Translation of "Conseil Suisse de la Musique " (French → English) :

The aim of the new multilateral ACTA between the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland is to strengthen the protection of intellectual property and contribute to the fight against counterfeiting and piracy of products such as big-name clothing brands, music and films.

You all know that, on July 31, Minister James Moore announced the good news about the 5-year extension to the Canada Music Fund. However, at the same time, he announced major changes to that fund, i.e., the elimination of the Canadian Musical Diversity Component, which includes the grants for specialized sound recording and grants for specialized music distribution, two programs managed by the Canada Council for the Arts.

on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol between the European Community, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State, in Switzerland or Liechtenstein

The signature of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the president of the EU Council and the Swiss Federal Council on a CHF 1 billion contribution by Switzerland took place today in Brussels.

In its conclusions of 18 December 1997 on the role of music in Europe, the Council of Culture Ministers emphasised the benefits of promoting the European music industry through a series of measures and I quote "conducive to the circulation, exchange and dissemination of repertoires, performances and artists in Europe, enhanced skills for artists and other music professionals, improved access to music for a wider public, with particular attention being given to musical education from a very young age".

4. As regards the entry into force of the EEA Agreement for the Principality of Liechtenstein, the EEA Council : - noted the amendments agreed between Liechtenstein and Switzerland to their Customs Treaty in order to allow the participation of Liechtenstein to the EEA; - reached agreement on the substance of the necessary adaptations to the Protocols and Annexes of the EEA Agreement for the purposes of the application of this Agreement to Liechtenstein, as given in the Annex to the present conclusions; - welcomed the pragmatic solutions found to several complex difficulties in the field of free movement of goods arising from the maintenance by Liechtenstein of its Customs Treaty with Switzerland, albeit in modified form; - recognised the ...[+++] political importance for Liechtenstein of the transitional arrangements already agreed for the free movement of persons, which remains a fundamental element for the EEA, and welcomed the solution found for this question in the form of the Joint Declaration attached to these conclusions; - concluded on that basis that the condition of Article 121(b) of the EEA Agreement, namely that the good functioning of the EEA Agreement will not be impaired by the regional union between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, is fulfilled; - noted that the amendments to the Customs Treaty between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, together with the Adjusting Protocol to the EEA Agreement, will be subject to ratification in Liechtenstein; - agreed that the formal decision of the EEA Council concerning the entry into force of the EEA Agreement for Liechtenstein should be taken, on this basis, by written procedure as soon as possible in early 1995 ; this decision should enter into force on 1 May 1995, provided that the amendments to the Customs Treaty between Liechtenstein and Switzerland have entered into force at the latest by that date.