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EU News Flashes and Events for 96-06-19
From: HR-Net News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>
CONTENTS
[01] Commission agrees on BSE framework
[02] EU/British cooperation and BSE
[03] EU pension funds seek freedom
[04] Competition/trade body
[05] Terca Bricks/Wienerberger merger
[06] Decision on VW aid delayed
[07] VW hopeful on aid
[08] Production at Clabecq to be cut
[09] Consumer guarantee proposal
[10] Reduced-rate rice import plan
[11] Cereals set-aside halved to 5.0 pct
[12] EU eases scarce grain supplies
[13] Britain blocks 19 "A" items
[14] Last-minute deal on TENs
[15] Commission maritime paper welcomed
[16] Council agrees to boost sea safety
[17] Britain/Chile/Uzbekistan deals
[18] Greece/Turkey dispute at summit
[19] Energy norms for fridges
[20] Main EU events for June 19
[01] Commission agrees on BSE framework
STRASBOURG, France - The European Commission reached an agreement in principle
on Tuesday on a framework for lifting the worldwide ban on British beef
exports imposed in the health scare over mad cow diseas
[02] EU/British cooperation and BSE
STRASBOURG, France - The European Commission will unveil a conditional plan
for lifting the global ban on British beef exports on Wednesday, but the row
between Britain and its EU partners over mad cow disease is not over.
[03] EU pension funds seek freedom
BRUSSELS - Pension funds in the European Union could increase nine fold to
$12.7 trillion in 2020 if national restrictions on the way assets are invested
were removed, the European Federation for Retirement Provision said on
Tuesday.
[04] Competition/trade body
BRUSSELS - The European Union does not want to see the formation of an
international body to oversee world competition policy, preferring instead a
building-block approach to global agreements.
[05] Terca Bricks/Wienerberger merger
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Tuesday it had cleared a merger
between Terca Bricks NV, a subsidary of Belgium's Koramic Building NV, and
Wienerberger Baustoffenindustrie AG, a subsidary of Austrian bank
Creditanstalt-Bankverein.
[06] Decision on VW aid delayed
BRUSSELS - The European Commission was expected to delay by one week a
decision to outlaw 240 million deutschemarks in subsidies granted towards an
investment by German carmaker Volkswagen in Saxony, eastern Germany,
Commission sources said.
[07] VW hopeful on aid
WOLFSBURG, Germany - Volkswagen AG said on Tuesday it was hopeful that the
European Union would allow the German government to move forward with plans to
offer all of a previously announced 950-million mark support package.
[08] Production at Clabecq to be cut
BRUSSELS - Production at Belgian steel maker Forges de Clabecq SA will be cut
from September in line with conditions for aid set out by the Walloon regional
government, a Belgian union spokesman said on Tuesday.
[09] Consumer guarantee proposal
STRASBOURG - European consumers would have a legal right to a two-year
guarantee on faulty goods under a new proposal adopted by the European
Commission on Tuesday.
[10] Reduced-rate rice import plan
BRUSSELS - A proposal to import more rice at preferential tariffs to allow for
European Union enlargement will be decided by ministers after failing to get
the support of the EU cereals management committee, a Commission official
said.
[11] Cereals set-aside halved to 5.0 pct
STRASBOURG, France - The European Commission proposed on Tuesday cutting the
cereals set-aside rate to five percent in 1997/98, from 10 percent in 1996/97,
a Commission official said.
[12] EU eases scarce grain supplies
BRUSSELS - The European Commission proposed on Tuesday bringing more farmland
back into production to ease grain shortages which have sent world prices
rocketing to record levels.
[13] Britain blocks 19 "A" items
LUXEMBOURG - Britain continued its policy of non-cooperation on Tuesday,
blocking 19 "A" points on the agenda of the Transport Council, a Council
official said.
[14] Last-minute deal on TENs
LUXEMBOURG - The European Parliament and Council reached a compromise
agreement late last night following intense conciliation talks on the proposal
for trans-European networks guidelines, a Council official said on Tuesday.
[15] Commission maritime paper welcomed
LUXEMBOURG - Transport ministers broadly welcomed on Tuesday the Commission's
Communication on a new EU maritime strategy which aims to improve the
competitiveness of Europe's struggling shipping industry.
[16] Council agrees to boost sea safety
LUXEMBOURG - The Transport Council reached a political agreement on Tuesday on
legislation to improve the safety of passenger ships on domestic voyages.
[17] Britain/Chile/Uzbekistan deals
LUXEMBOURG - Britain on Tuesday allowed two European Union decisions to go
through a ministerial meeting, clearing the way for leaders of Chile and
Uzbekistan to attend this week's EU summit in Florence.
[18] Greece/Turkey dispute at summit
ATHENS - Greece will bring its dispute with neighbouring Turkey to the
European Council in Florence but it is unlikely to receive a sympathetic
hearing, diplomats said.
[19] Energy norms for fridges
STRASBOURG - The European Parliament approved on Tuesday a proposal to force
manufacturers to reduce the amount of energy consumed by domestic fridges and
freezers by 15 percent over the next three years.
[20] Main EU events for June 19
STRASBOURG - European Parliament plenary session begins at 0700 GMT (third of
five days); vote on European monetary union, debate on Florence European
Council (0715 GMT) and the situation in former Yugoslavia (1300 GMT).
BRUSSELS - EU Standing Veterinary Committee meets; discussions focus on
British beef crisis.
STRASBOURG - Commission President Santer and Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto
Dini hold joint news conference on the Florence European Council at 1000 GMT.
BRUSSELS - Industrial Affairs Commissioner Bangemann news conference on the
textile industry forum begins at 0930 GMT.
BRUSSELS - European Commission hosts meeting on rail liberalisation involving
railway, union and shipping representatives - followed by a news conference at
1530 GMT.
LONDON - The Association for the Monetary Union of Europe conference on
"European Monetary Union" begins at 0800 GMT (first of two days); participants
include Societe General de Belgique Chairman Etienne Davignon, EMI President
Alexandre Lamfalussy, Belgian Finance Minister Philippe Maystadt, MEPs Christa
Randzio-Plath and John Stevens.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://www.cec.lu/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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