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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8828

17 November 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 20 / 30
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/ecofin/taxation/vat
Ecofin Council examines question of reduced rates and simplification of declaration formalities

Brussels, 16/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - At France's request, Tuesday's Ecofin Council discussed the question of reduced rates of taxation on Value Added Tax (VT). This reactivation of the debate aims to overcome the impasse in negotiations on the legislative proposal made by the Commission in this field. Council President Gerrit Zalm acknowledged that "the debate is complex. There are many differences due to the diametrically opposed interests at stake". The Commission's proposal of July 2003...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS, BY FERDINANDO RICCARDI: SERVICES OF GENERAL INTEREST TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN EUROPEAN CURRENT AFFAIRS
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EP/BARROSO COMMISSION: Franco Frattini sets out to defend Treaty and to apply Charter of Fundamental Rights
(EU) EP/BARROSO COMMISSION: EPP-ED Group is to place trust in reshuffled Barroso Commission - Greens and United Left to vote against
(EU) EU/BARROSO COMMISSION: No thumbs down for Commissioners-designate sent to Borrell
(EU) EU/CUBA: 25 want proposals for making dialogue with civil society and dissidents "more political and effective"
(EU) EU/SOUTH AFRICA: José Manuel Barroso and South African president Thabo Mbeki want to strengthen their cooperation for peace and stability in Africa and regional integration
(EU) EU/DEFENCE: EU Member States to announce contribution to European battle groups on 22 November - Germany at heart of plan
(EU) EP/DEMOCRACY/ARAB WORLD:
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION/EUROPEAN MOUVEMENT/FRANCE:
(EU) EU/IRAN/NUCLEAR: Javier Solana welcomes Iran's nuclear programme (a "start") - talks open in December
(EU) EP/IRAN/NUCLEAR: Greens see Teheran's decision as success for European non-proliferation policy
(EU) EP/PALESTINE: Arafat's legacy must be paid to management foundation to improve living conditions of Palestinians, Ferber says
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/BARROSO COMMISSION: Liberalisation of energy market, nuclear safety and promotion of renewable energies are priorities of Andris Piebalgs, of Latvia
(EU) EU/BARROSO COMMISSION: Taxation and internal market more suited to Laszlo Kovacs, who defends his political past
(EU) EP/LISBON STRATEGY/EPP:
(EU) EP/COMMISSION: Franco Frattini wants to help citizens and companies on daily basis within European civil law framework
(EU) EU/EUROGROUP: satisfaction with recent fall in oil prices - overwhelming condemnation of currency volatility - Greek deficit over 3% since 1997
(EU) EU/EUROGROUP: No consensus on Stability Pact but some convergence - Many options still under discussion
(EU) EU/ECOFIN: Little enthusiasm for changes to own resources system - Greece hopes to reduce its deficit by 2.5% by this time next year
(EU) EU/ECOFIN/TAXATION/VAT: Ecofin Council examines question of reduced rates and simplification of declaration formalities
(EU) EU/ECOFIN/LAUNDERING:
(EU) EU/CULTURE COUNCIL: Fruitful exchanges of views on the Culture 2007 and Media 2007 programmes
(EU) EU/YOUTH COUNCIL: Ministers divided on extending age group of young people to benefit by "Youth in Action" programme
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Most new Member States grant more State aid than old ones
(EU) EU/RESEARCH: Commission adopts proposal modifying negotiation mandate on ITER in hope of reaching agreement of six by end 2004
(EU) EU/CONSUMERS: Council adopted common position on directive banning unfair trade practices in EU
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT:
(EU) EU/BUDGET 2003: Court of Auditors rejects statement of assurance for most payment appropriations, including pre-accession aid
(EU) EU/WTO/TRADE: Negotiations start at WTO on trade facilitation
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 16/11/2004: