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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8812

22 October 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 25 / 30
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/state aid

21/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has give the go-ahead for the United Kingdom to create an investment capital fund for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland, to help them to overcome the funding problems they are faced with compared to other regions of the United Kingdom. The "Invest Northern Ireland 2003" scheme allows them access to investment capital of up to 2.2 million EUR per cycle of investments.

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: EU's external actions, development aid and other aspects
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EP/BARROSO COMMISSION: Deciding to personally take on responsibility of individual freedoms and non-discrimination, Barroso is confident he will have Parliament behind him and appeals to its sense of responsibility - Buttiglione expresses regret - Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and Independence/Democracy say no, EPP-ED and UEN are in favour, ALDE is "reserved" and PES is undecided
(EU) EU/BARROSO COMMISSION/PRODI COMMISSION/JHA:
(EU) EU/RUSSIA: Determination to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation - Moscow awaits solutions on goods transit to Kaliningrad and improved situation of Russian minority in Baltic States
(EU) EP/EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES: Constitution, UN Security Council reform and Sudan crisis on European Democratic Party agenda
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/EUROGROUP: No consensus on coordinated action in response to high oil prices, or on strengthening powers of Eurostat - States pledge to keep deficits below 3% in 2005 - Commission will re-assess impact of sharp rise in oil prices
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Ministers define basis for future common methodology to assess administrative burden on business
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Member States do not want to change budgetary flexibility instrument - Greece must supply missing budget data - Four countries could exceed 3% in 2005
(EU) EU/MERCOSUR/TRADE: After failure of Lisbon, continuation of free-trade negotiations postponed until 2005
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: Council hopes to define new multi-annual programme on Monday - opinions differ over asylum, co-decision and judiciary cooperation
(EU) EU/JHA COUNCIL: Tuesday: bio-metric passports, disagreements on maritime pollution, Troika with Russia
(EU) EU/SWITZERLAND: Ten agreements with Switzerland to be signed on Tuesday
(EU) EU/FRAUD/ENLARGEMENT: Two agents of European Anti-Fraud Office are assigned to Romania and Bulgaria until 2007
(EU) EU/ENERGY: Commission withdraws proposals on oil stocks - Further proposals may prove necessary in future
(EU) EU/TRADE/DEVELOPMENT: Oxfam criticises Commission's new GSP proposal
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: Italy asks for protection for "Genovese" basil
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURAL: Professionals welcome conclusions on organic farming
(EU) EU/BUDGET 2005: Parliament should decide in first reading if structural and external actions funding is raised - problem of mushrooming in specialist agencies
(EU) EU/FISHERIES:
(EU) EU/CLIMATE/CORRIGENDUM:
(EU) EU/ESYRIA: Details of association agreement initialled 19 October
(EU) EU/ENVIRONMENT/HEALTH: Ministers who acted as voluntary guinea pigs in WWF blood tests all have chemical products in bloodstream - renewed appeal for Reach
(EU) EU/TAXATION: Sweden will have to justify its fiscal incentives benefiting beer over wine in Court
(EU) EU/STATE AID/TRANSPORT: Yes to several aid regimes
(EU) EU/STATE AID:
(EU) EU/STATE AID:
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Italian law in favour of companies investing in areas hit by disasters in 2002 is not compatible with EC rules
(EU) EU/STATE AID/HUNGARY: Commission authorises aid to Postabank before membership, except one measure still to be examined
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Activities of open-ended investment companies are economic activities and therefore taxable for VAT purposes
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 21/10/2004: