take place. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Jose Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal and currently holding the EU Presidency, will meet with Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson will also participate in the Summit.

On the eve of the Summit, President Barroso said: "The EU continues to be India's foremost trading partner and biggest foreign investor. We want EU-India trade to reach its potential. And the conclusion of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement will certainly boost bilateral trade. Our political dialogue now ranges from energy and environment to transport and employment, and we expect significant progress in fields such as civil aviation, maritime transport and renewable energy. By joining efforts, the EU and India, the world's two largest democracies, can have a great impact in addressing global challenges such as peace and security, governance and climate change."

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, adds: "India has enormous potential as a global player as well as an important partner in the region. Recognising India's economic transition, we can now focus our development cooperation programmes providing support for its efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals. For this two-fold approach we have earmarked Euro 470 million for new cooperation projects from 2007 to 2013."

Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said: "The EU and India have made good progress so far in our FTA negotiations. It is still early days though, and we need to use the momentum we have to put initial offers on the table that show a high level of ambition, and allow us to move forward credibly and constructively."

India-EU bilateral relations have progressed from trade in goods mostly in traditional sectors, and development and economic cooperation until the 1990s, into a 'Strategic Partnership'. Today, in addition to core trade, investment and cooperation issues, the relationship includes policy dialogues on a constantly increasing number of sectors such as energy and environment, climate change, and culture, exchanges at civil society level and between parliamentarians.

The EU continues to be India's main trading partner accounting for one-fifth of her total trade as well as the biggest source of actual foreign direct investment into India. Bilateral trade in goods touched 46 billion euros in 2006. The EU is also one of India's leading partners in development and economic cooperation. The two countries cooperate regularly at the multilateral level whether at the UN or the WTO. The EU supports the efforts towards regional cooperation in South Asia under the aegis of SAARC. India has also recently joined the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) which provides a new forum for the two sides to work together on issues of mutual interest and concern.

Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology is growing rapidly. Currently new joint cooperation initiatives are being launched in the field of environment, energy, materials, nanotechnology, agriculture and biotechnology.

For further information:

http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm

www.delind.ec.europa.eu

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European Union Cultural Weeks launched in Delhi with eight exhibitions under one roof, New Delhi, 23 November 2007

The President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr. Karan Singh, the Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Luis Filipe Castro Mendes, and the Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission, H.E. Ms Daniele Smadja, jointly inaugurated the 3rd European Union Cultural Weeks at the Mati Ghar gallery at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here on Wednesday, 21 Nov. Eight different exhibitions which have been put up at the IGNCA as part of the EU Cultural Weeks were simultaneously launched on this occasion in the presence of many Ambassadors from the EU Member States.

The EU Cultural Weeks in being held from 22 Nov - 02 Dec in the context of the EU-India Summit taking place in New Delhi on 30 Nov.

Dr. Karan Singh complimented the embassies of the EU Member States in India for bringing different show-pieces of European art, among them paintings, water colours, photographs, posters, and installations to India. Mr. Luis Mendes stressed the importance of EU Cultural Weeks in reinforcing the cultural dimension of the EU-India relations.

Ms D. Smadja said, "Culture and creativity are important drivers for personal development, social cohesion and economic growth. The EU and India are both blessed with extraordinary cultural richness and diversity. Cultural diversity is not only to be preserved and promoted within Europe; we also aim to promote cultural diversity in our international relations, as a contribution to sustainable development, peaceful coexistence and dialogue between cultures."

As on previous occasions in 2003 and 2005, the EU Cultural Weeks 2007 offering is diverse and ranges from exhibitions to musical performances and film screenings. In all, there will be 35 different events including 12 exhibitions, 10 musical events, 11 film screenings and two talks organised as part of the Cultural Weeks. Almost all the Member States of the EU present in India are participating in the Cultural Weeks.

Each event is unique - every time there is a different artist or a group of artists, playing or performing something different from others, and coming from different countries within the EU, perhaps speaking a different European language. What will connect them to their Indian audience will be their work, their art and their music.

Exhibitions: Eight different exhibitions will be put up at the Mati Ghar gallery, IGNCA, by Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech republic, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the European Commission. The exhibitions at Mati Ghar will remain open for public viewing from 11.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. from 22 Nov – 02 December.

Other venues in Delhi are also being used: the National Gallery of Modern Art (Romania), the British Council (UK), Rajiv Chowk metro station (Finland) and Lalit Kala Akademi (Portugal).

The works on display include paintings or graphics by European artists, works of European photographers, theatre architecture, "phonescoping" and an exhibition that traces the history of maritime contacts between the EU and India, amongst others.

The Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr. Jose Socrates, will inaugurate the architecture exhibition of Alvaro Siza at the Lalit Kala Akademi on 30 Nov at 6.00 p.m.

