EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.

Defra: Special fishing permits for English, Welsh & Northern Irish registered fishing boats, allowing the removal of shark fins at sea, are to be stopped.  Scotland will simultaneously be announcing plans to cease issuing permits to their fleet.  Any sharks caught by UK registered vessels will now have to be landed with the fin attached.
 
Shark finning is the practice of removing fins from the shark and disposing the carcass at sea.  The high price for fins gives an incentive for this wasteful practice. 
Press release ~ Shark Trust ~ Shark Alliance ~ Defra - Sharks
 
BIS: Business Minister Ian Lucas is urging companies, including SMEs, in the services sector to take advantage of new opportunities to do business with Europe. Mr Lucas highlighted the opportunities for firms following implementation of the EU Services Directive which comes into force at the end of 2009.
 
The aim of the Services Directive is to reduce the barriers and red-tape that can make it more difficult for service providers to enter new markets and compete outside of their home country.  Sectors such as construction, business consultancy, leisure and hospitality, accountancy and legal services could potentially benefit. Regulations were, last week, laid before Parliament to implement the Directive in the UK.
Press release ~ BIS - EU Services Directive
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