login
login

Europe Daily Bulletin No. 9091

17 December 2005
Contents Publication in full By article 11 / 38
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/european council/vat
Agreement on reduced rates linked to decision on financial perspectives

Brussels, 16/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Friday evening, the European Council had still not begun discussion (requested by France) on reduced VAT rates, as the British Presidency had decided on Thursday evening to postpone the debate till the end of the summit. Adoption of the new British compromise on a reduced rate system presented to Coreper on 14 December depended on the result of negotiations on financial perspectives (see other article). The new British proposal provides for renewed...

Contents

THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/FYROM/ENLARGEMENT: European Council decision on candidate country status for FYROM hangs on budget talks
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/IRAN: European Council slams Iranian President's 'unacceptable' remarks about Israel and expresses grave preoccupation with Iran's nuclear programme
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/MIDDLE EAST: European Council harshly criticises Israel's “illegal” activities in Palestinian territories - “All Palestinian factions (…) should renounce violence, recognise Israel's right to exist, and disarm”
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/TERRORISM: EU strategy is adopted - “Comprehensive and proportionate response to threat from terrorism”
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/IRAQ: 25 pleased with way Thursday's elections unfolded and state their willingness to form contractual relations
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/CFSP: Javier Solana stresses need to develop defence capability and operational command structures - Increasing budget for CFSP and improving coherence of action in Balkans
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: After tense behind-the-scenes negotiations, European Council looked at new budget proposals on Friday for 2007-2013 - Prudently optimistic about chances of reaching agreement
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/ECONOMY: Reforms must be continued in favour of growth and employment, summit stresses, highlighting need for “services” directive
(EU) EU/WTO:
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/IMMIGRATION: Council takes stance in favour of global, balanced and coherent approach on migration, requiring sufficient funding
(EU) EU/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/VAT: Agreement on reduced rates linked to decision on financial perspectives
(EU) EU/EP/EUROPEAN COUNCIL/FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Parliament President calls on Council not to waste time on UK Presidency's proposal
(EU) EU/WTO/HONG KONG CONFERENCE: “Development package" for LDCs could be adopted with struggle - Discussion on market access without duty or quotas -African cotton producers unhappy with Washington's offers
(EU) EU/WTO/HONG KONG CONFERENCE: Europeans and Americans placed in awkward position by “platform” of developing countries
(EU) EU/WTO/EMPLOYERS: Business calls for results
(EU) EP/COMMISSION: Parliament adopts, by slight majority, resolution by centre-right and Liberals on Commission's working programme 2006-Towards reflection on external borders
(EU) EP/ROMANIA/BULGARIA: Hopes of accession in 2007 confirmed
(EU) EP/RESEARCH:
(EU) EU/STATISTICS: Council amends regulation on statistics used as part of excessive deficit proceedings
(EU) EU/HEALTH: Commission presents blueprint to fight HIV/AIDS in 2006-2009
(EU) EU/MEDICINES: EMEA recommends no change for Tamiflu safety information
(EU) EU/COMPETITION:
(EU) EU/MEDICINES: SMEs to be given easier access to European Medicines Agency services
(EU) EP/REGIONAL AFFAIRS/URBAN UNREST: Gilles Savary asks Jose Manuel Barroso to keep his promises on sensitive French boroughs
(EU) EU/SWITZERLAND/TRANSPORT:
(EU) EU/AVIATION AGREEMENTS/MOROCCO:
(EU) EU/EESC/STATE AID: Committee backs action plan in State aid field - Neelie Kroes stresses Committee's role as “generator and disseminator of ideas and collector of responses”
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL SERVICES: Positive assessment of directive on final nature of directive
(EU) EU/TAXATION/VAT: Europa Nostra calls for reduced VAT rate for renovation of historic buildings and places of worship
(EU) EU/POST/AIR SAFETY: Postal operators want differentiation between “mail” and “cargo”
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET: Equipment sector in favour of amendments on “noise directive”
(EU) EU/COURt of JUSTICE: confirmation of Commission's decision ruling aid to Italian banking sector incompatible with Common Market rules
(EU) EU/COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE: Commission's decision approving British measures on a televised coverage of sporting events overruled
(EU) EP/ANIMAL WELFARE:
(EU) EU/EUROPOL/ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Action in five countries against major people smuggling network
(EU) EU/TERRORISM/DATA RETENTION: e-communications industry regrets EP vote, jeopardising Europe's competitiveness and Information Society
(EU) EU/CALENDAR: Major European events next week
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 16/12/2005: