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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-02-26

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 26/02/2001

  • [01] Adoption du premier tableau de bord sur la politique sociale La Commission européenne a adopté le premier tableau de bord sur la mise en oeuvre de l'agenda pour la politique sociale. Cette communication fait partie intégrante du dossier que la Commission présentera au sommet de Stockholm à la fin du mois prochain et concorde avec le rapport de synthèse annuel "Tirer le meilleur parti du potentiel de l'Union européenne : consolidation et extension de la stratégie de Lisbonne" du 7 février (voir IP/01/170). Le tableau de bord présente les mesures concrètes déjà prises dans les domaines de l'emploi et des affaires sociales en vue du renouveau économique et social.
  • [02] Zones de protection spéciale pour les oiseaux sauvages : la Commission intervient contre la France et l'Espagne La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de justice européenne d'un recours contre la France et d'envoyer un avis motivé (deuxième lettre d'avertissement) à l'Espagne pour ne pas avoir désigné un nombre suffisant de zones de protection spéciale conformément à la Directive de l'Union européenne sur les oiseaux sauvages. A propos de ces décisions, Mme Margot Wallström, le membre de la Commission chargé de l'environnement, a déclaré : "La mise en place d'un réseau communautaire comprenant suffisamment de zones de protection spéciale pour les oiseaux sauvages compte parmi les priorités de la Commission pour préserver la biodiversité en Europe. Nous engageons dès lors des actions en justice contre plusieurs Etats membres, dont la France et l'Espagne. La Commission doit tenir compte du fait que la disparition d'habitats a contribué à un grave déclin des populations de nombreuses espèces vulnérables d'oiseaux sauvages".
  • [03] Genetically Modified Micro-organisms : Commission moves against ten Member States The European Commission has decided to send a Reasoned Opinion (second warning letter) to France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Spain and Austria for their failure to communicate implementing legislation for the Directive on laboratory use of Genetically Modified Micro-Organisms. Commenting on the decisions, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said : "I am disappointed that so many Member States have still not implemented this high profile Directive more than 6 months after the deadline".
  • [04] Commission approves acquisition of the food division of CSM by Heinz The European Commission has approved the acquisition by the US global food products company Heinz Co of the Dutch and Belgian food products subsidiaries of CSM of the Netherlands.
  • [05] EU signs trade facilitation agreements with Hungary and Czech Republic The European Union today signed trade facilitation agreements with Hungary and the Czech Republic. The agreements were signed on behalf of the EU by European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and Swedish Trade Minister Leif Pagrotsky. The agreements, known as Protocols to the European Agreements on Conformity Assessment (PECAs), extend certain benefits of the EU's single market to candidate countries for the first time. They are the first step towards establishing the EU Single Market in industrial sectors for which Hungary and the Czech Republic have aligned their legislation with that of the EU.
  • [06] Council adopts Rapid Reaction Mechanism - Commission now in position to intervene fast in civilian crisis management The General Affairs Council adopted today a European Commission proposal for a Regulation for the establishment of a Rapid Reaction Mechanism. This mechanism is designed to enhance the EU's civilian capacity to intervene fast and effectively in crisis situations in third countries. It will provide the flexibility to mobilise Community instruments to be deployed quickly, whenever necessary. Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten said : "Conflict prevention and crisis management are at the heart of the EU's Foreign and Security Policy agenda. The new Rapid Reaction Mechanism will act as a catalyser, allowing us to mobilise resources within hours or days rather than weeks or months. We will now be in a better position to organise and support the mobilisation of Member States civilian experts (in areas such as mine clearence, customs, mediation, training of police or judges) in crisis situations. In times of urgent needs we cannot anymore afford the luxury to be bogged down by bureaucratic constraints and deliver Community instruments with unnecessary delays."
  • [07] Council adopts Regulation promoting cooperation and commercial relations with industrialised countries The European Commission welcomed today the adoption by the General Affairs Council of a Regulation concerning the implementation of projects promoting cooperation and commercial relations between the EU and the industrialised countries. Under the Regulation, the Commission will be able to implement projects in the context of the New Transatlantic Agenda with the US and other cooperation projects with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Japan. In particular the establishment of EU centres in the partner countries and the promotion of people-to-people links are envisaged. In addition, the Regulation establishes a legal basis for the continuation of the Commission's trade promotion programmes with Japan, notably the long-standing flagship 'Executive Training Programme' in Japan and the 'EU Gateway to Japan' export promotion campaign. External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said : "The Regulation fills a major gap in the European Union's external relations legislation. Due to the lack of a legal framework to support the implementation of cooperation projects we have not been able to respond to the growing need for closer cooperation with some of our closest partners. This situation has now been remedied and allows us to engage in a range of new fields, going beyond traditional activities in relations between States."
  • [08] New Eurobarometer survey on entrepreneurial attitudes in Europe and the US Though most Europeans would rather be self-employed than work for others, they are much more reluctant than Americans to start their own businesses. This is one of the key findings of a Flash Eurobarometer survey of 8200 EU and US citizens on "entrepreneurship", undertaken for the European Commission. These findings, presented by Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen at an informal conference of EU Industry Ministers in Manchester on 20-21 February 2001, are fuelling discussion among Member States on how best to improve framework conditions for entrepreneurship in Europe. Fostering entrepreneurship is part of the EU's Enterprise Europe strategy, agreed at the Lisbon summit in March 2000, to help make Europe the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. A key factor in Europeans' reluctance to create a business is their general attitude towards risk taking. While most Europeans and Americans say people who start their own business and fail should be given a second chance many more Europeans than Americans feel that one should not start a business if there is a risk it might fail. The survey also sheds new light on issues such as the perceived difficulties of setting up a business, the image of entrepreneurs in society and social support for entrepreneurs from their families. This is the first survey to offer comparable data on attitudes that help shape the "entrepreneurial climate" for all 15 EU Member States and the USA. The data also provide raw material for a more detailed analysis of attitudes among people of different ages and both sexes. Highlights from the survey, an analytical report (French and English only) and the basic data can be downloaded at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/enterprise_policy/survey/eurobarometer83.htm
  • [09] Margot Wallström calls for "new ways of working" in environmental policy (! embargo 1.30 pm !) European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström today called for "new ways of working" in environmental policy in a speech at the Centre for European Reform in Brussels. Against the background of the Commission's recent proposal for a 6th Environmental Action Programme, she stressed the need for applying innovative approaches to greening the market place and promoting information and awareness. "The new environmental agenda is an agenda based on inventiveness in terms of new instruments and methods. It is on this ground that we should all set out our stall", she said. Turning to the ways in which environmental policy is designed, she announced "a new style of policy-making based on participation and sound knowledge." This would lead to "greater understanding and commitment" from stakeholders. Mrs Wallström is convinced that the development of an EU sustainable development strategy will put the environment "at the very centre of EU policy-making."
  • [10] Fusions approuvées selon la procédure simplifiée - Sanmina Corporation (USA) / AB Segerström & Svensson (Sweden) - BASFAktiengesellschaft (DE) / Bertschi AG (Switzerland) / Hoyer GmbH (DE) / VTG-Lehnkering AG (DE) / JV
  • [11] Autre matériel diffusé Discours de M. Monti : "Competition and Sport Rules of the Games" à la Governance in Sport Conference

    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
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