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Newsletter
#11, December 2005 |
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AMERICAN EUROPEAN INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER
US
ISSUES
6
December: Secretary Condoleezza Rice's Press Availability
with Romanian President Traian Basescu in Bucharest, Romania
Secretary Rice and her Romanian counterpart gave a short
press conference after signing a historic pact establishing
the first American military bases in a former Warsaw Pact
country.
Full press conference at: http://www.state.
gov/secretary/rm/2005/57708.htm
6 December: Secretary Condoleezza Rice's Press Availability
with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany
Secretary Rice and German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefed
the media in the Chancellery following their bilateral meeting.
Secretary Rice's visit was an opportunity to meet with the
Chancellor and members of her new government to discuss
ways to build on the friendship between America and Germany.
Full brief at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/57672.htm
6 December: U.S. and EU Ministers Advance IPR, Regulatory
Co-operation, Other Issues
The United States and the European Union made significant
advances in addressing intellectual property rights (IPR)
enforcement, regulatory co-operation, technology and innovation
and other issues at their first informal economic ministerial
meeting, which concluded November 30 in Brussels.
Further Details: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/57654.htm (See
also November's Newsletter for further information.)
7 December: President Discusses War on Terror and Rebuilding
Iraq
President George W. Bush addressed a meeting of
the Council on Foreign Relations in the Omni Shoreham Hotel,
Washington, speaking on the war on terror and the rebuilding
of Iraq.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051207-1.html
8 December: President Bush Meets with Austria Chancellor
Wolfgang Schuessel
Picture only of the visit at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051208-2.html
8 December: Secretary Condoleezza Rice's Press Availability
at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council
Secretary Rice's press conference at the Meeting of the
North Atlantic Council. The Secretary participated in the
NATO Ministerial and a number of bilateral meetings with
her European counterparts.
Full Press conference at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/57805.htm
12 December: President Discusses War on Terror and Upcoming
Iraqi Elections
President George W. Bush delivered remarks on the
War on Terror in front of members of the Philadelphia World
Affairs Council in the Park Hyatt Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Full speech at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051212-4.html
13 December: An Overview of International Support for Iraqi
Democracy On the Eve of the December 15, 2005 Elections
Secretary Rice gives an overview of International Support
for Iraqi Democracy on the Eve of the December 15, 2005
Elections at the Heritage Foundation, Washington DC.
Full details: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/58039.htm
15 December: International Visitation to the U.S. Grows
through September
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that 3.5 million
international visitors travelled to the United States in
September 2005, an increase of almost 9 percent over September
2004.
Full details at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/1205/tourism_121505.html
19 December: Meeting of the Commission for Assistance
to a Free Cuba
Secretary Condoleezza Rice chaired a meeting of the Commission
for Assistance to a Free Cuba. The President originally
formed this Cabinet-level Commission in 2003 to explore
ways the U.S. can help hasten and ease a democratic transition
in Cuba.
Further information at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/58283.htm
19 December: Remarks With Polish Foreign Minister
Stefan Meller Before Their Meeting
Secretary Condoleezza Rice welcomed her colleague the Polish
Foreign Minister Meller.
Further details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/58270.htm
20 December: Department of State Welcomes Efforts
to Implement Stockholm Convention
The U.S. Department of State welcomed recent efforts in
Congress to consider legislation that would allow the United
States to implement to Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs). The Administration strongly supports
joining POPs and PIC and urged Congress to approve implementing
legislation as soon as possible.
Full details: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/58340.htm
20 December: U.S. Priorities to Strengthen the United
Nations
On-The-Record-Briefing by Kristen Silverberg, Assistant
Secretary for International Organization Affairs in
Washington, DC.
Further details: http://www.state.gov/p/io/rls/rm/58335.htm
22 December: Executive Order: Providing An Order
of Succession Within the Department of Defence
A list showing the succession of those who will perform
the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary
of Defence during any period when the Secretary is unable
to perform their functions.
