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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-05-25
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
25/05/98
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Declaration by Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission,
and Monika Wulf-Mathies, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, on the
Northern Ireland Political Agreement
[02] 24 pays, 1.600 universités, 200.000 étudiants participeront en 1998/99
au programme Erasmus de l'Union européenne
[03] EU signs Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Turkmenistan
[01] Declaration by Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission,
and Monika Wulf-Mathies, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, on the
Northern Ireland Political Agreement
"The European Commission warmly welcomes the majority vote in favour of the
Belfast Agreement in the Referenda held in Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland. The European Union has consistently supported the
British and Irish Governments and the political leaders and the people in
Northern Ireland and Ireland in their search for a stable and democratic
agreement. We believe this Agreement offers the best basis for building a
better life for future generations. The European Union will continue to
play its part in helping to promote stability and opportunity as we have
through various means like the Special Support Programme for Peace and
Reconciliation since 1995 and our contributions to the International Fund
for Ireland since 1989. The history of the European Union is the story of
the reconciliation of peoples who had been enemies for centuries. As
Northern Ireland seeks a better way forward, the European Union stands
ready to help further progress and support all groups in society."
[02] 24 pays, 1.600 universités, 200.000 étudiants participeront en 1998/99
au programme Erasmus de l'Union européenne
Une participation sans précédent du milieu universitaire européen et
l'ouverture du programme à six nouveaux pays, dont cinq pays d'Europe
centrale et orientale, marqueront l'année académique 1998/99 d'Erasmus, le
volet "Enseignement Supérieur" du programme Socrates en faveur de
l'éducation en Europe. Le succès d'Erasmus a été confirmé cette année par
l'approbation, par la Commission européenne, de 1.627 contrats
institutionnels, les documents exposant, pour chaque établissement
participant, la stratégie de coopération européenne ainsi que les activités
envisagées pour l'année 1998/99.
[03] EU signs Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Turkmenistan
The European Union (EU) will sign a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
(PCA) with Turkmenistan today in the margins of the General Affairs
Council. The PCA introduces the most-favoured-nation principle for
bilateral commercial relations and includes provisions on establishing and
operating companies, protecting intellectual property rights, services as
well as legal and judicial cooperation. It serves not only the purpose of
boosting bilateral trade and investment but also establishes a clear
framework for cooperation and political dialogue in a wide range of areas.
"The Agreement will help us to meet our common objective of supporting
Turkmenistan's independence and sovereignty, reinforcing its efforts to
consolidate democracy and promoting the transition to a market economy",
commented Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek. Since 1991 the
EU has allocated more than ECU 30 million through its technical assistance
programme Tacis in support of the transition process in Turkmenistan. The
country participates also in the Tacis "Interstate programme" and will
benefit from multiple transport and energy links, which are to be supported
under the TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia) and
INOGATE programme (Interstate Oil and Gas to Europe).
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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