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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8627

21 January 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 22 / 38
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/competition
First Franco-German forum on European competition policy

Brussels, 20/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The French Minister for Industry, Nicole Fontaine and the German Secretary for the Economy, Wilhelm Adamovitsch inaugurated the first joint French-German annual forum for "competition and industry" on 18 January in Paris. According to AFP, Ms Fontaine and Mr Adamovitsch indicated that they were going to reflect on the development of European competition policy in order to better protect companies in the face of world competition. The two Member States...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: A few pointers towards greater optimism on the prospects for agreement on the European Constitution
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EP/CONSTITUTION: Irish Presidency does not wish to impose timetable, but Constitution will be on agenda of General Affairs Council of 26 January - Brian Cowen wants to "recreate a sense of solidarity" - initiatives to support Presidency's procedure
(EU) EP/TURKEY: Emma Nicholson invites Leyla Zana to Brussels
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION:
(EU) EU/CYPRUS:
(EU) EU/SPAIN:
(EU) EU/KAZAKHSTAN/DATH PENALTY:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/EUROGROUP/G7: Twelve express concern about "excessive" exchange rate movements
(EU) EU/EUROGROUP: Ministers are reticent about Commission's initiative to review Stability Pact provisions
(EU) EU/ECOFIN COUNCIL: Irish Presidency's priorities are approved
(EU) EU/ECOFIN COUNCIL: France recommends solution based on subsidiarity for reduced rates of VAT on catering
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Commission confirms it has no plans to revise excise on tobacco as called for by France
(EU) EU/ECOFIN/PARMALAT: Commissioner Bolkestein confirms that he will present proposals on statutory audit in March
(EU) EU/ECOFIN COUNCIL: Critical opinion on Austrian stability programme
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Eichel comments on spending freeze
(EU) EP/ECB/STABILITY PROGRAMME: Issing says "we are not indifferent but concerned" by change in interest rates - ECB mentions greater role of Commission in monitoring stability pact - polemic on interest rates
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Romano Prodi defends increase of resources for enlarged Europe - "Strange" time to ask for ceiling of 1%
(EU) EU/BUDGET/REGIONAL: Towards "half and half" allocation of future regional aid between old and new Member States?
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT: Commission adopts its joint Employment/Council report on employment - Union could fail in many Lisbon Strategy objectives
(EU) EU/RESEARCH/ENERGY:
(EU) EU/PARMALAT/AGRICULTURE: Commission to examine Italian aid for farmers affected by Parmalat crisis
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: First Franco-German forum on European competition policy
(EU) EU/CUSTOMS: Commission alerts operators to possible risks when importing products from Serbia and Montenegro
(EU) EU/LATIN AMERICA: Chris Patten hopes to conclude negotiation of free trade agreement with Mercosur this year
(EU) EU/NEIGHBOURS/TUNISIA: Commissioner Verheugen visits Tunisia
(EU) EU/TUNISIA: EUR 2,150,000 for training of journalists
(EU) EU/GLOBALISATION: Towards an alliance between political forces (Global Progressive Forum) and social movements (World Social Forum)
(EU) EU/HUMANITARIAN AID: Africa and Asia will be priority areas for ECHO action in 2004 - increased attention to Middle East
(EU) EU/AUDIOVISUAL: Professionals of European film industry hope to maintain current financing system - Debate is taken to Commission services (competition, internal market, education/culture)
(EU) EU/HUMAN RESOURCES:
(EU) EU/CULTURE/GREECE/UNITED KINGDOM:
(EU) EU/AIR TRANSPORT: Commission publishes list of objects banned on board passenger planes and baggage holds
(EU) EU/EIB: EUR 250 million loan for modernisation of public transport in Brussels
(EU) EU/EIB: EUR 70 million loan for environment in Cairo
(EU) STATE AID: Transfer of Belgacom pension funds to Belgian state conforms with European rules
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET: Infringement procedures against several Member States over public lending rights and commercial rental rights
(EU) EU/ENVIRONMENT: Commission pursues legal action against 6 Member States for persistent infringements against waste legislation
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 20/01/2004: