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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-12-10
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
10/12/1996
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission supports small and medium-sized enterprises in Finland with
ECU 11 million
[02] Business and Consumer surveys - Increasing optimism among managers
[03] EU agrees strong new moves to control wildlife trade
[04] Chairman-in-office of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
visits the European Commission
[05] ECU 27.5 million of 1996 Tacis funding for Ukraine
[06] European broadcasters honoured in Dublin at first ECHO TV and radio
awards
[01] Commission supports small and medium-sized enterprises in Finland with
ECU 11 million
The European Commission has approved a regional programme for developing
small and medium-sized enterprises in Finland. Some ECU 11 million of EU-
aid coming from the EU's structural funds will be provided over four years.
Finnish public authorities will contribute ECU 7.6 million and the private
sector ECU 9.2 million, thus bringing the total investment to about ECU 28
million. The aid comes under the Community Initiative "SME" and will
center mainly on job creation.
[02] Business and Consumer surveys - Increasing optimism among managers
Industrial confidence continued its rise in almost all Member States. For
the first time since October 1995 there is a majority of European
manufacturing managers who saw their production augment in recent months.
Construction confidence increased for the third consecutive month, reaching
the highest level of the year. Consumer confidence as well as its
components remained unchanged at the European level, with on the one hand
increasing optimism in the United Kingdom and on the other increasing
pessimism in Italy.
[03] EU agrees strong new moves to control wildlife trade
The Environment Council of Ministers of the European Union yesterday gave
final approval to a new Regulation which will radically overhaul
legislation relating to the EU's trade in wild animals and plants. The
Regulation, to come into effect on 1 June 1997, will tighten controls and
improve enforcement. "As one of the world's major consumers of wildlife
and wildlife products, the EU must take its responsibilities for ensuring
that trade is at sustainable levels" commented Environment Commissioner
Ritt Bjerregaard. Simultaneously and jointly with the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF), she announced the launch of an EU-wide information and education
programme designed to alert the public to the impact of trade on
conservation and to the requirements of the new Regulation.
[04] Chairman-in-office of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
visits the European Commission
Mr Valdis Birkavs, Chairman-in-office of the Council of the Baltic Sea
States (CBSS) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia visited the
European Commission on 9 and 10 December where he met Commissioners Hans
van den Broek and Monika Wulf-Mathies. They reviewed progress in the Baltic
Sea Region Cooperation since the Summit meeting of Heads of Government in
Visby (Sweden) in May and the regular ministerial meeting in Kalmar
(Sweden) in July this year. At these meetings, the Ministers agreed on
persisting their fight against organised crime, on strengthening their
cooperation in areas of democracy, on fostering regional economic
development and on promoting the environment. The European Union supports
this through its Phare and Tacis programmes for the transition countries
and through the EU‘s Structural Funds as far as the EU Member States are
concerned.
[05] ECU 27.5 million of 1996 Tacis funding for Ukraine
The 1996 Financing Memorandum for Ukraine was signed today in Brussels It
confirms the financial commitment of ECU 27.5 million made to Ukraine under
the 1996 Tacis Programme for the mainstream national projects. In addition,
Ukraine will benefit from other Tacis Programmes such as Democracy, LIEN,
City Twinning, Tempus, Nuclear Safety, EU/G7 Action Plan for Chernobyl to
be covered by separate financing memoranda.
[06] European broadcasters honoured in Dublin at first ECHO TV and radio
awards
The first ECHO (European Community Humanitarian Office) TV & Radio Award
Ceremony was held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin last night in
the presence of Mary Robinson, President of Ireland, Emma Bonino, European
Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, and Joan Burton, Minister for
Development at the Department of Foreign Affairs. The awards recognize the
crucial role played by broadcasters and journalists in informing the public
about increasing worldwide humanitarian needs in situations of conflict and
natural disaster. The 18 shortlisted programmes were selected from over 220
entries from all 15 member states, in 6 categories which reflect the
diverse areas in which ECHO funds are used and humanitarian aid takes
place.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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