|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-03-30
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 30/03/2001
[01] Financial services: Commission proposes simplified EU legal framework
for collateral
The European Commission has proposed a Directive that would create a
uniform EU legal framework to limit credit risk in financial transactions
through the provision of securities and cash as collateral. Collateral is
the property (such as securities) provided by a borrower to a lender to
minimise the risk of financial loss to the lender in the event of the
borrower failing to meet in full their financial obligations to the lender.
Current rules applied to the use of collateral throughout the EU are
complex and impractical resulting in uncertainty regarding the
effectiveness of collateral as protection in cross-border transactions.
Creation of a clear, uniform pan-EU legal framework for the use of
collateral would contribute to the greater integration and cost-efficiency
of European financial markets by encouraging cross-border business and
creating a more competitive European financial market. The proposal is a
priority measure under the Financial Services Action Plan (see IP/00/1269),
endorsed by the Lisbon and Stockholm European Councils as a key element in
the creation of the most competitive economy in the world.
[02] Commission reacts to US statements on the Kyoto protocol
At a press conference today Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström
reacted to statements from the US administration on the Kyoto protocol. She
said: "The US position is extremely worrying." She stressed that the EU is
willing to discuss American concerns in an open and serious manner. She
announced that she will go, as part of the Troika, to the US next Monday to
find out what exactly is the position of the US. She stressed: "The US must
understand that this is not a marginal issue for the EU. It has
implications for external relations including trade and economic affairs,
and it cannot be played down."
[03] Viviane Reding soutient les projets primés par le Concours Europa
Nostra 2001, lors de la cérémonie de remise des prix à Maastricht
Europa Nostra, Fédération pan-européenne du Patrimoine, regroupe plus de
200 ONG du patrimoine, dans 35 pays du continent européen. Ses objectifs
sont multiples: encourager la protection et la mise en valeur du patrimoine,
promouvoir des normes de qualité en matière d'architecture, d'urbanisme et
d'aménagement du territoire, exploiter le potentiel socio-économique du
patrimoine et prôner un développement équilibré et durable de notre
environnement urbain et rural. Depuis 1978, le Concours annuel de Prix
Europa Nostra récompense des réalisations de projets et l'engagement
d'individus dans les domaines de la valorisation et de la restauration du
patrimoine, tant bâti que naturel. Cette année encore, la Commission a
voulu soutenir l'initiative. Viviane Reding se rendra à Maastricht ce 30
mars pour rappeler son importance et encourager ses initiateurs à
persévérer dans leurs divers projets de conservation du patrimoine
européen.
[04] New millennium, new deal: join commissioners Pascal Lamy and Poul
Nielson for an on-line chat, 2 april
European Commissioners Pascal Lamy (Trade) and Poul Nielson (Development
and Humanitarian Aid) will hold a joint on-line chat on Monday 2 April 2001
between 6pm and 8pm Central European Time. As Brussels prepares to host the
Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries on 14-20 May,
it's time to work out how to launch an Action Programme for those 49
countries. International support is vital to assist the efforts of the
Least Developed Countries themselves in combating poverty and finding peace
amid conflicts.What form should that support take? What is the role of
overseas development aid? What should the role of trade be alongside aid?
How can we achieve a new World Trade Organisation round that works for all
140 WTO members? What should the priorities for its agenda be?Join
Commissioners Lamy and Nielson live for an on-line chat with YOUR views and
questions on these issues. Time: 1800-2000 Central European Time Date: 2
April 2001 Languages: The chat will be conducted in Danish, English and
French. You can also put questions in German or Spanish, but answers will
be given in English. You can send short questions (maximum 256 characters)
to: Lamy-Nielson@cec.eu.int chat-Lamy-Nielson@cec.eu.int
[05] Maritime accidents: how long European Union will suffer from oil
spills?
Following the new maritime accident in the Baltic sea, which resulted in a
new oil spill presently threatening the Danish coasts, Loyola de Palacio,
European Commission Vice-President in charge of transport, expressed her
deep concern over the repetition of accidents in the European waters,
putting a serious threat to the marine environment and the European
coastline. She declared: "After one more tragic tanker accident polluting
the coast of a Member State, I would like to stress again the high priority
of the Commission proposals improving maritime safety, which should be
implemented as soon as possible." She added: "I think that, among others,
our proposal on the establishment of a Community monitoring, control and
information system for maritime traffic, could have helped to avoid
accidents like this one. I wish that both European Parliament and the
Council can progress rapidly on the two sets of measures presented by the
Commission since the Erika's accident, in order to show to our citizens the
capacity of reaction of the European Union against future catastrophes of
this type."
[06] EU/Korea agreement enters into force on 1st April (embargo 1st April
00h00)
Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations today welcomed
the entry into force of the Framework Agreement for Trade and Co-operation
between the EU and the Republic of Korea: "It's taken five long years to
ratify this agreement but I am very pleased that the EU and Korea's
relationship is now established on a firm legal footing. In the meantime,
Korea has become an increasingly important partner for the EU. It is
Europe's third largest export market in Asia, and Europe is the largest
investor in Korea. The agreement strengthens the scope for political
dialogue at an exciting time for the Korean Peninsula. President Kim Dae
Jung has played an inspirational role in the search for peace and stability
in the North East Asia region, and the EU strongly supports his engagement
policy, as the Stockholm European Council demonstrated".
[07] European Commission issues working paper on Sustainable Development
The European Commission has issued a consultation paper setting out some
initial views on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable
development. The second stage of the process will be the preparation of a
Commission's proposal for a Sustainable Development Strategy for the
Gothenburg European Council in June.
[08] La Commission autorise la création d'une entreprise commune entre
Thales et Raytheon
La Commission européenne a approuvé la proposition de création d'une
entreprise commune entre la société française Thales (dénommée précédemment
Thomson-CSF) et la société Raytheon Co. basée aux États Unis. L'entreprise
commune combinera les activités respectives de Thales et de Raytheon dans
le domaine des systèmes de défense aérienne, qui comportent des systèmes de
contrôle des opérations aériennes, des systèmes de surveillance des champs
de bataille et des radars pour la détection d'armes. Compte tenu de la
présence d'autres concurrents importants et expérimentés, la Commission a
conclu que l'opération ne poserait pas de problèmes de concurrence dans ces
secteurs. Autre matériel diffusé
[09] Calendrier du 2 au 6 avril 2001
[10] Proposed Directive on financial collateral arrangements - frequently
asked questions
[11] Discours de M. Franz Fischler " Trends in Agricultural Policy:
opportunities for a closer Transatlantic relationship"
[12] EU Republic of Korea relations
[13] Programme de Mme Margot Wallström à Washington
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
