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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8649

20 February 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 40 / 51
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/state aid
Commission approves rescue aid to French National Printing Office

Brussels, 19/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission approved aid from the French authorities to the Imprimerie Nationale group. The decline in activity in the printing sector since 2001 and the loss of the contract to produce the France Télécom directory proved disastrous for the company's cash flow. The State aid was granted in the form of a shareholder's advance repayable as a loan, for the sum of 65 million EUR. The loan will carry an annual interest rate of...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: Something new on the "post Nice" Commission
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/TRIPARTITE SUMMIT: In a joint letter in view of spring summit, Schröder, Chirac and Blair want future Commission vice president to focus on "economic reforms" and insist on EU budget ceiling of 1% of GDP - no directorates but this kind of meeting will be repeated - Jacques Chirac underlines "specific nature of Franco-German relationship"
(EU) EP/CONSTITUTION: Cornillet's declaration puts pressure on government to get agreement before 1 May
(EU) EU/ANTI-SEMITISM: Prodi proposes action plan against anti-semitism
(EU) EU/GREENS: Greens play football and kick-off new party with music by Ennio Morricone
(EU) EP/ROMANIA/ENLARGEMENT: Unanimous adoption of Nicholson report requiring accession strategy "reorientation" for assiting Romania respect political criteria - approval of Brok report
(EU) EU/ZIMBABWE: Extension of sanctions by a year, as well as list of visa bans and freezing of assets
(EU) EP/UNITED KINGDOM: Liberal Democrats' array of colourful candidates
(EU) EP/HUNGARY: Prime Ministerr wants joint government and oppositition
(EU) EP/EPP/IRLAND:
(EU) EP/ULSTER:
(EU) EP/NETHERLANDS: Kathalijne Buitenweg heads Green Links list
(EU) EP/GERMANY/AUSTRIA: Turkey invited to European elections despite "itself"
(EU) PE/ITALY:
(EU) EP/CSU:
(EU) EP/CHECHNYA/COMMISSION: Olivier Dupuis feels encouraged by romano Prodi
(EU) EP/IGC/UEF:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: European arrest warrant is still only enforced in eight countries
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: Austria does not seem to be able to convince partners of interest of European intelligence agency - Javier Solana presents security strategy
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL/BILATERAL COOPERATION:
(EU) EU/JHA: Presidency and Commission quite optimistic about asylum - Progress on confiscation orders
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: 250 million EUR to help third countries fight illegal immigration
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL:
(EU) EU/ENERGY/RUSSIA:
(EU) EU/TAXATION: France wins German support for cutting VAT on catering
(EU) EU/INFORMATION SOCIETY: Mid-term evaluation of eEurope 2005
(EU) EU/WTO: After his meeting with Commonwealth Ministers, Mr Lamy states that "window of opportunity" to relaunch Doha will close before summer
(EU) EU/UNITED STATES/FSC: Commission hesitates over sanctions, ahead of 1 March deadline
(EU) EP/BUDGET 2004/ENLARGEMENT: Budgets committee approves extra credits for ten new Member States
(EU) ACP/EU: Voting at Assembly - Co-Presidents write to Kofi Annan on Haiti
(EU) EU/GMOs: Council stance expected on NK 603 maize given differences between experts - France and Portugal change sides
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Commission adopts standards setting minimum flight and rest times for pilots and cabin crew
(EU) EU/AUTOMOTIVE/LISBON STRATEGY: ACEA calls for better European regulations
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission opens inquiry into price of fuel used to heat glasshouses in Italy
(EU) EU/STATE AID: State aid investigation begins into wine marketing company GfW
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission raises no objections to total exemption from excise duty of biofuels in Germany
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission green light to aid for Wacker Siltronic AG for large investment project in Saxony
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Aid for restructuring of Bankgesellschaft Berlin approved
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission gives green light to French scheme to control pollution of agricultural origin
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Commission approves rescue aid to French National Printing Office
(EU) EU/INFORMATION SOCIETY: Combination of ICT and reorganisation helps improve public services
(EU) EU/ROAD TRANSPORT:
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: European railways are concerned about decline in rail traffic and call for greater effort in favour of rail transport
(EU) EU/SOCIAL: European trade unions insist on speedy adoption of draft directive on gender equality in access to services and goods and to provision of the same
(EU) EU/TRADE DEFENCE: Changes in anti-dumping laws on sulphanilic acid from China
(EU) EU/TRADE DEFENCE: Changes to anti-dumping measures for various steel products, notably from Romania
(EU) EU/TRADE DEFENCE: Re-investigation into anti-dumping procedures concerning China, India, Indonesia and Thailand closed
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT:
(EU) EU/CANADA:
(EU) EU/FISHERIES/CORRIGENDUM:
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 19/02/2004: