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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8627

21 January 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 24 / 38
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/latin america
Chris Patten hopes to conclude negotiation of free trade agreement with Mercosur this year

Brasilia, 20/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - After his visit to Brasilia, the first stage of his tour of Latin America, European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said on Monday during a press conference with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim that he hoped to see, at the time of holding the EU-Latin America Summit on 28 and 29 May in Guadalajara, that negotiations of a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur are "heading toward a satisfactory conclusion" (we recall that...

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: