3rd August: President Discusses Second Term Accomplishments and Priorities Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas
A statement that including the accomplishments and an agenda is attached.
Full details and attachment at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050803.html

4th August: U.S. Sets New Records for Travel Abroad in 2004
The U.S. Department of Commerce today reported new records for U.S. outbound travel in 2004. Last year, 61.8 million U.S. travellers went abroad, surpassing the previous record of 61.3 million set in 2000.
Full details at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/0805/tourism_080405.html

11th August: President Meets with Defense and Foreign Policy Teams Bush Ranch,Crawford, Texas
Discusses Iraq and Iran.
Full details at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050811-1.html

6th September: Shara l. Aranoff Sworn in as U.S. International Trade Commissioner
Shara L. Aranoff, a Democrat of Maryland, was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0906cc1.htm

8th September: Secretary Condoleezza Rice Remarks With Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes at Town Hall for Public Diplomacy
Statements on diplomacy by both Rice and Hughes at the Loy Henderson Auditorium, Washington, DC
Full report: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/52748.htm

9th September: President and Secretary Honor Ambassador Karen Hughes at Swearing-In Ceremony
Statements by Secretary Condoleezza Rice, President Bush, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes on foreign policy given in Washington, DC.
Full details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/52846.htm

9th September: U.S. and Saudi Arabia Conclude Bilateral WTO Accession Agreement 09/09/2005
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced that the United States and Saudi Arabia have concluded bilateral negotiations on issues related to Saudi Arabia's World Trade Organization (WTO) accession.
Details at: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/September/US_Saudi_Arabia_Conclude_Bilateral_WTO_Accession_Agreement.html

12th September: Commerce Announces a Continued Rise in International Visitation to the U.S. During First Half of 2005
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that 3.3 million international visitors travelled to the United States in June 2005, representing an increase of 8 percent over June 2004. Arrivals were also up almost 8 percent for the first half of 2005 compared to 2004.
Further details at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/0905/vistusa_091205.html

17th September: Remarks at the 60th United Nations General Assembly
Speech given by Secretary Condoleezza Rice at the United Nations Headquarters New York, New York.
Details of the speech at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/53374.htm

30th September: Secretary Condoleezza Rice speech at Princeton University's Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
Full speech at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/54176.htm



EU ISSUES


2nd August: Fight against terrorism: €15 million for new security research
The European Commission has decided to fund a research project to design and demonstrate an anti-terrorist security system architecture to detect these terrorist threats better.
Full details at: http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005071.htm

9th August: Mr Olli Rehn, Member of the European Commission, responsible for Enlargement. Highlights from the speech on "The European Union as a Global Actor?" given to the Bucerius/Die Zeit Summer School, Die Zeit Foundation
The Commissioner’s speech reviewed how the EU behaves as a global actor by looking at its ambitions, and its methods and instruments.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/465&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

2nd September: The fight against terrorism
Speech given by the Vice-president Franco Frattini, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, at the Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/474&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

3rd September: Competition must drive European competitiveness in a global economy
Speech given by Neelie Kroes, Member of the European Commission at the Villa d’Este Forum
Cernobbia, Italy.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/477&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

8th September: Afghanistan: How EU support is making a real difference
Since the fall of the Taliban, the stabilisation of Afghanistan has been a major external priority for the European Union. The European Union (EU) has been a key supporter of Afghanistan’s transition, providing substantial political, military and humanitarian and reconstruction aid.
Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/309&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

12th September: EU-UN relations
Memo discussing the EU – UN relationship.
Full memo at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/312&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

12th September: Building a Transatlantic Alliance for the 21st Century
Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood policy, Institute for Human Sciences, Boston University
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/news/ferrero/2005/sp05_500.htm

13th September: The Right Choices for the Doha Round
Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner, speech at the National Press Club, Washington DC.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/505&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

13th September: Fund Management – Regulation to facilitate competitiveness, growth and change
Speech by Charlie McCreevy, at the ALFI-NICSA (Association of Lux Fund Industry-National Investment Company Service Association) 14th Annual Europe-USA Investment Funds Forum in Luxembourg.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/503&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

14th September: The Common Agriculture Policy: History and Future
Mariann Fischer Boel, member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, address to the German Marshall Fund, Washington.
Full address: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/511&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

14th September: Commission appoints new Deputy Director General in DG Trade
M. Peter Balas was appointed today Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Trade. In his new function Mr Balas will supervise the services responsible for the coordination of WTO and OECD matters, agricultural trade, services, sustainable development as well as textiles, new technologies, intellectual property and public procurement.
Full details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1141&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

14th September: Financing for development: Facing up to the challenge of our generation
Speech given by José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission, at the UN Summit special Plenary on FfD in New York.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/509&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

14th September: The right choices for the Doha Round
Speech given by Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner, National Press Club, Washington DC.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/505&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

15th September: Agricultural talks in the Doha Round
Mariann Fischer Boel, member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development address to the Commodity Club-Food Group, Washington
Full address at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/516&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

20th September: EU Statement on US Initiative on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
EU shares the concern of the US and other partners to ensure effective preventive measures and preparedness plans are in place.
Full press release at: http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005080.htm

21st September: Enlargement:
Turkey Declaration by the European Community and its Member States
Full declaration at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/05/243&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

22nd September: First budget of enlarged EU benefits all Member States. Main beneficiaries remain the same
The 2004 budget was a further step towards structural modernisation of EU spending. Some € 92 billion were allocated to recipients in Member States.
Press Release at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1175&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

22nd September: Enhancing Actions for Damages for Breach of Competition Rules in Europe
Dinner Speech by Neelie KroesMember of the European Commission in charge of Competition Policy at the Harvard Club, New York.
Speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/533&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

