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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-02-18
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Romano Prodi to Moscow for an informal dinner with Vladimir Putin
[02] A Constitution for Europe : Romano Prodi consults the public
[03] Accord de coopération entre la Commission et Europol
[04] Final negative State aid decisions on special tax schemes in Belgium,
the Netherlands and Ireland
[05] December 2002 : industrial production down by 1.5% in euro-zone ; down
by 1.6% in EU15
[06] EU and Vietnam agreement on mutually beneficial trade liberalisation
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 18/02/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 18/02/2003
[01] Romano Prodi to Moscow for an informal dinner with Vladimir Putin
The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, will fly tonight to
Moscow for an informal dinner with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. The
two leaders are expected to discuss topical international issues as well as
the state of EU-Russia relations, including the forthcoming EU-Russia
Summit in St Petersburg in June. President Prodi will arrive at 18h30 local
time (16h30 CET) at Vnukova airport. The dinner will start at the State
residence in the Kremlin at 21h00. A press briefing will take place after
the dinner. The President will return to Brussels immediately after the
dinner.
[02] A Constitution for Europe : Romano Prodi consults the public
The President of the European Commission Romano Prodi has launched an
Internet debate on a potential Constitution for Europe. Based on the
working document "Penelope", that seeks to give a general idea of the
possible content of a future Constitution of the European Union, members of
the public now have the opportunity to voice their opinions on issues such
as democracy, justice, and monetary policy. The President himself and the
experts involved in drawing up the document are taking part in the on-line
discussion by responding to comments and proposals from the public. To
consult the document and take part in the debate : http://europa.eu.int/prodi.
See also the inter-institutional portal "Futurum" (debate on the future of
Europe) : http://europa.eu.int/futurum/
[03] Accord de coopération entre la Commission et Europol
Le membre de la Commission européenne chargé de la Justice et des Affaires
intérieures, M. António Vitorino, et le Directeur d'Europol, M. Jürgen
Storbeck, ont signé aujourd'hui, au Parlement européen, un accord de
coopération entre la Commission et l'Office européen de police.
[04] Final negative State aid decisions on special tax schemes in Belgium,
the Netherlands and Ireland
The European Commission today decided that special tax breaks in Belgium,
Ireland and the Netherlands constitute State aid. The fiscal measures
concerned include the Coordination Centres scheme in Belgium, the
International Financing Activities scheme in the Netherlands and the
Foreign Income scheme in Ireland. In each case, the Commission has found
that the scheme granted tax breaks that cannot be reconciled with the EU's
rules on State aid.
[05] December 2002 : industrial production down by 1.5% in euro-zone ; down
by 1.6% in EU15
Seasonally adjusted industrial production decreased by 1.5% in the euro-
zone in December 2002 compared to November 2002, Eurostat estimates today.
Production rose by 0.7% in November after remaining stable in October.
Output in the EU15 fell by 1.6% in December 2002, after an increase of 0.8%
in November and a fall of 0.2% in October. In December 2002 compared to
December 2001, industrial production decreased by 0.5% in the euro-zone and
by 0.7% in the EU15.
[06] EU and Vietnam agreement on mutually beneficial trade liberalisation
The European Commission and Vietnam agreed on 15 February a mutually
beneficial agreement on trade. The agreement gives Vietnam an increase in
textile and clothing quotas worth €200 million a year in exchange of
significant tariff reductions by Vietnam for the textile and clothing
sector and other liberalisation commitments in a large number of sectors.
European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy commented : "This agreement is
evidence of the EU's commitment to strengthen trade and investment links
with Vietnam. We want to do business with Vietnam. It is also a step in the
direction ahead of Vietnam's accession to the WTO."
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Speaking points by Romano Prodi at the press conference of the informal
extraordinary European Council (17/02)
Intervention de M. Solbes à la conférence de presse de l'Eurogroupe (17/02)
Speech by Franz Fischler : "CAP reform: a long-term perspective for
sustainable development" at the National Farmers' Union (Birmingham)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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