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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-02-25
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-Parole 25/02/2000b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Visit to Israel to the West Bank and Gaza Strip by Romano Prodi
[02] Information financière : la Commission propose d'instaurer la
comptabilisation à la juste valeur
[03] Fourth quarter euro-zone industrial production up 1.1% - EU15 up 1.2%
[04] Activités criminelles liées à la contrebande de cigarettes
[05] Making the Euro Easy : Commission asks NGO's to help the disadvantaged
adjust
[06] Commission improves external assistance performance
[01] Visit to Israel to the West Bank and Gaza Strip by Romano Prodi
The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, will pay his first
official visit to Israel the West Bank and Gaza Strip on February 27, 28
and 29. In the course of his meetings in Israel, President Prodi will
discuss a series of issues with his Israeli interlocutors. Following the
recent ratification by all EU Member State parliaments of the EU-Israel
Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement, the sides are expected to discuss
the next steps in strengthening EU-Israel relations both in the bilateral
context and in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (the
'Barcelona Process'). In view of the EU's significant investment and direct
interest in the Middle East Peace Process, the question of the EU's
involvement in the peace process will also be raised. Immediately following
his visit to Israel, Mr Prodi will visit the Palestinian Authorities.
President Prodi has a particular interest in the progress made by the
Palestinian Authority towards the strengthening of its institutions, as he
was personally involved in drawing up the report published last year on
this subject by the Council for Foreign Relations.
[02] Information financière : la Commission propose d'instaurer la
comptabilisation à la juste valeur
La Commission européenne a proposé de moderniser la réglementation
comptable européenne en autorisant l'application de la méthode comptable de
la "juste valeur". La modification proposée des directives comptables vise
à tenir compte de l'évolution des marchés (utilisation croissante des
instruments dérivés), des entreprises et des normes comptables
internationales. Sa mise en oeuvre permettrait aux sociétés européennes qui
font appel aux marchés internationaux des capitaux de se conformer plus
facilement aux obligations en matière d'information financière qu'imposent
ces marchés et d'affronter à armes égales leurs concurrents non européens.
La modification proposée, qui doit maintenant recevoir l'aval du Conseil
des ministres et du Parlement européen, habilite les Etats membres à
autoriser ou, au choix, à obliger leurs entreprises à comptabiliser à leur
juste valeur certains actifs et passifs financiers. La juste valeur d'un
instrument financier est d'ordinaire assimilée à sa valeur actuelle sur le
marché, par opposition à son coût historique, c'est-à-dire le coût
d'acquisition initial. Les États membres auraient le pouvoir de limiter le
système de la juste valeur à certaines catégories d'entreprises, comme les
sociétés cotées, ou aux comptes consolidés des groupes. La proposition
s'inscrit dans le cadre du Plan d'action pour les services financiers
adopté en mai dernier et approuvé par le Conseil européen de Cologne.
[03] Fourth quarter euro-zone industrial production up 1.1% - EU15 up 1.2%
(! embargo 12 am !) The euro-zone industrial production trend advanced by
1.1% in the period October-December 1999 compared to the previous three
months, Eurostat - Statistical Office of the European Communities in
Luxembourg - estimates today. Output in the EU15 was 1.2% higher.
Industrial production rose in all reporting Member States in the three
months up to December. Growth was strong in Denmark (1.9%), France (1.4%)
and Spain (1.3%). Output was up by 0.9% in Finland, 0.8% in the UK, 0.7% in
the Netherlands, 0.5% in Germany and by 0.4% in Italy while it was little
changed in Belgium (0.1%). Estimates for the previous period (September to
November) were 1.1% for the euro-zone and 1.2% for EU15 (both figures
unrevised).
[04] Activités criminelles liées à la contrebande de cigarettes
La Commission européenne présente ses condoléances aux familles des deux
agents de Guardia di Finanza qui ont perdu la vie au cours d'une opération
contre la contrebande de cigarettes dans la nuit du 23 au 24 février. Elle
tient également à exprimer sa solidarité au Gouvernement italien et à la
Guardia di Finanza. La Commission rappelle qu'elle appuie activement la
lutte contre la contrebande : l'Office européen de Lutte Antifraude (OLAF)
contribue à la coordination des enquêtes internationales (en particulier,
un Protocole de collaboration entre l'OLAF et la Direction nationale Anti-
Mafia italienne a été signé le 17 février dernier). D'autres initiatives à
caractère politique ont été prises vis-à-vis de la Suisse, impliquée dans
le circuit financier lié à la contrebande de cigarettes ainsi que de
certaines régions des Balkans (la République du Montenegro notamment), afin
d'établir une collaboration efficace dans la lutte contre cette forme grave
de criminalité internationale.
[05] Making the Euro Easy : Commission asks NGO's to help the disadvantaged
adjust
On Saturday February 26 the European Commission has invited consumer
organisations and other non-governmental organisations to Brussels for a
conference "The Euro Made Easy". The objective of the conference is to
stimulate organisations who represent elderly or disabled people or people
who may not be reached by traditional means of information to adjust to the
new monetary language of everyday life. In 2002 all consumers will be faced
with a change of coins, notes and prices. The Commission is making
specially developed information and training materials available to NGO's
working with particular groups to help them get effective and timely
information across. The conference programme includes introductory
presentations by Christa Randzio-Plath (MEP) and Tony Venables of European
Citizen Action Service. Results of studies on the psychosociological
aspects of the Euro and on the special needs of disadvantaged groups, as
well as experiences and examples of actions and materials will form the
core of the day's work. Robert J. Coleman, Director-General for Health and
Consumer Protection, will conclude the conference's work at 17.00 hours.
The conference is taking place in the Charlemagne building - Room S3, from
10.00 to 17.30. Press materials are available at the conference site.
[06] Commission improves external assistance performance
The External Relations Common Service (SCR) releases a report, handed over
to the European Parliament's Budget Committee on 22 February 2000, on last
year's performance figures on the implementation of external assistance
programmes. The implementation of EU external assistance has reached
historical heights in 1999 both in commitments and in payments : euro 7.9
billion and euro 4.9 billion respectively, compared to euro 7.4 billion and
euro 4.7 billion in 1998. In order to cope with this increasing
implementation task, the Commission obtained an additional euro 504 million
in payment credits from the Budgetary Authority. Between 1990 and 1999 the
amounts committed increased by 183% and those paid by 100%. The accumulated
amount "rest to be paid" in the budget has grown less than ever since 1990
(1998 : euro 13,455 million ; 1999 : euro 14,407 million). The accumulated
amount "rest to be contracted" in the budget, decreases for the first time
ever in absolute figures (1998 : euro 8,080 million ; 1999 : euro 8,021
million). Thanks to improved management a greater amount of money will thus
be paid to contractors during the next years. The SCR has managed 11,640
projects and 16,448 contracts in 1999 ; 3,343 tenders were published and 8,
826 new contracts or riders were signed ; 2,826 commitments were handled
and 40,097 payment orders released.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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