Full details: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051222-7.html
EU
ISSUES
1
December: Climate change: EU on track to reach Kyoto targets,
latest projections show
The conclusion of a Commission report is that the EU is
well on its way to achieve its Kyoto Protocol targets for
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases on the basis of the
policies, measures and third-country projects already implemented
or planned.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1519&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
1 December: ".eu": Europe's new internet address
opens for business on 7 December
The Commission announced that the ".eu" top-level domain,
which enables businesses, public bodies and citizens to
choose a pan-European Internet name for their web sites
and e-mail addresses, opens for business on 7 December 2005.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1510&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
2 December: EU Presidency Statement: Death Penalty
In The US
A statement on behalf of the European Union about the 1000th
execution in the US since the reinstatement of the death
penalty in 1976.
Full details at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1132599452961 &year=2005&month=2005-12-01&date=2005-12-02
2 December: Message from Jacques Chirac, President of the
Republic to the participants of the Third Global Forum on
Sustainable Development, Paris
Full speech at: http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2005/chirac_environment120205.asp
5 December: Straw Response to US Statement on Detainees
The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, welcomed a statement
by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, on the treatment
of detainees.
Full details at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&year=2005&month=2005-12-01&date=2005-12-05
6 December: United States and Germany close friends
and partners
Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin, Chancellor
Angela Merkel and US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
declared that their two countries will work together to
address the challenges of the 21st century.
Details: http://www.bundesregierung.de/en/Latest-News/Information-from-the-Governmen-,10157.930189/artikel/United-States-and-Germany-clos.htm
6 December: EU welcomes permanent WTO solution on
generic medicines
The EU welcomed the decision taken in the World Trade Organisation
to amend the WTO Agreement on Intellectual Property with
a view to improving access to medicines for developing countries.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1537&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
7 December: Climate Change: Opening Statement at
the high level segment of the Eleventh Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change
Speech given by Stavros Dimas, Member of the European Commission,
Responsible for Environment at the Convention on Climate
Change in Montréal.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/769&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
7 December: Renewables - a Ready to Go Technology
to Reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions
Speech by Stavros Dimas, Member of the European Commission,
Responsible for Environment at the Renewables side-event
co-organised with German Government, Montreal.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/771&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
8 December: Non-proliferation and disarmament: what
role for the EU?
Speech by Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner
for External Relations and European Neighbourhood policy
at the Inter-Parliamentary conference on Strengthening European
action on Non-proliferation and Disarmament of weapons of
mass destruction, small arms / light weapons and explosive
remnants of war.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/772&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
8 December: Chairman's Summary of the Meeting of
the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Foreign Ministers
Session
Discussions focused on the values underpinning the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership, as well as on Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Full summary at: http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2005/p05-160e.htm
8 December: Foreign Ministers discuss key transatlantic
issues
A meeting at NATO Headquarters allowed NATO Foreign Ministers
to discuss a broad range of strategic political issues in
the transatlantic dialogue.
Full details: http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2005/12-december/e1206a.htm
9 December: EU company is world's largest investor
in R&D
A European company, Daimler-Chrysler, invests more in research
and development than any company in the world. This is one
of the findings of the Second EU Industrial R&D Investment
Scoreboard, compiled and presented by the European Commission.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1557&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
12 December: Lessons from the 2005 "annus horribilis":
improving effectiveness, timeliness and equity of the international
humanitarian response
Speech by Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for Development
and Humanitarian aid giving the European Commission's view
on the reform of the international humanitarian system at
the Inter Agency Standing Committee
Geneva, Palais des Nations.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/784&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
12 December: Extraordinary Rendition: Straw Transcript
From Today Programme
Excerpts of a transcript of the foreign secretary discussing
extraordinary rendition, on the today programme on radio
4.
Full excerpts at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1133773465584 &year=2005&month=2005-12-01&date=2005-12-12
12 - 13 December: Exchanging best management practices
and developing a global approach to fighting fraud among
international organisations
Commissioner Kallas visited Washington DC and New York to
discuss synergies and cooperation with major international
donor organisations. He met top officials of World Bank
and Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) on issues related
to the fight against fraud and exchange of relevant information.
