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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-11-21
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
21/11/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Franz Fischler welcomes adoption of WTO farm negotiation proposal
[02] Accounting : Commission issues Recommendation setting minimum quality
assurance standards for statutory audits
[03] L'Agence spatiale européenne emmène Netd@ys dans l'espace
[04] Trophées de l'euro Pedro Solbes remet les prix aux cinq entreprises
gagnantes
[05] Parution du périodique d'information Le Magazine
[01] Franz Fischler welcomes adoption of WTO farm negotiation proposal
The European Union (EU) is committed to further reducing farm support and
protection, to take account of non-trade concerns as well as of need to
provide special treatment to developing countries. These are the most
important objectives outlined in the EU's comprehensive negotiating
proposal prepared by the Commission and agreed today by the Agriculture
Council. Presenting the proposal, Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for
Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, stated : "It is a
comprehensive and well-balanced proposal. It will enable timely
negotiations in the agricultural field. It will also facilitate broader WTO
negotiations which are of interest to all WTO members. We are prepared to
further reduce farm support provided that the concept of blue and green
boxes continues. We also believe that compensation for additional costs to
meet animal welfare standards should be exempted from reduction
commitments." Mr Fischler underlined that the approach of this proposal is
based on the Agenda 2000 reform package as well as on the positions that
the EU adopted in the run-up to Seattle. The proposal has to be adopted by
the General Affairs Council on 4/5 December. It will then be submitted to
the WTO before the end of the year.
[02] Accounting : Commission issues Recommendation setting minimum quality
assurance standards for statutory audits
The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation setting minimum
standards for external quality assurance systems for statutory audits in
the EU. External quality assurance systems have developed as a check on the
quality of statutory audits that, under EU Accountancy Directives, are
mandatory on some three million limited liability companies in the Union.
The aim of quality assurance is to ensure that statutory audits are
conducted in compliance with the established auditing standards and that
the auditors respect ethical rules (including independence). The
Recommendation lays down a comprehensive set of minimum requirements for
quality assurance systems in Member States with a view to ensuring that all
statutory auditors are covered by equivalent quality assurance systems with
sufficient public oversight and published results. Its adoption will
further improve the provision of reliable and comparable financial
information by companies that is vital to the efficient functioning of EU
capital markets. This will allowing optimal allocation of capital to
companies while protecting the interests of investors and other
stakeholders. The Commission will review progress towards the harmonisation
of quality assurance three years after the adoption of this Recommendation
and reconsider the need for legislation if appropriate.
[03] L'Agence spatiale européenne emmène Netd@ys dans l'espace
La Commission européenne et l'Agence spatiale européenne (ASE) invitent les
écoliers à participer au forum de discussion Netd@ys sur le site Netd@ys
Europe le 24 novembre 2000. "Questions aux experts de l'esp@ce" sera l'un
des temps forts de la semaine Netd@ys Europe, qui se déroulera du 20 au 27
novembre 2000. Netd@ys est la plus grande manifestation culturelle et
pédagogique d'Europe consacrée aux nouveaux médias. Tout le monde peut y
participer.
[04] Trophées de l'euro Pedro Solbes remet les prix aux cinq entreprises
gagnantes
Les Trophées de l'euro sont destinés à récompenser les entreprises et leurs
partenaires qui ont su développer des approches innovantes pour leur
préparation à l'euro et tirer parti des opportunités stratégiques offertes
par la monnaie unique. Pedro Solbes, Commissaire européen chargé des
Affaires économiques et monétaire, à l'occasion de la remise des
eurotrophées, a déclaré : "Ces démarches exemplaires, largement diffusées,
pourront aider d'autres PME dans la mise en place de leur projet euro. A 14
mois du "jour-€", la Commission intensifie ses efforts pour promouvoir de
telles initiatives". Pour l'entreprise primée aux Trophées de l'euro, c'est
la reconnaissance de l'exemplarité de sa démarche et cela constitue un
élément de valorisation exceptionnel tant auprès de ses clients que de ses
collaborateurs.
[05] Parution du périodique d'information Le Magazine
Le treizième numéro du Magazine, périodique d'information sur l'éducation
et la culture en Europe, vient de paraître. A la une, l'initiative
eLearning conçue à la suite du sommet de Lisbonne afin d'accélérer le
développement de l'apprentissage et la culture numériques en Europe. Edité
en français, anglais en allemand, Le Magazine contient des articles de fond
et des reportages sur les politiques communautaires menées dans les
domaines de l'éducation, de la formation, de la jeunesse, de l'audiovisuel,
de la culture, des langues, du sport et de la citoyenneté. Pour la première
fois, sa version électronique est maintenant accessible sur les pages
Europa de la DG Education et Culture : http://europe.eu.int/comm/dgs/education_culture/index_fr.htm
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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