23rd September: Danuta Hübner in Washington DC for high-level dialogue on the EU approach to cohesion policy
Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, visited Washington for high-level meetings on the EU approach to regional economic development.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1181&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

24th September: Memorandum of Understanding between Italy and USA Signed
Italy and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Washington at the Department of State for a ten million dollar grant for 2005 towards the creation of a training centre in Vicenza for peacekeeping forces.
Full details at: http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_90_01.asp?id=2013&mod=1&min=0

26th September: EU’s role in wider economic policy-making
Speech by Danuta Hübner,Member of the European Commission responsible for Regional Policy, at the International Economic Development Council annual conference in Chicago.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/550&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

26th September: Europe’s global trading challenge and the future of free trade agreement
Speech by Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner at the Foreign Policy Centre Debate in Brighton.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/551&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

28th September: 8th biannual meeting on scientific and technological cooperation between Italy and the United States
Italian Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Giuseppe Drago and United States Ambassador to Rome, Ronald Spogli, opened the 8th biannual meeting on scientific and technological co-operation between Italy and the United States, envisaged as a systematic orientation instrument by sector agreements in force between the two countries.
Details at: http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_90_01.asp?id=2020&mod=1&min=0

28th September: The Future of the European Model
A Speech by Joaquín Almunia, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Harvard University Harvard. Speech includes some economic comparisons between EU and US.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/560&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

29th September: Italian Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita Boniver met US Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Press release: http://www.esteri.it/eng/6_38_90_01.asp?id=2025&mod=1&min=0

29th September: EU’s role in international security
Speech by Siim Kallas,Vice-president of the European Commission responsible for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud at a NATO Conference in Tallinn.
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/564&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



EU ISSUES


5th August: ITC Publishes the Year in Trade 2004
The Year in Trade 2004, provides a practical review of U.S. international trade laws, a survey of actions under U.S. trade laws, a summary of the operation of the WTO, an overview of U.S. FTAs and negotiations, and a review of U.S. bilateral trade relations with major trading partners.
Full details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0805cc1.htm

5th August: Mergers : Commission clears acquisition of Pinnacle by Avid
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Pinnacle Systems Inc. (“Pinnacle”), by Avid Technology Inc. (“Avid”); both are US-based companies active in the digital video products market.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1039&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

8th August: GMOs: Commission Authorises the Import of GM Maize MON 863 for Use in Animal Feed
The European Commission authorised today the placing on the market of the genetically modified maize MON 863 for import and processing as animal feed. The decision does not cover uses as human food or cultivation.
Details at: http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005073.htm

9th August: Mergers: Commission clears the creation of United Launch Alliance, a space launch services joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed United Launch Alliance (“ULA”) joint venture between the US Defence and Space contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
Further details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1049&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

11th August: ITC Makes Negative Determinations In Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Sugar from the European Union and Sugar from Belgium, France, And Germany
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that revoking the existing countervailing duty order on sugar from the European Union and the existing antidumping duty orders on sugar from Belgium, France, and Germany would not be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
Details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0811cc2.htm

12th August: Information on Open Panel Meetings in WTO Hormones Dispute 08/12/2005
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) notified the public that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement panels in the Hormones disputes have agreed to the request of the United States, the European Communities and Canada to open their substantive meetings with the parties to the public.
Further details: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/August/Information_on_Open_Panel_Meetings_in_WTO_Hormones_Dispute.html

17th August: WTO issues report of compliance panel on steel dispute
The WTO, on 17 August 2005, issued the report of the panel that had examined European Communities' complaint regarding the implementation of rulings in the case “United States — Countervailing measures concerning certain products from the European Communities” (DS212).
Full details: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news05_e/news05_e.htm

25th August: Mergers: Commission approves takeover of Guidant Corporation by Johnson & Johnson, subject to conditions
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the planned $ 24 billion (around € 18 billion) acquisition by US healthcare group Johnson & Johnson (J&J) of its competitor Guidant, a US company specialised in cardiovascular medical products, subject to conditions.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1065&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

31st August: GMOs: Commission authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feed
The European Commission authorised today the placing on the market of the genetically modified oilseed rape known as GT73 for import and processing.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1077&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

7th September: ITC Will Conduct Full "Sunset" Reviews Concerning Certain Bearings from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and The United Kingdom
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today voted to conduct full five-year ("sunset") reviews concerning the antidumping duty orders on imports of certain bearings from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0907cc3.htm

15th September: United States and European Community Reach Agreement on Trade in Wine 09/15/2005
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced that the United States and the European Community reached agreement on wine-making practices and labelling of wine, aimed at facilitating bilateral trade in wine valued at $2.8 billion annually.
Further Details: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/September/United_States_European_Community_Reach_Agreement_on_Trade_in_Wine.html

15th September: EU-US Wine Trade Accord Will Enhance Protection of European Names and Safeguard EU's Biggest Market
The European Union and the United States have reached a first-phase agreement on trade in wine which will protect EU wine names and secure the EU’s biggest and most valuable wine market.
Details at: http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005075.htm

23rd September: Mergers: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into Omya’s purchase of J.M. Huber’s on-site paper mineral business
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation of Swiss-based Omya’s proposed acquisition of J.M. Huber’s On-site Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (“PCC”) Business.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1182&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

30th September: FSC: WTO Condemns US Subsidies to Exporters; Recipients of Illegal Support Include Boeing
The WTO panel decision regarding US federal tax subsidies for exporters found in favour of the EU in all respects.
Full Press Release: http://www.eurunion.org/News/press/2005/2005079.htm Also at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news05_e/news05_e.htm