18/3: Spanish general elections in the aftermath of Madrid Train Bombings, José María Aznar, Spainish PM Vs José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (won elections in April 2004 to become Spanish PM)
19/3: Washington meeting with Under-Secretary, Marc Grossman discussed: Guantanamo – question of PNR (passenger name records) and EU Privacy Laws. Spain – terrorism. US preoccupation with Al Qaeda. Iraq - Spanish troop’s presence could be put under UN control. Turkey and the question of Cyprus. Grossman happy that Cox is prepared to pay a visit to Cyprus. Question of multi-ethnic Kosovo;. Meeting with Ambassador Tom Weston, State Department special coordinator for Cyprus – states that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will try to sabotage April Referendum. Line to be taken with House Speaker, Dennis Hastert on need for certain elements in US to show respect for Madrid victims and not use it for personal or political ends
25/3: Pat Cox’s speech for Summit (IGC). Path for conclusion of the Constitutional Treaty. Meeting between Bertie Ahern, Irish PM and Romano Prodi, President of the Commission in preparation for IGC – 22 issues on the table, 16 resolvable and 6 more complex: double majority, justice and home affairs, Parliament’s budgetary powers – France and Germany prefer co-decision
29/3: EU takes anti-semitism very seriously - report by Beate Winkler on the European Monitoring Center on racism and xenophobia in preparation for press conference with Cox, Winker and Cobi Benatoff, Vice-President of European Court of Justice (held on 31/3/2004). European Parliament (EP) position on tobacco advertising, blue flags on beaches – EU initiative, EU standards for domestic appliances – energy consumption, Eurozone bank charges
30/3: Cox meeting with Geoffrey Hoon, UK Defence Secretary: UK-NATO, future of Iraq – challenge for EU if UN has more active role there will be less cover for inactivity. Need to unite in the reconstruction of Iraq – bring real political benefits and increase pool of resources available (eg, India). US administration feels Europe is not playing at the same table so need to assuage sceptical republicans. Cox says that EU should accept "mea culpa’. Meeting with Beate Winkler (antisemitism in the EU) : Cox talks of need for dialogue, bridge building, Europe of values is a response to the right, EP rejects classes of civilisation, respect
5/4: Wicklow Speech – blue flags, Erasmus, disabled, travelling with pets in EU
15/4: Situation in Cyprus in the run up to referendum – Cox says he is disappointed with lack of imagination and courage. Speaks as an outsider but a passionate European and Islander (Ireland). Nicosia will remain as Europe’s last divided capital. "Best way to deal with fears and threats is to vote positively for the "Annan Plan"; Meeting with UN Envoy De Soto, who was stunned by the virulence of President Papadopoulos’ recent TV address calling on Greek Cypriots to reject Annan Plan
20/4: Meeting with Ernest Benach, President of the Catalan Parliament. Two points considered: (1) recognition of Catalan as EU language and (2) regional policy. Cox makes comparison to Irish, which is considered an official language but not a working language of EP
26/4: Speech by President Cox in Derry honouring John Hume, MEP on his contribution to peace and deep understanding of European integration. Situation in the Middle East, Cox says "cantonisation" of West Bank into pock-marked , unviable units will not help bring peace". Need for Ireland to give green light to the Constitutional Treaty

27/4: Official visit by President Cox to the UK and meeting with Tony Blair PM: the Constitutional Treaty – Blair says UK is worried about what it will lose from Treaty. States that the European Parliament is important, has real power and is important that people vote. Position of other countries, Stephen Wall, British Cabinet office says that the position of France had hardened since December; The new Commission – Cox doesn’t know what Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) will decide; Middle East – upset in EP on UK support for the "Sharon Plan". Blair says that George Bush is misunderstood as he too supports the Sharon Plan that has been heavily criticised by the Palestinians.
28/4: Press breakfast: Middle East, European Elections, referendum – Cox says that it is a mood test about UK’s sense of itself and of its place in wider world. No chance of a two speed Europe; Says that Tories will run a very high-level but low-running campaign for European elections. Need for closer cooperation between Labour and the Liberal Democrats
27/4: Treasury and Private Banking: European Parliament budgetary powers - Cox says he fears strong political reaction from EP if powers are reduced

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