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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8596
Contents Publication in full By article 4 / 31
THE DAY IN POLITICS / (eu) eu/igc/nato

Donald Rumsfeld denies criticising EU Naples plans

Brussels, 01/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - "Pure fiction", commented US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Monday on reports that during a dinner in Brussels on Sunday evening before a NATO defence ministers' meeting, he had criticised EU defence plans (made at the IGC in Naples - see above). Rumsfeld said the IGC negotiations had not yet concluded, adding that the CFSP favours NATO. I believe in Berlin+, he said, and favour arrangements that do not compete with NATO.

Luxembourg's defence minister Charles Goerens told reporters that a little European emancipation would be a good thing.

We will have more news in this connection following this Thursday's defence ministers' meeting at NATO (to be attended by the EU ministers who took part in the Naples meeting, Ed) said Lord Robertson.

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: The Stability Pact and the pleasures of swimming against the stream - A few thoughts on extreme views
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/IGC/NAPLES CONCLAVE: "Europe comes together around a common vision of defence", Franco Frattini is pleased to state, noting several other moves forward mainly on institutional issues - Question of double majority continues to divide Member States and can only be settled at summit - Before European Council, EPP summit in Paris on 4 December (with Berlusconi and Aznar) and ministerial conclave on 8 December in Brussels - Some ministers and Commissioners Barnier and Vitorino express concern, just two weeks from final effort
(EU) EU/IGC/DEFENCE: EU structured cooperation will be complementary to NATO actions, Fischer stresses
(EU) EU/IGC/NATO: Donald Rumsfeld denies criticising EU Naples plans
(EU) EU/MIDDLE-EAST: Solana hails geneva initiative and urges Beilin and Rabbo to come to Brussels for negotiations
(EU) EU/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Consultations closed and cooperation partially suspended until full return to constitutional order
(EU) EU/EUROMED:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EP/ECB: Mr Trichet denies threatening to raise rates after Ecofin Council's decision on deficits - EP Socialist group asks for changes to Pact
(EU) EU/WTO/STEEL: George Bush is to announce end of restrictions on steel imports this week
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL POLICY COUNCIL: Partial political agreement reached unanimously on updating regulation 14108/71 on co-ordination of social security systems is big step forward for mobility of citizens in Union
(EU) EU/CONSUMERS: Formal adoption of directive on food additives other than colourings and sweeteners
(EU) EU/COMPETITION:
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL: Italian Presidency achieves progress in social issues and European citizenship
(EU) EU/EUR-LEX/PUBLIC PRESENTATION:
(EU) EU/RESEARCH: Last chance meeting on stem cells - Presidency proposes compromise based on Portugal's ideas
(EU) EU/FOOD: Commission authorises use of low-calorie fat substitute as new food ingredient in bakery products and chocolate
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT:
(EU) EP/PUBLIC TENDERING: Towards agreement between EP and Council on Tuesday over environmental and social clauses in public tendering
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission preparing to contact British Premier League Football Association
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL SERVICES:
(EU) EU/FREE CIRCULATION:
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT:
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET:
(EU) EU/EUROMED: First "summit" of western Mediterranean countries to adopt "Tunis Declaration"
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Protocol between EU and Côte d'Ivoire extended by a year
(EU) EU/ENTERPRISE: Competitiveness Report 2003
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT: Commission publishes report on improving employment quantity and quality
(EU) EU/DUBLIN FOUNDATION:
(EU) UE/GERMANY:
WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
European Library: No. 576
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 01/12/2003: