|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-09-21
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
21/09/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 20 septembre 2000 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 20 September
[01] Innovation gets more attention in Europe, but more efforts are needed
if Europe is to become fully competitive, says Commission
[02] La Commission adopte une proposition relative à des normes minimales
concernant la procédure d'octroi et de retrait du statut de réfugié dans
les Etats membres
[03] Commission proposes "Everything but Arms" (EBA) initiative : duty-free,
quota-free access for all products from all least developed countries into
the EU
[04] La Commission restructure une partie de son organigramme
[05] Measures to compensate farmers for adverse climat events in Italy
[06] Aids in favour of tobacco producers in Italy
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Commission opens an in-depth investigation into Metso's acquisition of
Svedala
[08] Commission celebrates first fully Pan-European Car Free Day
[09] EU scientists advise on BSE-related culling and review recent BSE
research
[10] CSFP : Commission acts swiftly to improve security of Georgian borders
[11] The EU leads on the eradication of anti-personnel landmines
[12] Commission grants further food aid to ease effects of drought crisis
in Kenya
[13] Commission launches first ever meeting of top decision-makers in
Europe's key research installations
[14] Press conference of Anna Diamantopoulou and Martine Aubry
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 20 septembre 2000 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 20 September
(voir aussi see also ME of 20/9)
[01] Innovation gets more attention in Europe, but more efforts are needed
if Europe is to become fully competitive, says Commission
The European Commission has adopted broad policy lines designed to enhance
innovation in Europe. Innovation policy is an essential element of the
agenda set at the Lisbon Summit in March. This Summit was the turning point
in recognising the need to tackle the challenges of the New Economy by, for
example, endorsing the Commission's eEurope action plan and launching a
benchmarking exercise. "There are reassuring signs that with an appropriate
policy mix, Europe's economic performance can be upgraded. But more needs
to be done if Europe is to become fully competitive", said Mr Erkki
Liikanen, Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and the Information
Society, elaborating on the newly published Communication "Innovation in a
knowledge-driven economy". The Innovation Scoreboard set out in the
Communication is the first concrete implementation of the benchmarking
exercise called for in Lisbon. Its aim is to identify best practices in the
Member States in innovation policies. The Commission's Communication
recommends that Member States step up efforts to get rid of obstacles and
rigidities and change attitudes which prevent full advantage being taken of
the knowledge society.
[02] La Commission adopte une proposition relative à des normes minimales
concernant la procédure d'octroi et de retrait du statut de réfugié dans
les Etats membres
La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition de directive du Conseil
relative à des normes minimales concernant la procédure d'octroi et de
retrait du statut de réfugié dans les Etats membres. L'objectif de cette
mesure est d'instaurer à court terme un niveau minimum d'harmonisation des
règles applicables en la matière dans l'Union européenne. Elle prévoit, à
cet effet, des garanties ainsi que des mécanismes et des instruments visant
à assurer une procédure équitable et efficace. Il s'agit d'une première
mesure essentielle sur les procédures d'asile dans les Etats membres (basée
sur l'article 63, paragraphe 1, point d), du traité CE).
[03] Commission proposes "Everything but Arms" (EBA) initiative : duty-free,
quota-free access for all products from all least developed countries into
the EU
The European Commission has adopted a groundbreaking plan to provide full
access for the world's poorest countries into EU markets. The Commission's
proposal to the Council would grant duty-free access to the world's 48
poorest countries. The proposal would cover all goods except the arms trade
: "everything but arms". Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy welcomed the
Commission's adoption of the proposal, saying : "There has been plenty of
talk about how market access for poor countries is critical if we are to
tackle their growing marginalisation in the globalising economy. Everyone
seems ready to make the commitment at the political level. But talk is
cheap. We now need to move beyond opt-out clauses. It's time to put access
to our markets where our mouth is. That means opening up across the board,
and for all the poorest countries. So we want to move to liberalise
everything but the arms trade. I hope the Council and Parliament can adopt
this proposal swiftly - and that other developed countries quickly follow
suit."
