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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8844

9 December 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 32
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/employment/social affairs council
Opinions differ over opt-out clause preventing political agreement on working hour directive

Brussels, 08/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The political agreement on the working hours directive is not expected in the immediate future. "We have moved forward but without coming to an agreement", Dutch Social Affairs and Employment Minister Aart Jan De Geus said after the Council on Tuesday. Member States have not managed to agree because of the opt-out clause allowing Member States to exceed the 48-hour week. Stances still differ on this clause, he explained. Pending progress, Commissioner...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
A Look Behind The News, by Ferdinando Riccardi: Trade policy and the choices of society
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/CHINA: Substantial progress on readmission and lifting of arms embargo at 7th EU/China summit - Chinese and Europeans agree on future bilateral framework-agreement
(EU) EU/TURKEY/UNITED STATES:
(EU) EU/TURKEY: Ankara explains why it is unhappy with draft conclusions for European Council - if negotiations were to lead to anything other than EU accession, 'that would be the end of the road' says Demiralp
(EU) EU/UKRAINE:
(EU) UK/UKRAINE/OSCE: In Sofia, OSCE fails to reach agreement on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia - Russia sticks to private reserve
(EU) EU/USA: Colin Powell confident about future of transatlantic relations
(EU) UE/CONSTITUTION: Question at referendum will be simple
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION: IAI and Sapienza examine possibilities should ratification fail in some Member States
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION/CZECH REPUBLIC:
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION/GERMANY:
(EU) EP/TURKEY/CORRIGENDUM:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Packed agenda for Thursday and Friday's Council
(EU) EU/TELECOMS: Council to formally adopt 'Safer Internet Plus' programme for 2005-2008
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Mr Borg says EU cannot afford to ease up in efforts to protect threatened fish resources
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Guide prices adopted for marine products
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT/SOCIAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL: Opinions differ over opt-out clause preventing political agreement on working hour directive
(EU) EU/SOCIAL COUNCIL/EQUALITY: Council favours merger of seven directives - Extension of two programmes - Three indicators on harassment at work - Call on future presidencies to report on implementation of Beijing Platform for Action
(EU) EU/EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL/SOCIAL: Time for A.C.T.I.O.N. has come in context of social policy agenda
(EU) EU/ECOFIN COUNCIL: General approaches for "adequacy of own funds" and "audit inspections"
(EU) EU/COUNCIL/EMPLOYMENT/SOCIAL:
(EU) EU/ECOFIN COUNCIL: Corporate tax code of conduct
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Decision on Gas de Portugal and on cartel
(EU) EU/ECOFIN COUNCIL/TAXATION: SMEs support adoption of work programme for reduced VAT rates, announced by future Luxembourg and British Presidencies
(EU) EU/WTO/UNITED STATES:
(EU) EP/GREENS/EFA/ENERGY: Decline of nuclear energy world-wide highlighted in independent report submitted by Greens backs up their position on abandoing nuclear power
(EU) EU/GALILEO: Commission proposes negotiations with Morocco
(EU) EP/SPORT: Jan Figel tells MEPs Commission will produce proposals on sport policy as soon as constitution is ratified - MEPs highlight social role of sport - racist acts in stadium are "question for European Council"
(EU) EU/PES/BELGIUM: Barroso Commission programme is what counts now, says Mr Busquin - Ms de Keyser stresses difficulty of debate on Turkey, Mr Hutchinson that on structural funds and financial perspectives and Mr Tarabella those on sugar and services
(EU) EP/December SESSION: Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria - European Summit - Commission orientation - financial perspectives - vote on 2005 budget - Sakharov prize to Belarussian journalists
SUPPLEMENT
EUROPE/Document N° 2387-2388: Euromed ministerial conference 29-30 November 2004 in the Hague
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 08/12/2004: