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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8630

24 January 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 39 / 43
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/competition
Bain Capital acquisition of Interfer and Brenntag is cleared

Brussels, 23/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the investment group, Bain Capital, to buy up the chemical products distributor, Brenntag, and Interfer, specialised in the processing, storage, transport, trade, distribution, import and export of steel and metals. These two companies are based in Germany and were hitherto owned by Stinnes, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. The Commission does not consider the operation will pose any problems as Bain Capital does not...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: Controversial statements on Stability Pact and its application
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/GENERAL AFFAIRS: Agony of MEP regulations to end on Monday - After lunch on Constitution, Foreign Ministers to look at international situation
(EU) EU/IGC: Persson calls on Irish presidency to demonstrate caution - Palacio says she's ready to compromise - Frattini against "directories"
(EU) EU/ANTI-SEMITISM: Commission conference on 19 February
(EU) EU/TURKEY: Erdogan announces initiative for Cyprus
(EU) EU/TURKEY: Verheugen is "impressed" by progress in Turkey although there is still a long way to go - Religion is not part of accession criteria
(EU) EU/LATIN AMERICA: Peace process in Colombia, anti-coca plan and EU relations with Mercosur and Andean Pact to be the focus of Chris Patten's visit
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/JHA: Justice Ministers give cautious welcome to draft European mandate on taking of evidence
(EU) EU/JHA: Commission could present proposal on small claims cases in November
(EU) EU/JHA: Debate between Fédération Internaionale automobile and Commission on arrest warrant
(EU) EU/COMMISSION: Next Wednesday points on agenda include GMOs, environmental technologies and updated stability and convergence programmes
(EU) EU/UNITED STATES/WTO: New reprieve for Washington in Havana Club affair
(EU) EU/WTO: Swiss President is pessimistic
(EU) EU/SAUDI ARABIA/GULF: Mr Lamy and Saudi minister of trade examine accession negotiations for this country to WTO and EU-GCC negotiations
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: Export subsidies for pig meats
(EU) EU/THAILAND: Suspension of Thai poultry imports
(EU) EU/COMMISSION: Ms Cresson to be heard by Commission
(EU) EU/BIOTECHNOLOGY: New workshops for enterprise creation
(EU) EU/AIR TRANSPORT: Conciliation agreement more than likely on safety of third country aircraft on 27 January
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Decision on merger between Air France and KLM is deferred till 11 February at latest
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Strong Commission reservation makes INA/AIG and SNFA abandon idea of joint acquisition
(EU) EU/EUROPOL: Twenty workshops for euro counterfeiting are dismantled
(EU) EU/COR/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Bore appeals to Prodi for EU budget of 1.24% of GDP
(EU) EU/EP/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Contradictory declarations from Tremonti and Frattini on freezing EU budget - divergences among MEPs
(EU) EP/SPACE: Parliamentarians support grater flexibility and efficiency for funding to possible European manned space flights
(EU) EP/HEALTH: MEPs welcome Irish presidency's emphasis on cardiovascular disease prevention
(EU) EP/AIR TRANPORT/USA:
(EU) EP/EMPLOYMENT/SOCIAL/IRISH PRESIDENCY: Presidency will take action to ensure European citizens see positive impact of Lisbon strategy
(EU) EP/COMPETITIVENESS: Irish Presidency intends to be pragmatic - Boost to Lisbon process
(EU) EU/TAXATION: Council adopts directive to simplify VAT system
(EU) EU/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris hopes for adoption of directive of counterfeiting
(EU) EU/MARITIME TRANSPORT: Commission and IMO look forward to enhanced cooperation
(EU) EU/UKRAINE/NUCLEAR: EU granted EUR 18m contribution for 2003 to transform sarcophagus which fell behind schedule
(EU) EU/RUSSIA: Amendments to restrictions on steel products
(EU) EP/INTERNAL MARKETCOMPETITION:
(EU) EU/SPRING REPORT 2004: European trade unions (ETUC) consider structural reform will not in itself bring about achievement of Lisbon strategy
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission authorises GE to acquire Amersham
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Koch's purchase of Invista is cleared
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Bain Capital acquisition of Interfer and Brenntag is cleared
(EU) EP/GREENS/EFA/GLOBALISATION:
(EU) EU/EESC/ENLARGEMENT: List of Lithuanian candidates
(EU) EU/TIMETABLE: Main European activities from 26 January to 30 January 2004
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 23/01/2004: