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Barnier vows to abide by world code
The European Union will stick to international guidelines set by the Group of 20 leading economies when drawing up fresh financial regulation, the incoming commissioner for the internal market has promised
Ministers back EU patent reform plan
Industry ministers took a significant step toward reforming Europe’s cumbersome and costly patent system, by approving in principle a new specialised litigation system and the creation of a single European Union-wide patent.
EU seeks pact on hedge funds
Hard bargaining is intensifying over Europe’s efforts to regulate on a pan-European basis for the first time. Divergent proposals and contrasting voices threaten to prevent harmony on common rules
Sarkozy cancels UK visit over City tension
Blow to attempt to defuse problem over Barnier appointment as EU’s leading financial official
Anglo-French tensions hit pan-EU ambitions
Brussels commissioners are supposed to take a Europe-wide view. The trouble is that, as far as financial services are concerned, Paris has an agenda and London is deeply suspicious
Man in the News: Michel Barnier
Despite Nicolas Sarkozy’s gloating, London’s banks may have less to fear from Michel Barnier, the newly appointed European commissioner for the internal market than they think
EU patent overhaul moves closer
Industry ministers will be meeting in Brussels and are expected to approve in principle a specialised litigation system and the creation of a single bloc-wide patent
EU watchdog pursues energy groups
Neelie Kroes reveals a probe involving Eon’s Ruhrgas gas distributor and secures legal commitments from GDF Suez to increase competition in France’s gas market
Editorial: The City has little to fear from EU
The French are leading a charge, it is alleged, to run the City of London out of business. But it is important to separate Nicolas Sarkozy’s populist rhetoric from what is actually happening on the ground
Turkey warns on EU sanctions over Cyprus
Turkey warns that its EU membership talks could suffer irreparable damage if EU leaders impose sanctions next week in retaliation for Ankara’s refusal to open ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic
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Comment and analysis
Greece can expect no gifts from Europe

The EU’s authorities, rightly or wrongly, are more afraid of the moral hazard of a bail-out than the possible spillover effect of a hypothetical Greek default, writes Wolfgang Münchau
Van Rompuy is the right man for the job

Belgian leadership consists of bringing consensus to a fractious coalition, exactly what the president of the EU has to do, writes Wolfgang Münchau











