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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8366

20 December 2002
Contents Publication in full By article 5 / 38
THE DAY IN POLITICS / (eu) ep/pes/greek presidency

19/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The bureau of the parliamentary group of the Party of European Socialists, headed by its president Enrique Baron Crespo, will meet the main members of the Greek Government in Athens on 7 January for talks on the priorities of the Greek Presidency of the EU. Broached will be: the Spring Summit and the Lisbon Strategy, combating terrorism, immigration, justice and home affairs, enlargement and the future of Europe. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will be present.

Contents

THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/UNITED STATES: Views on Middle East differ greatly between Europeans and Americas during EU/USA ministerial meeting
(EU) EP/MIDDLE EAST: President of Palestinian Legislative Council is impatient to receive Quartet's "roadmap"
(EU) EU/CYPRUS: Papandreou is optimistic talks in Cyprus will make headway
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Dehaene Report recommends creation of "European Representative for External Affairs" - In favour of transforming Commission delegations into EU embassies and creation of Union school of diplomacy - Towards extension of qualified majority voting within an "External Action" Council chaired by European Representative not taking part in voting
(EU) EP/PES/GREEK PRESIDENCY:
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Barnier Report underpins importance of defence for the Union's international credibility but leaves many points open for debate due to the extremely sensitive nature of the issue
(EU) EP/EPP:
(EU) EU/NATO: NATO has no opposition in principle on EU taking over SFOR - EU could succeed NATO in Macedonia early spring
(EU) EP/SAKHAROV PRIZE: On the prize's 15th anniversary, Pat Cox remembers those absent
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: Confirmation of political agreement on Dublin II, and minimum conditions for reception of asylum-seekers - EU building a "kindly fortress", according to Haarder
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: Europol/US agreement to be signed on Friday - numerous political agreements
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: No agreement on framework decision for penalties for damage to the environment - Commission mandate for negotiating an international fund for compensating oil slick victims
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Negotiations again in the evening on fisheries policy reform - first significant TAC deals
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Mr Fischler presents new fishing effort system with Spanish fishing access limitation in Irish Box to be revised
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: On Friday, Commission proposes accelerating scrapping of single hull vessels
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: E.ON is authorised to acquire TXU assets
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: EnBW and ENI may take over GVS (gas)
(EU) EU/COMPETITION:
(EU) EU/CANADA:
(EU) EP/BUDGE 2003: Commissioner Schreyer says Parliament has approved budget that combines rigour with political priorities - President of the Council, Mr Pedersen says budget guarantees enlargement funding
(EU) EP/EDUCATION:
(EU) EP/SINKING OF THE PRESTIGE: MEPs divided on implementation of commission of inquiry - lively exchange between Spanish government supporters and opposition
(EU) EP/IMMIGRATION: Parliament approves first readmission agreement signed by EU (with Hong Kong) - Results of Danish Presidency positive on the whole - Expectations of Commissioner Vitorino with regards Greek Presidency - Need to abolish unanimity to reach fully common asylum system
(EU) EP/SCHENGEN: Support for allocation of new functions to Schengen information system but with certain guarantees
(EU) EP/WAR CRIMES: EP amends Danish initiative on prison sentences for war crimes and crimes against humanity
(EU) EP/ORGANISED CRIME:
(EU) EU/STABILITY PACT/GERMANY:
(EU) EU/PALESTINE: Commission grants 8 million euro to Palestinian Authority to support ongoing reform process
(EU) EU/HUMANITARIAN AID: Additional 10 million euro for Afghanistan
(EU) EU/HUMANITARIAN AID: To date, Union has mobilised 328.2 million euro to respond to unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: According to Switzerland, former aid to Swissair does not come under joint committee on transport, but both parties agree to keep each other informed
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Commission continues infringement procedures against 5 Member States for failing to transpose EU rules on seafarers' hours of work into national law
(EU) EU/ROAD SAFETY: Commission continues infringement procedure against several Member States for failure to apply road safety rules
(EU) EU/TAX: United Kingdom before Court for refusing to implement information exchange system on VAT and excise duties in Gibraltar
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL SERVICES: Publication of outcome of consultations on clearing and settlement, which will be followed by a "policy paper"
(EU) EU/EIB: 500 million loan for Greece to build infrastructures in anticipation of Olympic Games 2004
SUPPLEMENT
“EUROPE”/Documents No. 2308: Typology of acts and hierarchy of legislation in the European union
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 19/12/2002: