Search Results for: European Parliament

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
A TAX break approved by the European Commission in 1995 benefiting Italy-based insurance companies operating in eastern Europe is likely to be withdrawn, following the launch of a state aid inquiry by Brussels which is expected to criticise the scheme.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
FOOD safety and quality need to be improved in all European countries because of the increase in food-borne diseases in the past decade, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE FIRST stage of legal proceedings that could lead to Carlsberg and Heineken being fined heavily by the European Commission because of allegations of market fixing have been launched in Brussels.

Formal statements of objections were sent to both drinks giants by the Commission, claiming that they have been in breach of EU competition rules, notably Article 81 of the EU treaty, which bans cartels and other “damaging” concerted business practices.…

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.…

BY DEIRDRE MASON
THE EUROPEAN Commission’s new proposals for a comprehensive policy on biotechnology wobble precariously on a political and economic tightrope. Launched in January this year with the aim of provoking serious discussion throughout 2002, this action plan faces the nutcracker pressure of a Europe about to expand rapidly to take on countries with agriculture in varying states, and an America that is striding ahead, gobbling up the world markets for genetically altered or developed crops.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union has proposed reforms to the World Trade Organisation’s trade related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) agreement that would enable developing countries with no domestic drug production to gain access to essential medicines. At a meeting of TRIPS council, Brussels proposed an amendment allowing the importing council to licence manufacture of medicines in another country, in case of an emergency.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
NATIONAL regulatory authorities have the power to block waste shipments from leaving EU ports or crossing their territories via road, rail or inland waterways, whether they represent the country sending a cargo, receiving it or being used for transshipment, the European Court of Justice has ruled.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE FRENCH 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 special needs teachers from other EU Member States.…

KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Investment Bank has lent Euro 190 million to Danish electricity supplier and distributor Eltra, money that will be especially targeted on boosting renewable energy production and consumption in this environment-friendly country.

Eltra is a non-profit co-operative society wholly owned by 47 municipal and consumer-owned electricity distribution companies in Denmark.…