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EU News Flashes and Events for 96-11-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] UK faces new battles over Europe
[02] Adoption of paper on copyright
[03] Trade, aid for poor countries
[04] Zaire refugee action plan
[05] International bribery campaign
[06] Proposal on procurement changed
[07] Renewable energy sources paper
[08] Tougher sentences for pimps
[09] EU-US face off over Cuba
[10] Dutch EU presidency agenda
[11] Australia soothed on EU subsidies
[12] EU-Australia veterinary pact
[13] Aid to Dutch Oce probed
[14] Finnish Kesko/Tuko merger blocked
[15] Farm fraud funds to be recovered
[16] Soybean ban rumour denied
[17] Phone number overhaul proposal
[18] Main EU events for November 21
[01] UK faces new battles over Europe
LONDON - Prime Minister John Major suffered an embarrassing defeat over Europe
on Wednesday when members of parliament rejected government plans to avoid a
full-scale debate on the crucial issue of the European single currency.
[02] Adoption of paper on copyright
BRUSSELS - The European Commission promised on Wednesday only limited
harmonisation of EU states' copyright law to prevent digital piracy of books,
compact discs and videos in the world of computer networks.
[03] Trade, aid for poor countries
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday that a planned revision
of an important trade and aid pact with a group of mainly former colonies was
not a bid to downgrade relations.
[04] Zaire refugee action plan
BRUSSELS - Joao de Deus Pinheiro, the European Union's development aid
commissioner, said on Wednesday he will propose a general action plan next
week to resettle refugees in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
[05] International bribery campaign
BRUSSELS - The European Commission is considering legislation to force
national governments in the European Union to fight international bribery, an
area where the EU lags far behind the United States.
[06] Proposal on procurement changed
BRUSSELS - The European Commission agreed on Wednesday to amend its proposal
to adapt the EU's public procurement directives to take account of the
Government Procurement Agreement operated within the World Trade Organisation.
[07] Renewable energy sources paper
BRUSSELS - The European Commission adopted a strategy paper on Wednesday
calling for the use of renewable energy sources to be doubled by 2010, saying
their share of total energy consumption in the EU was disappointing.
[08] Tougher sentences for pimps
BRUSSELS - Criminals exploiting women for sex should get heavier jail
sentences, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
[09] EU-US face off over Cuba
GENEVA - The European Union, brushing aside objections from the United States,
on Wednesday won agreement in the World Trade Organisation for a dispute panel
to decide if the U.S. Helms-Burton law on Cuba runs against open trade rules.
[10] Dutch EU presidency agenda
THE HAGUE - The Netherlands said on Wednesday it would give top priority to
reforming the European Union's institutions during its six-month presidency
from January 1.
[11] Australia soothed on EU subsidies
BRUSSELS - Australian Primary Industries and Energy Minister John Anderson
said on Wednesday that the European Commission had given him assurances on
grain export subsidies.
[12] EU-Australia veterinary pact
BRUSSELS - Australian Primary Industries and Energy Minister John Anderson
said on Wednesday that progress was being made towards a veterinary and plant
standards agreement with the European Union.
[13] Aid to Dutch Oce probed
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday it was investigating 24
million Ecus aid paid or promised to Dutch photocopier and printer maker Oce
Nederland BV to help it develop a digital high-volume copier.
[14] Finnish Kesko/Tuko merger blocked
BRUSSELS - The European Commission decided on Wednesday to ban the merger
between Finnish wholesaler and retailer Kesko and its rival Tuko, saying it
would damage competition in the market for daily consumer goods in Finland.
[15] Farm fraud funds to be recovered
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday it will claw back 67.5
million Ecus out of 209 million Ecus of unaccounted farm funds paid to member
states in 1991 and 1992.
[16] Soybean ban rumour denied
BRUSSELS - The European Commission has denied rumours circulating among trade
organisations that it might impose a ban on genetically modified soybeans.
[17] Phone number overhaul proposal
BRUSSELS - Dial "3" for Europe -- at least we will if the European Commission
has its way. In a wide-ranging plan to overhaul the European Union's telephone
numbering system, the Commission said it wanted "3" to become the first figure
of every international call to Europe.
[18] Main EU events for November 21
BRUSSELS - EU education ministers meeting begins at 0900 GMT; public debate on
Council conclusions on school effectiveness and meeting with central and
eastern European counterparts.
BRUSSELS - European Commissioner Monti attends EP Social Affairs committee at
0800 GMT.
BRUSSELS - MEP Gijs de Vries news conference on "Economic an monetary union"
begins at 1000 GMT.
BRUSSELS - Club de Bruxelles holds conference on the future of the West
African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) begins at 0800 GMT - The role of
business and the European institutions in the context of regional integration
and economic development of the countries of the WAEMU (first of two days).
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From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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