Search Results for: France

BY KEITH NUTHALL
CONCESSIONS have been given to France to lower excise duty charged on unleaded petrol and diesel, notably allowing its regional governments to set their own rates where there is political pressure to cut fuel prices. The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers has allowed France to apply reduced levels of taxation to unleaded petrol and diesel, provided cuts are no greater than Euro 35.40 per 1,000 litres of unleaded or Euro 23 per 1,000 litres of diesel.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
CRITICS of European political institutions have sometimes been unkind about the Council of Europe, which has been accused of being a powerless talking shop. And although the Council lacks the power to fine and cajole member governments enjoyed by the European Union (EU) – from which it is completely independent – it has some important roles.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has called on the French government’s Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés – CNIL – data protection authority to clarify guidelines on corporate whistleblowing. The Paris-based business organisation was concerned this year by the authority blocking two multinationals setting up whistleblowing hotlines.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
BRITAIN employs more psychiatric nurses on a per capital basis than other major EU countries according to the 2005 world mental health atlas compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This shows the UK had 104 psychiatric nurses per 100,000 of population compared to 99 in the Netherlands, 98 in France and only 52 in Germany.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EUROPEAN Commission has decided on an unchanged figure of Euro 450 million for conversion and restructuring in the European Union’s wine sector in 2005/6 in spite of a high level of compulsory distillation this year so far.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
FRANCE and Spain have been found in breach of European Union (EU) law by effectively reducing the amount of VAT due on purchases assisted by government subsidies. By not insisting the full rate of VAT was paid or deducted, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) says the two countries are breaking the EU’s sixth VAT directive of 1977.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
ON July 31 this year the European Union’s (EU) Tobacco Advertising Directive came into effect, making it illegal to advertise tobacco products in the print media, radio and over the Internet within the EU. Also banned was tobacco sponsorship of cross-border cultural and sporting events.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED Nations’ International Seabed Authority has postponed agreement of new regulations governing how mining companies would explore and exploit deep seawaters for hauls such as polymetallic sulphide nodules and cobalt-rich crusts. These mineral resources are rich in copper, iron, zinc, silver, gold and cobalt, with the sulphides being found around volcanic areas and the crusts on oceanic ridges.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has pushed ahead with securing more overseas fishing access deals for EU fishing crews in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Crucially EU ministers have been formally asked to approve a deal regarding the key Pacific grounds off the Solomon Islands.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has called on European Union (EU) countries to further liberalise their professions, including accountancy, although a detailed report praises Britain for its reforms. The UK “is making good progress” across the board in fighting restrictive practices regarding profession entry, fees and advertising, along with Denmark and the Netherlands, said Brussels.…