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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-11-29
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 29/11/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Pascal Lamy calls on WTO members to join EU initiative in favour of
developing countries
[02] "EU ready to negotiate about agriculture", Franz Fischler says
[03] Chris Patten regrets further delays to delivery of "Energy for
Democracy" heating oil
[04] Commission to hold a conference on "Community Energy Policy for the
21st Century"
[01] Pascal Lamy calls on WTO members to join EU initiative in favour of
developing countries
European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy called on fellow WTO members to
support the EU-initiative in favour of developed countries on the eve of
the 3rd WTO Ministerial conference in Seattle. Confirming the European
Union's commitment to giving essentially all imports from the world's least
developed countries duty free market access into its market in the context
of the New Round, Mr Lamy called on the remaining QUAD members and other
WTO members to do likewise. In addition to duty-free market access, the EU
is also proposing the establishment of a programme for focused and
effective trade-related technical assistance in support of capacity
building for all developing countries. The initiative illustrates the
extent to which it is committed to putting the interests of developing
countries at the forefront of the WTO's agenda in the run-up to Seattle.
[02] "EU ready to negotiate about agriculture", Franz Fischler says
"As the Millennium WTO round is launched this week, the European Union has
every intention of participating in these negotiations in a constructive
way with a view to achieving a far-reaching broad-based agreement. We are
ready to negotiate substantially about agriculture. If not, I could have
stayed home in Europe." This was stated by Mr Franz Fischler, European
Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, on the
occasion of his arrival in Seattle.
[03] Chris Patten regrets further delays to delivery of "Energy for
Democracy" heating oil
Responding to the latest developments in Yugoslavia which are preventing
the delivery of heating oil under the "Energy for Democracy" scheme, the
European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten stated : "I very
much regret that the Yugoslav authorities are preventing the delivery of
fuel to the opposition-controlled towns of Nis and Pirot. The fuel is badly
needed. It could be there within hours. Instead, it has been waiting at the
border for four days, with officials citing ever more Kafka-esque reasons
for holding it up. It is obviously being delayed for political reasons. I
particularly deplore the detention of the head of the district heating
system in Nis and call for his immediate release. My message to the
citizens of Nis and Pirot is simple : we have the oil waiting at the border,
but I regret to say that Mr Milosevic and his officials have thus far
prevented us from getting it through to you. The events of the last few
days underscore once again why political change is so badly needed in
Serbia to deliver a government genuinely interested in the welfare of its
people."
[04] Commission to hold a conference on "Community Energy Policy for the
21st Century"
From 30 November to 1 December 1999 representatives from the European
Parliament, Member States, industry and other stake-holders gather in
Brussels at the invitation of the European Commission to share their
expertise and visions on the dynamics of energy markets. The conference
"Community Energy Policy for the 21st Century" will conclude the Shared
Analysis Project which was initiated in January 1998 by the Commission. The
objective of the project was to provide the economic foundations for future
Community Energy Policy involving leading research institutes and experts
from all Member States. Detailed information about the Shared Analysis
Project, the final reports and additional background analysis can be found
on the web-site of DG Energy http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/dg17home.htm
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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