Search Results for: Germany

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has made progress in a series of legal actions against European Union (EU) utilities alleging unfair trading. Notably, Brussels has launched anti-trust inquiries involving Germany’s E.ON (and E.ON Ruhrgas) plus Gaz de France (GDF), alleging illegal trust agreements to avoid supplying gas to each other’s home market following the liberalisation of the EU markets.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission’s consumer product alert service RAPEX has reported German authorities banning a 330ml tub of French lightening gel Miss Caroline Crème. This was because of concerns an ingredient proportion broke the 1976 European Union (EU) cosmetics directive: 4.76% of its content being hydroquinone, "the use of which is associated with harmful effects", said RAPEX.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has started legal proceedings against the German government, which could lead it to paying massive daily recurring fines of many Euro 1,000s over its failure to reform Volkswagen’s shareholding rules.

The Commission has already secured a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that the special position granted to public authorities within the privatised auto giant’s board and shareholdings break European Union (EU) law.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

GERMANY’S largest vineyard has been ordered by the European Commission to repay Euro 541,859 in illegal subsidies paid by its owner – the regional government of Hesse. Meanwhile, major Spain wine producer J. Garcia Carrion La Mancha may have to repay Euro 14.5 million in subsidies from the Spanish state for improving plant – Brussels is investigating the handout.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

A CONSORTIUM of 14 research teams from across Europe has been formed to create a computer simulation of the international ITER fusion reactor, to model the technology required to operate it safely. The European Union (EU)-funded Euro 3.65 million EUFORIA project will forge a network of high-powered computers with sufficient capacity to undertake this modelling, which will involve massive amounts of data.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

GERMANY’S largest vineyard has been ordered by the European Commission to repay Euro 541,859 in illegal subsidies paid by its owner – the regional government of Hesse. Following a detailed investigation, Brussels has concluded that the writing off of losses made by Hessische Staatsweingüter until December 2002 broke European Union (EU) state aid rules and so must be repaid, with interest.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

MOTORISTS who have their licences confiscated by a court cannot apply for a driving permit in a foreign European Union (EU) country, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. Judges have closed a loophole being exploited by some German drivers losing their licence in German courts: they applied for and secured a replacement in the Czech Republic, enabling them to drive again in Germany because EU member states recognise each others’ driving permits.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

ENVIRONMENTAL health officers think they are helping keep people fit and well by reducing pollution and food disease. But maybe the best move the cold, rheumatism and asthma sufferers of Britain can make to be healthy is emigrate to a Greek island, sunbathe (moderately) and eat fish, vegetables and olive oil.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

LORRY drivers who have their licences confiscated by a court should not be able to apply for a driving permit in a foreign European Union (EU) country and get back to work, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled.…

BY PHIL DOWNIE, at Loch Ness, Scotland

INTRODUCTION

For many years visitors have been drawn to Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands hoping to see a glimpse of the elusive legendary marine reptile supposedly lurking in its deeps. The local community has benefited from tourists not only visiting the area’s beautiful scenery but also to catch a sighting of ‘Nessie’.…