EU NEWS: 5.2.14

***** EUobserver - 01.05.2014 **********************************************

The 2014 EIUC Venice School of Human Rights - Human Rights as Our
Responsibility will take place from 27 June to 5 July.

Topics, selected in agreement with EU policies, include: Business and Human
Rights, Internationalisation of Migration and the Role of the EU, Freedom
of Expression and Assembly Online.

http://www.eiuc.org/education/venice-school-of-human-rights/programme.html

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***** THE NEWS *************************************************************

1. [Focus] On the German-Polish border 10 years after enlargement - 30/04/2014 18:32:08
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Ten years after enlargement, a Polish and a German town on the river Oder
have gone through a 'miraculous' transformation.

http://euobserver.com/regions/123962


2. Western lenders approve $17bn Ukraine bailout - 01/05/2014 09:22:21
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International lenders have agreed a $17 billion bailout for Ukraine despite
the pro-Russia uprising in the east and south of the country.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123985


3. Portugal expected to exit bailout without further loans - 01/05/2014 09:26:21
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Portugal is expected to announce its exit from the EU-IMF bailout without
further loans to cushion the transition.

http://euobserver.com/economic/123977


4. Russia to file WTO lawsuit against EU energy laws - 01/05/2014 09:22:34
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Russia is to file its second formal complaint against the EU with the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) over the EU's so-called 'Third Energy Package,'
according to reports on Wednesday.

http://euobserver.com/news/123984


5. EU top court throws out UK challenge to transactions tax - 30/04/2014 15:21:01
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The European Court of Justice has rejected a UK legal challenge to plans by
eleven countries to set up a financial transactions tax.

http://euobserver.com/news/123974


6. Corruption probes into EU staff on the rise - 30/04/2014 09:57:55
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The number of corruption probes into staff at the EU institutions is on the
rise, according to the EU anti-fraud office Olaf.

http://euobserver.com/institutional/123959


7. [Opinion] How the EU's 'big bang' enlargement changed foreign policy - 01/05/2014 09:19:52
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The experience and expertise of the member states that joined the EU in
2004 or later has been and will continue to be indispensable for the
European Union.

http://euobserver.com/opinion/123983


8. [Opinion] EU: Show leadership to end forced labour - 01/05/2014 09:21:19
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Forced labour and human trafficking may seem distant from ordinary
Europeans on the eve of Labour Day, but almost 1 million victims in Europe
have little to celebrate.

http://euobserver.com/opinion/123963


9. [EU Elections] De-demonising the National Front: is it for real? - 01/05/2014 09:15:34
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National Front leader Marine Le Pen wants to "de-demonise" her party. The
strategy has kept the FN in the media spotlight for weeks but questions
remain over how deep the changes are.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123909


10. [Opinion] Should the EU trust Poroshenko to lead Ukraine? - 30/04/2014 09:44:21
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The leading candidate in Ukraine's presidential elections has a chequered
past - can he be trusted?

http://euobserver.com/opinion/123965

***** NEWS IN BRIEF ********************************************************

EU soldiers take control of Bangui airport - 01/05/2014 09:12:28
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123980


Kosovo officials in fraud scandal - 01/05/2014 09:09:15
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123981


Dominique Strauss-Kahn in Belgian strip club law suit - 01/05/2014 09:06:38
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123978


Sinn Fein leader arrested on murder charges - 01/05/2014 09:06:09
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123979


Trade talks will fail without more US 'commitment', warns business boss - 30/04/2014 17:27:11
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123976

***** EUobserver - 30.04.2014 **********************************************

The 2014 EIUC Venice School of Human Rights - Human Rights as Our
Responsibility will take place from 27 June to 5 July.

Topics, selected in agreement with EU policies, include: Business and Human
Rights, Internationalisation of Migration and the Role of the EU, Freedom
of Expression and Assembly Online.

http://www.eiuc.org/education/venice-school-of-human-rights/programme.html

***** ADVERT ***************************************************************

Can Europe remain Competitive Globally?

This year's European Business Summit (EBS) will tackle the topic of
Europe's competitiveness with Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal
Market and Services, and business leaders from the finance, energy and
industry sectors. Join us on May 14th and 15th 2014 at Palais d'Egmont in
Brussels.

http://ebsummit.eu/

***** THE NEWS *************************************************************

1. EU blacklists 15 more Russian officials over Ukraine - 29/04/2014 11:18:31
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The EU has added 15 more names to a travel ban list of Russian officials
linked to events in eastern Ukraine, but unlike the US, it refrained from
targeting businesses and trade with Russia.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123955


2. Ex-German chancellor causes stir after partying with Putin - 30/04/2014 09:30:02
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Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has come under fire after
pictures were published showing him hugging and smiling at Russian
President Vladimir Putin at a time when Russia continues to stir trouble in
Ukraine.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123964


