21/10: Meeting Cox and John Grant, UK Permanent Representative: need for fresh impetus into EU/US business dialogue. Issue of Turkey’s accession. Lisbon – Economic reform. Martin Schultz promoting reform. Stability Pact – recent Summit not successful on economic reform
21/10: Cox interview in Corriere della Sera : Europe must have conscience – Tampere Summit, October 1999: legislation approved by European Parliament (EP) but not decided by Council
4/11: Meeting between Cox and Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse: EU renewal and redefinition appeals for first ever genuinely European elections. Europe depends on Germany’s choices in economic reform. Question of turnout in European elections. EP financial resources for election campaign
4/11: Cox visits Bundestag European Committee
4/11: Cox interviewed by German newspapers: European economic reform, stability pact, democracy, European elections
4/11: Cox meeting with Joschka Fischer, German foreign minister: difficulty in reaching consensus in IGC. Need for EP to compromise, some sort of conciliation. EP anxiety about Ecofin. Hesitation in IGC not to let EP have last word on EU budget. Problem of Poland. Expectation that 2004 European elections be more political
11/11: Meeting Cox and President Pera, President of Italian Senate: powers of EP. International arrest warrant: constitutional issues on people’s basic rights
13/11: Cox lunches with journalists: perception of Brussels in public opinion. Budget limited but communications a priority for next Commission. Values of EU: democracy, rule of ???????, ICC, sustainability/Kyoto, solidarity
17/11: Blair’s speech to CBI conference: being in EU brings massive benefits. Anti-Europe is anti-business. Need to modernise EU institutions. EU must think first and foremost about jobs and competition. Lisbon agenda isn’t enough, need to steer Europe away from idea that modern social agenda is about regulation. Issue is not to get rid of social agenda but redefine it
17/11: Conversation between Cox, Blair and Stephen Wall (advisor) after conference: France and Germany tricked UK on rebate
18/11: Meeting between Cox and Political parties: preparation for 2004 European elections

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