Composers tell EU: Broadcasters treat us unfairly

By DON MELVIN

BRUSSELS (AP) — A group representing composers and songwriters is alleging that some of Europe’s most prominent broadcasters are coercing them into giving up the copyrights to their work, sharply diminishing their earnings.

The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, representing 12,000 composers and songwriters, filed a complaint with the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, targeting more than 15 broadcasters and studios, including the BBC, British Sky Broadcasting and ITV.

The complaint targets companies in the Netherlands, France, Italy, the U.K., Denmark and Austria.

At a news conference Wednesday in Brussels, representatives of the alliance said composers are often told they won’t be considered for a commission unless they’re willing to give up the copyright to whatever music they ultimately create.

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European air traffic falls amid economic gloom

By SLOBODAN LEKIC

BRUSSELS (AP) — The number of commercial flights in Europe will continue to fall this year because of the continent’s economic troubles, air traffic agency Eurocontrol said Wednesday.

The agency forecast there will be a total of 9.7 million flights across Europe in 2012, 1.3 percent less than last year. Trans-Atlantic flights from Germany, France, Britain, and other cities are expected to drop 1.4 percent.

Eurocontrol said the downturn, which began in 2008, will last into next year. It predicted that the peak of 10 million flights in 2008 will not be reached again until at least 2014.

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EU imposes new sanctions on Syrian regime

By DON MELVIN

BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers said Monday they were increasingly appalled by the Syrian government’s ruthless campaign of repression against civilians, and imposed new sanctions in hopes of pressuring the regime to change course.

The officials from the 27 EU countries, meeting in Brussels, froze the assets of seven Syrian government officials and the country’s central bank. They also banned the purchase of gold, precious metals and diamonds from the country, and banned Syrian cargo flights from the European Union.

“The EU underlines that those responsible for the violence across Syria will be held accountable for their actions,” the foreign ministers said in a statement, adding that, “The EU supports the Syrian opposition in its struggle for freedom, dignity and democracy.”

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Good advice on writing

Mark Twain

 

 

Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.

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EU committee makes no decision on oil sands crude

Oil sands in Alberta

By DON MELVIN

BRUSSELS — A European Union committee failed Thursday to reach a definite decision on labeling oil derived from oil sands as worse for climate change than crude oil — a proposal vigorously opposed by officials in Canada, where such oil is produced.

The proposal will now ultimately be decided by the environment ministers of the EU’s 27 member countries, said a spokesman for EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard. The spokesman, Isaac Valero-Ladron, said a decision was expected by June.

Canada had threatened to take the EU to the World Trade Organization if it singled out that type of oil as worse for the environment than others. But the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, contends that science justifies its proposal.

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EU expects eurozone to suffer mild recession

By GABRIELE STEINHAUSER and PAN PYLAS

BRUSSELS — The 17-nation eurozone economy will suffer a modest recession this year despite recent signs of stabilization, particularly in financial markets, the European Union’s executive branch said Thursday.

In its latest projections, the European Commission forecast a 0.3 percent contraction in the eurozone economy, with Greece leading the way downward with a massive 4.4 percent decline.

That would be the fifth straight year of recession in Greece, which earlier this week clinched its second massive bailout package in less than two years.

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EU, facing opposition, suspends ratification of copyright treaty

By DON MELVIN

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission, facing opposition in city streets, on the Internet and in the halls of parliament, has suspended efforts to ratify a new international anti-counterfeiting agreement, and instead will refer it to Europe’s highest court to see whether it violates any fundamental EU rights.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht asserted Wednesday that an opinion from the European Court of Justice would clear away the fog of misinformation surrounding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, known as ACTA.

“This debate must be based upon facts and not upon the misinformation or rumor that has dominated social media sites and blogs in recent weeks,” De Gucht told reporters in Brussels.

The decision appeared to reflect recognition by European Union officials of the political obstacles. Protests against the agreement were staged earlier this month in several European capitals — including Berlin, Helsinki, Paris and Vienna — by critics who say the agreement would stifle free speech and access to information.

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As euro crisis continues, Van Rompuy looks set to get 2nd term as European Council president

By DON MELVIN

BRUSSELS — Herman Van Rompuy, who has attempted to guide the European Union through severe financial turmoil, will likely be reappointed president of the European Council at a meeting of the bloc’s leaders next week, an EU official said Wednesday.

Van Rompuy

Though Van Rompuy had served briefly as prime minister of Belgium, he was virtually unknown on the world stage when he was appointed the council’s first president in 2009. Van Rompuy was initially seen as an indication that EU presidents and prime ministers had opted for a clerk rather than risk being overshadowed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But Van Rompuy, 64, has become regarded as a skillful manager of negotiations among the national leaders — a quality essential in an institution where unanimity among the 27 heads of government is required for most major decisions.

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Greece secures bailout to avoid debt default

By GABRIELE STEINHAUSER and SARAH DiLORENZO

Greece won a second massive financial bailout in the early hours of today when its partners in the 17-country eurozone finally stitched together a 130 billion euro rescue, meant to avoid a potentially disastrous default and secure the euro currency’s future.

But the patchwork of measures — including the implementation of austerity measures in Greece and approval by sceptical German and Dutch Parliaments — required to give the rescue even a chance of success means it’s unlikely to be the end of the continent’s debt crisis.

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Greece awaits bailout decision but issues remain

By GABRIELE STEINHAUSER and SARAH DiLORENZO

BRUSSELS (AP) — Eurozone governments are due to sign off on Monday a long-awaited rescue package for Greece, saving it from a potentially calamitous bankruptcy next month, senior officials said.

But finance ministers meeting in Brussels still have a few last issues to wrangle over, such as tighter controls over Greece’s spending and further cuts to the country’s debt load.

Greece needs to secure the euro130 billion ($170 billion) bailout quickly so it can move ahead with a related euro100 billion ($130 billion) debt relief deal with private investors, which needs to be in place quickly if Athens is to avoid a disorderly default on a bond repayment on March 20.

“I am of the opinion that today we have to deliver, because we don’t have any more time,” Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg who also chairs the meetings of eurozone finance ministers, said as he arrived in Brussels.

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