Kenny and Merkel talks to focus on new vision for EU  A carnival float showing German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf on Monday. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters STEPHEN COLLINS, ARTHUR BEESLEY and MARK HENNESSY Taoiseach Enda Kenny will travel to Berlin tomorrow evening for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel about the long-term future of the European Union ... Irish Times Wed, 22 Feb 2012 |
| EU signs historic US organic deal Irish organic dairy, salmon and beef producers are set to benefit from a historic US-EU deal on organic trade. The move, which was agreed at Bio-Fach, the largest organic trade show in the world, allows products certified as organic in the EU to be sold in the US and vice versa, eliminating significant barriers for producers. At present, Irish and European producers selling into the US require additional certification, which adds to costs and bureaucracy for organic farmers ... Irish Independent Wed, 22 Feb 2012 |
| Franco German plan to harmonise corporate tax unveiled By Ann Cahill, Europe Correspondent A French and German paper to convince the EU to harmonise corporate tax rates met with stiff opposition from a number of countries, including Austria that described it as a "missile". Several countries warned that such moves could increase corporate rates and damage tax competition between member states ... The Irish Examiner Wed, 22 Feb 2012 |
| Treating sewage IT IS quite shocking that 46 per cent of sewage treatment plants serving Ireland’s cities and towns still fail to meet the standards laid down by the EU urban wastewater treatment directive – years after they were all meant to achieve full compliance with its terms. As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in its latest report, “this level of performance is poor and needs to improve ... Irish Times Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| EPA report An appalling indictment Given Ireland’s road to Damascus conversion on the question of water quality, nobody should be surprised to learn that almost half the country’s waste water treatment plants fail to meet national or EU standards. It is appalling that in 11 sprawling communities, including Bray in scenic Co Wicklow and Ringaskiddy on the western shore of Cork Harbour, mandatory water treatment is 10 years’ overdue. In cities such as Cork, Dublin and Kilkenny, the treatment is deficient ... The Irish Examiner Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Ireland is easiest state in Europe to pay business taxes FIONA REDDAN IRELAND REMAINS the easiest country in Europe in which to pay business taxes, according to a new survey which also reveals that Ireland’s effective corporation tax rate is only marginally less than the EU average. The 2012 survey, which ranks Ireland as the easiest country in the EU to pay taxes for the fifth year running, also marks out the country as being the fifth most user-friendly for business taxes globally ... Irish Times Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Online bank use one of lowest in EU Irish consumers are lagging dramatically behind their European counterparts when it comes to using online banking, according to a study by comScore. ComScore found out of 18 European countries, Ireland had one of the lowest rates of people using online banking as a percentage of the internet population. The comScore findings were strongly disputed by the Irish Payment Services Organisation ... The Irish Examiner Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Irish pensions set to see another fall By Ann Cahill, Europe Correspondent Irish pensioners are projected to suffer the biggest fall in the real value of their occupational pensions in the EU over the next few decades, according to European Commission figures. Increasing the length of time people work before qualifying for a pension and linking it to changes in life expectancy is a key recommendation in reforms put forward in Brussels ... The Irish Examiner Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Social networks cannot be made police internet ONLINE SOCIAL networks cannot be forced to block users from downloading songs illegally, as this would push up their costs and infringe privacy, Europe’s highest court said yesterday. The Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) was ruling on a case involving two Belgian companies: music royalty collecting society SABAM and online social network Netlog ... Irish Times Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Filling in the holes of data protection law in Brussels KARLIN LILLINGTON in Brussels Proposed new data protection rules have been announced which will affect EU companies WHEN EU JUSTICE Commissioner Viviane Reding announced a comprehensive reform of Europe’s data protection legislation on January 25th, in the form of a proposed new regulation, more than just Europeans were watching closely. For months, rumours had circulated about what might go into the proposal ... Irish Times Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Government faces euro 4m fine for failing to implement EU directives By Claire O’Sullivan Friday, February 17, 2012 The European Commission is seeking to levy a once-off fine of €4m against the Government for its failure to ensure that proper environmental assessments are being carried out on Irish farming and fish farming projects. It could be the first fine against the Irish Government ever despite its poor record on implementing environmental legislation ... The Irish Examiner Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Kenny We can lead EU out of doldrums By Paul O’Brien, Political Editor Boston Ireland will seek to move Europe beyond austerity and place renewed emphasis on boosting economic growth when it assumes the presidency of the EU, Enda Kenny has said. But the European Central Bank would need to break from rigid policies and play a "fuller role" in resolving the eurozone debt crisis, the Taoiseach indicated ... The Irish Examiner Fri, 17 Feb 2012 |
| Waste plants below EU standard A water treatment plant in Co Wicklow. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times FRANK McDONALD, Environment Editor Almost half the State’s sewage treatment plants in urban areas fail to meet EU standards – and it will take another three years to bring them into compliance, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ... Irish Times Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
| Hot spots for tourism shamed on sewage list DOZENS of popular tourist and fishing spots have been named and shamed because of sewage that has not been treated properly in badly run plants. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA ) yesterday warned that waters in as many as 42 coastal towns were not meeting national and EU standards because of failing local authority treatment plants. These included popular tourist spots Clifden in Galway and Skibbereen in Cork ... Irish Independent Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
| 80 see corruption as major problem for Ireland EU survey reveals By Ann Cahill, Europe Correspondent The vast majority of people living in Ireland (80%) believe that corruption is a major problem for the country; that it is part of Irish business culture and is widespread among politicians, according a new EU-wide survey. Along with their suspicion of politicians, the Irish respondents said almost a third of the police, a fifth of customs officials and those involved in the law abuse their power for personal gain ... The Irish Examiner Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
| Progress made in Greek bailout deal The head of the eurozone group of finance ministers has said he is confident a decision will be taken on the second bailout for Greece on Monday. Article Jean-Claude Junker said progress had been made on releasing second bailout The head of the eurozone group of finance ministers has said he is confident a decision will be taken on a second bailout for Greece on Monday ... RTE Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
| Speed limit outside six schools cut to 30kph The speed limit on roads around six Cork schools has been slashed to 30kph as part of an EU project ... The Irish Examiner Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
| Commissioner alert to consequences of famine and disaster ARTHUR BEESLEY EUROPEAN DIARY: Kristalina Georgieva, who holds the EU brief for humanitarian aid, is keeping a close eye on the Horn of Africa THE HUMANITARIAN aid portfolio in the European Commission is held by Kristalina Georgieva. If disaster erupts anywhere in the world, she’s the one who decides Europe’s response. Georgieva is charged with ensuring the EU is ready to confront earthquakes, famine, floods and whatever other woe might suddenly strike ... Irish Times Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
| Negotiate new terms on promissory note before April economists advise SUZANNE LYNCH IRELAND SHOULD make every effort to restructure the promissory note it is using to recapitalise the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) before the next scheduled payment date of March 31st, according to three leading economists. Prof Karl Whelan, Prof Brian Lucey and Dr Stephen Kinsella were addressing the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance yesterday. Ireland is due to pay an instalment of €3.1 billion on the promissory notes it committed to the IBRC on March 31st ... Irish Times Thu, 16 Feb 2012 |
