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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 7865

16 December 2000
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 39
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/state aid
Negative Commission decision on aid to Dutch manure processing companies granted after expiry of approved scheme (1994)

Brussels, 15/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided that State aid notified by the Dutch authorities, of 2.5 million euro, for six manure processing companies is incompatible with the common market and is asking the Netherlands to recover the sum unlawfully granted.

For the 1989-94 period, the Commission had approved a system of aid called "Bijdrageregeling Proefprojecten Mestwerking" (BPM-scheme) intended to finance projects relating to the processing of manure in the...

Contents

THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/NICE TREATY: Draft text to be subject of legal and linguistic review next week - Commission considers it was not able to fully play its role as mediator in Nice and that working of European Council must be improved
(EU) EP/GIBRALTAR/NUCLEAR: Debate on submarine "Tireless" raises a problem of EU competences and divides Spanish and British MEPs (and Spanish Socialists and Conservatives) - Speaking personally, Patten urges British authorities to show transparency
(EU) EU/SWEDISH PRESIDENCY: Anna Lindh confirms that she wants to already broach with candidate countries themes such as agricultural, regional policy, ESDP and conflict prevention
(EU) EU/ISRAEL/PALESTINE: Israel maintains its financial undertakings towards Palestinian Authority and welcomes EU aid
(EU) EU/NATO: Lunch for Minister for Foreign Affairs, Friday in Brussels - Ankara poses conditions for EU access to NATO means
(EU) EP/NICE TREATY: Treaty does not enable EU to enlarge, says "European Constitution" intergroup
(EU) EU/SWITZERLAND: Ogi asserts that accession to EU is aim of Federal Council - Ciampi calls for European Constitution
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Fisheries Ministers agree to reduce fishing effort by around 50% for cod and whiting and 10% for associated stocks - Introduction of quotas for benthic species postponed
(EU) EU/AIR TRANSPORT: After favourable opinion given, on Friday, by Member States, Commission should positively close Malpensa saga, on 21 December
(EU) EU/ENVIRONMENT: Council could adopt common position on noise management and on sustainable development in urban environment and discuss climatic change, GMO traceability, management of electrical and electronic waste and global governance of environment
(EU) EP/TAXATION: EP slightly amends at first reading proposal on VAT applicable to some electronic services
(EU) EP/BUDGETS: Parliament calls on Court of Auditors to cite and specify cases of fraud and irregularity, stating who is responsible
(EU) EU/TAXATION: EP approves extension of normal minimum VAT rate at 15% but only until end 2003
(EU) EU/ITALY: Loan of EUR 88 million for Palermo tramway
(EU) EP/ENVIRONMENT/NOISE: EP calls for binding norms to be gradually brought in for different sources of noise (trucks, bikes, trains, planes, etc.)
(EU) EP/INDUSTRY: EP regrets that European system of State aid for shipbuilding is to be dropped
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Negative Commission decision on aid to Dutch manure processing companies granted after expiry of approved scheme (1994)
(EU) EU/COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE: European Commission decision not to regard as State aid logistical and commercial assistance France's "La Poste" granted its subsidiary SFMI-Chronopost is annulled
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Community regulation on origin of virgin olive oil confirmed
(EU) EU/RESEARCH: Sequencing of genome of thale cress is complete - Commissioner Busquin expresses satisfaction
(EU) EU/RESEARCH: Commission sets in place new group of experts to coordinate research on spongiform encephalopathies
(EU) EU/BUDGET 2001: Court of Justice benefits from additional funding to offset translation delays - Budgets of the other European Institutions
(EU) EU/TRADE POLICY: Agreement with Sri Lanka for reciprocal concessions in Textile sector
(EU) EU/CHINA: Definitive anti-dumping duty on Chinese coke despite shortage in Europe - Explanations from European Commission
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission approves aid granted to SKET Walzwerkstechnik (Germany)
(EU) EU/SOCIAL FUND: Commission adopts EUR 376 million package in favour of education, training and employment in Flanders (Belgium)
(EU) EP/BUDGET/CULTURE:
(EU) EU/JUSTICE: UN Convention against organised crime and its two protocols on trade in human beings and illegal migration (signed on behalf of the EU by Commissioner Vitorino) will facilitate international cooperation even if the EU already has more advanced instruments
TIMETABLE
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ECONOMIC INTERPENETRATION
(EU) Privatisation:
(EU) Telecommunications:
(EU) Cinema:
(EU) Electrical equipment:
(EU) Energy:
(EU) Food processing:
(EU) Construction:
(EU) Advertising:
(EU) Computing:
VALUE OF THE EURO IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES 15/12/2000: