Brief items for which space was lacking in earlier editions
*** Euro/United Kingdom: In a television interview (BBC), Tony Blair said last week that, if the economic situation was satisfactory and convergence with the countries of the Euro zone continued, he should be able to recommend joining the euro at the beginning of his next term of office (through a referendum). According to him, should the entry of the pound into the euro zone be ruled out, this would lead to a significant loss of jobs and investments.
*** IGC/Greece: Speaking before the Council of Ministers, Greek Foreign Minister Georges Papandreou reaffirmed that Greece could agree to enhanced cooperation in the Treaty's first and third pillars, and that it would not oppose implementing this mechanism to the second pillar (Cfsp). Mr. Papandreou did, however, confirm that Greece was in favour of maintaining the veto regarding foreign, security and defence policy.
*** IGC/PES: German Social-Democrat Jo Leinen MEP, urged the Party of European Socialists to take an active part in the debate on the future European architecture, pointing out that the Christian-Democrats, Liberals and Greens had already presented their concepts of the future of Europe.
*** EU/France/Germany: At the end of joint reflection the CAP (France) and the Planungsstab in Germany published a some one hundred page document on the organisation of an enlarged Europe: according to "Le Figaro", the most innovative parts are those on Csfp.
*** EP/Strasbourg: "I note that I'm preaching in the desert (…) Colleagues have told me that it took them fourteen hours to come to Strasbourg.. should that continue, colleagues will no longer come", said European Parliament Nicole Fontaine, in an interview with the daily "L'Alsace". Mrs. Fontaine acknowledged that transport was not the only problem, and that a "minority" of MEPs "would like everything to happen in Brussels".
*** EP/Children: Euro-MPs of the "Alliance for Children", among whom Mrs. Banotti, Mrs. Kinnock, Mrs. Groner and Mrs. Roure, and Mr. Whitehead, launched an appeal to President Prodi for the Commission to "keep its promise" of November last of publishing a "horizontal" communication on children's rights. Reacting to a letter, that they regard as "deeply disappointing", from the Commission's president, the MEPs stress that children represent 20% of the EU's population.
*** EP/Northern Ireland: Mitchel McLaughlin (who was Sinn Fein candidate in June's European elections), had talks in Strasbourg last week with MEPs and European Commission officials responsible for the Structural Funds. On that occasion, he welcomed the announcement a £2 million bridging finance for self-help groups who were facing difficulties because of the delay in releasing funds from the Community Support Framework for Northern Ireland, while considering that £5 million would be needed.
*** EP/WTO: the OVP member Paul Rubig MEP had talks in Geneva last week with the Director General of the WTO Mike Moore, to whom he set out Austrian industry's position concerning the reform of the World Trade Organisation and the interests of SMEs in world trade.
*** EP/Greens: At the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week, the Green Group inaugurated a "Salle Alexander Langer", in memory of the Italian Green who led the Group from 1989 to 1991 and from 1991 to 1995, before dying that year. The "A. Langer" Foundation, which has its seat in Bolzano, encourages co-existence between former enemies and efforst at a sustainable future.
*** EU/Germany/animals: German Minister of Home Affairs, Otto Schily, announced that he was going to take an initiative at European level against fighting dogs, and that he hoped to secure EU-wide legislation on the subject under the French Presidency.
*** International Crisis Group: the ICG (International Crisis Group), based in Brussels and Washington, has set up its new Board of Trustees with 21 newcomers, among whom the former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, Euro-MP Emma Bonino, the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia, Louise Harbour, and former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Wesley Clark.
*** Charter of Rights/press: Christian Wernicke, correspondent for the German weekly "Die Zeit" in Brussels, received the Prize for Journalism from the "Premio Napoli" Foundation, which this year was attributed to the best articles having raised public interest in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.