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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-11-30
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 30/11/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Romano Prodi warmly welcomes the steps taken to establish a new
Administration in Northern Ireland
[02] Statement of the Commission on the tax package
[03] Commission authorises acquisition by Industri Kapital (Marmorandum) of
Neste Chemicals
[04] La Commission présente un rapport sur l'exposition des êtres humains à
la dioxine
[05] La Commission salue le nouveau cadre légal pour garantir la sécurité
des signatures électroniques
[06] Commission welcomes decision of Bulgaria on early closure of units 1-4
of Kozloduy nuclear plant
[07] David Byrne : "New round must cover non-trade issues"
[08] Franz Fischler : "Criticism on EU fisheries policy unfounded"
[09] Seattle : Franz Fischler "tired of hearing the same old rhetoric"
[10] Chris Patten at the Human Rights discussion forum
[01] Romano Prodi warmly welcomes the steps taken to establish a new
Administration in Northern Ireland
Mr Prodi said : "I congratulate the new Ministers on their appointments.
The European Commission welcomes the trust and confidence which has been
building between the political parties and their determination to implement
the Good Friday Agreement in full. The European Commission admires the
courage and determination of the British and Irish Governments and all
those involved in this major achievement. Northern Ireland has such
enormous potential, not least in its people. We look forward to the
development of the economic prosperity which the establishment of peace and
the new political institutions will bring. The EU will continue to support
cross-community cooperation through the Peace and Reconciliation
initiative."
[02] Statement of the Commission on the tax package
The European Commission is disappointed that it did not prove possible to
reach agreement at the Finance Council yesterday on the tax package, but
pleased that the commitment to agree the full package by the Helsinki
European Council has been reaffirmed. In particular, it is very encouraging
that the Finance Council will meet in Helsinki to pursue its work on the
tax package. The Commission wishes to affirm its total commitment to
reaching agreement on the tax package and its willingness to play its full
role in finding solutions to the outstanding issues. It is crucially
important that the tax package is approved in order to (i) move towards an
employment-friendly tax system, (ii) tackle tax evasion, and (iii) remove
distortions within the Internal Market.
[03] Commission authorises acquisition by Industri Kapital (Marmorandum) of
Neste Chemicals
The European Commission has authorised the acquisition of the Finnish
company Neste Chemicals by Industri Kapital 1997 Ltd, incorporated under
the laws of Jersey, through Marmorandum Ab. The acquisition will not lead
to the creation or strengthening of a dominant position and consequently
does not raise any competition concerns.
[04] La Commission présente un rapport sur l'exposition des êtres humains à
la dioxine
Les services de Margot Wallström, commissaire européen chargé de
l'environnement, ont présenté au groupe de travail "dioxines" de la
Commission une étude, cofinancée par la direction générale de
l'environnement, sur les données les plus récentes en matière d'exposition
à la dioxine et de santé dans l'Union européenne. Il ressort principalement
de ce rapport que, pour certaines parties de la population, l'absorption
quotidienne de dioxines et de substances analogues reste supérieure aux
niveaux recommandés, bien que les taux de dioxine aient diminué ces
dernières années dans tous les pays qui disposent de données couvrant les
dix ou quinze dernières années. En moyenne, l'exposition de la population a
baissé de 10% entre 1985 et 1995.
[05] La Commission salue le nouveau cadre légal pour garantir la sécurité
des signatures électroniques
La Commission européenne a salué l'adoption d'un nouveau cadre légal qui
garantit la reconnaissance des signatures électroniques à travers toute
l'Union européenne (par le Conseil des Ministres des Télécommunications de
ce 30 novembre). La Directive sur les Signatures électroniques est une
première illustration concrète de l'approche flexible et intégrée de la
Commission visant à créer un cadre européen pour le développement du
commerce électronique. Dans le passé, seules les signatures manuscrites
avaient valeur légale, mais cette nouvelle législation étendra cette
reconnaissance aux signatures électroniques. La directive applique
également les principes du marché intérieur, de la libre circulation des
services et du contrôle du pays d'origine au domaine du commerce
électronique. Ceci constitue un élément important des efforts constants de
la Commission pour promouvoir le développement rapide du commerce
électronique, pour valoriser son potentiel en termes de création d'activité
commerciale et d'emploi. Le nouveau cadre législatif assure la sécurité
demandée par les acteurs du marché des transactions électroniques et
renforce également la position de l'Union européenne face à la concurrence
internationale dans le contexte d'un marché mondial.
