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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8403

19 February 2003
Contents Publication in full By article 15 / 23
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/state aid
Negative decision for Belgian, Dutch and Irish tax systems

Brussels, 18/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has unanimously supported Commissioner Monti on special tax breaks in Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland, by adopting three negative decisions (see Europe of Saturday 15 February, p. 9). The tax measures under scrutiny concern the Co-ordination Centres scheme in Belgium, the International Financing Activities scheme in the Netherlands and the Foreign Income scheme in Ireland. Tuesday's decisions are part of the global fight...

Contents

THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/IRAQ: Fifteen adopt conclusions confirming that war is not inevitable but allow that force could be used if Iraq does not fully co-operate at short notice - EU insists on rapid implementation of roadmap on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
(EU) EU/CONVENTION/RACISM:
(EU) EP/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/IRAQ: Satisfaction about signal for unity launched by EU - with some qualifications - don't ignore public opinion - criticism of Jacques Chirac for admonishing candidate countries
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Mr Lamassoure's initiative on Union's geographic borders
(EU) EP/CONVENTION: "No real political Europe with twenty-five", states Mr Bourlanges, who suggests a Franco-German agreement "open to all"
(EU) EU/CONVENTION/COMMISSION: President Prodi opens public internet debate
(EU) EU/IRAQ/CANDIDATE COUNTRIES: Candidates rally to Fifteen's conclusions on Iraq, which become "common position of enlarged Europe" - candidates' criticism following Chirac's comments
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/EUROGROUP: Twelve willing to coordinate action in event of prolonged rise in oil prices - Divergence overcome on degree of flexibility of Stability Pact and concerns about growth
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Council suggests United Kingdom should tend toward budgetary position balanced in medium term - Commission declaration
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Only France and United Kingdom support Commission's suggestion to authorise slight deterioration in budgetary position
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Disagreement continues on energy taxation - Last lap of negotiations with Switzerland on savings taxation - Agreement on VAT and Lamfalussy procedure
(EU) EU/ECONOMY:
(EU) EU/STABILITY PACT: Commission prepares to caution Portugal on overspending in 2003
(EU) EP/STATE AID/EMPLOYMENT: Chris Huhne accuses Pirelli of receiving unlawful assistance from the Italian government to create jobs in Battipaglia at the expense of the Eastleigh site
(EU) EU/STATE AID: negative decision for Belgian, Dutch and Irish tax systems
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Mr Monti explains role of competition in airline sector, car distribution and sports events
(EU) EU/REGIONAL POLICY:
(EU) EU/RUSSIA: Romano Prodi goes to Russia
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Meeting between European and American officials on protection of air passenger data
(EU) EU/JUSTICE: Commission green paper on standardisation of suspects' rights in penal matters
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Should Advocate General Ruiz-Jarabo have noted conflict of interest when he gave his conclusions in Spanish Golden Share case?
(EU) EU/EUROJUST:
ECONOMIC INTERPENETRATION
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 18/02/2003: