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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-03-14
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 14/03/2000b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Commission adopts in-depth assessment of the implementation of the
1999 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines
[02] Action against anti personnel landmines
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[03] Discrimination fiscale : la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de
Justice contre la Grèce
[04] Chris Patten and Shi Guangsheng sign a financing agreement in the
field of public administration
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Commission adopts in-depth assessment of the implementation of the
1999 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines
(! embargo 3.30 pm !) The European Commission has adopted a report with an
in-depth, overall assessment of the implementation of the 1999 Broad
Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs). According to Pedro Solbes, Commissioner
for economic and monetary affairs, "the overall implementation of the 1999
BEPGs is encouraging. Virtually all Member States have met or surpassed
their budgetary targets for 1999 and there are prospects for further
improvements in budgetary positions in the years ahead. The quality and
sustainability of public finances, in particular the reform of tax and
pension systems, have finally come to the fore as issues of increasing
importance. Both the forthcoming Lisbon European Council and the 2000 BEPG
should accelerate the economic reforms under way in order inject more
dynamism in the European economy".
[02] Action against anti personnel landmines
(! embargo 3.30 pm !) The European Commission has approved a Communication
on "Action against anti personnel landmines : reinforcing the contribution
of the European Union". This Communication sets out the scope and
objectives of EU mine actions worldwide in order to ensure a coherent and
efficient EU follow-up to the Ottawa Convention. It is accompanied by a
draft Regulation which creates a single framework for EU mine action and
lays down decision-making procedures including for emergency cases. During
2000-2006, EU mine action should continue at least at the same level of
funding as in the past (over euro 180 million). Funding will continue to be
drawn from relevant geographic programmes as well as from a new horizontal
mine action budget line.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[03] Discrimination fiscale : la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de
Justice contre la Grèce
La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de Justice européenne
contre la Grèce au sujet d'un régime fiscal discriminatoire envers les
citoyens européens non-grecs lors de l'acquisition d'immeubles aux moyen de
devises étrangères. La Commission voit dans l'octroi d'un taux préférentiel
pour l'impôt sur les mutations de biens immobiliers aux seuls
ressortissants grecs une infraction à un principe fondamental de l'Union
européenne, la non-discrimination en fonction de la nationalité (article 12
du Traité CE).
[04] Chris Patten and Shi Guangsheng sign a financing agreement in the
field of public administration
European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, and Mr Shi
Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the
Peoples's Republic of China have signed a financing agreement amounting to
euro 7 million where euro 5.7 million EU grant and 1.6 Chinese contribution
to support a programme between the EU and China in the field of public
administration. The programme aims at assisting the process of economic and
social reform in China and increasing understanding and knowledge of public
administration between China, the EU and its Member States. It will have as
its tangible results, a series of training programmes on European public
administration for Chinese officials, develop a Master of Public
Administration in China for young civil servants, develop distance training
in public administration, and create networks between public institutions
and training centres in China and in 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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