Visit our Archive of Documents from NATO 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
Thursday, 28 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 01-02-07

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

Midday Express 07/02/2001

[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting

  • [01] La Commission fixe dix priorités pour Stockholm dans le but de promouvoir la croissance et l'emploi La Commission européenne demande au Conseil européen qui se tiendra à Stockholm les 23 et 24 mars prochains de profiter de l'occasion pour créer les conditions qui permettront de garantir l'emploi et la prospérité de la génération à venir. Dans un rapport adressé aux chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement, la Commission attire l'attention sur le fait que la bonne santé actuelle de l'économie européenne devrait encourager ses dirigeants à engager des réformes aux niveaux social et économique plutôt qu'à relâcher leur vigilance. Le rapport définit l'ordre du jour du Conseil européen de Stockholm. Il propose dix champs d'action prioritaires et fixe les objectifs pour les 12 mois à venir. "La Commission a pris des initiatives dans tous les domaines requis par les chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement à Lisbonne, déclare Romano Prodi, président de la Commission. Mais, un an plus tard, on constate encore une grande différence entre les décisions politiques et leur application sur le terrain. J'encourage mes collègues des Etats membres à faire un effort. Nous devons agir sans délai si nous voulons que l'Europe exploite pleinement son potentiel. L'Europe peut être un modèle économique et social pour le reste du monde. Nous ne pouvons pas nous réfugier derrière les bonnes perspectives économiques actuelles et prétendre que la croissance suffit. Si nous n'agissons pas maintenant, les efforts que nous avons consentis pour améliorer la compétitivité de l'Europe risquent de perdre de leur crédibilité. Nous avons maintenant l'occasion de prendre des mesures décisives pour l'économie de demain. Il est temps de passer à l'action."
  • [02] Commission presents proposals for strengthening economic policy coordination within the euro area The European Commission has adopted a Communication on the strengthening of economic policy coordination in the euro area. The Communication puts forward a set of concrete steps to improve the coordination process by reinforcing its content, increasing the effectiveness of the coordination instruments and enhancing transparency. As regards the content, the Commission proposes a more systematic assessment of the overall euro-area policy-mix on the basis of input from the Commission and the elaboration of a set of rules that guides the conduct of economic policies. It proposes that euro-area Member States abide by the principle of informing the Commission and the other members of the Eurogroup beforehand about important national economic policy measures and the key points of their stability programmes. More regular dialogue should take place between the Eurogroup, the ECB and the Commission.
  • [03] Commission approves further protection measures against BSE The European Commission has agreed three proposals for Commission Decisions to further combat any risk related to exposure to BSE. The first one obliges the removal of the vertebral column from all cattle over 12 months. In addition, mechanically recovered meat will be forbidden from all bones of ruminants. The second concerns new requirements to pressure-cook rendered animal fats from ruminants for food and feed. The third one authorises certain hydrolysed proteins from fish and feathers. The proposals of the Commission take into account the Opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of 12 January and follow the political orientation expressed at the Agriculture Council of 29 January. The proposals will be put forward to the Standing Veterinary Committee today.
  • [04] La Commission a donné son feu vert sous condition à l'acquisition par EDF d'une participation dans la société d'électricité allemande EnBW La Commission européenne a autorisé, sous réserve d'engagements, l'acquisition du contrôle conjoint de la société d'électricité allemande Energie Bade-Wurtemberg AG (EnBW) par Electricité de France (EDF) et Zweckverband Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke (OEW), une association de neuf districts du sud-ouest de l'Allemagne. L'opération, telle qu'initialement notifiée à la Commission, aurait mené au renforcement de la position dominante d'EDF sur le marché français des clients éligibles (c'est-à-dire des gros clients). Afin d'éliminer les préoccupations concurrentielles, EDF met à disposition de ses concurrents 6.000 Mégawatts de capacité de production situés en France, ce qui représente 30% du marché des clients éligibles. En outre, EDF s'engage à renoncer à l'exercice de ses droits de vote chez le producteur d'électricité français Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) et à retirer son représentant du conseil d'administration de la CNR. Enfin, les parties s'engagent à céder la participation d'EnBW dans le capital de la société d'électricité suisse WATT AG. La Commission considère que ces engagements lèvent entièrement ses préoccupations concurrentielles et a autorisé l'opération sous réserve du plein respect des engagements par les parties.
