Search Results for: Latvia

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE NUCLEAR industry is likely to be disappointed with the transfer of Hungary’s Lazlo Kovacs away from the energy portfolio in the new European Commission expected to take office this week. (NOTE – NEXT WEEK IN REAL TIME) His removal follows a lacklustre performance at a European Parliament hearing that led MEPs to brand him “incompetent” as a potential energy Commissioner.…

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to rebut allegations concerning financial irregularities in the funding of her political party and was subsequently withdrawn by her country at the request of the new Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.…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
THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved the creation of a retail joint venture in the Baltic States, run by Scandinavian food retailers Kesko Oy, of Finland, and ICA AB, of Sweden and Norway. This new business will buy and sell daily consumer goods in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, combining the two Scandinavian company’s existing outlets in the region.…

KEITH NUTHALL
THE RENEWABLE power generation industry could find it has increased influence at the European Commission than expected, with the replacement of Hungary’s Lázló Kovács as European Union (EU) energy Commissioner for the next five years. Following a lacklustre performance at a European Parliament hearing, MEPs judged him “incompetent” for this position and was subsequently moved to the post of tax Commissioner by EU president-elect José Manuel Barroso.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
INCOMING European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has moved Hungary’s Lazlo Kovacs from being energy commissioner-designate, after he was criticised by the European Parliament for being “professionally incompetent” in the field. He will now become tax commissioner and will be replaced by Latvia’s Andris Piebalgs, a former education and finance minister.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
ISSUES of commercial crime have been moving up the European Union’s (EU) policy agenda in recent years. With the arrival of a 25-member European Commission under Jose Barroso, the subject has even greater prominence and involves the responsibilities of three new Commissioners.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A MAJOR reshuffle of the proposed European Commission due to take office on November 1 will be made with president-elect José Manuel Barroso withdrawing his team because of opposition to its appointment within the European Parliament. Although the prime concern of MEPs has focused on Italy’s nominee as Commissioner for justice, freedom and security Rocco Buttiglione, the Netherlands’ competition Commissioner-designate Neelie Kroes is also in the firing line.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
BRITAIN’S small shops and off-licences can expect no help from the incoming European Commission in their fight against personal alcohol and tobacco imports. Answering a European Parliament questionnaire ahead of assuming office in November, Latvia’s Ingrida Udre promised to take a strong line on efforts to restrict this trade, assuming she is confirmed as taxation and customs union Commissioner.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
EUROPEAN governments should exploit the scare tactics of the 1980’s when AIDS campaigns shocked promiscuous sex devotees and intravenous drug users into changing their behaviour, stemming HIV infections, the World Health Organisation has claimed. It fears dramatic increases in HIV cases in eastern Europe that are amongst the world’s worst, notably in Estonia, Latvia, Russia and the Ukraine “where the epidemic continues to spread unchecked”.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission’s campaign against restrictions on personal alcohol imports between European Union (EU) member states may intensify after a new taxation Commissioner takes office in November. Answering a European Parliament questionnaire, Latvia’s Ingrida Udre promised a strong line, stressing that “systematic controls” on private travellers importing wine, beer and spirits from foreign member countries “are incompatible” with EU treaty rules.…