TTIP talks hit by leaks - EUbusiness Week newsletter 743 - EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 743 top stories: EU looks to reform asylum system; Brussels forecasts modest growth amid Brexit warning; Report backs crowdfunding as alternative funding source; CO2 emissions in the EU from energy use edge up in 2015; Roaming charges come down before their end in 2017; Better access to public sector websites and apps

Publisher’s Note

The EU is under increasing pressure to be more open about what is being negotiated under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), following leaks by Greenpeace of classified documents from the trade talks.

NGOs are concerned that TTIP would lead to a weakening of EU regulation on employment, environment, health and data protection. This may not be right. But lack of openness denies the public proper debate, and allows an image of profit before people and corporate welfare before the needs of states, increasing the pressure to drop TTIP altogether.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU looks to reform asylum system

The European Commission proposed to reform Europe’s asylum system Wednesday, promising a fairer and more sustainable system for allocating asylum applications among Member States.
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2. Brussels forecasts modest growth amid Brexit warning

The EU forecast continuing modest growth for Europe’s economy Tuesday, but warned that the outlook was being affected by uncertainty surrounding China’s economy and the UK’s upcoming referendum on EU membership.
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3. Report backs crowdfunding as alternative funding source

The Commission has given its backing to the use of crowdfunding as an alternative source of finance for start-ups in the EU Member States, in a report on the sector.
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4. CO2 emissions in the EU from energy use edge up in 2015

Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 0.7% in the European Union in 2015 compared with the previous year, according to figures from Eurostat.
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5. Roaming charges come down before their end in 2017

Texting or surfing online from another EU Member State (roaming) became cheaper Saturday as new rules on roaming and net neutrality entered into force.
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6. Better access to public sector websites and apps

Public sector bodies’ websites and mobile applications will have to be more accessible for disabled and elderly people under a provisional deal struck by Parliament and Council.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Tobacco directive: the extensive standardisation of packaging, the future EU-wide prohibition on menthol cigarettes and the special rules for electronic cigarettes are lawful, the European Court of Justice ruled Wednesday.

Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Accessible websites – EU-Japan Leaders’ meeting – EEC-Norway agreement – EEC-Iceland agreement – Agreement on EEA financial mechanism for the period 2014-2021 – World Press Freedom Day
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Commission Watch

Attack on refugee camp in northern Syria – Globalisation Fund to support former workers from Carwall, Caterpillar Belgium and Doosan – visa-free travel for Turkish citizens – Implementing EU-Turkey Agreement – visa-free travel for people of Kosovo – Reform of Common European Asylum System – – lifting temporary internal border controls – making public sector websites and apps more accessible – EU-Japan Leaders’ Meeting – 2016 Spring Economic Forecast
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Parliament Watch

Europe Day: visit European Parliament in Strasbourg – Newsletter – 9-12 May – Strasbourg plenary session – Visa liberalisation: Turkey – rules to help elderly and disabled people access online public services – 2016 Charlemagne Youth Prize – Overview: the European Parliament’s work on taxation – Protection for Women Refugees – Pope Francis awarded Charlemagne Prize – Lobbying: Parliament hosts conference on mandatory EU transparency register
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EU diary

9-12 May: European Parliament plenary session
9 May: Eurogroup
9 May: Europe Day
10 May: Rail Passenger Security in the European Union
12 May: 2nd chance for entrepreneurs: from failure to success
11-13 May: EU-funded innovation procurement in healthcare sector
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary