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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8707

15 May 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 25 / 40
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/competition
Commission opens investigation into possible agreement in gas insulated switchgear sector

Brussels, 14/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - the European Commission has opened an investigation into a possible cartel agreement in the gas insulated switchgear sector. Competition services confirmed that they had begun simultaneous investigations on 11-12 May in the offices of the main manufacturers of this kind of equipment. Gas insulated switchgear GIS is equipment used by electricity stations to control the flow of energy in the electricity grids. The Commission suspects illegal practices...

Contents

THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/GENERAL AFFAIRS/EXTERNAL RELATIONS: IGC and defence at centre of Council on Monday and Tuesday - preparation of summits with Russia and Latin America, Middle East, Iraq and Balkans
(EU) EU/DEFENCE: 25 EU Defence Ministers to take stock of developments in European defence on Monday
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION/SIGNATURE:
(EU) EU/IGC: Intergovernmental Conference resumes at ministerial level on Monday in Brussels - Presidency hopes to move forward on series of points linked to extent of qualified majority vote - 19-member Commission as of 2014?
(EU) EU/GULF COUNTRIES: Middle East, terrorism, non-proliferation, human rights and free trade agreement are discussed by Monday's Joint Council
(EU) EU/ARMAMENTS: Amnesty International criticises European Union for insufficient control of arms exports
(EU) EU/IRAQ/COMMISSION:
(EU) EU/CUBA: Irish Presidency to take account of human rights violations when re-assessing its common position on Cuba in June
(EU) EU/MIDDLE EAST: Irish Presidency calls for ceasefire under supervision of international observers
(EU) EU/BELARUS: EU calls for investigation into disappearances
(EU) EU/NIGERIA: EU expresses concern about recent outbreak of violence
(EU) COUNCIL OF EUROPE:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/COMPETITIVENESS: Irish Presidency hopes to conclude on several "consumer" and "internal market" dossiers but nothing is certain yet, especially when it comes to Community patent still deadlocked after 13 years of work
(EU) EU/COMPETITIVENESS: Council is ready for agreement on patentability of computer implemented inventions, against opinion of Parliament and defenders of "free software"
(EU) EU/COMPETITIVENESS: Council plans to reach political agreement on Tuesday on recognition of professional qualifications
(EU) EU/GMO: Commission to raise EU moratorium on GM imports in place since 1999 on Wednesday
(EU) EU/COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL: Unice and Eurocommerce call for "internal market" clause to be kept in directive on illegal commercial practices
(EU) EU/EMU: On Wednesday Commission to launch procedure on excessive debt against Netherlands and United Kingdom, report on Greece
(EU) EU/SWITZERLAND: Council expected to confirm Coreper agreement on Monday on savings tax and negotiations package with Switzerland - Switzerland and Luxembourg pleased
(EU) EU/WTO: Clearer Member State opposition to EU's offer to restart Doha
(EU) EU/TRADE/WTO: Optimism about Doha Round in Paris on Friday
(EU) EU/CHINA: Commission to withdraw its ultimatum on Chinese coke exports and to continue discussions with Peking
(EU) EU/ENVIRONMENT: Greenpeace calls on environment ministers meeting in Ireland to give priority to protecting ancient forests
(EU) EU/COMPANIES: UNICE says "harmonisation of corporation tax" will not encourage growth or reduce relocations but an effective and innovative industrial policy would do
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission opens investigation into possible agreement in gas insulated switchgear sector
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission clears automotive JV between Hella, Behr and Plastic Omnium Auto Exteriors
(EU) EU/ECONOMY: Confirmation of moderate recovery
(EU) EU/COMPETITION/ENLARGEMENT:
(EU) EP/EDD:
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: International demonstration 24 May in Brussels for changing common agricultural policy
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE/ENLARGEMENT: Copa incorporates new members
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: Commission authorises Italy to mention origin of fresh milk on its labelling
(EU) EP/JULY SESSION: At constitutive session of June-elected Parliament, election of Commission President, of Parliament President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors - Discussion of June European Council and six months of Irish Presidency - Presention of Dutch Presidency's programme
(EU) EU/UNITED STATES:
(EU) WTO/SUBSIDIES:
(EU) EU/EMPLOYERS/COMPETITIVENESS: In a letter to Mary Harney, Jürgen Strube presents UNICE request to Competitiveness Council
(EU) EU/SOCIAL/FAMILY: Irish presidency conference on changes in Europe facing families - Dublin foundation regards family as cornerstone of European society
(EU) EU/SOCIAL: European Disability Forum hosts general assembly in Warsaw for first time
TIMETABLE
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€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 14/05/2004: