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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-02-13
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] One-off EMU measures not enough
[02] Italy's EMU prospects
[03] Reorganisation after BSE crisis
[04] EU to ban most Dutch pig exports
[05] Olive oil reform report/Fischler
[06] EU asks WTO to postpone panel
[07] WTO warned against damage from US
[08] World telecoms deal on track
[09] EU clarifies broadcast confusion
[10] Portugual/telecoms liberalisation
[11] Energy taxation revision delayed
[12] UK territories rice import quotas
[13] Nine airlines against BA-American
[14] Egypt-EU partnership agreement
[15] France's SFP aid
[16] Main EU events for February 13
[01] One-off EMU measures not enough
BRUSSELS - The European Commission will say on Thursday that one-off measures
taken to help countries meet the requirements of a single currency will not
help the objective of sustainable budgetary discipline.
[02] Italy's EMU prospects
ROME - Prime Minister Romano Prodi expressed renewed optimism on Wednesday
that Italy would trim its 1997 budget deficit by enough to join Europe's
planned single currency from the start.
[03] Reorganisation after BSE crisis
BRUSSELS - The European Commission announced a major reorganisation of its
food safety services on Wednesday following strong criticism of the way it
handled the mad cow crisis.
[04] EU to ban most Dutch pig exports
BRUSSELS - The European Union's Standing Veterinary Committee, at a special
meeting on Wednesday, backed a ban on exports of pigs from seven Dutch
districts following an outbreak of swine fever, a European Commission official
said.
[05] Olive oil reform report/Fischler
BRUSSELS - Steps must be taken to reduce massive fraud over European Union
olive oil subsidies and bring them into line with world free trade rules, EU
Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler said on Wednesday.
[06] EU asks WTO to postpone panel
BRUSSELS - The European Union on Wednesday asked World Trade Organisation
chief Renato Ruggiero to postpone naming a panel to rule on complaints that
Washington's Helms-Burton Act contravenes world trade rules.
[07] WTO warned against damage from US
BRUSSELS - European Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan warned on Wednesday
that a U.S. threat to ignore a World Trade Organisation ruling on the grounds
of national security could immeasurably damage the procedure.
[08] World telecoms deal on track
GENEVA - A global pact to liberalise the $600 billion telecoms trade is on
track ahead of Saturday's deadline, boosted by new offers from Canada and the
European Union to open up markets further, negotiators said on Wednesday.
[09] EU clarifies broadcast confusion
GENEVA - The European Union, in its final package tabled at the world telecoms
talks in Geneva on Wednesday, said broadcasting services to the public would
not be covered under the offer.
[10] Portugual/telecoms liberalisation
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday that Portugal could delay
the complete liberalisation of its telecommunications until the beginning of
2000, two years after most other countries in the bloc must act.
[11] Energy taxation revision delayed
BRUSSELS - The European Commission delayed on Wednesday plans to increase and
extend EU-wide, minimum tax rates for petrol and diesel fuels, spokesman
Nikolaus van der Pas told a news conference on Wednesday.
[12] UK territories rice import quotas
BRUSSELS - The European Union agreed to increase duty free quotas for imports
of rice from Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos islands by 8,000 tonnes
during the first four months of 1997, British officials said on Wednesday.
[13] Nine airlines against BA-American
LONDON - Nine major airlines are forming a powerful new global alliance to
counter the threat posed by the proposed linkup between British Airways and
American Airlines , airline officials told Reuters.
[14] Egypt-EU partnership agreement
CAIRO - Egypt and the European Union, at talks in Brussels last week, edged
close to a partnership agreement providing for free trade in services and
manufactured goods, the Egyptian negotiator said on Wednesda
[15] France's SFP aid
BRUSSELS - The European Commission decided on Wednesday to begin an
examination of French plans to 2.5 billion francs into loss-making SFP film
studios.
[16] Main EU events for February 13
SINGAPORE - Special EU General Affairs Council begins at 0100 GMT; main
discussions focus on preparation for EU-ASEAN and Asia-Europe Meeting
ministerial meetings.
SINGAPORE - Meeting of EU and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations -
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam)
begins at 0230 GMT (first of two days); discussions on future relations
between EU and Asia; European Commissioner Marin attends.
BRUSSELS - Former Portuguese European Affairs Minister Vitor Martins addresses
Centre for European Policy Studies lunchtime meeting on "Central and eastern
Europe: preparing for membership" at 1215 GMT.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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