EU-DIGEST - special edition

EU foreign ministers approved plans to begin discussing a new strategic partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) with Russia. The talks are to start at the Russia-EU summit in Khanty-Mansiysk, the capital of Yugra in Western Siberia, on June 26-27. Yugra, an exotic place for many Russians, let alone Europeans, held its presentation in Brussels three days before the EU ministers approved the mandate for the talks. The talks may last several years and the new agreement must be ratified by all 27 members of the European Union. Most experts in Brussels believe that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was too optimistic when he said coordination and ratification would take only 12-18 months.

For the complete report from Ria Novosti click on this link

The European Union's top trade official said Tuesday he would "push back hard" against a global trade deal that would give China more time to shield its economy from foreign imports. A draft World Trade Organization agreement would offer China up to 15 years before it had to obey all trade liberalization rules. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told the European Parliament's trade committee that an additional grace period for China to cut tariffs and allow more foreign competition went too far. "I cannot support such wide flexibilities for China as a newly acceded WTO member. We will push back hard on this," he said.

China was offered special treatment because it only joined the WTO in 2001. However, the world's most populous nation is different from many other emerging economies because it is a major exporter that has won sizable market share for its goods in Europe and the United States.

For the complete report from the IHT click on this link

France, the European Union's farming powerhouse, dug in its heels again on Monday ahead of a controversial proposal to lift a ban on U.S. poultry imports, a long-standing irritant in transatlantic trade ties. That ban has been in place since April 1997 because U.S. poultry producers use a low-concentration chlorine wash on chickens, a treatment practice not permitted in Europe.

This week, the European Commission will consider a proposal authored by its health chief to lift the ban, although the technical details and control requirements are still unclear. If the Commission agrees, the proposal would then be given to a panel of EU member state experts for their approval. And that, officials say, is where the problems are likely to start.

Last week, the idea came in for a drubbing at a meeting of the bloc's agriculture ministers where more than 20 of the 27 EU countries said they were either opposed to lifting the ban or at least had serious doubts about doing so.

For the complete report from the Guardian click on this link

The United States and the European Union are poised for a potential transatlantic trade war over U.S. biofuel subsidies, which are 'chasing British and continental firms out of business', the Guardian reported, citing confidential documents it has seen.

The documents show that EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson and the European Commission have put their signatures to anti-dumping complaints lodged by the European Biodiesel Board, an industry association.

Washington will be asked this week to answer allegations that subsidies amounting to 11 pence a litre on B99 exports from the United States, plus 'splash-and-dash' operations being conducted throughout the United States, represent unfair competition.

For the complete report from Hemscott click on this link