Search Results for: Ireland

BY ALAN OSBORN
THE EUROPEAN Commission has been strongly criticised by the European Ombudsman over its unquestioning acceptance of an altered report allocating blame for attacks on fishing gear in Ireland. The Ombudsman has found the Commission guilty of “maladministration” in accepting significant revisions to the report without querying the reasons or even making an inquiry into the changes.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
SCANDINAVIA dominates the top rankings of a new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) global index on information and communication technology (ICT) access, with Sweden, Denmark and Iceland scoring the highest marks. The ITU says that the league table distinguishes itself from other indices by including new variables, such as education and affordability.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE IRISH government has announced that it is backing an Austrian call for the ongoing European Union (EU) intergovernmental conference (IGC) – that is writing the EU’s first constitution – to convene a separate conference to review the Euratom nuclear energy treaty.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE GOVERNMENTS of Ireland, Spain and Greece are being threatened with legal action at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) by the European Commission for allegedly failing to set fines for industries continuing to use banned ozone depleting substances such as those used in solvents for cleaning products.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A PLANNED reform of the European Union’s (EU) Euro 12.5 million-per-year hop subsidy regime could push hop producers towards promoting speciality varieties, of interest to brewers seeking an edge in flavour and bitterness, a National Hop Association of England spokesman has said.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
RETAILERS cannot be forced to stock a drink or food brand in freezers or fridges, even when they are lent for free by a manufacturer, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. It found against Unilever, which has argued for the legality of “exclusivity” contracts.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
RETAILERS cannot be forced to stock a food or drink brand in freezers or fridges, even when they are lent for free by a food manufacturer, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. It found against Unilever, (acting for Van den Bergh Foods, previously HB foods), which is arguing for the legality of “exclusivity” contracts.…

Keith Nuthall
TAX collectors are raiding the developed world’s economies for a diminishing slice of national incomes according to a Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) study. It says rich country public revenues commanded a smaller proportion of GDP on average last year, compared with 2001 (40.5 and 41 per cent respectively).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
UPSET and concern has been caused amongst European utilities by the extension agreed last week of a European Union (EU) system of minimum tax rates for mineral oils to all energy products, including electricity and natural gas. From the New Year, these products will attract minimum indirect taxes (excluding VAT), with the rates detailed in the directive.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN ORGANISATION for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report says that the Netherlands, out of all EU countries, has received the largest economic boost from investment in communications and information technology. Much of the resulting labour productivity growth has been concentrated in knowledge intensive activities, notably high technology and medium high technology manufacturing, said the developed world think tank.…