US DEVELOPMENTS

28 March: Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick to visit Europe
Deputy Secretary of State is visiting 14 European capitals between March 28 and April 14th. Near the end of his trip Mr Zoellick will participate in a session with the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and the NATO Council.

For more details see: http://www.state.gov/s/d/2005p/43814.htm



28 March: Human Rights and Democracy
The US State Department published its latest Human Right Report "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy" which highlights international human rights abuses and programs the US Government have employed to end such abuses.

The full report can be accessed at: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/shrd/2004/



24 March: Greek Foreign Minister meets with US Secretary of State
Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis met with the US Secretary of State Condeelezza Rice. Discussions focused on the situation in the Balkans, Meditteranean and the unification of Cyprus under the terms of the Koffi Annan UN peace plan.

For more details see: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/43821.htm



New President of the World bank
The Executive Directors of the World Bank unaminously selected Paul Wolfowitz as the new President of the World Bank. He will replace James Wolfensohn who has come to the end of his ten year term of office. Mr Wolfowitz currently serves as Deputy Secretary of Defence. Previously he was the Professor of International Relations at the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the John Hopkins University.

For more details see www.worldbank.org



14 March: New Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
President Bush has appointed one of his closest aides and trusted advisors, Karen Hughes, to the new position as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. This post will help communicate American values and help maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and other key regions of the world.

For more details see http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/43385.htm



11th March: Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with US Secretary of State
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk met with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice regarding issues of the U.S.-Ukrainian bilateral relationship.

Further details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/43328.htm



Indictment of Ramush Haradinaj
The US State Department welcomed the decision by the Ramush Haradinaj to resign as Prime Minister of Kosovo and go voluntarily to the International Criminal Tirbunal in the Hague to stand trial for war crimes committed during the conflict in Kosovo in 1999.

For more details see http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/43134.htm




EU DEVELOPMENTS


22 March: A comprehensive EU-US agreement would reinforce our partnership in the field of aviation
Jacques Barrot Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Transport speech at the European Institute on the closer co-operation between the European Union and the United States in the field of aviation.

Full details are at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/189&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



11th March: Anniversary of the 11 March 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid
To mark the occasion in Washington, DC, the Spanish Embassy convened a silent commemoration at the Washington Circle at midday on 11 March 2005. The EU Ambassador John Bruton and staff from the EU delegation were also in attendance.

Further information can be found at:
http://www.eurunion.org/news/press/2005/2005026.htm



18th March: Commissioner Louis Michel invites Paul Wolfowitz to Brussels to present his views on Development
European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, sent an invitation to Mr. Paul Wolfowitz to present his views on Development and the role of the World Bank.

Further details at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/340&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



9th to 11th March: French Defence Minister visits the USA
Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie visited Washington from. She gave a speech on NATO and the EU at Harvard, a speech at John Hopkins and gave a press conference with Donald Rumsfield.

Further details can be found at: http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2005/mam_us030805.asp



7th March: EU Ambassador John Bruton addressed the EU Committee Meeting of the US Council for International Business
John Bruton discussed the economic relationship of the EU and US in terms of politics and shared values.

Details at: http://www.eurunion.org/News/speeches/2005/050307jb.htm



5th, 8th, 9th March: Minister for Foreign Affairs Gianfranco Fini. on the release of Giuliana Sgrena, and the death of Nicola Calipari.
Details of press conferences on the relationship between Italy and USA:
http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_90_01.asp?id=1668&mod=2&min=0
http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_90_01.asp?id=1671&mod=3&min=0
http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_90_01.asp?id=1677&mod=2&min=0



The Commission continues to take action against illegal “Open Sky” agreements.
These air agreements contain "nationality" clauses whereby only national companies in the signatory countries can benefit from the agreement, which is a flagrant breach of European law. At the same time the Commission is preparing to re-launch negotiations with the United States to conclude an overall agreement.

Further details can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/305&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



Commission Delegation Opts for Renewable Energy
To illustrate the European Union’s commitment to fighting climate change and promoting renewable energies the EU Commission Delegation in Washington, DC has signed a contract with Pennsylvania-based Community Energy to have substantial amounts of its electricity requirements supplied from a West Virginia wind farm.

Further Details at: http://www.eurunion.org/news/press/2005/2005025.htm



General Report on the activities of the European Union in 2004: a simpler and more readable report
An overview of the past year: “The General Report on the activities of the European Union 2004”, published this week by the European Commission, is part of a new drive for better communication.

Further details are at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/278&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



Commission confirms quality of European GMO legislative framework
The European Commission took stock of the EU legislative framework on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). During the debate, the Commission confirmed its full confidence in the existing regulatory framework on GMOs, one of the strictest in the world, which provides for a high level of scientific assessment and at the same time safeguards the consumers’ right to choose.

Further details can be found at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/355&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



European Commission welcomes G8 commitment to put Africa and Development high on its agenda
The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, welcomed the clear commitment of the G8 members to put Africa high on its agenda and to coordinate its efforts to increase the international support for development. Louis Michel took part in the G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire, UK.

Further details at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/342&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



TRADE ISSUES


Commission contributes €10.2 million to promote EU agricultural products outside the EU
The European Commission today approved 10 programmes worth €20.5 million to provide information on and promote agricultural products outside the EU including North America.

Further details can be found at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/291&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



US Byrd Amendment: Commission proposes sanctions on US products
In application of a WTO ruling, the Commission has adopted a proposal to impose sanctions on certain products from the United States. The Commission took this latest step in the dispute over the Byrd Amendment in light of the continuing failure of the United States to bring its legislation in conformity with its international obligations.

Further details are at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/374&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

and

http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005029.htm, and at http://trade-info.cec.eu.int/wtodispute/show.cfm?id=165&code=1



Mergers: Microsoft and Time Warner abandon acquisition of control in ContentGuard as Thomson purchases a one third stake
Microsoft and Time Warner have informed the European Commission that Thomson is acquiring a 33% stake in ContentGuard. Although this acquisition by Thomson was announced in November 2004, it only took place on 14 March 2005.

Further details are at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/295&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en