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ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Cold War politics haunt EU gas crunch response

05.01.2009 @ 17:44 CET

Ex-Communist EU states are again accusing Russia of using energy as a political weapon in the Ukraine gas crisis, despite European Commission efforts to paint the dispute as a purely commercial matter.

EU concerned as Russia cuts off Ukraine gas

02.01.2009 @ 09:24 CET

The EU and the US have voiced concern after Russia has cut gas supplies to Ukraine on 1 January due to a price dispute. But EU consumers are less likely to be hit by disruptions as in early 2006.

Russian gas supplies to EU dive overnight

Today @ 09:16 CET

Russian supplies of gas to the EU via Ukraine dived by 70 percent overnight from Monday to Tuesday Ukraine says, with Bulgarian consumers told to turn off gas stoves after an emergency government meeting.

EU ambassadors meet on Ukraine gas row

05.01.2009 @ 09:27 CET

Deputy ambassadors from the 27 EU countries are to hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday in Brussels, after gas disruptions were registered in several EU states amid the Russia-Ukraine gas row.

Gazprom pipeline. After cutting supplies to Ukraine, Russia says Kiev is siphoning off EU gas (Photo: gazprom.ru)

Ten years on, eurozone takes on 16th member

30.12.2008 @ 10:10 CET

Ten years after the original 11 countries in western Europe set up a common currency, the monetary union is due to enlarge to Slovakia, as its 16th member state and the first in central Europe to switch to the euro.

Ukraine pays Russian debt in latest gas stand-off

31.12.2008 @ 09:41 CET

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Tuesday (30 January) that his country has started to repay a gas trade debt to Russia, but Gazprom said it did not receive the money yet and continues to threaten a cut off on 1 January.

Google, Fastest Rising EU Searches 2008

  • 01M6 replay (French Television Station).
  • 02Meinvz (German Social Networking).
  • 03Kino.to (Online Music Platform).
  • 04Ikariam (Free Browser Game).
  • 05BBC I player (BBC's download services).
  • 06Facebook (Global social network).
  • 07Wkw (German Social Network).
  • 08Tuenti (Spanish social network).
  • 09Obama (The next U.S. President).
  • 10Heath Ledger (Mourned Australian actor).

Fastest rising searches. Provided exclusively by to and covering the 27 EU states. For more information on Google Zeitgeist click here.

Google, Top EU Trends Of 2008

  • 01Euro.
  • 02Neuwagen (Cross-border car sales).
  • 03VAT.
  • 04Fuhrerschein (Driver's License).
  • 05Directive.
  • 06Import.
  • 07Ireland.
  • 08NATO.
  • 09Commission.
  • 10Romania.

Most popular searches. Provided exclusively by to and covering the 27 EU states. For more information on Google Zeitgeist click here.

EUobserver, Most Read Articles - This Week

EUobserver, Most Read Articles - This Month

Russia and Ukraine enter last ditch gas talks

30.12.2008 @ 09:29 CET

Gazprom and the Ukrainian government - both hit hard by the economic crisis - plan to hold another round of gas price negotiations on Tuesday in a long-running dispute which might again disrupt EU supplies.

Commission recommendations on fish quotas largely ignored by ministers

19.12.2008 @ 20:25 CET

Fishermen in the North Sea will be able to catch a lot more cod next year, while cod fishers elsewhere will have to do with less, after EU fisheries ministers agreed on Friday to fish quotas for 2009 - quotas that oceans campaigners say are as unsustainable as ever.

Austerity measures imposed on Latvia in return for emergency loans

22.12.2008 @ 23:02 CET

Latvia is to receive €7.5 billion in loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to bolster its battered economy, hit hard by the ongoing global financial crisis. The commission and the ecofin council will in effect become the superintendents of the Latvian economy, overseeing the implementation of an austerity package and ready to demand further cuts if necessary.

EU states consider more spending to boost economy

19.12.2008 @ 08:36 CET

The European Commission and European Central Bank have urged member states to carry out plans to boost the economy while keeping the relaxed budgetary and debt limits, with Brussels suggesting the agreed recovery package should add around an 0.85 percent boost to GDP growth within the 27-strong bloc.

More spending is needed in the EU economy but not over the agreed thresholds, the ECB chief has warned (Photo: European Community)

Toxic toys focus of agreement between MEPs, member states

19.12.2008 @ 09:54 CET

MEPs partially strengthened toy safety rules on Thursday, banning the use of toxic substances, fragrances and requiring more visible warning signs. The new directive was agreed with the 27 member states and allows the industry transition periods of up to four years.

Parliament, member states reach deal on toxic pesticide ban

19.12.2008 @ 09:12 CET

A deal banning a number of highly toxic chemicals within pesticides and reducing pesticide use has been reached between MEPs and representatives of European Union member states. Aerial crop spraying will for the most part also be prohibited as will pesticide use near schools, playgrounds and hospitals.

Europeans fearful of recession and energy disruptions

18.12.2008 @ 18:07 CET

Citizens across Europe have a grim view on the economic outlook for 2009 and three out of five think the Georgian conflict could have an impact on EU's energy security, the latest Eurobarometer reveals.

EU loosens state aid rules, feels pressure on budget deficits

18.12.2008 @ 09:37 CET

The European Commission has given in to calls to loosen up rules on state aid in order to tackle looming economic recession, while some national governments are piling on the pressure for a similar amnesty on their widening budget deficits.

MEPs deal blow to EU compromise on working time

17.12.2008 @ 17:55 CET

The European Parliament has voted to force Britain to remove its controversial opt-out from the EU's weekly limit on working hours, striking a blow to the long-sought deal among the member states on the maximum amount of hours Europeans can safely spend at work.

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