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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-04-01
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
01/04/97
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Visit Mr van den Broek to Lithuania and Latvia: focus on enlargement
preparations
[02] Albania: Commission approves emergency humanitarian aid worth ECU 2
million
[03] Commission takes Japan to WTO for favouring US bidders for satellite
system
[04] The external dimension of trans-European energy networks: promoting
the inter-connection with third countries
[01] Visit Mr van den Broek to Lithuania and Latvia: focus on enlargement
preparations
Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek will make a three day visit
to Lithuania and Latvia from 2-4 April 1997 to discuss these countries'
preparations for European Union membership. He will explain the situation
inside the Union and inform the Lithuanian and Latvian governments of areas
in which increased efforts need to be made if they are to assume the
obligations of membership. Subjects for discussion include political and
economic stability, the internal market, WTO accession, the improvement of
border crossing facilities and, in Lithuania, the safety of the Ignalina
Nuclear Power Plant.
[02] Albania: Commission approves emergency humanitarian aid worth ECU 2
million
The European Commission has approved a first package of humanitarian aid
worth ECU 2 million for victims of the crisis in Albania. The aid, managed
by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable the
International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out distribution of food
and medical supplies.
[03] Commission takes Japan to WTO for favouring US bidders for satellite
system
The European Commission has decided to request formal consultations with
Japan in the WTO regarding Japan's alleged exclusion of European suppliers
from a US$ 40 million government contract for a global satellite navigation
system. In its call for tender, Japan has restricted suppliers to the use
of US technical specifications, thereby excluding European companies. The
Commission considers this a serious violation of Japan's obligations under
the non-discrimination and transparency provisions of the WTO Government
Procurement Agreement (GPA). If left unchallenged, this could set a
damaging precedent for the development of the world market in a key area of
technology where European firms are some of the most competitive in the
world.
[04] The external dimension of trans-European energy networks: promoting
the inter-connection with third countries
The European Commission commits itself to making use of the available
guidelines, political and financial instruments in order to support the
development of trans-European and regional energy network projects in third
countries and their interconnection with the networks of the European
Union. This is the main conclusion of a Communication on the external
dimension of the Trans-European Energy Networks, adopted by the Commission
under the initiative of Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, responsible for
Energy.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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