3. [Investigation] Arms deals and bribes: The downfall of Slovenia's former PM - 30/04/2014 09:18:16
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Former Slovene PM Jansa has been sentenced to two years in prison over a
scandal involving defence contracts and a trail of corrupt money across
several EU states.

http://euobserver.com/investigations/123961


4. [EU Elections] Centre-right EPP stuck with 'sickening' Berlusconi - 29/04/2014 11:48:51
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Silvio Berlusconi's comments on Germany's Nazi past are an embarrassment to
the centre-right EPP party, but it needs his Forza Italia party to win next
month's EU elections.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123954


5. [EU Elections] Slovenia in political crisis - 30/04/2014 08:50:21
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Both the ruling coalition party and main opposition party in Slovenia were
plunged into disarray over the weekend.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123958


6. [Analysis] Ukip's popularity undented by accusations of racism - 30/04/2014 08:50:53
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Each day of the past fortnight seems to have brought a new set of negative
headlines for the UK Independence Party, but its popularity remains
unaffected.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123956

***** NEWS IN BRIEF ********************************************************

Greece accused of unlawful refugee deportations - 30/04/2014 08:58:14
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123969


Former French PM backs UK exit from EU - 30/04/2014 08:57:53
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123970


Moldova sets 2019 EU entry deadline - 30/04/2014 08:17:53
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123967


EU and Cuba discuss ties - 30/04/2014 08:16:56
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123966


European prisons remain overcrowded - 29/04/2014 12:01:07
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123957

***** EUobserver - 29.04.2014 **********************************************

The 2014 EIUC Venice School of Human Rights - Human Rights as Our
Responsibility will take place from 27 June to 5 July.

Topics, selected in agreement with EU policies, include: Business and Human
Rights, Internationalisation of Migration and the Role of the EU, Freedom
of Expression and Assembly Online.

http://www.eiuc.org/education/venice-school-of-human-rights/programme.html

***** ADVERT ***************************************************************

Can Europe remain Competitive Globally?

This year's European Business Summit (EBS) will tackle the topic of
Europe's competitiveness with Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal
Market and Services, and business leaders from the finance, energy and
industry sectors. Join us on May 14th and 15th 2014 at Palais d'Egmont in
Brussels.

http://ebsummit.eu/

***** THE NEWS *************************************************************

1. [EU Elections] EU rivals square off in first presidential debate - 29/04/2014 09:24:00
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The main candidates to become the next President of the European Commission
squared off on Monday night in the first of two live TV debates ahead of
May's European elections.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123948


2. [EU Elections] German political humour sends up EU - 29/04/2014 09:29:42
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A German satire party running in the EU elections, a Berlin ad agency using
political humour and a novelist who satirised the Brussels speak shed light
on how the EU is perceived in Germany.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123935


3. Ukraine signs gas deal with Slovakia - 28/04/2014 20:51:53
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Slovakia is set to pump reserve natural gas to Ukraine in a reverse-flow
deal signed on Monday.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123946


4. [EU Elections] Anti-Roma views rampant across all Romanian political parties - 29/04/2014 09:20:08
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Are anti-Roma comments from major Romanian parties due to the naiveté of
politicians or a calculated attempt to play to widespread racism?

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123907


5. [EU Elections] Top Bulgarian MEP candidates already thinking of heading home - 28/04/2014 18:57:58
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All the Bulgarian political parties have their lists ready for the EU vote,
but several top candidates either don't want to stay very long in Brussels,
or don't want to go to the EU capital at all.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123924

***** NEWS IN BRIEF ********************************************************

Anti-EU parties set for big EU election gains - 29/04/2014 09:16:13
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123950


Jail sentence for Slovenia's ex PM upheld - 29/04/2014 09:15:55
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123951


Bulgarian judges charged with embezzlement - 29/04/2014 09:15:37
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123952


Schroeder celebrates his birthday with Putin - 29/04/2014 09:14:52
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123953


Spain's EP vote turnout set to be lowest ever - 28/04/2014 16:36:08
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123945

***** EUobserver - 28.04.2014 **********************************************

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Can Europe remain Competitive Globally?

This year's European Business Summit (EBS) will tackle the topic of
Europe's competitiveness with Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal
Market and Services, and business leaders from the finance, energy and
industry sectors. Join us on May 14th and 15th 2014 at Palais d'Egmont in
Brussels.

http://ebsummit.eu/

***** THE NEWS *************************************************************

1. EU ambassadors to expand Russia blacklist - 28/04/2014 08:59:13
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EU countries' ambassadors meeting in Brussels on Monday are to add names to
the Russia blacklist in reaction to events in Ukraine.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123941


2. Verhofstadt calls for more integration in bid for Commission top job - 28/04/2014 09:10:50
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Liberal candidate Guy Verhofstadt has set out his stall to be the next
European Commission President by demanding a "decisive step in the European
integration as the fuel for new growth in Europe".

http://euobserver.com/news/123934


3. Independent Scotland would be EU 'lynchpin', says Salmond - 28/04/2014 09:18:55
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An independent Scotland would be "one of the lynchpins of the European
Union", Scotland's First Minister is due to say on Monday.

http://euobserver.com/news/123936


4. [Agenda] EU top candidates debate twice this WEEK - 28/04/2014 09:27:20
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Campaigning for the EU elections gets in full swing this week, with two
debates scheduled among the four top candidates of the main political
groups.

http://euobserver.com/agenda/123937


5. [EU Elections] Dutch euroscepticism moves mainstream - 28/04/2014 09:22:01
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Dutch voters critical of the European Union will have an array of parties
to choose from when they go to the polls in next month's EU elections.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123923

***** NEWS IN BRIEF ********************************************************

Serbia swears in pro-EU government - 28/04/2014 09:24:33
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123940


New Greek party gains popularity - 28/04/2014 09:24:17
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123943


London finance threatended by EU exit: study - 28/04/2014 09:23:23
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123942


Slovenia's coalition government in crisis - 28/04/2014 09:22:48
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123939


Moldova visa-free EU travel launched - 28/04/2014 08:56:31
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123938

***** EUobserver - 26.04.2014 **********************************************

Top Ranked Executive MBA in Brussels.

Interested in a globally recognized MBA Programme in Brussels?

Attend our next  Info Session on April 28th at 7.30pm at our Brussels
Campus.
Learn how you can earn a Triple Crown Accredited MBA in 18 months. Meet our
Programme Director and other like-minded professionals.

See you there!

More info: http://bit.ly/PbYp8y

***** ADVERT ***************************************************************

Can Europe remain Competitive Globally?

This year's European Business Summit (EBS) will tackle the topic of
Europe's competitiveness with Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal
Market and Services, and business leaders from the finance, energy and
industry sectors. Join us on May 14th and 15th 2014 at Palais d'Egmont in
Brussels.

http://ebsummit.eu/

***** THE NEWS *************************************************************

1. Danes the happiest EU workers, survey finds - 25/04/2014 09:34:10
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Denmark has the EU's happiest workforce, according to research published
Thursday (25 April) by Eurobarometer.

http://euobserver.com/news/123932

***** EUobserver - 02.05.2014 **********************************************

The 2014 EIUC Venice School of Human Rights - Human Rights as Our
Responsibility will take place from 27 June to 5 July.

Topics, selected in agreement with EU policies, include: Business and Human
Rights, Internationalisation of Migration and the Role of the EU, Freedom
of Expression and Assembly Online.

http://www.eiuc.org/education/venice-school-of-human-rights/programme.html

***** ADVERT ***************************************************************

Can Europe remain Competitive Globally?

This year's European Business Summit (EBS) will tackle the topic of
Europe's competitiveness with Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal
Market and Services, and business leaders from the finance, energy and
industry sectors. Join us on May 14th and 15th 2014 at Palais d'Egmont in
Brussels.

http://ebsummit.eu/

***** THE NEWS *************************************************************

1. Merkel asks Putin to free EU hostages in Ukraine - 02/05/2014 09:27:48
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Merkel has personally asked Russia's Putin to help free EU countries'
military officers held by pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123991


2. Turkey ranks lowest in Europe's press freedom index - 02/05/2014 09:29:25
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Europe maintains the overall highest press freedoms worldwide despite
rollbacks in Greece, Montenegro, Turkey and the UK.

http://euobserver.com/justice/123992


3. Merkel and Obama bury hatchet on US spying - 02/05/2014 09:29:16
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama on Friday are
poised to mend ties after the exposure of her phone being tapped and
millions of Germans spied upon by the NSA.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123987


4. [EU Elections] Slovakia's eurosceptics end EU honeymoon - 02/05/2014 09:22:14
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The EU honeymoon is over for Slovakia, say analysts, as eurosceptic voices
for the first time make themselves clearly heard in the run-up to European
elections later this month.

http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123960


5. [Review] No fireworks, we're European - the EU presidential debates - 02/05/2014 09:15:49
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They were the first US-style televised debates for the EU's top job, and it
showed. The two most likely candidates to take the job as EU Commission
president, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz, put in underwhelming
performances.

http://euobserver.com/news/123949

***** NEWS IN BRIEF ********************************************************

African migrants storm Spanish border fence - 02/05/2014 09:04:58
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123990


Visa and MasterCard fear new Russian credit card - 02/05/2014 08:48:02
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123989


Dutch police stop activists from blocking Russian oil tanker - 02/05/2014 08:46:14
http://euobserver.com/tickers/123988