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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-01-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] EU transit regime reform/Monti
[02] VAT on foreign telecoms firms
[03] Green taxes and levies paper
[04] EU should fine Germany and Italy
[05] Turkey excluded from enlargement
[06] Britain backs Romania EU bid
[07] EU-Australia accord threatened
[08] Gibraltar seeks EU help
[09] Ireland must be weaned off EU aid
[10] SNECMA/Pratt & Whitney venture
[11] Archer Daniels buy of cocoa unit
[12] Olive oil report further delayed
[13] June 1998 single currency summit
[14] Main EU events for January 29
[01] EU transit regime reform/Monti
BRUSSELS - Internal Market Commissioner Mario Monti said on Wednesday there
was a need for a wide reform of the European Union's fraud-ridden transit
regime.
[02] VAT on foreign telecoms firms
BRUSSELS - The European Commission will go ahead on Wednesday with rules to
force non-EU telecommunications firms to charge VAT on services offered in the
15-nation bloc.
[03] Green taxes and levies paper
BRUSSELS - The European Commission is due to adopt a communication on
Wednesday on its legal thinking about member states' use of environmental
taxes and charges in national policy, a Commission official said.
[04] EU should fine Germany and Italy
BRUSSELS - The European Commission is set to propose on Wednesday fining
Germany and Italy for ignoring EU court orders to apply environmental laws,
Commission officials said on Tuesday.
[05] Turkey excluded from enlargement
ROME - Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller on Tuesday bitterly criticised the
exclusion of Turkey from a group of countries told by the European Union that
they can aspire to full membership.
[06] Britain backs Romania EU bid
BUCHAREST - British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind said on Tuesday that
London supported the opening of European markets for Romania and fellow east
European states bidding for EU membership.
[07] EU-Australia accord threatened
BRUSSELS - The European Parliament will reject an important European Union
agreement with Australia unless the latter accepts a standard clause on
respect for human rights.
[08] Gibraltar seeks EU help
BRUSSELS - Gibraltar launched a campaign in Brussels on Tuesday to get
European Union help against what it sees as Spanish discrimination in areas
from aviation to the movement of people.
[09] Ireland must be weaned off EU aid
LONDON - Fast-growing Ireland needs to wean itself off regional aid from the
European Union, European Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies said on Tuesday.
[10] SNECMA/Pratt & Whitney venture
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Tuesday it was probing a proposed
joint venture between France's Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de
Moteurs d'Aviation and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
[11] Archer Daniels buy of cocoa unit
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Tuesday it was vetting the proposed
acquisition of the cocoa business of W.R. Grace & Company by Archer Daniels
Midland Co, which are both based in the United States.
[12] Olive oil report further delayed
BRUSSELS - A report on the future of the olive oil regime, due to be adopted
by the European Commission on Wednesday, will again be delayed, Commission
officials said on Tuesday.
[13] June 1998 single currency summit
LONDON - Britain said on Tuesday it had chosen Cardiff, the capital of Wales,
to host the European Union summit in June 1998 which is to decide which
countries qualify for the first wave joining the single European currency.
[14] Main EU events for January 29
BRUSSELS - European Commission regular weekly meeting begins at 0800 GMT;
proposals to impose fines on member states that did not respect Court of
Justice judgments and to apply VAT to non-EU telecoms services.
BRUSSELS - Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer meets European
Commissioners Brittan, Marin, Fischler and Bangemann - followed by a news
conference with Commissioner Brittan at 1340 GMT.
BRUSSELS - Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov attends EP Foreign Affairs
Committee (1000 GMT); meets EP President Jose Maria Gil Robles (1130 GMT);
meets NATO Secretary General Javier Solana (1325 GMT).
BRUSSELS - European Parliament mini session begins at 1400 GMT (first of two
days); debates on the fight against racism and terrorism.
BRUSSELS - European Commissioner Flynn attends EP Civil Liberties Committee at
1500 GMT.
BRUSSELS - Economic and Social Committee plenary session begins at 1330 GMT
(first of two days).
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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