In the United Nations he discussed best practice and experience
gained from the Commission's own reform.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1619&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
13 December: REACH: Commission welcomes Council's
agreement on new EU chemical legislation
The European Commission welcomes the Council's political
agreement on a comprehensive new system aimed at ensuring
greater safety in the manufacture and use of chemical substances.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1583&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
14 December: Foreign Secretary Comments on EU Budget
Proposals
Comments by the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, on the EU budget proposals, during
a meeting of the ad hoc liaison committee in London.
Further information: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1133774748949 &year=2005&month=2005-12-01&date=2005-12-14
14 December: Food Aid: EU urges US reform
Refering to a World Food Program advertisement in the Financial
Times, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has defended
the EU's call for reform of the US Food Aid program.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/481&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
14 December: We can make this meeting the success
we need to keep the Round moving
Speech by Peter Mandelson, the EU Trade Commissioner
given at the WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/790&format=HTML&aged=0&langua
g e=EN&guiLanguage=en
15 December: Rome I proposal - Towards a genuine
European judicial area
The Rome I proposal harmonises the rules enabling the parties
to an international contract to tell in advance which of
the various legal systems involved will apply to their relationship,
thus boosting certainty in the law without the need for
harmonisation of the Member States' substantive law.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/483&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
15 December: Adoption of two Commission proposals
is a vital step in completing the European law-enforcement
area for individuals and firms
The Commission has adopted two new proposals for Regulations
concerning civil justice, one of them to facilitate the
recovery of maintenance claims in the European Union and
the other to modernise the rules determining the law applicable
to contractual obligations (Rome I).
Further information: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1605&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
16 December: Trade policy: EU says no final date
for ending export subsidies until others sign up to reform
The European Union is not willing to discuss dates for the
elimination of export subsidies, until other countries sign
up to transparent reform to their forms of export subsidies.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1625&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
17 December: EU Budget Deal Agreed
Tony Blair chaired two days of talks at the EU summit in
Brussels where he successfully brokered a deal on the future
financing of the Union.
Full details at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1134648646175 &year=2005&month=2005-12-01&date=2005-12-17
19 December: Competition: Commission publishes discussion
paper on abuse of dominance
The European Commission has published a Staff Discussion
Paper on the application of EC Treaty competition rules
on the abuse of a dominant market position (Article 82).
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1626&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
19 December: Renewed cordiality in German-American
relations
Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung was in Washington on December
19 for meetings with his US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld
and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Details at: http://www.bundesregierung.de/en/Latest-News/Information-from-the-Governmen-,10157.936694/artikel/Renewed-cordiality-in-German-A.htm
20 December: Competition: Commission launches consultations
on facilitating damages claims for breaches of EU competition
law
The European Commission has published a Green Paper on how
to facilitate actions for damages caused by violations of
EC Treaty competition rules' ban on restrictive business
practices and abuse of dominant market positions (Articles
81 and 82 respectively).
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1634&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
20 December: European Commission supports new developments
in biotechnology
The European Commission presented "100 Technology offers
stemming from EU Biotechnology RTD results", a catalogue
of biotechnology developments arising from EU-funded research
projects over the last 10 years.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1646&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
20 December: Presidents Barroso, Borrell and Blair
sign the European Consensus reaffirming Europe's leadership
in Development cooperation
This "European consensus" will provide the Union a
common vision of values, objectives, principles and means
for development.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1651&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
21 December: End of year message by NATO Secretary
General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Full speech at: http://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2005/s051216a.htm
21 December: Commission appoints new Director-General
of the Directorate-General for Communication
The European Commission has appointed Claus Haugaard Sørensen
as the new Director-General of Directorate-General for Communication.
Background to Mr Sorensen: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1666&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
21 December: Commission appoints new Director-General
of Directorate-General Energy and Transport
Mr. Matthias Ruete has been appointed Director-General of
the Energy and Transport Directorate-General.
Background to Mr Ruete: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1667&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
21 December: Commission appoints new Deputy Secretary-General
Mr. Alexander Italianer has been appointed Deputy Secretary-General
in the Secretariat-General.
