Search Results for: Netherlands

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of the Netherlands-based Sara Lee Foods Europe by a joint venture of US-based Smithfield Foods and Oaktree Capital Management. Smithfield and Sara Lee both produce processed meat products in Europe.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has renewed its European Union (EU) fishing access deal with Mauritania, initialling a new six year deal that involves a two-year protocol, but which should be renewed twice automatically, unless serious political problems emerge.

Brussels is being bullish about the deal, claiming: "It is the most important fisheries agreement concluded by the EU with a third country both in financial terms and as regards fishing opportunities for EU vessels"

And the agreement does will provide fishing rights for about 200 EU vessels on crustaceans (mainly shrimps), hake and other demersal species), cepaholopods, small pelagics and tuna.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission looks likely to be blocked from forcing the UK and Dutch governments to repay Euro 7.4 million’s worth of subsidies for downsizing their fishing fleets by transferring two boats apiece to Argentina. Brussels was angered when both countries subsequently registered four replacement vessels, claiming this contravened the grants’ conditions.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has approved a list of priority projects that will draw in EU funding and diplomatic support under its 2007-13 trans European network (TENs) energy programme. Agreed with the European Parliament, the schemes are designed to fulfil the EU’s energy policy goals of improving security of supply, especially from outside member states, and underpinning Europe’s internal market in gas and electricity.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE INTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation (IFC), of the World Bank, will lend US$70 million over 10 years to independent Argentine oil producer Companias Asociadas Petroleras SA (CAPSA), which works within the southern province of Chubut. The money will finance capital expenditures, working capital requirements, and general corporate activities.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

NATURAL gas prices rose steeply in the European Union (EU) during 2005, a report from EU statistical agency Eurostat has confirmed: up 16% for domestic customers and 33% for industrial users. There were significant variations between member states: for instance for households, prices rose by 30% in Slovakia; 27% in Luxembourg and the Czech Republic; and 25% in Ireland, while prices remained nearly stable in Estonia and increased just 5% in Denmark and 8% in Italy.…

BY MARK ROWE, in Munich

THE EUROPEAN Commission’s independent research body has been told its funding is likely to be frozen in the next round of funding, but the head of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) has insisted this will have little impact on its projects or future status.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE LATVIA and Netherlands governments want the European Commission to lower securities demanded from sugar producers wishing to restructure as the EU lowers production aid. Brussels currently demands 120% of grants be lodged as security. Latvia said such "abnormal demands" prevented companies participating; the Dutch branded the demand "severe".…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

AN UNPRECEDENTED joint paper from the European Commission and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana calls for the EU to diversify its energy sources beyond Russia. In particular, the paper suggests the EU looks closer to home: at Algeria and Turkey.…

BY DEIRDRE MASON

A SIGNIFICANT boost in funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will speed the challenging switchover from ageing nuclear power stations in central and eastern Europe (CEE) to a cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable energy scene in these new and aspiring entrants to European Union (EU) membership.…