Music events: From 22 November to 1 December, every evening is bringing a European musical treat to Delhi music fans. Most performances will take place at the Sri Sathya Sai auditorium : "Dancing through Europe" by Poland (24 Nov, 6.30 p.m.), traditional folk dance and music by a six-member group from Bulgaria (27 Nov, 6.30 p.m.), Joint classical music concert (Concilium Musicum Wien and BdB duo) by Austria and Spain (29 Nov, 7.00 p.m.), Jazz band Saskia Laroo and group from the Netherlands (01 Dec, 06.30 p.m.) and a fusion musical event featuring Sarangi recital by Kamal Sabri accompanied by a solo dance performance by Giles Chuyen followed by Saskia Rao-De Haas (on Cello) and Pt. Shubhendra Rao (Sitar), staged by the Delegation of the European Commission (28 Nov, 6.30 p.m.). Hungarian Folk Music collected by Zoltan Kodaly (concert by Hungarian State Folk Ensemble Orchestra) will be staged at India International Centre (IIC) (26 Nov, 6.30 p.m.).

Cinema: Three Film screenings will be organised at IIC auditorium which include the film L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio (The Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio) from Italy (23 Nov, 6.30 p.m.), Tha To Metaniossis (Think It Over) from Greece (27 Nov, 6.30 p.m.), and Alice from Portugal(30 Nov, 6.30 p.m.). The Slovenian film Poletje v školjki (A Summer in a Sea-Shell) will be screened at the Alliance Francaise on 21 Nov at 11.00 a.m. and the Slovakian film Pásla kone na betóne (She Kept Crying For The Moon) will be screened at the Slovak embassy auditorium on 22 Nov at 7.00 p.m.

The embassies of Hungary and Austria are presenting a series of six Austro-Hungarian Films that will be screened at the Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre from 24 – 30 November.

Talks: The Embassy of Portugal will organise a talk by renowned Portuguese architect Carlos Castanheira on the "Architecture of Álvaro Siza" (28 Nov, 3.30 p.m. at the School of Planning and Architecture) and the Embassy of Ireland will organise a talk on "Gulliver's Dublin" by Eamon Morrissey – “a personal exploration of the connections between the life and times of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver and contemporary Ireland” on 29 Nov at 7.00 p.m. at the Stein auditorium, India Habitat Centre.

Further details are available at:

www.delind.ec.europa.eu/en/eucw07/

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EU in telecoms industry shake-up despite opposition, EU Business Week,16 Nov 2007

The Commission has embarked on a collision course with Europe's biggest telecoms groups and national regulators with plans to infuse more competition into the industry.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1194958932.27

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European growth rebounds despite growing headwinds, EU Business Week,16 Nov 2007

European economic growth rebounded in the third quarter despite financial market swings and the record strength of the euro and oil prices.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Factsfig/1195035422.91

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EU clamps down on Internet air ticket sellers, EU Business Week,16 Nov 2007

The Commission has announced a crackdown on airline ticket selling Internet sites after a probe found that hundreds were guilty of unfair practices or misleading advertising.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1195039022.29

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EU antitrust probe into Google's DoubleClick deal, EU Business Week,16 Nov 2007

EU antitrust regulators launched on Tuesday an in-depth investigation into Google's takeover of the online advertising firm DoubleClick over concerns the deal could threaten competition.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/1194976022.44

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SKorea improves tariff offers for FTA with EU, EU Business Week,16 Nov 2007

South Korea has improved its tariff offers to try to make a breakthrough in free trade talks with the European Union.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1195019222.69

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Britain the 'dustbin of Europe': officia, EU Business Week,16 Nov 2007

Britain has become the 'dustbin of Europe' as Britons throw more rubbish into landfill sites than any other country in the European Union, new figures show.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1194866222.03

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EU report urges Turkey to speed up reforms, EU Business Week,9 Nov 2007

The European Commission told EU hopeful Turkey on Tuesday that it needed to relaunch its political reform programme after "limited progress" this year.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Turkey/1194354123.97

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African trade unions call to resist EU pressure, EU Business Week,9 Nov 2007

Trade union leaders from nine African countries have urged their governments to resist pressure to reach a new trade deal with the EU by the year's end.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1194452222.57

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EU acknowledges problems with Siberian overflight pact, EU Business Week,9 Nov 2007

The Commission on Thursday implicitly acknowledged problems holding up the signing of an agreement with Russia over a reduction in taxes EU airlines pay to fly over Siberia.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1194532321.61

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Cyprus to give foot and mouth aid to farmers, EU Business Week,9 Nov 2007

Cyprus has approved emergency financial aid to farmers whose livestock are to be slaughtered following an outbreak of foot and mouth on the Mediterranean island.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/1194449521.87

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Greece calls on EU to guarantee its feta sovereignty, EU Business Week,9 Nov 2007

Greece has urged EU nations to help guarantee its exclusive right to use feta as the name for its famously tangy cheese.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Food/1194022926.03