Background to Mr Italianer at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1668&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
21 December: Commission appoints new Deputy Director-General
of Directorate-General RELEX
The European Commission has appointed today Mr Fokion Fotiadis
as the new Deputy Director-General of Directorate-General
External Relations.
Background to Fotiadis: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1675&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
21 December: EU Generalised System of Preferences
(GSP)
The European Commission granted important preferences (duty
and quota-free access) to an additional 15 vulnerable developing
countries that have implemented sustainable development
and good governance policies under the 'GSP+' incentive.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1678&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
21 December: Organic Food: new Regulation will improve
clarity for consumers and farmers
The European Commission today adopted a proposal for a new
regulation on organic production, which aims to improve
clarity for both consumers and farmers.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1679&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
22 December: Ban on antibiotics as growth promoters
in animal feed enters into effect
An EU-wide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters
in animal feed enter into effect on January 1, 2006.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1687&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
22 December: New Year, Safer Food: Upgraded food
and feed legislation enters into effect
These laws will apply from January. A key aspect of the
new legislation is that all food and feed operators, from
farmers and processors to retailers and caterers, will have
primary responsibility for ensuring that food put on the
EU market meets the required safety standards.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1689&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
22 December: Commission warns Microsoft of daily
penalty for failure to comply with 2004 decision
The European Commission has issued a Statement of Objections
against Microsoft for its failure to comply with certain
of its obligations under the March 2004 Commission decision.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1695&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
TRADE ISSUES
9
December: Mergers: Commission approves acquisition
of Innovene by the INEOS Group
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger
Regulation the proposed acquisition of Innovene, a US petrochemical
company by INEOS, a UK based group involved in intermediate
and speciality chemicals.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1563&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
9 December: Mergers: Commission clears the acquisition
of Landis by Fives-Lille
The European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger
Regulation, the acquisition by the French industrial engineering
company Fives-Lille, of Landis's UK and US business interests
in automotive grinding machines and other products.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1554&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
13 December: Mergers: Commission approves acquisition
of the rheological additives and carbonless clay businesses
of Süd-Chemie AG by Rockwood Specialties Group Inc.
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger
Regulation the proposed acquisition of the rheological and
carbonless clay business of the German company Süd-Chemie
AG (Süd-Chemie) by Rockwood Specialties Group Inc.
("Rockwood) of the US.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1584&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
14 December: Mergers: Commission opens in-depth
investigation into Cargill's take-over of Degussa's food
ingredients business
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation
under the EU Merger Regulation into the planned acquisition
by the US-based Cargill group of the food ingredients business
of the German company Degussa AG.
Full details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1602&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
14 December: Mergers: Commission welcomes upholding
of the Commission's decision in GE/Honeywell case
The European Commission welcomes the rulings by the Court
of First Instance today upholding the European Commission's
decision in July 2001 to prohibit the merger between the
General Electric Co. (GE) and Honeywell Inc.
Further details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1601&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
20 December: Mergers: Commission clears acquisition
of Georgia-Pacific by Koch Industries
The European Commission has approved the transaction by
which the US oil and chemical services company Koch Industries
Inc. (Koch) takes over the whole of Georgia-Pacific Corporation
(Georgia-Pacific), that makes inter alia paper, packaging
and building products.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1649&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
22 December: Commission clears the planned acquisition
of Bax Global by Deutsche Bahn
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger
Regulation the proposed acquisition of the US-based freight
forwarding and logistics company Bax Global by the German
state-owned passenger transport company Deutsche Bahn.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1704&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
23 December: ITC Votes to End Cases on Carbon and
Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from China, Germany, and Turkey
The ITC determined that there is no indication that a U.S.
industry is materially injured or threatened with material
injury by reason of imports of carbon and certain alloy
steel wire rod from China, Germany, and Turkey that are
allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Full details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er1223cc1.HTM
Note: If you have any comments or if you
wish to include any items for inclusion in future newsletters
please e-mail me at:
duncan.ritchie@americaneuropeaninstitute.com |
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