12. Points out that imbalances in certain euro zone countries are particularly alarming given the size of the trade deficits and the observed inflation differential of some of them and calls on the Member States to adopt the economic policies necessary to remedy matters, stressing the need for a budget policy capable of off-setting the ill effects of these imbalances;

To help address the challenges of inflation, the growing demand, and the need to transition to HDTV, we recommend that federal support allocated to the Canadian television fund be increased by $95 million, the Canadian feature film fund be increased by $75 million, and the Canadian new media fund be increased by $15 million.

The residence portion deduction has not been increased since its inception 20 years ago, while the cost of living for northern Canadians has continued to increase. The petitioners would like the government to know that whereas the cost in lost tax revenue to the Government of Canada would be insignificant while the economic benefits to the north would be substantial, they would like the Minister of Finance to increase the residence portion of the northern residents tax deduction by 50% and also ask that this portion of the tax deduction be indexed to keep pace with inflation based upon the northern inflation measurement.

18. Observes that services account for about 70 % of eurozone GDP and offer the greatest opportunity for employment growth; notes that services inflation makes a persistent contribution to core inflation; points out therefore that more competition in services would result in lower inflation; calls, therefore, for a fully operational internal market for services and a swift implementation of Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market ;

But it is difficult to go further than that without inflating the number of applications for asylum made for reasons of convenience.

The Council considers that within the high growth environment projected in the convergence programme, particular effort must be made by Greece to ensure that the progress made towards disinflation acquires a lasting character; such an effort seems to be all the more necessary in view of the convergence of monetary conditions in Greece to those prevailing in the euro zone and the potential implications of such a development on demand and prices; in this context, the Council welcomes the revaluation of the central rate of the Greek dr ...[+++]achma as from 17 January 2000 which will support the authorities in their efforts to further reduce inflation in Greece; the Council invites the Greek government to reinforce the anti-inflationary stance of the policy instruments at its disposal, including budgetary and incomes policies; the wage agreements in 2000 in both public and private sectors and the co-operation of all social partners are essential to secure an environment of low-inflation.