Search Results for: Spanish

BY LIZ HALL, in Alicante

SINCE March 2005, Operation White Whale, an extensive international anti-money-laundering operation spearheaded by the Spain’s National Police (the Policia Nacional), has produced the arrest of 57 people and the laundering of at least Euro 250 million euros obtained through illegal drug trafficking, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry (Ministerio del Interior).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

SPANISH cava maker Castellblanch has failed in an attempt at the European Court of Justice’s Court of First Instance to secure European Union-wide trademark rights to a castle logo, with the words ‘cristal’ and ‘castellblanch’. This was opposed by France’s Champagne Louis Roederer which claimed it would be confused with its own ‘cristal’ mark.…

BY ALAN OSBORN

A MAJOR battle is looming over the European Union’s (EU) alcohol policy, with Britain seen by many as the major opponent of tougher anti-drink legislation amongst the 25 member states. A Communication (formal policy paper) ‘on a strategy on alcohol-related harm’ is being drawn up by the European Commission, but while this is not due for adoption before mid-2006, furious lobbying on both sides is already evident.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE LAST people most farmers would like controlling European agricultural policy are glib public relations experts, armed with palm-top digital personal organisers and a sheaf of focus group studies. Such complaints have often been levelled at the Blair government, accused of bending with the wind of public opinion.…

Keith Nuthall
THE INTERNATIONAL Labour Organisation (ILO) has created a new electronic library simplifying access to more than 1,000 of the UN agency’s publications on work place issues. This ILO Insight archive covers issues including labour, employment, social protection, women at work, occupational safety and health, child labour, management, training, labour statistics and more.…

Keith Nuthall
THE EUROPEAN Commission has referred the creation of a proposed aircraft refuelling joint venture between Spanish petrol companies Shell Espana and Cepsa to Spain’s competition authorities, which may block the deal. The new business SIS would work in Spanish mainland and Balearic island airports.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) Council of Ministers has allowed France and Spain to use VAT rules departing from standard EU practice regarding tax declarations for investment gold. These sales can be exempt of VAT under EU legislation, meaning they maybe do not generate income for customs authorities.…

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
THE IRISH, French and Spanish governments have come under increased political pressure to improve their conservation of fishing stocks and monitoring of illicit catches through rulings from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Judges backed claims from the European Commission that Spain had failed to stage inspections of fishing vessels as mandated by European Union (EU) legislation, had not prevented fishing after quotas had been exhausted, and not taken “penal or administrative measures against anyone for breaking these limits”.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE SPANISH government has become the latest European Union (EU) government to be censured by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to implement mandated EU fishing quota administration, monitoring and inspections. The court found that Spain had also failed to prevent fishing after quotas had been exhausted, and not taken “penal or administrative measures against the captains of ships (or any one else responsible) for breaking these limits”.…