A selection of news from the European Union

UK

UK culls poultry amid flu fears

Britain has slaughtered 160,000 turkeys in an effort to contain its worst bird flu outbreak ever. Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, South Africa and the island of Jersey have all imposed bans on British poultry. Environment Secretary David Miliband commented, "The risk to the public is judged by health experts to be negligible," while Patricia Hewitt, health secretary, said that authorities were preparing "very, very seriously" for the "remote" possibility of a pandemic. Other European countries, such as France, Norway and Sweden, have taken precautionary measures. The European Commission expressed satisfaction at the way Britain has handled the outbreak thus far.

Slovenia

Prices rise as Slovenia enters Eurozone

Slovenia has experienced price hikes across the country after it replaced the tolar with the euro at the beginning of this year. "Prices of coffee, tea, lunches or breakfasts are increasing all over Slovenia," according to Breda Kutin of the Slovenian Consumers' Association, after the organization received over 500 reports from consumers complaining of rising prices. An EU survey showed that two-thirds of Slovenians are happy about adopting the euro, as they see it as a major step to becoming part of the European mainstream.

Portugal

Billions in back taxes to be collected Portugal's Finance Minister said his country plans to collect ?1.6 billion this year to bring its public deficit within European Union limits. "The recovery of unpaid taxes through coercive measures has been rising every year," Minister Teixeira dos Santos said. Portugal collected ?1.5 billion in back taxes in 2006 and ?1.4 billion in 2005. In an effort to reduce the number of tax evaders, the government has hired more tax inspectors and published the names of the tax evaders on the internet. Despite this, the minister said between ?16 billion and ?17 billion in back taxes were still owed. Prime Minister Jose Socrates has promised to bring Portugal's public deficit below the limit of 3 percent of GDP, imposed on countries which adopt the euro, by 2009.

Poland/Slovakia

Cheese dispute

Slovakia objected to Polish efforts to list the oscypek cheese on the European Union's registry of protected traditional goods in February, which would have meant only producers on the Polish side of the border would be able to use the cheese's label. The two countries have six months to resolve the disagreement, or the decision will fall to the EU's Executive Commission.

France

Smoking ban comes into effect

France has started to enforce its ban on smoking in public spaces such as the workplace, hospitals, airports and schools. Fines of ?67 for smokers and ?132 for employers will be handed out to those who ignore the ban. In a year, the law will also extend to restaurants and cafes. Nearly a quarter of French people smoke and 66,000 people per year die from smoking-related diseases or effects of passive smoking in France. In an effort to encourage smokers to give up, the government will reimburse up to ?50 per person for quitting smoking aids. It will also allow companies to invest in regulated smoking rooms in the workplace. Since 2003, the French government has increased taxes on cigarettes by approximately 50 percent to ?5 per pack.

Italy

Banking changes recommended

Mario Draghi Italy's central bank governor, has called for changes in the country's banking laws to facilitate takeovers of small- and medium-sized banks. Draghi called for a change in governance of these co-operatives, which are currently protected from takeover bids, and for foreign investors to be given greater shareholding and decision-making rights.

Denmark

Service sector booming

In the past three years, Denmark's tertiary sector has added 56,000 jobs to a labour force of nearly 3 million, according to a study by the Economic Council of the Labour Movement. The number of jobs has increased in shops, restaurants, banks, engineering and architecture. Industry and manufacturing have suffered considerable losses in the past few years, particularly the meatpacking industry and appliance manufacturers. Overall, 100 new jobs are created in Denmark every day, and economists say growth in the service sector at the expense of production is, on balance, beneficial. Denmark's unemployment currently stands at an all-time low of 3.7 percent.

Lithuania

Lithuania's rising GDP

Lithuania's GDP rose 7.4 percent last year from strong performance in the manufacturing, construction, real estate and financial sectors. These four fields contributed approximately 50 percent of the gross value added. GDP in the fourth quarter of 2006 increased 6.6 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. However, Lithuania's Statistics Department said the overall growth trend is towards deceleration. In a report by the World Bank, estimates of GDP growth in Lithuania are forecast as 6.3 percent for 2007, with inflation to reach 4.7 percent.