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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8448

24 April 2003
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 37
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/employment
First meeting of Kok Task Force to establish a roadmap for coming six months

Brussels, 23/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - Pursuant to the conclusions of the Spring Summit of 20 and 21 March in Brussels, the European Commission has set up a European Task Force for Employment. Called the Kok Task Force, after its president the former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, it will meet as planned on 25 April in Brussels (see EUROPE of 5 April, p.10). This first meeting will allow Wim Kok to meet his colleagues (whose names were announced by Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou early...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing tries to reconcile partly contradictory demands linked to reform of European Union institutions
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Presidium discusses VGE proposals - full-time European Council President, flanked by Vice-President and 'bureau' - Commission President elected by EP, with Vice-President/Minister for Foreign Affairs, eleven Commissioners and twelve 'advisors' - A Congress meeting at least once per year - double majority states/population
(EU) EU/CONVENTION/COMMISSION: European Commission very critical of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's proposal on institutions both regarding content and method
(EU) EP/CONVENTION: Mendez de Vigo distances himself from VGE's proposals on institutional architecture - they have to go, says Brok, Greens' reaction also critical
(EU) EU/CUBA: Commission to hold debate on situation in Cuba next week
(EU) EU/GYMNICH MEETING:
(EU) EU/POLAND: Referendum on accession to be held 7/8 June - Verheugen calls on people of Poland to participate en masse
(EU) EP/CYPRUS: Cypriot and European Members of Parliament denounce the attitude adopted by Rauf Denktash, leader of Turk Cypriots
(EU) EU/TURKEY:
(EU) EU/EPP:
(EU) NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR:
(EU) WEU/TURKEY: Mr Blaauw discusses ESDP, Cyprus, Iraq and Nagorno-Karabakh in Ankara
(EU) EU/IRAQ/COMMISSION:
(EU) EP/EGYPT:
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN MOVEMENT:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/TURKEY: Michaele Schreyer discusses new pre-accession strategy with Turkish authorities
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT: First meeting of Kok Task Force to establish a roadmap for coming six months
(EU) EU/ECB: Belgium still maintains Paul de Grauwe's candidature
(EU) EU/IRAQ: European Commission promises to assess whether reconstruction contracts comply with WTO rules
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Commission proposes guidelines aimed at ensuring finance of trans-European transport networks
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Commission takes Greece to Court of Justice for failing to recover aid from Olympic Airways
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Commission expected to present new "very soft" draft directive on banning driving on weekends and holidays
(EU) EU/ROAD SAFETY: Commission and industry cooperating in electronic safety
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission prepares statement of objections against several telecommunications operators (roaming services)
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission partially approves new scheme set in place by Belgium for coordination centres
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission considers exempting 'REIMS' agreement (postal services)
(EU) EU/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Commission proposes creation of EUR 1 billion European water fund for ACP countries
(EU) ACP/EU: Mr Lamy in Africa to prepare negotiation of future economic partnership agreement
(EU) EU/FOOD SAFETY: Commission invites Member States to apply same tolerances to national radioactive caesium as those applied to imports of certain "wild" foodstuffs
(EU) EU/EPIZOOTIC: Protection measures against avian influenza are extended in Netherlands and Belgium - death of Dutch veterinarian does not cause concern
(EU) EU/TAXATION: Commission will present revison of "parent-subsidiary" and "mergers" directives in June and balance sheet and strategy for corporation tax in October
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE/GMO: Conference kicks off on co-existence of GM and non-GM crops - a "missed opportunity" for some
(EU) EU/HEALTH:
(EU) EP/INTERNAL MARKET:
(EU) EU/ASYLUM/IMMIGRATION: Funding for Argo cooperation projects for 2003 - appeal for proposals in a few days
(EU) EU/MEDITERRANEAN: 2002, record year for MEDA programme
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 23/04/2003: