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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8852

21 December 2004
Contents Publication in full By article 22 / 43
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/european council/emu
Silvio Berlusconi outlines his ideas for a more flexible Stability Pact to other heads of state

Brussels, 20/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - Following his request to this effect to the Dutch Presidency, the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, outlined his ideas on reforming the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) at the European Council last Friday. Silvio Berlusconi wants investment in infrastructure and research to be excluded from calculations of public debt and also wants the public debt to be given less importance in the future than the Commission would like it to have. Addressing...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
A Look Behind The News, by Ferdinando Riccardi: A Summit and a Presidency which achieved their goals
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/TURKEY: Reactions to the Cyprus issue
(EU) EU/UNITED STATES/TURKEY: United States welcomes EU's decision to launch accession negotiations with Turkey
(EU) EU/CONSTITUTION: Hungary is second country to ratify EU's new Constitutional Treaty
(EU) EU/CUBA: Experts recommend the Council temporarily ease the diplomatic measures imposed in June 2003
(EU) EU/CHARLEMAGNE PRIZE: 2005 Charlemagne Prize goes to President Ciampi
(EU) EU/Bosnia-HERZEGOVINA: Despite weaknesses, Paddy Ashdown hails 'Bosnian miracle' but regrets that the Serb authorities refuse to cooperate, thus hindering Bosnia's return to international community
(EU) EU/GREAT LAKES: Commissioner Louis Michel expresses optimism following meetings with Rwandan and DRC Presidents
(EU) EU/SENEGAL: EU hails abolition of death penalty in Senegal
(EU) EU/LIBERIA: Concern at slow progress in electoral reform
(EU) EP/SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi parliamentarians visit Strasbourg - Return visit in February
(EU) EP/ZIMBABWE: EP urges EU to ensure stringent application of sanctions on Mugabe's regime
(EU) EU/DRC: EP wants EU to urgently consider new Artemis style operation
(EU) EP/DEMOCRACY:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/COUNCIL/ENVIRONMENT: Council's political agreement on draft directive setting out battery and accumulator collection and recyling targets, with partial ban on cadmium and exemptions on small cordless electric tools
(EU) EU/ENVIRONMENT: Political agreement on two pillars of the Aarhus Convention - Industry and NGOs to work together for a clean, intelligent and competitive Europe
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET:
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE-FISHERIES COUNCIL: Meeting on fishing quotas and North Sea closure zone negotiations
(EU) EU/EMU: Return to growth in eurozone slows in third quarter, but no impact on forecasts for 2004
(EU) EU/SINGLE MARKET: Commission investigates seven cases of fiscal offences
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: De Beers and Alrosa offer diamond trade commitments
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/EMU: Silvio Berlusconi outlines his ideas for a more flexible Stability Pact to other heads of state
(EU) EU/RUSSIA:
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: EU accession has led to increase of more than 50% in agricultural revenue in new member states - increase of 108% in Czech Republic and 74% in Poland
(EU) EU/EGYPT/JORDAN/ENLARGEMENT: Adoption of adaptation protocols for Association Agreements
(EU) EU/EUROMED/TRANSPORT: Euro-Mediterranean Transport Forum
(EU) EP/INDIA/ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament demands independent inquiry into the situation in Bhopal on 20th anniversary of "worst industrial disaster of all time" (which encourages support for Commission's initiatives on chemical products)
(EU) EP/CIVIL PROTECTION: Parliament approves extension of two years to Community action plan
(EU) EP/CIVIL LIBERTIES/DRUGS: EP approves anti-prohibition strategy
(EU) EP/EDUCATION: Doris Pack welcomes adoption of Europass
(EU) EP/TOURISM: Margie Sudre welcomes rebirth of Tourism Intergroup
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE/GREECE: Commission decides to take Greece to court for failing to properly apply Electricity Directive
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE/LUXEMBOURG: Commission takes Luxembourg to court for failure to comply with energy labelling rules for household air-conditioners
(EU) EU/EIB/EGYPT: Loans for natural gas factory and storage facilities
(EU) EU/EIB: 6 million euros for motorways in Algeria
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE/ENVIRONMENT:
(EU) EU/COMPETITION:
(EU) EU/CULTURE: 'Culture 2000' subsidises 233 projects in 2004
(EU) EU/EDUCATION: Leonardo da Vinci prize awarded to three projects
(EU) EU/IRAQ/CULTURE:
(EU) EU/LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES:
SUPPLEMENT
EUROPE/Document N. 2390-2391: EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON 16 AND 17 DECEMBER 2004
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 20/12/2004: