European Union

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Rich Nations Break Climate Vow to Poor

$1.2B pledge to developing countries is mostly forgotten

(Newser) - Several of the world's richest nations have forgotten about a $1.2 billion pledge to help developed countries cope with climate change, the Guardian reports. The group has doled out less than $185 million so far to help them plan for global warming, defend against floods, and boost conservation. "...

Europeans Go for Coke
Europeans Go for Coke

Europeans Go for Coke

2007 EU report says coke use up by one million

(Newser) - Cocaine is "Europe's stimulant of choice," according to a new study that says nearly five million Europeans used coke this year—a million more than last. The Spanish and British used it most, BBC reports, but Danes and Italians increased their usage most in 2007. Two million Europeans...

Dictator's Granddaughter Sinks Far-Right Euro Bloc

Italian's comments hasten collapse of European Parliament group

(Newser) - The collapse of a far-right party yesterday drew cheers in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Deutsche Welle reports. The final straw in the collapse of the Identity, Tradition, and Sovereignty group came after Alessandra Mussolini—granddaughter of the former dictator—described Romanians as "habitual lawbreakers," prompting Romanian...

EU Eyes Single Telecom Market
EU Eyes Single Telecom Market

EU Eyes Single Telecom Market

European Commission considers EU-wide rules to break up national monopolies

(Newser) - Europe would be a single telecom market under a plan proposed by the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, which argues that cheaper broadband and phone service is being held up by conflicting legislation and national monopolies in member countries. Under the plan, a regulatory body would oversee...

White House Cozy for Sarkozy
White House Cozy for Sarkozy

White House Cozy for Sarkozy

French president wooing 'heart of America'

(Newser) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday demonstrated why he is dubbed “Sarko l’Américain,” bursting onto the Washington scene hugging and backslapping, reports the New York Times. He clearly enjoyed his first official visit to the US despite lingering pain over his pending divorce from wayward wife, Cé...

Turkey Listens to EU, Will Ease Up on Free Speech

Amendment to law is part of bid for EU membership

(Newser) - Readying itself for possible EU membership, Turkey's government will soften a law that curbs free speech, the AP reports. An amendment expected to pass parliament will limit penalties for Article 301, which punishes "insulting Turkey or Turkish identity" with up to three years in prison. The announcement came hours...

Who Needs a Government? Not Belgium

Country has no PM 149 days after elections; foreign policy on hold

(Newser) - Belgium marks a record 149 days without government today, and the binational kingdom is still mired in protracted coalition talks. It's the most serious political crisis in the nation's history, and yet Belgians are growing used to the situation, the Telegraph reports. "If they are not careful they will...

Russia Stiff Arms International Vote Monitors

Showdown looms with US & EU in bid to keep observers at a distance

(Newser) - Russia may be headed for another showdown with the US and the European Union over its proposals to severely limit the authority of international election monitors. The Kremlin wants to cut the number of observers and ban their reports from publication until after elections. The move comes just months before...

EU Will Lure Skilled Migrants With 'Blue Card'

Universal visa will mimic US Green Card, fill projected shortages

(Newser) - Facing a projected shortfall of 20 million workers by 2030, the European Union unveiled its own version of the US Green Card yesterday in hopes of attracting skilled migrants. The Blue Card will grant workers full employment, social security, and health care benefits, as well as permanent residency after five...

Court Overturns Volkswagen Law, Takeover Likely

Porsche to exercise control in VW

(Newser) - The EU’s highest court today overturned a 47-year-old German law that protected Volkswagen AG from takeover, opening the door for a long-rumored Porsche coup. Porsche already owns 31% of VW, but the law capped their voting rights at 20%. With that impediment gone, “I see Porsche flexing its...

Microsoft Caves on EU Antitrust Suit
Microsoft Caves on EU Antitrust Suit

Microsoft Caves on EU Antitrust Suit

Must allow even open-source software developers access to Windows

(Newser) - Microsoft is conceding its 9-year antitrust battle with the EU after striking a deal that will force the software giant to license its software secrets to anyone who asks at drastically reduced rates. In exchange, the EU has stopped the daily variable fines of up to 3 million euro that...

In Europe, Cars Go the Way of Cigarettes

Auto advertising to carry warning labels about emissions

(Newser) - Carbon health warnings for cars are coming to Europe. Under a European Parliament plan expected to be approved this week, 20% of the space in print car advertising will have to be devoted to cigarette-style warnings about vehicles' carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. The most polluting vehicles will also face...

Russia's New Weight Tips Global Scales

Putin's policies on Kosovo, Iran, nukes ruffle US, Euro feathers

(Newser) - Vladimir Putin's Russia is charging back into the international spotlight, the Christian Science Monitor reports, challenging European and US policies on a variety of issues. Putin has thrown a wrench into Kosovo’s all-but-assured independence from Serbia, backing Belgrade’s efforts to keep the province. Russian planes recently violated Norwegian...

Britain Boycotts African Summit
Britain Boycotts African Summit

Britain Boycotts African Summit

Brown takes stand against torture, intimidation in Mugabe's Zimbabwe

(Newser) - Britain will boycott a summit bringing together leaders of the European Union and  African states because of the expected presence of  Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the Independent  he wants to send a powerful message of concern to the leader responsible for widespread torture and the...

Just 2&deg;C, but a Different World
Just 2°C, but a Different World

Just 2°C, but a Different World

Climate change conference insists that humans will have to adapt to survive

(Newser) - The European Union set itself an ambitious goal when it pledged to rein in global rises in temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius. That goal is now unlikely to be met, reports a UN-established group that presented its findings in London today. Martin Parry, who leads the Intergovernmental Panel on...

Microsoft Ruling in Europe Major Blow to Tech Giants

Court upholds record fine and order to share codes

(Newser) - A European Union appeals court yesterday upheld an anti-trust decision against Microsoft, leaving intact a record $689 million fine and and a challenge to how it does business in Europe, the New York Times reports. The decision has huge repercussions for other tech giants as the European Union seeks to...

EU Court Upholds Record Microsoft Fine

Rejects appeal on $613M antitrust fine

(Newser) - A European Union court today rejected Microsoft's appeal of  the $613-million anti-trust fine handed down in 2004--the largest fine ever imposed by EU regulators. Microsoft will also have to share communication code with rivals and start selling copies of Windows without its Media Player program. Microsoft is expected to appeal...

France Warns of War with Iran
France Warns of War with Iran

France Warns of War with Iran

World should 'prepare for the worst," says foreign minister

(Newser) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner yesterday threatened war with Iran to  halt its nuclear weapons program. France favors negotiations and sanctions but the world should prepare for military action if all else fails, he said in an interview on French TV. Iranian nuclear weapons would pose "a real danger...

Microsoft, EU Await Landmark Antitrust Decree

Verdict could change firm's business model, or embarrass EU

(Newser) - Microsoft execs will be waiting to hear if they won an antitrust appeal against the EU tomorrow, the BBC reports. A 2004 probe declared the tech giant guilty of abusing its industry status and fined it $690 million. If Microsoft pulls off a victory, analysts say, the EU commission will...

EU Aims to Court Legal Immigrants
EU Aims to Court Legal Immigrants

EU Aims to Court Legal Immigrants

Population declining, Europe needs bigger share of skilled workers

(Newser) - A European Union executive is proposing both a "new vision" and new policies for immigration in Europe, the BBC reports. With Europe already suffering from shortages in many job sectors, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the EU should view immigration as "enrichment," and not a threat. While...

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