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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-03-13
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] No delay to EMU/France-Germany
[02] Energy tax plan agreement
[03] 2010 goal to cut acid rainfall
[04] Lower sulphur-in-fuel limit
[05] EU must take care of its people
[06] EU urged social schemes reform
[07] New media law discussion delayed
[08] U.S. starch subsidy talks planned
[09] Single market council agenda
[10] Sheep brain disease not inherited
[11] Tajik peace talks progress
[12] Failure of Albania compromise
[13] EU should join Zaire aid airlift
[14] UN efforts in Zaire crisis
[15] No decision yet on VW subsidies
[16] 12 mln pound aid to GM's Vauxhall
[17] French textile aid illegal
[18] Main EU events ofr March 13
[01] No delay to EMU/France-Germany
LYON, France - France and Germany, leaders in the drive to monetary union,
vowed on Wednesday that there would be no delay to plans to launch a single
European currency in January 1999.
[02] Energy tax plan agreement
BRUSSELS - The European Commission agreed a controversial draft law on
Wednesday to raise the minimum taxes on motor and heating fuels and extend the
taxes to electricity and natural gas.
[03] 2010 goal to cut acid rainfall
BRUSSELS - The European Commission agreed a plan on Wednesday to cut the
corrosive effects of acid rain in the EU by the year 2010, using limits on
countries' emissions of various pollutants and tighter fuel quality rules to
do so.
[04] Lower sulphur-in-fuel limit
BRUSSELS - The European Commission adopted on Wednesday a proposal to cut the
maximum allowed sulphur content in heavy fuel oil to one percent by weight by
January 1, 2000, Commission officials told a news conference.
[05] EU must take care of its people
STRASBOURG, France - The European Union must change its ways and focus more
clearly on the aspirations of its people if it wants their support, European
Commission President Jacques Santer said on Wednesday.
[06] EU urged social schemes reform
BRUSSELS - European Union governments must reform their social protection
systems to take account of new working styles, the aging population and the
changing role of men and women, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
[07] New media law discussion delayed
STRASBOURG - The European Commission postponed on Wednesday a discussion on a
controversial plan for a new media law, aimed at curbing domination of the
media by a handful of industry moguls.
[08] U.S. starch subsidy talks planned
BRUSSELS - Consultations with the United States on European Union wheat starch
production refunds are envisaged if the EU's market share rises significantly
beyond 1992 levels, a European Commission spokesman said on Wednesday.
[09] Single market council agenda
BRUSSELS - Internal Market Ministers will debate on Thursday what they believe
should be included in the Commission's action plan for completing the internal
market by 1999.
[10] Sheep brain disease not inherited
LONDON - The sheep disease scrapie, believed to be the basis for the epidemic
of mad cow disease, is not strictly genetic and may be partly caused by an
infectious agent, British experts said on Wednesday.
[11] Tajik peace talks progress
THE HAGUE - The European Union on Wednesday hailed the progress made in recent
talks between the Tajikistan government and Islamic opposition and urged
continued efforts to find a lasting peace in the central Asian region.
[12] Failure of Albania compromise
STRASBOURG, France - The European Commission appealed to the political forces
in Albania on Wednesday to stick strictly to the terms of a potential
compromise, warning the country could collapse if they did not.
[13] EU should join Zaire aid airlift
PARIS - France said on Wednesday it would ask its European Union partners to
help it organise an airlift of humanitarian aid supplies to the northeast
Zaire city of Kisangani which is the target of a rebel offensive.
[14] UN efforts in Zaire crisis
THE HAGUE - The European Union reiterated its support on Wednesday for the
efforts of the United Nations special envoy in Zaire to achieve a peaceful
solution to the crisis in the east of the country.
[15] No decision yet on VW subsidies
WOLFSBURG, Germany - Volkswagen AG said on Wednesday that no decision has been
made yet on ending a subsidy dispute with Brussels over controversial aid to
the German carmaker for east German plants.
[16] 12 mln pound aid to GM's Vauxhall
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday it had approved a total
12 million pounds of British central and local government aid in support of an
investment project of Vauxhall Motors Ltd, a unit of General Motors Corp, in
Britain.
[17] French textile aid illegal
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday French plans to help the
country's textile industry stimulate job creation were illegal but delayed a
formal decision for two weeks.
[18] Main EU events ofr March 13
STRASBOURG - European Parliament plenary session begins at 0830 GMT (fourth of
five days); debates on EU agreements with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan.
BRUSSELS - Committee of the Regions plenary session continues at 0800 GMT
(second of two days).
BRUSSELS - EU internal market ministers meeting begins at 0900 GMT; open
debate on European Commission communication on the impact and effectiveness of
the internal market.
THE HAGUE - German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel
meet Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo;
discussions focus on state of the inter-governmental conference, EU and NATO
enlargement, planned single currency and key foreign policy issues - followed
by a news conference.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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