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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8336

8 November 2002
Contents Publication in full By article 26 / 34
ECONOMIC INTERPENETRATION / (eu) communication

The French VU - VIVENDI UNIVERSAL media group has begun exclusive negotiations with the Anglo-Saxon consortium of US investment funds THOMAS H. LEE PARTNERS, BLACKSTONE GROUP and BAIN CAPITAL, as well as the Anglo-US APAX PARTNERS in view of selling its American publishing company HOUGHTON MIFFLIN for USD 1.75 billion, including its bad loans. British firm, VODAFONE has made a new offer for the acquisition of 44% of CEGETEL held by VU. VODAFONE made an offer in the middle of October, which...

Contents

THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/CONVENTION/GOVERNANCE/SOCIAL: During debate on Hänsch report, several Convention Members urge creation of working group on social dimension, others call for role of Eurogroup to be officialised or for it to be given a presidency of at least two years
(EU) EUCONVENTION: Giscard d'Estaing insists on abolition of half-yearly presidency rotation - Cox has doubts on idea of Commission being able to be overthrown by European Council
(EU) EP/CONVENTION: Hautala and Wallis recommend introduction of people's initiative mechanism and referenda at Union level
(EU) EP/CONVENTION: Strong criticisms of "VGE method"
(EU) EP/COSAC: Lack of consensus to transform COSAC
(EU) EU/BAHRAIN:
(EU) EU/SOUTH EAST EUROPE: Despite progress, South East Europe has poor economic results - Serb Prime Minister explains on Kosovo and believes Serbia could be ready to join EU in 2010
(EU) EP/MIDEAST/IRAQ/RUSSIA: For Solana, Iraqi crisis must incite Israelis and Palestinians to "emerge from current cycle as quickly as possible" - Electoral campaign in Israel "will not facilitate short-term diplomatic breakthrough", but "new dynamic may emerge" in the long term
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Mario Monti sets out guidelines for reform of Merger Regulation, the "most radical" since 1989
(EU) EU/RUSSIA: Russia officially recognised as market economy
(EU) EU/PATENT: On 14 November, Council to try to reach compromise on jurisdictional aspects of future Community patent
(EU) EU/ECB: ECB opts for status quo but acknowledges having weighed at length the pros and cons of lowering key rates
(EU) EP/EUROPEAN COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS: MEPs' judgement is generally positive, but some doubt financial framework foreseen is adequate for next enlargement - Turkey: some call for caution, others for clarity
(EU) EP/TRANSPORT: Parliament happy with agreement with Council on civil aviation security
(EU) EP/GLOBALISATION: Harlem Désir at European Social Forum in Florence
(EU) EP/AGRICULTURE: Parliament supports main principles of mid-term review and reform of CAP before 2006
(EU) EU/CONSUMERS: EP/Council agreement for total ban on animal experiments in 2009 as well as sale of cosmetic products tested on animals
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: RTL can acquire stake in n-tv
(EU) EU/USA/TRADE: Mr Lamy Meets Mr Zoellick and Kofi Annan
(EU) EU/CHINA:
(EU) EU/MERCOSUR: 8th negotiating session for free trade agreement to be held from 10-14 November in Brasilia
(EU) EU/TRADE/ENLARGEMENT: Further agricultural trade liberalisation with Slovenia
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE/ENLARGEMENT: Fischler meets agriculture ministers of candidate countries in Prague
(EU) ACP/EU: Negotiation of economic partnership agreements makes headway at ambassador level but ACP and EU are opposed to nature of first negotiating phase
ECONOMIC INTERPENETRATION
(EU) Privatisation:
(EU) Communication:
(EU) Information technology:
(EU) Chemicals:
(EU) Agri-foods:
(EU) Breweries:
(EU) Breweries:
(EU) Finance:
SUPPLEMENT
EUROPE/Document N° 2297-98: the Commission's priorities for 2003
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 07/11/2002: