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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-11-12
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-Parole 12/11/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement by European Commissioner for Competition, Mario Monti, on
the latest developments in the Champalimaud / BSCH case
[02] Augmentation de 0,5% des prix à la production industrielle
[03] Mexico floods : humanitarian aid worth euro 1 million
[04] Franz Fischler : "EU and applicant countries should speak with one
voice"
[05] A Northern Dimension for the policies of the EU
[06] Conference on tourism in the Information Society
[07] Second assembly of consumer associations in Europe, 18-19 November -
Consumer policy seminar for candidate countries, 17 November
[01] Statement by European Commissioner for Competition, Mario Monti, on
the latest developments in the Champalimaud / BSCH case
"I was informed yesterday evening by Portuguese Finance Minister Mr Pina
Moura of the new agreement that has been reached by the parties concerned
in the Champalimaud/BSCH case and of the Portuguese Government's positive
view of the transaction now envisaged. I particularly welcome his intention
to revoke the Portuguese veto that the Commission had declared contrary to
EU law and had decided to challenge before the Court. At his request I have
agreed to meet Mr Pina Moura on Monday afternoon in Brussels to discuss the
details of this solution, which will enable us to evaluate the consequences
of this development for the Commission's action. I am convinced that a
positive outcome in this case will confirm the exclusive competence of the
Commission to assess mergers of Community dimension and will mark a
breakthrough for ensuring a true single market in the financial services
sector, which will bring about important benefits for the European economy.
It will establish a clear reference point for any possible similar case in
the future."
[02] Augmentation de 0,5% des prix à la production industrielle
Au mois de septembre, les prix à la production industrielle de la zone euro
et de l'Union européenne (UE15) ont enregistré une augmentation de 0,5% par
rapport au mois précédent - selon les estimations publiées aujourd'hui par
Eurostat, l'Office statistique des Communautés européennes à Luxembourg. La
zone euro ainsi que l'UE15 avaient enregistré une hausse de 0,4% au mois
d'août (chiffre révisé à la hausse). Après une baisse de l'indice des prix
à la production industrielle pendant quinze mois consécutifs (de décembre
1997 à février 1999), on a observé une augmentation depuis le mois de mars
1999. La hausse enregistrée au mois de septembre de l'indice des prix à la
production industrielle est due principalement au secteur des biens
intermédiaires. Les prix dans ce secteur ont augmenté de 0,8% en septembre
par rapport au mois d'août dans la zone euro et de 0,7% dans l'UE15.
[03] Mexico floods : humanitarian aid worth euro 1 million
The European Commission has approved humanitarian aid worth euro 1 million
for victims of flooding in Mexico. The aid will be channelled through the
German and Spanish Red Cross societies, which are working in close
coordination with the Mexican Red Cross. Catastrophic rains in October
caused flooding and landslides that affected the states of Veracruz,
Tabasco, Puebla, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Jalisco. About 600 people
died and some 500,000 people were made homeless. Priorities in this crisis
are provision of clean water and sanitation, blankets, hygiene items and
basic medicines. The States identified as being in greatest need are Puebla
and Veracruz.
[04] Franz Fischler : "EU and applicant countries should speak with one
voice"
(! embargo 3.30 pm !) Speaking at the Conference "Agenda 2000 and
Preparations for the New WTO Round" in Bratislava/Slovakia Franz Fischler,
European Commissioner for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development,
called for a common strategy of the applicant countries and the European
Union (EU). In view of enlargement, we should speak with one voice in
Seattle. In the course of the WTO-negotiations we have a common interest in
a close cooperation. We have also a common interest in increasing the trade
in both directions. In this respect, the current negotiations to deepen the
process of mutual liberalisation are of particular importance", Mr Fischler
said in the presence of the ministers for agriculture of the candidate
countries. Outlining the approach of the EU for Seattle in the agricultural
sector, he stressed that the EU undertook two major agricultural reforms in
the last decade, bringing down price guarantees in the cereals and beef
sector by over 40%.
[05] A Northern Dimension for the policies of the EU
Speaking today, in Helsinki, at the Foreign Ministers Conference on the
Northern Dimension, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External
Relations, emphasised the Commission's determination to play an active role
in the preparation and implementation of the Action Plan that will be
needed to take forward this important initiative. The Northern Dimension
will constitute an increasing part of the external relations of the
European Union (EU) as enlargement brings in new members in the region and
if new dividing lines in Europe are to be avoided. The basic aim must be to
promote security, political stability and sustainable development through
enhanced cross-border cooperation between the countries in Northern Europe.
The Commission is convinced that the Northern Dimension can contribute to
improved relations and mutual dependence between Russia, countries of the
Baltic Sea region and the EU. The primary purpose of the Conference is to
take the Northern Dimension beyond general discussion to concrete action in
(i) the institutional context, (ii) policy areas (e.g. energy, environment
and nuclear safety, transport networks) and (iii) the preparation of an
Action Plan.
[06] Conference on tourism in the Information Society
Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner responsible for Enterprise, and the
Information Society, opened today a major European conference on Tourism in
the Information Society. Organised by the Commission, the conference
brought together in Brussels more than 500 participants from both the
Tourism and the Information Society Technologies (IST) industry, European
Union institutions and European trade organisations, as well as public
authorities responsible for tourism at national, regional or local level.
Mr Liikanen highlighted the need for bringing closer the two industry
sectors, saying "the Information Society - including the Internet - is
changing radically how the tourism industry as a whole, and how each
business will work in the future". He stressed that "tourism businesses
will have to rethink their products, their entire internal procedures and
structures, the marketing of their products, their cooperation with
business partners and their relations with their customers". The IST
industry is offering solutions for marketing through Internet, direct
consumer bookings and all forms of electronic commerce, as well as mobile
communication systems. Finally, Mr Liikanen pointed out that "the tourism
sector will have to cooperate better in order to compete in the global
environment ; and Europe will have to develop its infrastructure (hardware
and software) to world-class level". The aim was that "Europe should
continue to be at the forefront of new developments in technology in this
area".
[07] Second assembly of consumer associations in Europe, 18-19 November -
Consumer policy seminar for candidate countries, 17 November
The Health and Consumer Directorate-General of the European Commission will
be organising its second assembly of consumer associations in Europe on 18
and 19 November 1999. Around 250 representatives from more than 110
consumer organisations from the European Union will meet in Brussels to
discuss consumer policy. Some of the largest consumer associations in
Europe will attend, such as the Consumers' Association from the United
Kingdom, Consumentenbond from the Netherlands, Forbrugerrådet from Denmark,
UFC from France and Test Achats from Belgium plus many others. The opening
session will see speeches of the Finnish Minister in charge of Consumer
affairs, Kimmo Sasi, and the President of the Consumers Union of the US,
Rhoda Karpatkin. David Byrne, Commissioner for Consumer Protection and
Health, will address the assembly in the afternoon of the same day and
Pascal Lamy, Commissioner for Trade, will speak on Friday afternoon. A
seminar with about 60 participants from governments and consumer
organisations of all candidate countries will be organised on 17 November.
The main purpose of the seminar is to discuss the roles of the public and
private sector in searching new approaches to consumer policy to ensure
that consumers are effectively protected. The plenary sessions of the
assembly and the seminar with the candidate countries are open to
journalist. It will take place in the Charlemagne Building, rue de la Loi
170. Journalists are invited to participate on simple presentation of their
press-card. A detailed programme of the assembly is available on the
Internet (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/events/event17_en.html).
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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