|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-05-06
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
06/05/97
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Annual report on fraud 1996
[02] Work programme for the fight against fraud 1997-98
[03] La Commission ouvre le dialogue sur le développement urbain
[04] Report on the social dialogue in 1996
[05] La Commission adopte de nouvelles orientations relatives aux aides
d'État dans le secteur des transports maritimes
[06] Commission Secretary General, David Williamson, to retire
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Commission clears the acquisition by Tesco of ABF's businesses in the
Irish retail sector
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Annual report on fraud 1996
Fraud and irregularities affecting budgetary receipts and expenditure
detected by Member States and the European Commission cost the European
Union (EU) and its Member States ECU 1.3 billion in 1996 compared to ECU
1.1 billion in 1995. On a proposal from Commissioner Anita Gradin,
responsible for the fight against fraud and financial control, the
Commission adopted the Annual Report on fraud in 1996. Commissioner Gradin
welcomes improvements in the fight against fraud and more effective
detection. "It is very worrying that so much taxpayers' money has gone
into the wrong pockets. But I know that the increasing figures for
reported fraud and irregularities are a result of the huge efforts we have
put into reorganising and improving the Commission's anti-fraud measures.
The Commission has also introduced a new, more effective programme of
financial controls. Member States have put much more effort into the fight
against fraud", says Commissioner Gradin.
[02] Work programme for the fight against fraud 1997-98
The European Commission adopted a work programme for fighting fraud in
1997/98 on a proposal from Anita Gradin, Commissioner responsible for
financial control and the fight against fraud. At the same time she
presented the Annual Report on the fight against fraud in 1996 (see above)
which shows that the instruments for combating fraud against the European
Union (EU) budget have improved considerably. Commissioner Gradin points
to the need for further improvements especially in six important areas:
detection, recovery of embezzled money, legislation, sanctions, judicial co-
operation and preparation for enlargement of the EU. "We will continue to
work on the lines of the successful anti-fraud strategy, introduced by the
Commission in 1994 and endorsed by the Council: to strengthen our presence
on the ground, to establish still better partnership with national
authorities, to clarify and simplify our own legislation and to secure
compatibility between national legislation on fraud. This strategy has led
to more detection of large fraud cases, often carried out by organised
crime. The EU has started to create a legal framework to protect its money
and to ensure that criminals are punished. But still more has to be done
to secure our taxpayers' money", says Commissioner Gradin.
[03] La Commission ouvre le dialogue sur le développement urbain
Sous la devise "La question urbaine: orientations pour un débat européen",
la Commission européenne a engagé le dialogue sur l'avenir du développement
urbain. Dans une communication adoptée ce jour, la Commission explique
comment on peut formuler une réponse coordonnée et cohérente pour faire
face au nombre croissant de problèmes urbains. "Dans la mesure où le
développement urbain suscite de plus en plus d'inquiétudes, le moment est
venu de lancer un large débat sur l'avenir des villes d'Europe et sur la
contribution des politiques au niveau européen. Les politiques
communautaires dans les domaines tels que l'environnement, le transport,
l'emploi, l'intégration sociale, la Recherche, la Technologie et le
Développement (RTD) et, bien entendu, la politique régionale ont déjà un
impact important sur les villes; notre document peut faciliter la
discussion que nous souhaitons engager dans les institutions européennes et
avec les organisations non gouvernementales et les associations centrées
sur la ville", a déclaré Mme la Commissaire Monika Wulf-Mathies,
responsable pour les politiques régionales.
[04] Report on the social dialogue in 1996
The first annual review of social dialogue at European Union level, adopted
today by the European Commission, shows that the social dialogue began to
produce significant results in 1996. It also shows that it is necessary
to improve the links between the European level dialogue and the national
and industry levels and that it is time to create a European industrial
relations culture and integrate Europe into the social partners' strategies
and dialogues at all levels. However, the memorandum - which is in fact the
first annual review of social dialogue - also highlights the fact that "the
various forums where the European social partners come together and these
endeavours towards dialogue and, in some cases, negotiation, represent only
the background of a European-scale industrial relations system which still
has to be erected".
[05] La Commission adopte de nouvelles orientations relatives aux aides
d'État dans le secteur des transports maritimes
Conformément aux propositions initialement annoncées dans le rapport
intitulé "Vers une nouvelle stratégie maritime" publié en mars 1996, la
Commission européenne a adopté de nouvelles orientations relatives aux
aides d'État dans le secteur des transports maritimes. Ces orientations
remplacent celles qui avaient été définies en 1989 et visent à favoriser le
développement du secteur des transports maritimes de l'Union européenne
(UE). Une action s'impose d'urgence pour enrayer le déclin de la flotte
sous pavillon communautaire qui va de pair avec des pertes d'emplois pour
les marins communautaires et avec une perte de savoir-faire maritime dans
l'UE. Avec l'application d'une méthode plus transparente, les Etats
membres sont autorisés à exempter les armateurs des charges fiscales et
sociales ou à leur rembourser ces prélèvements.
[06] Commission Secretary General, David Williamson, to retire
David Williamson, who will have served the European Commission as Secretary
General for 10 years, will retire from this post at the end of July. At
its meeting the Commission expressed its warm appreciation of his work on
behalf of the Commission and of the European Union as a whole during this
long period of high responsibility. Mr Williamson was Deputy Director
General for Agriculture in the Commission from 1977 to 1983. From 1983 to
1987 he was head of the European Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, London.
He returned to the Commission as Secretary General in 1987.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Commission clears the acquisition by Tesco of ABF's businesses in the
Irish retail sector
The European Commission has approved the acquisition by Tesco of certain
business interests in Ireland and in Northern Ireland currently owned by
Associated British Foods Plc (ABF). The Commission considered that current
and potential competition in the Irish retail sector will not allow the
combination of Tesco's buying power, and ABF's position as established
market leader, to result in a dominant position in Ireland or Northern
Ireland.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
