European Union – News Stories About European Union - Page 28

Feb 27, 2008 10:08 AM CST

Paris-Berlin Relations Turn Sour

Tempers fraying in Merkel's camp after 2 high-level cancellations

(Newser) - Only a week after Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel called off a scheduled meeting, France and Germany's finance ministers canceled their own summit yesterday, reports AFP. While nobody wants to say that the leaders of Europe's two largest countries are getting testy with each other, disagreements over economic policy and...

EU Fines Microsoft Record $1.3B

UPDATED

Feb 27, 2008 5:01 AM CST

EU Fines Microsoft Record $1.3B

Regulators punish company for overcharging Windows developers

(Newser) - The European Commission fined Microsoft today a record $1.35 billion for failing to comply with its 2004 antitrust ruling. The EU's executive branch said that the company continued to charge "unreasonable prices" to developers building programs for Windows despite both the earlier ruling and a court verdict last...

Only Italians Can Call It Parmesan

Feb 26, 2008 7:36 PM CST

Only Italians Can Call It Parmesan

EU's high court rules against German cheese makers

(Newser) - Europe's high court ruled today that only Italians can call their cheese Parmesan, Bloomberg reports. The judges shot down an argument by German cheese-makers that the term is generic. "This is absolutely wonderful news," said the author of an Italian cheese guide. "There is no more risk...

Communist Cyprus Prez to 'Work Within Free Market'

Feb 26, 2008 4:00 AM CST

Communist Cyprus Prez to 'Work Within Free Market'

'Pragmatic' winner not hard-line red: analysts

(Newser) - New President Dimitris Christofias' win in Cyprus makes him the first Communist ever to lead an EU state—but he has pledged to work within the free market, reports the Guardian. His party has a Marxist manifesto, but analysts say that Christofias is a pragmatist whose policies are more social...

Sarkozy Rips 'Idiot' Citizen

Feb 25, 2008 4:28 AM CST

Sarkozy Rips 'Idiot' Citizen

French prez has a cow at agriculture show

(Newser) - In his latest popularity blunder, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been captured on tape calmly skewering a French citizen who refused to shake his hand at an agricultural show in Paris. "Get lost, you idiot," Sarkozy zings in a sanitized translation when the man tells the president he...

EU Experts Say Iran Closer to Nuke Weapon

Feb 22, 2008 9:25 AM CST

EU Experts Say Iran Closer to Nuke Weapon

Tehran a year away on uranium; separate UN report out today

(Newser) - A new report from a European Union agency concludes that Iran could have enough uranium to build an atomic bomb within one year. The EU results—which precede a major UN report coming out today—look nothing like the findings of the US intelligence community, writes Der Spiegel: the recent...

Microsoft Tries to Appease EU With Blueprints

Feb 21, 2008 5:41 PM CST

Microsoft Tries to Appease EU With Blueprints

But skeptical regulators say it's deja vu from US software giant

(Newser) - Microsoft plans to share the secrets of its most popular products, the company announced today, in an effort to satisfy EU regulators who want the software giant to improve its interoperability. The European Commission did cautiously applaud the move, but noted that Microsoft has already made at least four similar...

Foes Mobilize to Block Blair as First Euro Prez

Feb 20, 2008 3:14 AM CST

Foes Mobilize to Block Blair as First Euro Prez

Iron support for US still rankles

(Newser) - Stiff opposition is mounting against the possibility of former British prime minister Tony Blair being named the first president of Europe. A "Stop Blair" website has been launched, and a cross-party caucus in the European parliament is forming to campaign against him. A new treaty about to be ratified...

Serbia Calls Home US Envoy

Feb 18, 2008 8:26 PM CST

Serbia Calls Home US Envoy

PM vows to pull diplomats from all nations that support Kosovo independence

(Newser) - Serbia called home its US ambassador today to protest America's recognition of Kosovo's independence, the BBC reports. Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica called the move Serbia's "first urgent measure," and warned that envoys in other countries that recognize Kosovar autonomy will soon be withdrawn.

US, EU States Recognize Independent Kosovo

UPDATED

Feb 18, 2008 11:41 AM CST

US, EU States Recognize Independent Kosovo

Spain withholds nod; prez gets ahead of US State Dept.

(Newser) - The US and major European states recognized Kosovo as an independent state today, reports Reuters. Condoleezza Rice issued an official statement several hours after President Bush jumped the gun by saying in a speech in Africa that Kosovo is "now independent." His Secretary of State said later: "...

