Browse through our Interesting Nodes on the Middle East Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Friday, 29 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-04-13

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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 Service Presse et Communicationb

13/04/2000


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] EU to seek additional textiles and clothing trade liberalisation
  • [02] L'UE prête un vaccin au Japon et à la Corée du Sud afin de contribuer à la lutte contre l'épizootie de fièvre aphteuse
  • [03] Margot Wallström welcomes EP endorsement of stricter and more transparent EU rules for GMOs
  • [04] Commission clears merger between Vodafone Airtouch and Mannesmann AG with conditions
  • [05] Chris Patten's Reith Lecture on sustainable development and governance

  • [01] EU to seek additional textiles and clothing trade liberalisation

    The European Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, is holding on 14 April a round table with representatives of the European textiles and clothing industry to map out a strategy to improve access to third countries' markets. Research conducted by the Commission shows that, whilst the EU's textiles and clothing market is being steadily opened to imports, very significant trade barriers prevent EU industry from expanding abroad. European industry has consistently argued for the need to achieve reciprocity in market access. Mr Lamy and industry representatives, led by Mr Jean de Jaegher, President of the EU textiles and clothing industry federation Euratex, will be discussing possible initiatives and options to improve access to third countries, through reductions of tariffs by other countries and the elimination of non-tariff barriers that are compatible with the WTO rules. Both sides will also be examining the impact that the decision on the "third stage of integration" of textiles and clothing products under normal WTO rules, to be taken by the end of this year and affecting 18% of EU imports, will have on EU's market access strategy.

    [02] L'UE prête un vaccin au Japon et à la Corée du Sud afin de contribuer à la lutte contre l'épizootie de fièvre aphteuse

    La Commission européenne a décidé de prêter au Japon et à la Corée du Sud des vaccins provenant de la banque européenne d'antigènes, afin d'aider ces pays à lutter contre une épizootie de fièvre aphteuse qui a touché leur bétail. Cette décision fait suite à une demande présentée par les autorités japonaises et sud-coréennes. Le Japon et la Corée du Sud remplaceront les vaccins fournis par l'Union européenne dans un délai de six mois. L'UE dispose de réserves importantes d'antigènes du virus en cause, à partir desquels le vaccin est reproduit.

    [03] Margot Wallström welcomes EP endorsement of stricter and more transparent EU rules for GMOs

    Commenting on yesterday's vote Margot Wallström, the European Commissioner for Environment, stated : "The European Parliament has contributed to ensuring that we get a much more balanced and effective framework for risk assessment and approval of GMO products in the future. This vote is crucial to realising the potential of biotechnology in Europe, while at the same time managing and reducing risks related to this new technology. It responds to the concerns of many European citizens."

    [04] Commission clears merger between Vodafone Airtouch and Mannesmann AG with conditions

    The European Commission has approved Vodafone Airtouch's (United Kingdom) acquisition of Mannesmann AG (Germany). The transaction has been approved after the parties submitted commitments to de-merge Orange Plc and to give other mobile operators access to their inter-operator roaming tariffs and wholesale services.

    [05] Chris Patten's Reith Lecture on sustainable development and governance

    "To ensure that the debate on sustainable development is as constructive as possible, and that it delivers results that can command majority consent and attract minority acquiescence, the rich, pluralist developed democracies need to understand that they have lessons of governance to learn as well." In his Reith lecture Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, examines the link between sustainable development and good governance. Throughout the world, and not just in developing countries, political repression, war, corruption and woeful economic management have been the enemy of the environment and the well being of present and future generations. Dictators are rarely friends of the earth. Mr Patten argues that accountable government is by its nature more able to secure the popular legitimacy necessary to take difficult decisions, and less prone to corruption. This makes democracy better placed to incorporate environmental costs into political and economic decisions. However, there has been a decline in role and influence of elected governments whilst the power and influence of both multi-national corporations and non- governmental organisations, not self evidently democratic, have increased. Faced with these developments in a globalised world Governments have pooled national sovereignty in international organisations. In future both Governments and international organisations must be more open.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    midex2html v1.04 run on Wednesday, 26 April 2000 - 16:47:33 UTC