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Friday, 22 November 2024
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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-09-04Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Spokesman's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb04/09/97CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Forest Condition in Europe is worseningThe 1997 Report on Forest Condition in Europe documents for the first time the forest condition at the European scale, as derived from the 1996 crown condition survey and recent surveys on the condition of forest soils and the nutritional status of forest trees carried out on the transnational 16x16 km network. In addition, the report describes the intensive monitoring of forest ecosystems. With these two monitoring elements an efficient and comprehensive system for the observation of the forest condition in Europe is available now. The European forest condition survey 1996, where the vitality of forest trees was assessed in terms of needle/leaf loss of the tree crowns indicates a further decrease of forest vitality, although this loss of vitality was lower than in previous years. This result is based on observations of the crowns of 72.000 sample trees from 3.370 observation plots in the 15 Member States. Also for the total of 29 countries that participated in this Pan-European survey (EU and 14 non- EU countries), a decrease in forest vitality was observed. This figure is based on information from 116.000 trees on 5.335 plots. Information from the soil survey has revealed that on 42% of the observed plots the forest soils are in a poor condition. Additional acid deposition may lead to release of aluminium into the soil solution at elevated concentrations that are toxic to the roots of forest trees. The survey on the nutritional status of the leaves and needles on part of the same plots has revealed that a considerable part of the trees has an imbalanced nutrient situation. In the Pan-European Programme for the Intensive Monitoring of Forest Econsystems more than 850 observation plots have been selected in 31 countries and from around 750 of these plots the first data and information have been submitted to the European Commission.[02] Ukraine Summit, 5 September 1997This Friday, 5 September 1997, President Santer and Hans van den Broek, Commissioner responsible for external relations with Eastern Europe, together with the EU presidency (Prime Minister Junker) will visit Kiev for a summit meeting with President Kuchma. The main subjects on the agenda are recent developments in the EU (results Amsterdam, enlargement, EMU, priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency), issues falling under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (Ukraine's place in the European and euro- atlantic structures, regional co-operation, the situation in Russia, Belarus and Transdniestr), EU-Ukrainian relations (entry into force of Partnership and co-operation agreement, Ukraine Action plan, macro-economic and technical assistance to Ukraine), integration of Ukraine into the world economy (bilateral trade, market access, WTO), Chernobyl and co-operation on justice and home affairs. Ukraine is one of the largest recipients of EU aid in the NIS. During the period 1991-1997 ECU 3,920 million have been given (technical assistance, export credits, loans, disarmament, nuclear safety and humanitarian aid), of which ECU 1,380 million via the European Commission. The Tacis programme foresees a budget of ECU 538 million for Ukraine for the period 1996-1999 for support to the economic reform process. In addition, the Commission proposed to grant ECU 100 million for the Chernobyl sarcophagus yesterday. President Santer and Prime Minister Juncker will lay a wreath at the Shevshenko Memorial. At 19.00 (Kiev time) there will be a joint press conference by the Commission, the Presidency and the hosts.[03] La Commission approuve la création d'une entreprise commune entre HOECHST et BAIN CAPITAL dans le domaine du diagnostic in vitroLa Commission européenne a approuvé une opération par laquelle la société allemande Hoechst et l'entreprise américaine Bain Capital Inc combineront leurs activités dans le domaine des diagnostics in vitro dans une entreprise commune nouvellement créée dénommée Dade Behring Holdings, Inc. Les deux sociétés-mères contrôleront conjointement l'entreprise commune. Les diagnostics in vitro sont utilisés pour l'identification et la mesure de substances dans les tissus, le sang ou l'urine d'un patient, aux fins de diagnostique, de traitement et de surveillance par les médecins.MIDDAY EXPRESSFrom EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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