Kosovo Independence Splits EU

Feb 18, 2008 6:11 AM CST

Kosovo Independence Splits EU

Some fear feisty new nation could inspire separatists elsewhere

(Newser) - A meeting of EU officials today to discuss Kosovo is likely to reveal deep-seated divisions within the European Union. While Britain, France and Germany are expected to recognize the newly independent Kosovo immediately, other states like Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Spain worry about the message such recognition will send to...

EU Force Set for Kosovo
on Eve of Independence

Feb 16, 2008 9:39 AM CST

EU Force Set for Kosovo on Eve of Independence

2,000 police and judges to help smooth transition

(Newser) - As Kosovo stands poised to declare independence from Serbia, the European Union is preparing to send a civilian police and justice mission to help enforce the rule of law in the fledgling country. The US and most of the EU support Kosovar independence; Serbia and Russia oppose it, but will...

Rock on!
EU May
Extend Song
Copyrights

Feb 15, 2008 8:31 AM CST

Rock on! EU May Extend Song Copyrights

Ditties from Beatles, Who, Stones at play

(Newser) - Early hits from the Beatles and the Stones are only a few years away from falling out of copyright and into the public domain, but the European Commission wants to change that and keep royalties flowing to rock stars in their golden years, reports the Times of London. Plans to...

Europe Moves to Fingerprint Travelers

Feb 12, 2008 1:25 PM CST

Europe Moves to Fingerprint Travelers

Privacy advocates fret, but US, Japan already have similar policies

(Newser) - Just as Washington is pushing Europe to increase security, the European Parliament is considering fingerprinting every international traveler who enters or leaves the continent, the Washington Post reports. “It’s the only way to be really sure about identifying people,” an official said. The US backs the measure,...

EU Raids Intel's German Offices

Feb 12, 2008 12:05 PM CST

EU Raids Intel's German Offices

World's biggest chip maker may face new antitrust allegations

(Newser) - EU investigators raided Intel’s German office today, searching for evidence that the chip maker has broken antitrust laws, the BBC reports. The European Commission has already opened a case against Intel for monopolistic business practices, but officials said the surprise raid was the first step in its investigation, signaling...

Bush Demands Europe Step Up Flight Security

Feb 11, 2008 12:50 PM CST

Bush Demands Europe Step Up Flight Security

EU leaders accuse US of 'blackmail,' call requests 'absurd'

(Newser) - In a move some EU officials call blackmail, the Bush administration is demanding that EU members implement a wide range of new air security measures. The US wants American air marshals on all inbound flights, an online screening permit process for all US-bound passengers, and personal information on anyone flying...

Microsoft Under More EU Fire

Feb 8, 2008 12:43 PM CST

Microsoft Under More EU Fire

Company's push for Office approval in spotlight

(Newser) - Shortly after the EU announced two new antitrust probes focusing on Microsoft, investigators are scrutinizing the company again. In question this time is whether Microsoft broke antitrust laws during a push last year to get its Office software file format approved as an international standard, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Serbian Government May Collapse Over Kosovo

Feb 5, 2008 9:40 AM CST

Serbian Government May Collapse Over Kosovo

Crisis looms only days after presidential vote

(Newser) - Serbia's coalition government approached collapse today, only days after voters gave a new mandate to pro-Western president Boris Tadic. His reelection has led to a face-off with his PM, who opposes his intention to sign a new EU trade agreement. The PM sees EU overtures as a ploy to trick...

Pro-West Tadic Wins in Serbia

Feb 3, 2008 5:05 PM CST

Pro-West Tadic Wins in Serbia

Loser Nikolic warns EU not to blackmail Serbia over integration

(Newser) - Pro-West Serbian President Boris Tadic won a second-round reelection today that many saw as a referendum on Serbia’s entry into the European Union. He nabbed more than 50% of a vote that drew Serbia's highest turnout in 7 years. In defeat, challenger Tomislav Nikolic warned the EU not to...

Blair Eyes Role as
Europe's First President

Feb 2, 2008 12:38 PM CST

Blair Eyes Role as Europe's First President

Ex-British PM wants post to have strong say on defense, trade

(Newser) - Tony Blair is angling to become Europe’s first president, the Guardian reports, but the former British PM wants to be assured the EU’s new top job will come with real authority on defense and trade. Blair, currently the Mideast envoy for the US, EU, UN, and Russia, has...