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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 9844

20 February 2009
Contents Publication in full By article 21 / 36
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) ep/taxation
Parliament backs lower VAT rates for labour-intensive services

Brussels, 19/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament (EP) has sent the Council a message of support for reduced value added tax (VAT) rates for certain goods and services. With its adoption of the report by Ieke van den Burg (PES, Netherlands) the EP endorsed, with some amendments around the edges, the proposal for a directive currently on the Ecofin Council table. MEPs want to provide greater flexibility to those member states which would like to continue to apply reduced VAT...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
A Look Behind The News, by Ferdinando Riccardi: Defending human rights must also cover European civilisation
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EP/CZECH PRESIDENCY: Vaclav Klaus criticises “Brussels” for meddling in everything - appeal for subsidiarity
(EU) EP/ESDP: In favour of an integrated European armed force
(EU) EP/NATO: Parliament considers NATO's role “important” in security architecture of Europe
(EU) EP/MIDDLE EAST: MEPs call for immediate and total opening of border crossings to Gaza Strip and for more humanitarian aid
(EU) EP/FOREIGN POLICY:
(EU) EP/EUROMED: MEPs stress urgency of breaking deadlock
(EU) EP/MIDDLE EAST: Hans-Gert Pöttering heads Euro-Med Assembly fact-finding mission in Egypt, Gaza, Ramallah, Jordan and Israel
(EU) EU/SUDAN: Javier Solana calls on Sudanese parties to continue on road to dialogue for political solution to Darfur conflict
(EU) EU/IRAN:
(EU) EU/COMMISSION:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/ENERGY COUNCIL: Overwhelming majority of ministers support list of energy infrastructure projects in Commission's recovery plan
(EU) EU/ENERGY COUNCIL: Member states back Commission's action plan on energy security and solidarity
(EU) EU/ENERGY: Prospect of agreement end March on 3rd liberalisation package
(EU) EU/ENERGY: French and Belgian TSOs, RTE and Elia, launch first joint regional technical coordination centre, Coreso
(EU) EP/SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: Anders Wijkman of Sweden receives award
(EU) EU/ECONOMY: Five years later, enlargement proves economic success
(EU) EU/FINANCIAL SERVICES: Industry undertakes to set up European clearing house for credit derivatives by July
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET: Member states consolidate good results on transposition of internal law directives
(EU) EP/JHA: Parliament approves sanctions directive
(EU) EP/TAXATION: Parliament backs lower VAT rates for labour-intensive services
(EU) EP/AGRICULTURE: Agreement on plant statistics
(EU) EP/FISHERIES: Support for moratorium on commercial whaling
(EU) EP/FISHERIES:
(EU) EU/TRADE: South Korea confirms FTA completion postponed
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Temporary German scheme authorised to reduce interest rates to boost economy
(EU) EU/COMPETITION: Commission confirms inspections in refrigeration compressor sector
(EU) EU/ECONOMY:
(EU) EU/ENVIRONMENT: Italy threatened with warning from ECJ for 300 towns and cities infringing “urban waste water treatment directive”
(EU) EP/ENVIRONMENT: Environment committee hopes to expand scope of ecological label for safe products and simplify EMAS system
(EU) EP/WOMEN: Letter to President Pöttering calling for women's rights committee to remain a neutralised committee
(EU) EP/EMPLOYMENT/SOCIAL:
(EU) EU/LEGISLATION: Main acts published in Official Journal of EU
(EU) EU/MEDIA:
SUPPLEMENT
« EUROPE »/Documents No. 2511: Commission sketches out policy priorities
for 2010
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 19/02/2009: