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Ecofin split over Galileo bill
- Finance ministers clashed on Tuesday (13 November) over plans to grant €2.4 billion in public funding to satellite navigation system Galileo. Their meeting came a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy indicated that a plan could be ready by 30 November. Ministers also failed to agree on a reform of rules on value-added tax.
Hungary told to lift energy barrier
- The European Commission on Tuesday sent Hungary a formal warning over the introduction of a law intended to protect domestic energy champion MOL from foreign takeovers. The Commission said that the law, which allows the government to appoint members to the boards of companies in strategic sectors, might contain unjustified restrictions on the free movement of capital and right of establishment.
Boeing-Airbus will be long-haul fight
- European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson warned on Tuesday that a settlement to the Boeing-Airbus dispute over aid could be more than two years away. He said differences between the two sides were too big. The EU claims that tax breaks, grants and military contracts awarded to Boeing distort trade and maintains that its financial support for Airbus helps innovation and creates efficiencies in air transport.
Ministers back broadcasting rules
- EU culture ministers formally approved on Monday (12 November) new broadcasting rules covering television advertising and product placement. The rules, known as the audio-visual media services directive, update the 1997 television without frontiers directive. The European Parliament is expected to hold a final vote on 29 November.
Growth edges upwards
- Gross domestic product grew by 0.7% in the eurozone and by 0.8% in the EU27 during the third quarter of 2007 compared with the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published by EU statistics agency Eurostat on Wednesday (14 November).
European carmakers are lobbying hard against plans to liberalise the spare parts market.
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