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Europe's forests flourishing, but fires remain a threat, EU Business Week,9 Nov 2007

Fires pose a major threat to Europe's woodlands, but the continent remains the world's only area where forest ecosystems are undergoing a revival, says a study.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1194283922.03

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ECB rate bind deepens as economy slows, EU Business Week,2 Nov 2007

The European Central Bank faces a growing bind over keeping a lid on price pressures as the economy slows, economists said on Wednesday amid mounting evidence of weak economic confidence and surging inflation.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1193835721.81

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Ministers confirm EU border-free expansion prospects, EU Business Week,2 Nov 2007

Interior ministers and officials from 18 EU countries met in an upbeat mood last Friday fuelled by the firm conviction that the EU's border-free Schengen zone will soon double in size with the inclusion of nine new member states.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Living_in_EU/1193422621.22

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European steelmakers seek duties on Chinese imports, EU Business Week,2 Nov 2007

European steelmakers have lodged anti-dumping complaints with the Commission against imports from China, Taiwan and South Korea seeking corrective duties.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1193669222.05

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EU postpones health measures fearing fallout for brain scans, EU Business Week,2 Nov 2007

The Commission has proposed to suspend plans to cut workers' exposure to potentially dangerous electromagnetic fields after realising it could limit the use of brain scans. .
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/1193417221.57

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Britain to keep limits on Romanian, Bulgarian workers, EU Business Week,2 Nov 2007

Britain will keep restrictions on the number of Romanian and Bulgarian workers it allows in for at least another year.
http://www.eubusiness.com/UK/1193746622.48

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Massive rise in GM farming not enough: biotech industry, Bulgarian workers, EU Business Week,2 Nov 2007

Despite long-standing and recently more pronounced scepticism of genetically modified organisms, the past 12 months have seen a massive 77 per cent increase in the area planted with genetically modified crops in Europe.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Agri/gm-farming.01

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Industrialised countries announce anti-piracy plan, EU Business Week, 26 Oct 2007

Major industrialised countries have announced plans for a new anti-counterfeiting pact as they seek to clamp down on money-spinning piracy in global trade.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Trade/1193156225.6

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EU court overturns German VW 'Golden Share' law, EU Business Week, 26 Oct 2007

Europe's highest court has overturned a law that protects VW from takeovers, striking a blow against "golden share" deals and allowing Porsche to tighten its grip on the continent's biggest carmaker.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1193131021.75

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EU seeks to take on the 'Big Four' auditors, EU Business Week, 26 Oct 2007

The EU said on Tuesday it wants to increase competition in the international accounting and audit industry given a stranglehold by the "Big Four" firms on the sector.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1193158921.56

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EU 'blue card' scheme to attract skilled migrants, EU Business Week, 26 Oct 2007

The Commission has unveiled its new "blue card" labour scheme aimed at attracting highly qualified immigrants to the EU to fill millions of jobs.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Employment/1193156224.86

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EU authorises genetically modified maize & sugar beet, EU Business Week, 26 Oct 2007

The Commission on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for genetically modified strains of maize and sugar beet to enter the European market.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/1193230921.12

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Britain 'lobbied against mobile roaming price caps', EU Business Week, 26 Oct 2007

Britain lobbied against EU plans to impose price caps on mobile phone roaming rates which were put into place earlier this year, The Times reported on Thursday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1193277721.86

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After roaming caps, EU eyes prices for text messages , EU Business Week, 5 Oct 2007

The European Commission is urging mobile phone operators to cut their rates for text messages and data or face price caps like those recently put in place on roaming rates.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/1191510134.13

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EU deadlocked over funding for Galileo satnav project, EU Business Week, 5 Oct 2007

The EU failed on Tuesday to break a deadlock over how to fund the bloc's ambitious but troubled Galileo satellite network in the face of German opposition to the funding scheme.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1191338225.84

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Plan for 17 nations to lose seats in Euro-Parliament, EU Business Week, 5 Oct 2007

A European Parliament committee has approved plans to reduce the overall size of the Parliament and allot fewer seats to 17 of the 27 EU member states in the next legislature.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/1191320234.02

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EU confident of case against Poland over cod quotas, EU Business Week, 5 Oct 2007

The Commission has expressed confidence that it would win its case should Poland turn to Europe's top court to solve a dispute over cod fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Fisheries/1191503833.52

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EU sees growing risks to eurozone growth, EU Business Week, 5 Oct 2007

The 13 countries sharing the euro face growing risks to their economic outlook due to extreme volatility in financial markets, the Commission said in its latest Quarterly Report on the Euro Area.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1191496622.3

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Eastern states to join no-borders zone ahead of Xmas, EU Business Week, 5 Oct 2007

Nine new EU member states, mainly former Soviet bloc nations, will join the bloc's border-free Schengen zone on December 21, just in time for Christmas.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Transport/1191438133.57 http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/1191496622.3

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