  • [05] Commission adopts emergency measures to help the recovery of North Sea cod stocks The European Commission has adopted a Regulation for emergency measures to protect spawning cod in the North Sea. This is in response to a request from the Council of Fisheries Ministers in December to put in place emergency conservation measures for North Sea cod which is in imminent danger of collapse. These measures set up a temporary controlled area that will be closed to all fisheries likely to catch cod until 30 April 2001. In addition technical and control rules are established for the pelagic and sandeel fisheries which will be allowed to continue during this period. This package of measures is the first part of a three-stage approach : emergency measures now, additional technical and control measures in the Spring to protect young cod and a proposal for long term multi-annual recovery plan in early June. "These measures are drastic, but necessary to prevent cod stocks from extinction and to ensure the future of the fishermen. I am glad that all the parties involved recognise that we need urgent and sustained action to help cod stocks recover. I welcome the fact that these emergency measures have been set up in a climate of cooperation", said Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries.
  • [06] EU-Iran : Commission sets out perspectives for closer relations The European Commission has adopted a Communication setting out the perspectives and conditions for developing closer relations with Iran. This could lead to the conclusion of a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, said : "This proposal makes the case for developing relations with Iran in order to support and reinforce the reform process there. There is great potential in EU-Iran cooperation. But moves towards closer ties with Iran should proceed gradually and will be subject to continued monitoring of progress in Iran on political, economic and social reform. We are also looking to Iran to play a constructive role in regional and international affairs. Based on this process, a Trade and Cooperation Agreement could provide an appropriate framework for developing relations further in the mutual political and economic interest of Iran and the European Union."
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [07] Romano Prodi congratulates Ariel Sharon The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has sent the following message to Ariel Sharon, the newly elected Prime Minister of the State of Israel : "On behalf of the European Commission and on my own behalf, let me congratulate you on your election as Prime Minister of the State of Israel. I wish you every success in your pursuit of peace in the region. And I am confident that the road to peace will be pursued on the basis of what has already been achieved despite all the understandable difficulties. The European Union has pledged its full support for achieving peace in the Middle East and is willing to step up its already active role in this effort. We believe that only peace will bring security, economic and cultural benefits to the peoples of the region."
  • [08] La Commission accueille favorablement l'adoption de lignes directrices pour le télétravail dans le secteur des télécommunications Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissaire européen à l'Emploi et aux Affaires sociales, a accueilli favorablement l'adoption par le Comité du Dialogue Social de lignes directrices pour le télétravail par ces mots : "Les lignes directrices pour le télétravail montrent clairement que l'un de nos principaux secteurs industriels, en l'occurrence celui des télécommunications, s'engage pleinement à relever les défis lancés par la société de la connaissance. Elles montrent également que le dialogue social européen joue un rôle moteur dans la modernisation de l'organisation du travail, comme cela avait été demandé à Lisbonne et à Feira. La Commission reviendra à nouveau sur ce point à Stockholm. Je souhaite que la mise en application de ces lignes directrices au niveau des pays et des entreprises soit une réussite."
  • [09] Commission in discussion with European Parliament on Complementary and Natural Medicine Mr Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and the Information Society, will today brief the European Parliament on the Commission's activities relating to alternative medicines in a hearing organised by the EP Working Group on Complementary and Natural Medicine.
  • [10] Scientists see no adverse effects of new herbicide tolerant GM oilseed rape The Scientific Committee on Plants has today published a scientific opinion on the risk assessment of a new genetically modified oilseed rape (event Liberator pHeo6/Ac) tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. The Committee concludes there is no evidence to indicate that the cultivation of this oilseed rape and the varieties derived from this line by conventional crossing, and their uses for food, feed and industrial purposes, is likely to cause adverse effects on human and animal health and the environment. As in previous opinions, the Committee recommends that the introduction of the herbicide tolerant oilseed crops should be accompanied by an agreed code of practice for field management and a specific research programme to detect the occurrence of herbicide tolerant volunteers and weeds. The full text of the opinion is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scp/outcome_gmo_en.html
  • [11] Chris Patten to visit Belgrade as part of EU Troika on 8 February Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, will visit Belgrade on 8 February as part of the EU Ministerial Troika, led by Ms Anna Lindh, Swedish Foreign Minister and comprising also Javier Solana, High Representative for CFSP, and Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ms Annemie Neyts. The Troika will meet FRY President Kostunica and Foreign Minister Svilanovic, as well as Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
  • [12] Autre matériel diffusé Rencontre entre MM. Prodi et Dahuku Pere élections législatives au Togo Discours de M. Liikanen : "Better regulation : from principles to practice" à l'Alternative Regulatory Models Conference (06/02)

    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, 7 February 2001 - 13:30:10 UTC