[06] Commission welcomes decision of Bulgaria on early closure of units 1-4
of Kozloduy nuclear plant
Mr Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner in charge of Enlargement, back
from his meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Mr Ivan Kostov yesterday in
Sofia, welcomed the decision of the Bulgarian government to close down
units 1-4 of the Kozloduy nuclear plant at early dates. Units 1 and 2 will
be definitely closed down in 2002 at the latest. As for units 3 and 4,
Bulgaria will take a decision in agreement with the Commission in 2002 on
definitive closure dates, which in any event will be before the presently
envisaged dates of 2008 and 2010 respectively. The Commission's
understanding is that the definitive closure of these units will happen in
2006 at the latest. After similar decisions taken by Slovakia and Lithuania,
there are now firm commitments to close down at early dates all 8 units
located in the candidate countries that are considered as non-upgradable.
This very positive achievement for nuclear safety was a fundamental
condition for the launching of accession negotiations with the countries
concerned.
[07] David Byrne : "New round must cover non-trade issues"
"The European Union attaches the utmost importance to the rights of
consumers here in Seattle", said David Byrne, European Commissioner
responsible for health and consumer protection, on the eve of the start of
the third ministerial conference of the WTO. He underlined his commitment
to contribute to the international discussions on consumer rights in
international trade, an objective fully recognised by the EU. The new
Amsterdam Treaty recognises that a high level of consumer protection should
be integrated in all EU policies. This should be reflected at the
international level in rules for goods and services.
[08] Franz Fischler : "Criticism on EU fisheries policy unfounded"
Rejecting the criticism voiced about the impact of the EU Common Fisheries
Policy (CFP), Mr Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture,
Rural Development and Fisheries, said : "Grossly exaggerated figures have
appeared accusing the EU of subsidising overfishing. This is utterly wrong.
The major part of the subsidies are aimed at reducing overcapacity. We are
spending a considerable amount of money on research aimed at conserving the
fish stocks. It is difficult to understand how EU programmes like PESCA,
which are designed to diversify the fishermen's activities away from
fishing, could have contributed to increasing fishing capacity, as falsely
claimed. Still, we are ready to contribute on future work in the framework
of the WTO concerning fisheries subsidies."
[09] Seattle : Franz Fischler "tired of hearing the same old rhetoric"
Delivering a speech at the Family Farmers Summit on Agricultural Trade in
Seattle, Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural
Development and Fisheries, reminded that a "survival of the fittest" policy
would wipe out two-thirds of the farmers overnight, leading to a major
decline in production and an increase in prices and imports. "I'm tired of
hearing the same old 'rhetoric' that the EU is a fortress when it comes to
food or agricultural imports", he said. Mr Fischler went on pointing out
that often the countries most critical of our import regime have little to
be proud of as far as access to their own market is concerned. "Australia,
for example, he said, is permanently criticising the EU on market access,
and yet exporting an agricultural product into Australia is like going
through the 'biblical' eye of the needle. Frankly, nobody has the high
moral ground on this point. The EU has every intention of participating at
the Millennium WTO round in a constructive way to achieve a far-reaching
broad based agreement."
[10] Chris Patten at the Human Rights discussion forum
(! embargo 3 pm !) Speaking today at the opening of the first ever Human
Rights Discussion Forum in Brussels, Chris Patten, European Commissioner
responsible for External Relations, welcomed the initiative of the Finnish
Presidency in organising the event. He said : "Promoting respect for human
rights is not a voluntary add-on which we do to make ourselves feel better.
It makes moral, political and economic sense". Mr Patten continued that :
"National sovereignty does not deny us the right to comment on - and seek
to influence - the poor human rights records in other countries. For the EU
to so do is both inevitable and sensible". The forum brings together over a
hundred NGOs, academic and government human rights experts. Debate will
include increasing the effectiveness of the euro 100 million which the EU
spends on human rights cooperation projects under the 'European Initiative
for Democracy and Human Rights'.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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