Search Results for: European Union

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union’s Council of Ministers has unanimously agreed the proposed directive on insurance mediation, a decision that almost guarantees its passage into EU law. The proposal will now receive a second reading by the European Parliament; if it does not make many changes, final approval could come before Brussels’ political summer recess.…

Keith Nuthall
CHINA has sought to allay fears that it is dragging its feet over the implementation of liberalisation commitments it made when it was admitted into the World Trade Organisation. It has released explanatory notes to the European Union and Canada, who have raised concerns over the opening of textile import quotas.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
AMERICAN beer giant Anheuser-Busch has welcomed proposed changes to the European Union’s register protecting geographical references attached to traditional EU drinks products, which would allow it to challenge any application for inclusion by its Czech rival Budejovicky Budvar of its Budweiser brand.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE SPANISH government will have to defend itself at the European Court of Justice against claims by the European Commission that it has broken European Union law over tough personnel regulations, restricting the employment of air traffic controllers from other EU Member States.…

KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN Union heads of government have decided that Member States should agree an energy taxation directive by the end of this year, ending discussions that have been staged since 1992. The legislation will probably impose minimum duty levels on fossil fuels, with rebates available for green energy sources and uses such as biofuels and co-generation.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union has “expressed concern” and “disappointment” over China’s failure to met a January 1 deadline to establish low duty tariff quotas for imports of sugar, palm oil and some other commodities under the terms of its accession to the World Trade Organisation.…

Keith Nuthall
THE EUROPEAN Parliament is resisting European Commission plans to introduce a “lightweight” common market regime for agricultural alcohol production, covering common definitions, improved statistical information, import and export licences and the creation of a sectoral EU committee. The parliament’s agricultural committee has asked the Commission to rewrite its proposal so that it also includes synthetic alcohol, which accounts for 50 per cent of EU alcohol consumption.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EUROPEAN Union’s Council of Ministers has just approved – in principle – a proposed directive on insurance mediation. Final agreement on the legislation could come by midsummer. The directive requires that all those carrying out insurance or reinsurance mediation be formally authorised by the statutory authorities of Member States on the basis of appropriate knowledge and ability, good repute, the possession of professional indemnity insurance and financial capacity where appropriate.…

Keith Nuthall
THE EUROPEAN Parliament is resisting European Commission plans to introduce a “lightweight” common market regime for agricultural alcohol production, covering common definitions, improved statistical information, import and export licences and the creation of a sectoral EU committee. The parliament’s agricultural committee has asked the Commission to rewrite its proposal so that it also includes synthetic alcohol, which accounts for 50 per cent of EU alcohol consumption.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
“SERIOUS concern” has been expressed by the European Commission over the failure of a number of Member States to set up telecommunications and IT networks to establish a New Computerised Transit System, which should seal an administrative loophole bleeding millions of Euro’s in defrauded revenue.…