***** THE NEWS FROM EUObserver ******
- Blair to urge Europe and US to rebuild relations - 26.03.2003 - 08:34
British prime minister Tony Blair flies to Washington today for talks with US president George W Bush. The first talks between the two leaders will mainly concentrate on the future of Iraq, however Mr Blair is also expected to try and rebuild relations between Washington and the Europe.
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- Flood of competition cases expected, says EU Court - 26.03.2003 - 08:36
The enlargement of the EU with ten new countries will cause an explosive growth in cases of state subsidies, according to the European Court in Luxembourg which normally oversees state aid disputes. Governments of the new countries have been more used to supporting their national champions with large state subsidies - expected to turn the EC Court into a legal battlefield between dirigisme and market economy.
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- Finish Convention work by June, says Rome - 26.03.2003 - 09:49
Italy, which takes over the EU Presidency in July from Greece, is expecting the Convention to conclude its work by June, allowing a "cooling down" period before the intergovernmental conference is launced in the autumn.
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- Decimated airlines seek solution to passenger data feud - 26.03.2003 - 09:58
Faced with "heavy US demands" and legal uncertainty, European airlines have called for a long term and sensible solution to the problem of disclosing sensitive passenger data to US authorities. "We need a long term solution… it has to come fast" said Räiner Schatzlein of Lufthansa.
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- Ex-Comissioner charged with corruption - 25.03.2003 - 15:58
Edith Cresson has become the first former Commissioner to be charged with corruption. Ms Cresson, who is also a fomer prime minister, has been charged by the Belgian authorities with counterfeiting and personally benefiting from professional contracts.
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- Reform of MEPs' perks unlikely before election - 25.03.2003 - 14:00
Euro-parliamentarians have approved a report limiting their pay but retaining control of perks. A deal being seen by some as a fudge. The report, drafted by German Social Democrat MEP Willi Rothley, proposes a fixed salary for all MEPs of 50% of the basic salary of a judge at the European Court of Justice, around 8,000 euro per month.
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- Patten: This is the only UN we’ve got - 26.03.2003 - 08:58
EU external affairs Commissioner Chris Patten, said yesterday in the European Parliament that the United Nations machinery may not be perfect, "but this is the only UN we’ve got". Patten made reference to last week’s Brussels European Council, which underlined the central role that the United Nations should play in the Iraqi crisis, especially in the post- conflict area.
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- France and Russia align over Iraq humanitarian aid - 26.03.2003 - 09:59
Disputes in the UN continue, now over the role for the United States and Britain in administering the humanitarian programs after the Iraq war. Russia, France, Syria seem ready to block the United States and Britain from administering the humanitarian programs, when restarted after the war.
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- Czech communist party questions EU membership - 26.03.2003 - 09:49
The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) has urged its supporters not to vote for the Czech Republic's EU entry in the referendum planned for June.
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- UN and NATO superfluous, says Washington advisor - 26.03.2003 - 08:37
The UN and NATO are superfluous and no longer able to provide security in the 21st century, according to an adviser to the US government, Richard Perle
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- Paris behind plans for a French CNN - 26.03.2003 - 09:56
The French government is pushing these days for the birth of an international television news network that would compete with CNN. French President Jacques Chirac idea is that "France should be more strongly represented in the battle of images".
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- Denmark stays clear of future-of-Europe clubs - 26.03.2003 - 09:49
The Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that his country will watvch from the sidelines a debate on the future of Europe. Denmark would gain more influence if it does not participate in any pre-established interest groups, said Mr Rasmussen.
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- Italian MEP arrested over drug protest...again - 26.03.2003 - 09:54
An Italian MEP was arrested last Friday in Manchester, UK and imprisoned for 3 days after he was found pocessing a small quantity of cannabis. The blatant publicity stunt was a protest against the present UK laws prohibiting the use of certain drugs.
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- Danish ex-premier casts his eyes on Strasbourg - 26.03.2003 - 09:02
Former Danish prime minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen will be the Social Democratic Party's front runner candidate in the 2004 European Parliament elections, after giving up his ambitions to become NATO secretary general
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- [salt&pepper] The weak means in place to pursue peace - 26.03.2003 - 09:49
There is really only one word to describe the recent meeting of the European Council: hypocrisy. While Europeans were extremely uneasy as they watched the initial stages of the war unfold, their leaders were discussing what to do when it was all over, writes GIACOMO FILIBECK in today's Salt&Pepper.
Link to article www.euobserver.com