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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-04-10
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] Dutch mull May extra summit
[02] Telecoms leased lines cost
[03] Streamlined research programme
[04] EP's gene-maize ban call rejected
[05] New US WTO grain panel request
[06] EU states to improve food safety
[07] German pig movement ban easing
[08] British gelatine exports ban
[09] Vets confirm two BSE cases origin
[10] EU salmon duty would be big blow
[11] Kinnock to slash road deaths
[12] EU to fill Bulgarian finances gap
[13] EU rejects French textile aid
[14] Anglo/Lonrho merger in spotlight
[15] EU too optimistic on Hong Kong
[16] Worker protection rules approved
[17] Main EU events for April 10
[01] Dutch mull May extra summit
BRUSSELS - The Dutch EU presidency said on Wednesday it was still considering
calling an extra summit of European Union heads of government to try and kick-
start deadlocked talks on reforming the bloc's unwieldy institutions.
[02] Telecoms leased lines cost
BRUSSELS - The European Commission is investigating complaints that
Europe's big telephone companies are overcharging customers for leased
telecommunications lines.
[03] Streamlined research programme
BRUSSELS - The European Commission proposed on Wednesday streamlining the
EU's multibillion-dollar research programme to focus on projects that boost
industrial competitiveness and improve the quality of life.
[04] EP's gene-maize ban call rejected
BRUSSELS - The European Commission rejected on Wednesday a European Parliament
call for a ban on gene-modified maize sales, saying it had no legal powers to
do this and defending its decision to clear the product last December.
[05] New US WTO grain panel request
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednessday it was puzzled by the
United States' intention to ask the World Trade Organisation again to set up a
panel to hear a complaint against the EU's grain import tariff system.
[06] EU states to improve food safety
BRUSSELS - European Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler has asked member states
what they are doing to improve food safety following the mad cow disease
health scare, a European Commission spokesman said on Wednesday.
[07] German pig movement ban easing
BRUSSELS - The European Union's Standing Veterinary Committee supported on
Wednesday a further easing of movement restrictions on pigs in Germany, a
European Commission official said.
[08] British gelatine exports ban
STRASBOURG, France - The European Commission will discuss next week steps
to make it legally impossible to export British gelatine, though none is
currently being exported, a Commission spokesman said on Wednesday.
[09] Vets confirm two BSE cases origin
BRUSSELS - Dutch vets have confirmed that two cases of mad cow disease
diagnosed in the northern province of Friesland involved domestically
raised animals, a European Commission official said on Wednesday.
[10] EU salmon duty would be big blow
BRUSSELS - Norway's salmon industry would suffer a major blow if the European
Commission imposed punitive anti-dumping duties on EU imports of farmed
Norwegian salmon, Foreign Minister Bjoern Tore Godal said on Wednesday.
[11] Kinnock to slash road deaths
STRASBOURG, France - The annual toll of 45,000 people killed on European
Union roads could be slashed by more than a third come 2010 by technical
advances and tighter laws, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
[12] EU to fill Bulgarian finances gap
BRUSSELS - The European Commission announced on Wednesday it would propose
a balance of payments aid package of up to 250 million Ecus for Bulgaria to
help fill the gap left by an IMF standby loan.
[13] EU rejects French textile aid
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Wednesday it had banned a French
state aid scheme targeted at the textiles and clothing industries, but said
it was open to discussions about a plan that would apply more widely.
[14] Anglo/Lonrho merger in spotlight
BRUSSELS - The European Commission declined to comment on Wednesday on a
report that European Union investigators had recommended banning Anglo
American Corp of South Africa Ltd from keeping a 28 percent stake in Lonrho
Plc.
[15] EU too optimistic on Hong Kong
STRASBOURG - European Union leaders are far too optimistic about the future
of Hong Kong once it reverts to Chinese rule in July, members of the
European Parliament said on Wednesday.
[16] Worker protection rules approved
STRASBOURG - The European Parliament on Wednesday approved with amendments a
draft EU directive designed to protect workers from the risks associated with
exposure to carcinogens.
[17] Main EU events for April 10
LUXEMBOURG - EU consumer ministers meeting begins at 0800 GMT; public hearing
on "The consumer in a changing environment: dealing with consumer issues in
the years ahead" at 0830 GMT.
STRASBOURG - European Parliament plenary session continues at 0800 GMT (fourth
of five days).
LUXEMBOURG - Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos and Prime Minister Jean-
Claude Juncker meet Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas-Hendrik Ilves;
discussions focus on NATO enlargement, European security architecture and EU
enlargement - followed by a news conference at 1530 GMT.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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