EU Reporter

COPYRIGHT: A new era...

March 18 2009
Coming of age after 300 years300 years after the concept was born, copyright has hit the headlines. Suddenly, everyone has discovered it. The simple mechanism that gave authors ownership of their works has exploded on the internet. It all began at the dawn of the Enlightenment with the Statute of Queen Anne. Our forefathers granted “the Author of any Book or Books...the sole Right and Libert... Read more

Business takes over the Parliament.

October 17 2008
Speaking at a summit of EU leaders on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for financial institutions to work in the interests of both business and the people. The summit caps a week in Brussels that was devoted to promoting both financial and economic stability within Europe.While European leaders have been devoting themselves to the crisis within the financial system some small bus... Read more

Farmers look beyond current debate and towards 2015

March 11 2008
Farmers in the UK are looking beyond the current EU debates on milk quota plans to envisage how a “smooth transition” on the ending of quotas can be achieved by 2015. As debates about the possible increase on quotas, as well as the CAP Health Check, are being heard in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is insisting that a long-term plan for... Read more

Iphone debate heats up

January 15 2008
Apple provoke new moves against unfair phone contracts.It will almost certainly be a long drawn out fight but the EU is getting to grips with exclusive contracts for mobile telephones. Apple have come up with the catalyst for what promises to be a roller coaster ride towards the aim of allowing all EU consumers to shop for the mobile phone of  their choice and the contract of their choice.While... Read more

Commission thinking doing more harm than good say food producers

January 10 2008
Commission will damage small businesses.Failure by the European Commission to properly think through a common policy on food labelling will damage small businesses, say industry representatives.By only taking into account the “so-called” view of consumers, the Commission is instead only confusing European citizens, who will be subject to an abundance of information printed on food pack... Read more

Support growing for change of auditors' liability

June 21 2007
 The current system relating to auditor’s liability needs to be reformed, the accounting profession is arguing. The calls come as momentum is gathering across the EU for change to be implemented. Read more

More "carrots" needed if small business is to survive climate change upheaval

June 07 2007
Climate change presents both “a major threat and a major opportunity” to small businesses, industry figures insist. However without proper legislative support, many SMEs could find themselves going out of business.  Read more

More opposition to employer sanctions

May 18 2007
 More opposition has been levied against the new Commission proposals to criminalise the employers of staff who do not have the correct documentation. Read more

Seasonal employers in danger of being criminalised

May 17 2007
Business representatives have expressed concern over new proposals by the Commission that could curb cross-border migration, and affect small businesses across the EU. Read more

Football: Sport or business?

March 29 2007
Football in Europe has entered into crisis. According to UEFA President, Michel Platini, the “colossal arrival of money” through private television networks in the last 15 years is seriously damaging football, as the current trend towards commercialisation is provoking public dissatisfaction with the sport. Read more