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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-02-21
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
Midday Express 21/02/2001
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Commission proposes a new framework programme for research and
innovation in Europe
Proposals for a new research and innovation framework programme for the
European Union have been presented by the European Commission, on the
initiative of Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "Europe has set out
to become the most successful and competitive knowledge-based economy in
the world. Research and innovation are the keys to success in achieving
this goal", said Commissioner Busquin. Reflecting the increased priority
given to research and innovation, the Commission is proposing a budget of
euro 17.5 billion for the new programme. This budget, covering the four-
year period 2003-2006, represents an increase of 17% over the budget of the
current research framework programme. The research and innovation programme
is part of a wider political initiative aiming at creating a European
Research Area, as endorsed by the Lisbon Summit in March 2000. The new
programme is one of the major actions in the strategy paper the Commission
has put forward for the Stockholm Summit on 23-24 March (see IP/01/170).
[02] Commission approves programme of action to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria
and tuberculosis
The European Commission has approved a new Communication setting out a
programme for an accelerated European Union response to the pandemic caused
by HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The programme sets out an ambitious
agenda with potentially massive developmental returns. Presenting this
Communication along with Commissioners Philippe Busquin (Research), Erkki
Liikanen (Enterprise), David Byrne (Health), Pascal Lamy (Trade) and Chris
Patten (External Relations), Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian
Aid Poul Nielson stated : "HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria are diseases that
thrive in conditions of poverty. At the same time, they fatally handicap
poor countries in their efforts to lift themselves out of poverty.
Successful delivery of the selected strategies will make a major
contribution to global efforts to address the communicable disease burden,
improve the health of the poorest and reduce global poverty. Addressing the
problems will take more than development cooperation tools. This is why I
am pleased to note that this Plan draws on all relevant resources available
to the EU, particularly research and trade". In the 2000 budget, the EU is
committing euro 800 million for health, Aids and population programmes.
Representing 8% of the total development cooperation budget, this will
steadily increase as delivery capacity improves.
[03] La Commission définit ses priorités stratégiques et pose les premiers
jalons de ses propositions budgétaires pour 2002
La Commission européenne a adopté sa décision de stratégie politique
annuelle. Ce nouvel instrument - élément clé du processus de réforme de la
Commission - établit pour la première fois un lien entre les priorités
politiques et l'allocation des ressources. La première décision de
stratégie politique annuelle identifie six priorités pour 2002 qui
contribueront à formuler le programme de travail de la Commission pour
2002. Dans le même temps, la Commission a également approuvé les
orientations pour l'avant-projet de budget (APB) qui sera présenté au
printemps. Pour l'agriculture, les fonds structurels et la pré-accession,
il est envisagé d'aller jusqu'aux plafonds de Berlin. Pour les politiques
internes et externes, les programmes pluriannuels et les contraintes font
que l'augmentation par rapport à l'année précédente est faible et que des
réserves pour faire face aux situations imprévues sont maintenues. Pour les
dépenses administratives, la marge de manœuvre est proportionnellement la
plus importante, notamment parce que les besoins des autres institutions ne
sont pas encore connus.
[04] La Commission propose une organisation commune "légère" des marchés de
l'alcool agricole
La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition visant à établir une
organisation commune du marché de l'alcool éthylique d'origine agricole.
Une proposition de règlement du Conseil définit un cadre de règles communes,
sous forme d'une organisation commune "légère" des marchés de l'alcool
agricole. Pour l'essentiel, cette proposition introduit la possibilité d'un
système de surveillance des échanges d'alcool agricole par le biais de
certificats, et elle place cet alcool sous la responsabilité du comité de
gestion des vins. Il s'agit notamment d'améliorer l'information sur le
marché, de contrôler les flux commerciaux et de créer un forum de
discussion et de prise de décisions. Franz Fischler, membre de la
Commission en charge de l'Agriculture, du Développement rural et de la
Pêche, a déclaré : "Ces mesures constitueront un cadre simple et
transparent pour aborder les questions spécifiques du secteur de l'alcool
agricole et elles seront donc bénéfiques à l'ensemble du secteur".
[05] Small business : Commission streamlines its business support networks
As part of an ongoing programme for improving the environment for European
enterprises, the European Commission is tackling the visibility and the
effectiveness of a number of its business support services. Having analysed
a variety of networks offering services to businesses which have grown up
from different policy initiatives over the past ten years, the Commission
has decided to streamline these networks into one more coherent and simple
system.
[06] Allan Rosas is appointed Deputy Director General of the Legal Service
On a proposal by Vice President Neil Kinnock, in agreement with President
Romano Prodi, the European Commission has decided to appoint Allan Rosas
(Finnish, 52) as Deputy Director General of the Legal Service.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Young people and alcohol : enforcement of laws would reduce death toll
Alcohol consumption amongst young people is growing within the European
Union. Regular heavy drinking and binge drinking has serious effects on
young people's physical and mental health. In the short term alcohol
drinking by youngsters is associated with a wide range of social problems,
such as anti-social behaviour, violences and drink driving. 55,000 people
aged 15-29 died from alcohol-related causes in Europe in 1999, according to
WHO figures released yesterday. For young men, alcohol is the biggest
single killer, accounting for one in four deaths. The European Commission
has recently presented a proposal for a Council Recommendation on the
"Drinking of Alcohol by Children and Adolescents" which is focusing on
voluntary codes of conducts for industry and advocates the involvement of
local communities, civil society and politicians in training and
information.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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