Search Results for: Portugal

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) has struck an important deal with Algeria, ensuring it supplies gas to European markets competitively, scrapping restrictive profit sharing contracts. Algeria is a key gas exporter in the EU’s fight to secure energy security without relying on Russia, and Algiers has now agreed with the European Commission that pipeline gas can be sold-on within Europe, without a cut going to Algerian gas producer Sonatrach.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has demanded that Portugal stops requiring administrative export documents covering incoming tobacco imports be lodged with its competent customs officers at least six hours before their departure from another European Union (EU) member state. Brussels says the anti-fraud measure is excessive and breaks EU freedom of movement of goods rules.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

EUROPEAN Union (EU) air passengers are generally supportive of today’s increased airport security measures, a European Commission-funded Gallup opinion poll has revealed. Across all 27 member states, a majority of informed respondents (61%) consider airport security controls appropriate, one quarter (24%) insufficient and only 16% excessive.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE PORTUGUESE government is being taken to the European Court of Justice by the European Commission over allegations it is breaking EURATOM rules regarding its operation of the Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear research reactor in Lisbon. Brussels claims a failure to follow EURATOM- mandated administrative controls, notably over the discharge of radioactive effluents.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

EUROPEAN Union (EU) research network Eureka is developing edible film packaging to prevent mixed pre-cut vegetables from sweating and losing their freshness. Eureka’s Researchers from the EUROAGRI-GREENTEC project says a key aim is to reduce packaging waste, through consumers eating wrappings.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

SPANISH and Italian fishing businesses and regulators have been blasted by the European Commission for condoning or participated in unauthorised or illegal fishing practices. In the latest statistical report on such problems, which compared national fleets during 2005, the Commission notes that the number of cases was at all time high – 10,443 across the EU, compared with 9,660 in 2004.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has lost patience with Portugal over its restrictions on the import of European Union (EU)-made polyethylene water pipes, asking the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to impose heavy recurring fines. If Lisbon does not scrap the restrictions quickly, judges could soon impose daily penalties of many thousands of Euro, payable until Portugal complies with an earlier ECJ ruling against its pipe import policy.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission has lost patience with Portugal over its restrictions on the import of European Union (EU)-made polyethylene water pipes, asking the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to impose heavy recurring fines. If Lisbon does not scrap the restrictions quickly, judges could soon impose daily penalties of many thousands of Euro, payable until Portugal complies with an earlier ECJ ruling against its pipe import policy.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has relaunched its bid to split the amount of European Union (EU) subsidies paid to EU cotton producers from the volume of cotton sent to market, following an embarrassing court reversal last September. Then, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) overturned a 2003 reform along these lines, because of weaknesses in an earlier impact study that had ignored labour expenses and the potential effects on the European ginning industry.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union’s (EU) environment Commissioner will push ahead with legal action after EU member states continued to de-list bathing areas from officially-approved beaches subject to cleanliness tests, especially in Mediterranean holiday spots about to be flooded with British holidaymakers.…