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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8870

20 January 2005
Contents Publication in full By article 14 / 34
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/competiton
Commission imposes € 216.91 million in fines on MCAA chemicals cartel

Brussels, 19/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission decided to fine Akzo Nobel, Atofina (now known as Arkema) and Hoechst a total of € 216.91 for operating a cartel in the market for Monochloroacetic Acid (MCAA). MCAA is a chemical intermediate used in the manufacture of detergents, adhesives, textile auxiliaries and thickeners used in foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The fines are broken down as follows: Akzo Nobel € 84.38 m, Atofina € 58.5 m, and Hoechst...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
A Look Behind The News, by Ferdinando Riccardi: Financial perspectives, Jean-Claude Juncker's most difficult gamble
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EP/ENLARGEMENT: Rehn explains “screening” with Turkey could last “almost a year” but will not prevent detailed negotiations beginning - ICFY opinion to be decisive on opening negotiations with Croatia
(EU) EU/IRAN/NUCLEAR: Jack Straw defends European position - Tehran warns Washington against attempting military attack
(EU) EU/SOMALIA: EU to take part in an AU mission
(EU) EU/COUNCIL OF EUROPE/UKRAINE:
(EU) EP/CFSP: Helmut Kuhne, rapporteur on Europe's security strategy, says EU has to fill gaps in military capacity so it can react to large-scale disasters
(EU) EU/DENMARK:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EP/STABILTY PACT: Jean-Claude Juncker reassures MEPs about quality and timing of Stability and Growth Pact reform
(EU) EP/EMU: Joaquin Almunia highlights need for link between budgetary rigour and growth - Commission will not give up powers on Pact - Increasing Eurostat's powers
(EU) EU/JUSTICE: European Commission harmonises penalties against criminal organisations
(EU) EU/EUROPOL: Publication of full annual report on organised crime
(EU) EU/ECB: Lorenzo Bini Smaghi expected to be put forward to replace Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa on Executive Council
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Reimbursement of aid to Landesbanken and transmission of their recapitalisation plans to take place this week
(EU) EU/COMPETITON: Commission imposes € 216.91 million in fines on MCAA chemicals cartel
(EU) EU/LUXEMBOURG PRESIDENCY/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES:
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT: Commission decides to investigate restructuring of Alitalia
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Bundesliga's pledge to liberalise joint selling of football media rights made legally binding by Commission decision
(EU) EU/ENERGY: Commission authorises EUR 2.7 bn aid for coal industry
(EU) EU/EP/CHEMICAL PRODUCTS: New ideas laboratory to make REACH more practical and less costly for industry - Commission does not rule out recast proposal even before first reading in Parliament
(EU) EU/INDUSTRiAL POLICY/AERONAUTICS: Partner countries in Airbus A-380 project celebrate Europe of big projects - Chirac calls for cooperation in energy, transport, telecommunications and medicine
(EU) EU/TRANSPORT/INFORMATION SOCIETY: Commission opens door to implementing short distance radar services to improve road safety
(EU) EU/COURT OF JUSTICE: Council maintains execution competencies when examining visa requests and border controls
(EU) EU/FRANCE/GERMANY:
(EU) EP/CARS/ENVIRONMENT: Karl-Heinz Florenz welcomes Verheugen's announcement of tighter emissions standards for diesel engines
(EU) EP/DRIVING LICENCES: Dieter Koch looks at controversy surrounding driving licence rules
(EU) EP/REFORM: New 'Campaign for Parliament Reform'
(EU) EU/WTO: Peter Sutherland describes two tracks of report on future WTO: multilateralism and institutional improvements (annual ministerial and summit every five years)
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE/THRID COUNTRY:
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE:
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE/WINE:
(EU) EP/EDUCATION/YOUTH/CULTURE: Luxembourg Presidency outlines its priorities for first half of 2005
(EU) EU/ECONOMY: Industrial production down by 0.3% in eurozone
(EU) EU/SOCIAL AFFAIRS: Dutch Presidency accused of failing the 12 Social NGO Tests
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 19/01/2005: