Search Results for: Italian

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has approved a six-year fishing access deal struck between the European Commission and the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of the Comoros. Replacing a 1988 agreement with this Islamic republic, the new deal will come into force on New Years Day.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A EUROPEAN research project has developed a packing system for large items such as furniture and stone flooring that uses recyclable plastic and which is designed to boost its recovery. Companies from Italy, Spain and Turkey have created this environment-friendly robotic system under the umbrella of Eureka, a pan-European research network.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRITISH holding company Candover has welcomed the European Commission clearing its sale of French and Italian frozen food chain Picard to another investment vehicle BC Partners for more than Euro 1.3 billion. The sale brings Candover a 2.7-times return on its 2001 acquisition of Picard in 2001, when it bought the chain from French retailer Carrefour in 2001 for Euro 920 million.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A SIX year fishing agreement struck between the European Commission and the Seychelles has reduced access for European Union (EU) tuna boats to answer criticism that similar past deals have been emptying developing world waters of fish. The new agreement with the Seychelles – lasting from January 2005 to 2011 – cuts fishing opportunities for tuna long-liners by 15% by 2006.…

Keith Nuthall
A LEAKED European Commission document has revealed Brussels’ doubts that the Italian government will fulfil it pledge to reduce its 62% ownership of Alitalia to less than 40% within 12 months. If the Commission’s fears are conformed, it could block the rescue plan for the troubled airline.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
THE TAXATION and customs portfolio in the new European Commission is to be held by a one-time communist and leader of the socialist party in Hungary, its former foreign minister Laszlo Kovacs. Mr Kovacs, who is 65, replaces Ingrida Udre of Latvia who was criticised by the European Parliament for failing to rebut allegations concerning financial irregularities in the funding of her political party and was subsequently withdrawn by her country at the request of the new Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL AND ALAN OSBORN
THE TOP selling guidebook Lonely Planet is rather dismissive of San Marino, calling the world’s oldest republic and Europe’s third smallest state “a silly place”. True, there is a touch of the comic opera about this Italian-speaking enclave, with it spiffily unformed ceremonial guards and its reliance on sales of colourful stamps, but San Marino does have a significant financial sector, and so is of interest to anti-money laundering professionals.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
FORMER Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini has been appointed as the new European Union (EU) Commissioner for justice, freedom and security, following the removal of his co-patriot Rocco Buttiglione because of opposition from the European Parliament. Whilst catholic right-winger Buttiglione upset MEPs with his conservative views on homosexuality, Frattini made soothing remarks on morality at his hearing in front of the parliament.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE LIKELIHOOD of Italy’s nominee as the new European Union (EU) Commissioner for justice, freedom and security taking up his post has become extremely unlikely, with the European Parliament forcing a withdrawal of the entire new Commission due to start work on November 1.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved the takeover of dominant Italian tobacco distribution company Etìnera by Altadis-owned Logistica, of Spain. Brussels concluded the deal could boost competition because Etìnera is owned by British American Tobacco, which commands a significant share of Italy’s cigarette manufacturing.…