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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-05-15
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] NATO/Russia new partnership pact
[02] Bonino accuses West
[03] Slovenia/EU ratification delayed
[04] McDonnell-Douglas CEO
[05] EU clears BT/MCI merger
[06] SAfrica-EU finalise aid package
[07] Waigel says Bonn may raise loan
[08] Commission clears wheat export tax
[09] Seguin: Maastricht to be adapted
[10] UK set to shun first EMU wave
[11] Decision on Austrian ban delayed
[12] Germany asks EU advertising rules
[13] Cook says UK should join EMU
[14] Germany in EMU despite struggles
[15] Finland set to meet all criteria
[16] EMU unmoved if left win in France
[17] Swedish gov't negative to EMU
[18] Austria coalition split over NATO
[19] EP approves gov't procurement laws
[20] Deal reached on EU part-time work
[21] EU has grounds to call on WTO
[22] Main EU events for May 15
[01] NATO/Russia new partnership pact
MOSCOW - NATO and Russia agreed a deal on forging a peaceful new relationship
between the former Cold War enemies on Wednesday, symbolised by a warm embrace
between their top negotiators.
[02] Bonino accuses West
STRASBOURG - European Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Emma Bonino attacked
Western states on Wednesday for rushing troops to evacuate their nationals
from Zaire but refusing to send forces to rescue trapped Rwandan refugees.
[03] Slovenia/EU ratification delayed
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek said on Wednesday a
parliamentary session to ratify an association accord with the European Union
was postponed until next week to allow more time to reach broader agreement.
[04] McDonnell-Douglas CEO
WASHINGTON - The CEO of McDonnell-Douglas Corp predicted on Wednesday that the
Federal Trade Commission will act on his company's proposed merger with Boeing
Co by mid-July, and attacked the European Union for seeking a "war" over the
transaction.
[05] EU clears BT/MCI merger
BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Wednesday cleared the $20 billion merger
between British Telecommunications and MCI Communications Corp of the United
States after the companies
[06] SAfrica-EU finalise aid package
CAPE TOWN - South Africa and the European Commission on Tuesday finalised a
multi-billion-rand indicative programme to provide grants and soft loans for
development projects between 1997 and 1999.
[07] Waigel says Bonn may raise loan
BONN - Finance Minister Theo Waigel said on Wednesday the government may have
to increase new borrowing for 1997 because of persistently high unemployment,
but said he was certain Germany would qualify for the single European
currency.
[08] Commission clears wheat export tax
BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Wednesday approved taxes of 15 ecus a
tonne on daily exports of soft wheat grain and 20 ecus a tonne on wheat flour,
Commission officials said.
[09] Seguin: Maastricht to be adapted
PARIS - French National Assembly speaker Philippe Seguin said in an
interview on Wednesday that the criteria for a single European currency
could not be interpreted literally and the Maastricht treaty would have to
be adapted.
[10] UK set to shun first EMU wave
LONDON - Entry to a single European currency would pose few problems for
Britain with its glowing set of economic credentials and a new
Europe-friendly government, but the country is set to shun the first wave
scheduled for January 1999, two Reuters polls published on Wednesday
suggested.
[11] Decision on Austrian ban delayed
BRUSSELS - The European Commission delayed on Wednesday a decision on whether
to allow Austria to keep its import ban on genetically modified maize, a
spokesman said.
[12] Germany asks EU advertising rules
BONN - German Justice Minister Edzard Schmidt-Jortzig on Wednesday called for
a unified code of advertising regulations in Europe, saying the current system
failed to provide sufficient direction for the industry.
[13] Cook says UK should join EMU
PARIS - Britain should join the planned European single currency if it turns
out to be a success, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said in an interview
published in the afternoon daily Le Monde on Wednesday.
[14] Germany in EMU despite struggles
LONDON - Germany faces an uphill battle to whip its economy into shape for
European economic and monetary union, but is nevertheless certain to become a
founder member of the single currency club, two Reuters polls showed on
Wednesday.
[15] Finland set to meet all criteria
LONDON - Finland, already a strong front-runner for founder membership of a
single European currency, looks set to meet all of the economic targets for
monetary union, a Reuters survey showed on Wednesday.
[16] EMU unmoved if left win in France
LONDON - A Socialist win in France's national elections may cause some
turbulence but would be unlikely to derail European economic and monetary
union, a Reuters survey showed on Wednesday.
[17] Swedish gov't negative to EMU
STOCKHOLM - Sweden's Prime Minister Goran Persson and Finance Minister Erik
Asbrink are negative to membership in Europe's economic and monetary union,
according to party sources, the daily Svenska Dagbladet reported on Wednesday.
[18] Austria coalition split over NATO
VIENNA - A split within Austria's coalition government over NATO membership
widened further on Wednesday after conservative ministers resolutely backed
ditching neutrality and joining the Western military alliance.
[19] EP approves gov't procurement laws
STRASBOURG - The European Parliament on Wednesday approved plans to update the
European Union's four laws on government procurement contracts, which absorb
11 percent of the EU's gross domestic product or 720 billion Ecus a year of
taxpayer's money.
[20] Deal reached on EU part-time work
BRUSSELS - European Union labour and employers groups reached agreement on
Wednesday on rules to guarantee rights to part-time workers.
[21] EU has grounds to call on WTO
STRASBOURG - The European Union has good grounds for appealing against a World
Trade Organisation ruling that the EU's banana import regime violated free
trade rules, Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler said on Wednesday..
[22] Main EU events for May 15
STRASBOURG - European Parliament plenary session begins at 0800 GMT (fourth of
five days).
BRUSSELS - European Commission Directorate-General IV (Competition) official
Jonathan Faull addresses Centre for European Policy Studies lunchtime meeting
on "EU competition policy - What next?" at 1115 GMT.
BRUSSELS - European Commissioner Bonino attends Economic and Social Committee
Environment Section meeting at 1230 GMT; discusses Commission restructuring to
deal with food safety and green paper on food law.
AMSTERDAM - EU Committee of the Regions holds first summit of the regions and
cities (first of two days). Discussions focus on structural funds,
enlargement, employment, inter-governmental conference. Dutch Prime Minister
Wim Kok, European Commission President Jacques Santer attend. Opening news
conference at 1630 GMT.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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