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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8464

17 May 2003
Contents Publication in full By article 2 / 35
THE DAY IN POLITICS / (eu) eu/convention
Idea of stable European Council Presidency enjoys growing support, Giscard d'Estaing believes, hinting consensus could be reached if there is rotating presidency for the various Council formations

Brussels, 16/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - After the plenary session of the European Convention devoted to the institutions and to CFSP, Chairman Valéry Giscard d'Estaing told reporters he welcomed an "open debate" in which, he said, "there was no strong antagonism". "The European Council presidency idea is gaining growing support", he said before dismissing in one go the opposition of future new Member States to a reduction in the number of Commissioners. "We must put to one side the very...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: Convention finally opens real institutional debate but time is short and worst case scenario is still possible
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Idea of stable European Council Presidency enjoys growing support, Giscard d'Estaing believes, hinting consensus could be reached if there is rotating presidency for the various Council formations
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Prodi continues to believe a debate between himself and Giscard d'Estaing should be held within the Convention
(EU) EP/CONVENTION: Conference of Presidents decides to invite Chairman Giscard d'Estaing to a plenary debate on 3 or 4 June in Strasbourg
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: Convention Members approve creation of an EU Foreign Minister and strengthened defence cooperation - in support of better European Parliament involvement - Isolated, the United Kingdom seeks to resist extension to qualified majority
(EU) EU/CONVENTION: "Eurocritics" propose "alternative model"
(EU) EPP/CONVENTION:
(EU) CORRIGENDUM:
(EU) EU/EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL: Council is to adopt conclusions on ESDP and Balkans - interministerial conference on EU military capabilities - declaration is adopted
(EU) EU/TURKEY:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/COMPETITIVENESS: Still no agreement on takeover bids
(EU) EU/COMPETITIVENESS: Council to try for progress on takeover bids and "sales promotion", and should get political agreements (detergents, drug precursors, measuring instruments)
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL SERVICES: Commission presents proposals on enterprise governance and audit on Wednesday
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: EUR 900 million for compensating victims of oil pollution
(EU) EU/DIAMONDS: EU welcomes green light for "Kimberly" programme on war diamonds
(EU) EU/ASTATE AID:
(EU) EU/INFLATION:
(EU) EU/REGIONAL INFORMAL: Differences confirmed on budget for future regional policy, but agreement on some aspects of content
(EU) ACP/EU: Joint Council accepts Timor as 78th member of ACP-EU partnership - Opinions differ over trade negotiations and Cancún conference
(EU) EU/COMMISSION: Council could conclude agreement on reform of officials' status, on Monday, provided that pensions issue is settled
(EU) EU/COMMISSION/FRAUD: Opening up of legal information in Paris on embezzlement of unds involving Eurostat directors
(EU) EU/COMMISSION: Commission could act against official who rented out accommodation unfit for human beings who where here illegally
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: EU and United States wish to increase co-operation and discuss possibility of exchanging confidential data
(EU) EU/EURO: British Government decision could fall on 9 June
(EU) EU/COLLOQUY: Colloquy on European public space on occasion of Agence Europe's 50th anniversary
(EU) EP/BEPG: Broad economic policy guidelines debate confirms rift between left and right - Pedro Solbes insists on structural reforms rather than new action plans
(EU) EP/EPIZOOTICS:
(EU) EP/RUSSIA/SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION:
(EU) EP/POST/PUBLIC SERVICES: Margot Wallström says Commission will withdraw its proposal while awaiting results of debate on Green Paper on services of general interest - MEPs unhappy at EP being short circuited
(EU) EP/SHIP BUILDING: Parliament supports Commission approach in dispute between EU and South Korea
(EU) EP/TAIWAN: EP supports observer status for Taiwan
(EU) EP/TRANSPORT: Parliament re-inforces airline insurance provisions
(EU) EP/EUROPEAN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY: Marie-Hélène Gillig regrets debate on Gebhardt and De Rossa reports focuses on legal base
TIMETABLE
(EU) Main European activities from 19 to 26 MAY 2003:
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 16/05/2003: