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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-02-28
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] EMU decision end of April 98
[02] "Euro-bit tax" sparks Internet
[03] EU insurance industry-competition
[04] EU floats new fish cut plan
[05] EU plans blood safety proposal
[06] ECB independence
[07] Dutch to unveil EU treaty draft
[08] Court/pension benefit supplements
[09] Court upholds tax break for post
[10] EU ban on animal testing
[11] Conference to promote quality beef
[12] Main EU events for February 28
[01] EMU decision end of April 98
PARIS - European Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy was quoted as saying on
Thursday he expected European Union leaders to decide at the end of April 1998
which countries qualify for Economic and Monetary Union in 1999..
[02] "Euro-bit tax" sparks Internet
BRUSSELS - A wave of protest from Internet users has greeted a suggestion that
the European Union consider taxing the amount of information users get out of
the system.
[03] EU insurance industry-competition
BRUSSELS - Competition has increased in the European Union's insurance
industry following the launch of the single market, the EU's statistics office
Eurostat said on Thursday.
[04] EU floats new fish cut plan
BRUSSELS - The European Commission has made a fresh bid to break the deadlock
over controversial plans for sharp cuts in fish catches in coming years to
protect dwindling stocks, a Commission fisheries spokesman said on Thursday
[05] EU plans blood safety proposal
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Thursday it will present proposals
this year to ensure the safety of blood and plasma used in transfusions, even
though the European Union has no binding powers in this area.
[06] ECB independence
LONDON - The European Central Bank, which will dictate monetary policy for a
large chunk of western Europe after currency union in 1999, is set to be
insulated from political interference.
[07] Dutch to unveil EU treaty draft
ROME - The Dutch EU presidency will present a new draft of the Maastricht
treaty in Rome on March 25, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on
Thursday.
[08] Court/pension benefit supplements
LUXEMBOURG - The European Court of Justice said on Thursday member states with
higher pension rates are not obliged to pay supplementary family allowances to
citizens residing in another member state, with a narrow exception.
[09] Court upholds tax break for post
LUXEMBOURG - The European Court of First Instance upheld on Thursday the
French government's right to give a tax break to the state post office.
[10] EU ban on animal testing
BRUSSELS - The European Parliament is expected next month to slam the European
Union for trying to delay a planned ban on cosmetics tests on animals.
[11] Conference to promote quality beef
BRUSSELS - The first scientific congress to review measures taken by the
European Union to restore consumer confidence in beef after the mad cow crisis
is to be held in Venice in April, the organisers announced on Thursday.
[12] Main EU events for February 28
AMSTERDAM - EU development ministers hold informal meeting (Saturday);
discussions focus on coherence of foreign policy in relation to food security,
conflict management, fisheries and migration; coordination of development
cooperation and other EU policy objectives. Dutch Development Cooperation
Minister Jan Pronk, Commissioners de Deus Pinheiro and Bonino hold joint news
conference on the outcome of the meeting at 1600 GMT.
AMSTERDAM - EU education ministers hold informal meeting (Saturday-Sunday).
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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