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Thursday, 25 April 2024
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European Business News 96-09-16European Business News (EBN) Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The European Business News Server at <http://www.ebn.co.uk/>Page last updated September 16 7:30 CETCONTENTS
[01] UK to urge EU rethink over BSE rulingThe UK will today seek to persuade the European Union to reduce the number of cattle Britain must slaughter as part of a plan to eradicate mad cow disease.Britain's Agriculture Minister Douglas Hogg is meeting EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler as well as ministers from the other EU nations to present London's case. The UK argues that the plan to kill 140,000 cows judged to be at risk from BSE needs to be revised as new scientific data indicate that the disease will die out within five years. The ministers will also debate plans to support farmers hit by falling beef prices. One proposal is to divert aid earmarked for cereal farmers to buy up more surplus meat. [02] Germany plans further welfare cutsThe German health minister, Horst Seehofer, has announced plans for another round of welfare cuts. Hard on the heels of Friday's final parliamentary approval of an austerity programme, Seehofer told a Sunday paper that the decisions taken so far amounted to no more than a minimal programme. He said much higher savings would be necessary, in the budget, in taxes, and in health and pension insurance.The news magazine Der Speigel said Bonn planned to save 6 to 7bn Deutsche marks ($4.6bn) through cuts in unemployment benefits and reductions in job- creation schemes in eastern Germany. [03] Bossi declares indepenent stateThe leader of Italy's separatist Northern League party, Umberto Bossi, has declared an independent state of Padania. But only about 50,000 people - as opposed to the one and a half million Bossi had predicted - turned up to support his movement. In Milan, however, as many as 150,000 people attended counter-demonstrations to support unity.Some Bossi critics said that people aren't willing to support secession just because they're frustrated with the Rome government. [04] Bayer and Roche to announce joint mergerGermany's Bayer and Roche Holding of Switzerland are expected to announce today a joint venture to sell over the counter drugs in the US. The deal would join well-known but under-performing brands into one marketing organization. Bayer is expected to exclude its aspirin line from the venture. The move reflects the increasingly competitive battle for drugstore shelf space and the consumer's attention in the over-the-counter medicine market.[05] Daimler Benz keep quiet over streamline rumourThe German industrial group Daimler Benz has refused to comment on a report claiming that the company's chief executive Juergen Schrempp plans to the streamline its management.Today's edition of the weekly magazine Der Spiegel says Schrempp has put forward a number of radical options. One proposal being considered is thought to involve removing the management board level at Daimler's large subsidiaries. Der Spiegel says such a move would be blocked by Helmut Werner, the management board chairman of Daimler's Mercedes-Benz unit. [06] Wedgwood 'to take over Rosenthal'A German report says the British porcelain manufacturer Waterford Wedgwood is about to take over its German competitor Rosenthal.Today's edition of the news magazine Focus reports that the two companies have been negotiating for several months. According to Focus, the main obstacle to the takeover is a limit on voting rights at Rosenthal, which prevents individual shareholders from owning more than five percent of the voting capital. [07] Italy seeks STET compromiseThe leader of the Italian Communist party, Fausto Bertinotti, has hinted at the possibility of a compromise in the conflict over the privatisation of the telecommunications holding company STET. Bertinotti had recently threatened that a fight between his party and Prime Minister Prodi could bring down the government -which relies on the Communists for its majority in the lower house. The Communists are opposed to the government's plan to privatise STET next February or March. But Bertinotti said the two sides were now working on a compromise.From the European Business News (EBN) Server at http://www.ebn.co.uk/European Business News (EBN) Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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