[04] La Commission restructure une partie de son organigramme
La Commission européenne a adopté une décision modifiant la répartition
actuelle des postes de Directeurs Généraux Adjoints. La Commission
analysera régulièrement la situation globale des DGA en prenant notamment
en compte ces critères, qui sont les suivants : nombre élevé de membres du
personnel et de directions dans la DG en question ; large palette
d'activités à gérer par la DG ; ressources financières substantielles à
mettre en oeuvre ; présence de la DG sur plusieurs sites différents ;
activités de négociation et représentation de la DG. Suite à cette analyse,
la Commission a décidé de procéder immédiatement à la création de deux
nouvelles fonctions de DGA à la DG Santé/Protection des consommateurs et au
Service Commun RELEX. Quatre postes de DGA sont par ailleurs supprimés :
Concurrence (aides d'Etat) ; Société de l'information ; Education/Culture
(à partir de la date de départ en retraite de l'actuel DGA) et
Personnel/Administration. La Commission a autorisé la publication des deux
nouvelles fonctions ainsi que de cinq postes de DGA actuellement libres
(Service juridique ; Budget ; Entreprise ; Emploi et Economie/Finance).
D'autres propositions concernant les procédures de sélection et de
nomination ainsi que l'évaluation permanente des hauts fonctionnaires
seront présentées à la Commission cet automne. La Commission a par ailleurs
engagé une large réflexion sur l'implantation des services de la Commission
à Luxembourg, qui vise à permettre la présentation au Collège, d'ici à la
fin de l'année, d'une stratégie d'ensemble assurant la pérennité, tant
qualitative que quantitative, de ce site important.
[05] Measures to compensate farmers for adverse climat events in Italy
The European Commission has taken a final negative decision on the granting
of state aids to compensate farmers for a series of adverse climatic events
in Sardinia (Italy). The objective of the law was to enable the region of
Sardinia to pay compensation to make good the damage caused by a series of
adverse climat changes, such as drought, going back as far as 1988. They
have only been notified to the Commission in 1998. The Commission already
opened state aid procedure in May 1999.
[06] Aids in favour of tobacco producers in Italy
The European Commission has decided not to raise objections with respect to
a compensatory aid granted by Italy to tobacco producers who suffered
severe losses of production due to an outbreak of the Potato Virus Y which
affected their crops in 1997. The aid, which forms part of a regional
programme for the control and eradication of the disease, will be granted
to farmers who suffered losses equal at least to 30% of their normal
production. It will not exceed 100% of the losses actually sustained.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Commission opens an in-depth investigation into Metso's acquisition of
Svedala
The European Commission has decided to open an in-depth investigation into
the proposed acquisition by Metso Corporation (Finland) of Svedala Industri
AB (Sweden). In view of both Metso's and Svedala's current market positions
in the production of certain rock crushing equipment, the Commission has
identified risks that the acquisition may lead to the creation of a
dominant position on these markets.
[08] Commission celebrates first fully Pan-European Car Free Day
On Friday 22 September, several members of the European Commission will
join Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström in taking to their bicycles
to celebrate the first genuinely pan-European Car Free Day. They will cycle
to Brussels' Cinquantenaire Park to celebrate this event. Mrs Wallström
will also take part in an "outside broadcast" internet chat. Some 800
cities around, and also outside, Europe, are participating in the event.
Mrs Wallström explained : "Recent events have highlighted our over-reliance
on road transport as well our unsustainable dependence on one source of non-
renewable energy. Although European Car Free Day has been planned for some
time now, the current discussions on fuel prices make Car Free Day 2000
particularly timely. She added : "This is a unique opportunity to involve
citizens and local authorities in a debate on what kind of cities we want
our children to grow up in. It provides us with an occasion to discuss the
urban environment, air pollution in cities, and alternative forms of
transport. I sincerely hope that more cities in Europe and around the world
will join this initiative."
[09] EU scientists advise on BSE-related culling and review recent BSE
research
The Scientific Steering Committee has today published an opinion on BSE-
related culling, statements on recent publications on BSE related research
as well as a positive opinion on the safety of bone-in-veal exports from
the UK. After having evaluated recent studies about the possible endemic
presence at very low levels of BSE in scrapie carrying sheep, and the
possibility of BSE in other animals such as pigs, poultry and fish, the
Committee does not see any cause for alarm, immediate action or a revision
of its standing opinions. Its standing advice and recommendations on the
risk of BSE type infections in sheep and other animals already take
sufficient account of such possibilities insofar as they have been
substantiated by currently available evidence or anticipated by the experts
advising the Committee. The Committee will however continue to closely
monitor any new evidence that may become available. The Committee considers
that the conclusions of a recently published communication predicting
significantly lower numbers of vCJD cases than previously assumed are
premature.
