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EU News Flashes and Events for 96-10-25
From: HR-Net News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>
CONTENTS
[01] Major says British beef safe
[02] EU studying BSkyB UK soccer deal
[03] Van Miert no comment on Telekom
[04] EU clears joint control of DBKom
[05] Kloeckner buy of Arus Distribution
[06] Spain must free telecoms sector
[07] MEPs vote on advertising
[08] Unilever, Argos VAT refund case
[09] Court/aid to Vulcan inadequate
[10] Dalai Lama/relations with China
[11] MEP vote to freeze aid to Turkey
[12] EU law on vehicle safety tests
[13] EU employers/competitiveness
[14] Main EU events for October 25
[01] Major says British beef safe
LONDON - Prime Minister John Major insisted on Thursday that British beef was
safe to eat, but the European Union's agriculture commissioner said a global
ban on the meat would stay in place.
[02] EU studying BSkyB UK soccer deal
LONDON - Competition commissioner Karel Van Miert wants to probe a four-year
exclusive broadcast rights deal between satellite broadcaster BSkyB and
Britain's Football Association, BBC radio said on Thursday.
[03] Van Miert no comment on Telekom
BRUSSELS - Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert will not comment on the
dispute opposing Deutsche Telekom AG to other telecoms companies until
discussions with all interested parties are over, his spokesman told
reporters.
[04] EU clears joint control of DBKom
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Thursday it had cleared a proposal
under which a group led by Mannesmann AG will buy 49.8 percent of DBKom in an
agreement with German railway Deutsche Bahn AG.
[05] Kloeckner buy of Arus Distribution
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Thursday it had cleared the
purchase by Germany's Kloeckner Stahl and Metallhandel GmbH of French company
Arus Distribution SA.
[06] Spain must free telecoms sector
BRUSSELS - The European Commission, under pressure to make a fresh offer in
WTO telecoms talks in Geneva, has told the Spanish government that it must
liberalise its telecommunications sector from the first half of 1998 by
granting licences.
[07] MEPs vote on advertising
STRASBOURG - Advertisements which directly compare branded products, such as
washing powders, will be seen more frequently following a vote by the European
Parliament on Wednesday.
[08] Unilever, Argos VAT refund case
LUXEMBOURG - The European Court upheld on Thursday a move by Unilever
subsidiary Elida Faberge and retail chain Argos to have the British government
pay back excess VAT paid on discounted goods.
[09] Court/aid to Vulcan inadequate
LUXEMBOURG - The European Court of Justice annulled on Thursday the
Commission's characterisation of state aid to Hibeg, and subsequently to
Bremer Vulkan, as illegal.
[10] Dalai Lama/relations with China
STRASBOURG - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Thursday he
was not seeking independence from China for his Himalayan country and
constructive engagement with Beijing was the best approach.
[11] MEP vote to freeze aid to Turkey
BRUSSELS - The European Parliament, angered by Turkey's human rights record,
voted on Thursday to block hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to help
Ankara set up a customs union with the European Union. Turkey's Human Rights
Association welcomed a EP vote to freeze aid as punishment for Turkey's
failure to improve its rights record.
[12] EU law on vehicle safety tests
STRASBOURG - The European Parliament approved on Thursday a draft directive on
the approximation of member state laws on roadworthiness tests for motor
vehicles and their trailers -- CO415.
[13] EU employers/competitiveness
BRUSSELS - The European employers' group UNICE said on Thursday competitiveness
continued to decline it was time to study whether the functioning of the
labour market itself was a major cause behind Europe's high unemployment rate.
[14] Main EU events for October 25
LUXEMBOURG - EU internal market ministers meeting begins at 0800 GMT; European
Commissioner Monti report to the Council on the latest state of preparation
for the information campaign aimed at demonstrating advantages and
opportunities of the single market for citizens.
STRASBOURG - EP holds plenary session resumes at 0700 GMT (last of five days).
On Sunday - European summer time ends - Central European time changes from GMT
+2 to GMT +1.
SOFIA - Bulgaria holds its second post-communist presidential election
(Sunday).
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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