[10] CSFP : Commission acts swiftly to improve security of Georgian borders
The EU has responded swiftly to a request from President Eduard
Shevardnadze of Georgia for a contribution to ensure the protection of its
borders, and to improve protection from terrorists threats, in particular
against the OSCE Observer Mission on the Georgian border with the Chechen
Republic of the Russian Federation. The Council of Ministers in July
decided that the EU should provide aid to the Government of Georgia in the
form of equipment to be delivered to border posts by 30 September 2000.
This week the European Commission delivered military grade equipment and
aviation fuel, worth euro 1 million, in Tbilisi. This assistance will allow
the equipment of 100 personnel at three Georgian border posts to carry out
protection duties, patrolling and long-term flying of the Border Guards
helicopters. It also increases the ability of the Border Guards to sustain
a winter presence at the border. The provision of this aid, under the
authority of External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, demonstrates the
importance the EU accords to the security of Georgia and the integrity of
its borders by preventing the spill-over of the conflict in the Chechen
Republic.
[11] The EU leads on the eradication of anti-personnel landmines
The EU is at the forefront of the fight against landmines, with more than
60 million mines lying hidden and a stockpile estimated at some 250
million. In 1999 the total EU contribution to external mine action amounted
to euro 103 million, making the Union the largest contributor world-wide.
EU funding supported projects in almost every continent and covering a
range of activities from mine surveying, detection and clearance, mine
destruction and demining research to assistance to victims and mine
awareness programmes. In order to highlight and explain the Union's action
in this area, External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten published a
brochure, "The Response of the European Union to the Anti-Personnel
Landmines Challenge", on the occasion of the Second Conference of the
States participating into the Ottawa Convention which took place in Geneva
from 11-15 September 2000.
[12] Commission grants further food aid to ease effects of drought crisis
in Kenya
In response to the food shortage caused by the current drought in Kenya,
the European Commission has decided to finance a further shipment of 25000
metric tonnes of cereals to the country. This supplementary aid is to be
channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP). This contribution comes
on top of 20000 metric tonnes delivered earlier this year, thus bringing
the total for 2000 to 45000 metric tonnes, equivalent in monetary terms to
euro 17.7 million. In addition, euro 3 million of funds have been set aside
for small scale food security projects which are aimed at helping local
populations grow their own food and improve their food self-sufficiency. It
is recalled in July of this year that the Commission allocated the World
Food Programme a global amount of euro 90 million with a view to covering
current food needs in the world, in particular Africa. Besides the
provision of food aid, the Commission, via its Humanitarian Aid Office
(ECHO), recently allocated euro 2 million to Kenya in the form of emergency
humanitarian aid. This aid financed nutritional, water, health and
livestock projects managed by ECHO's partners in the field (Unicef, Action
Contre la Faim and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières) in North East Kenya where
the drought has hit hardest. A further allocation in the order of euro 2
million of ECHO funds directed at drought alleviation is currently being
prepared. The European Union is the second largest food donor to Kenya. It
is concerned by the consequences of the drought in the region as a whole.
The member of the European Commission for Development and Humanitarian Aid,
Mr Poul Nielson, will visit Kenya and the Horn of Africa in October.
[13] Commission launches first ever meeting of top decision-makers in
Europe's key research installations
European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin concluded a two day
conference on the future funding and operation of large research
installations, organised jointly with the European Science Foundation (ESF)
and supported by the French Presidency of the European Union. "Large
research installations such as earthquake simulators, supercomputers and
particle accelerators have so far been built and operated by individual
Member States but they should be more accessible to researchers from other
countries as well", states Mr Busquin adding : "moreover, we need to
cooperate more closely together to make sure that we are making the best
use of our resources for the benefit of top-quality science in Europe".
This view was also endorsed by the research ministers of the so-called
Presidency troika, Mr Schwartzenberg (FR), Mr Gago (PT) and Mr Oestros (SE)
who were also in favour of flexible solutions to financing and operating
installations where interested states could join together to build and
operate key facilities. Commissioner Busquin pointed out that the
conference is one concrete step in creating a European Research Area. The
objective is to bring all stakeholders from public and private research
organisations together to advise policy-makers on how to use available
resources more efficiently.
[14] Press conference of Anna Diamantopoulou and Martine Aubry
European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and French Minister for Social
Affairs Martine Aubry will give a joint press conference on the New Social
Agenda in the European Parliament tomorrow 22 September. The press
conference marks the end of a two day hearing on the new social agenda. It
will be held at 13.00 in the ground floor press room and a snack will be
available for journalists in the press bar outside the press room. Anna
Diamantopoulou's speech to the hearing is available today.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
