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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-05-02
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 02/05/2001
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Commission implements regulation to bring WTO banana dispute to an end
The European Commission has adopted a regulation to implement the banana
import regime in line with the understanding arrived at with the US before
Easter and later with Ecuador. The new rules cover the management of import
licence arrangements and will apply from 1 July 2001. As at present, the
new arrangements will be largely managed on the basis of historical
references, albeit with significant changes (see below). "Today's decision
shows the determination of the Commission to end this never-ending story.
We are delivering. I am particularly glad that following three weeks of
intense consultations we have an agreement with Ecuador. It is now possible
to say that the major parties to this long running dispute have agreed on a
balanced solution", Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler said. Trade
Commissioner Pascal Lamy added : "This WTO-compatible system the Commission
has implemented today signals not only the end of the banana dispute but
will result in the lifting of some $ 200 million worth of US sanctions
which is the good news EU exporters have been waiting for".
[02] Commission's shipbuilding report shows South Korea has consolidated
its lead
Korean shipyards are still distorting the international market by pricing
ships below cost, according the European Commission's fourth report on the
situation in world shipbuilding, adopted today. Based on the latest
detailed costings of orders placed with South Korean yards, the report
finds that, despite record worldwide demand for new ships last year,
serious difficulties continue to affect the EU shipbuilding sector as a
result of unfair trading practices by South Korean competitors. The report
notes that the year 2000 saw a significant expansion in orders for new
ships, with 56% more orders being placed than in 1999. Most of this
increase, triggered by an expanding world economy, higher oil prices and
historically low ship prices in certain market segments, has benefitted
South Korean yards, which again increased their market share. EU yards have
also benefitted from stronger demand, mainly for cruise ships, a sector
where Korean yards offer no direct competition. In 2000, South Korea
consolidated its position as the world's largest shipbuilding country,
accounting for more than 35% of all tonnage ordered worldwide.
[03] EU and the UN to strengthen active partnership
(! embargo 4 pm !) The European Union is committed to strengthening its
contribution to the work of the United Nations (UN). Commenting on today's
adoption by the European Commission of a Communication on EC/UN work on
development and humanitarian matters, President Romano Prodi said : "The
European Union is one of the main actors on the international scene. Our
policy is based on our strong belief of the importance of development
cooperation, and in particular, our commitment to eradicating global
poverty. This belief makes us a natural supporter of the UN. Europe is
seeking global solutions, and has always recognised the role and authority
of UN institutions. Until now, the European Commission has always been
present in the complexity of the UN system and we have grown in importance
within the different UN institutions. Now, considering the responsibilities
of the Commission and the UN, the relationship between the two must go
beyond ad-hoc cooperation. We are looking for a structured, predictable and
demanding partnership." Reacting to today's announcement, the UN Secretary-
General Kofi Annan said : "The European Union is a major contributor to
many aspects of the work of the United Nations, especially in the field of
development and humanitarian aid. I am therefore really delighted that the
European Commission is seeking to strengthen this cooperation even further.
Together, we can do much to bring about a better and more peaceful world."
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] Commission clears joint venture between Thomas Cook Holdings and
British Airways
The European Commission has cleared a joint venture between tour operator
Thomas Cook Holdings and British Airways in the UK package holiday sector.
Under the terms of the deal notified for clearance under the European
Union's merger regulation on 29 March, Thomas Cook Holdings and British
Airways will transfer to the joint venture their UK short-haul and long-
haul tour operating businesses.
[05] Civil action against tobacco companies RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris
On Tuesday 1 May 2001, Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis of the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of New York heard the oral argument
by the defendants and the plaintiff in the case 'European Community v. RJR
Nabisco Inc. et al. & Philip Morris Companies Inc.', notably on the issue
of admissibility of the complaint.
[06] EU and Ecuador reach agreement to resolve WTO banana dispute
On 30 April, the EU and Ecuador announced that they have reached an
agreement today to resolve their long-standing dispute over bananas in the
World Trade Organisation (WTO). It builds on intensive contacts between the
European Commission and Ecuador in the last year, and on the understanding
reached between the European Commission and the United States on 11 April.
Welcoming the agreement, European Commissioners for Trade, Pascal Lamy, for
Agriculture, Franz Fischler, and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Heinz Moeller
said : "This is a decisive step to put this saga to rest. It is a landmark
result in that the European Commission and Ecuador, a developing country
and the single largest exporter of bananas, have achieved this satisfactory
outcome. It is now possible to say that the major parties to the long
running banana dispute have been able to agree on a solution that
represents a fair balance between the competing interests. These interests
include the main supplier of bananas to the EU, the producers of bananas in
the EU, the ACP countries and of course the European consumers. It is also
a clear victory for the WTO as it helped resolving a difficult dispute
between developing and developed countries."
[07] Opening of the second "Brussels Economic Forum"
European Commission President Romano Prodi is opening today (15h00) the
second "Brussels Economic Forum", a high level public debate on economic
policy making in the European Union organised by the Directorate General of
economic and financial affairs. The Forum is an annual event bringing
together academia, private sector economists, social partners, specialised
media and the wider public. The debate will cover the economic outlook and
coordination of economic policy in the Union. For the first time this year
a special session is dedicated to the New Economy : the myths, the reality
and the challenges for economic policy makers in Europe. The Commission
with its regular macroeconomic forecasts, its annual European Economy
Review and its recommendation on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines,
plays a central role and provides significant contributions to the economic
coordination process. Pedro Solbes, Commissioner for economic and monetary
affairs, declared : "It is my ambition to use this Forum as the occasion to
have a genuine and open debate on these issues and to give further impetus
to public scrutiny." For further information and registration please
consult : http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/economy_finance/conf_events/bxl/bxlecforum0501_en.htm
[08] Food, e-commerce and trade : Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue in
Brussels on 2-4 May
The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) is a forum of US and EU consumer
organisations which develops joint consumer policy recommendations to the
US government and the European Commission to promote consumer interests in
policy making. So far, a total of 40 European and 24 US consumer
organisations have joined the initiative founded in 1998. The agenda of the
4th TACD conference in Brussels on 2-4 May covers food, electronic commerce
and trade related issues. The format of the conference consists of plenary
sessions and working group meetings and includes speakers such as
Commissioners David Byrne, responsible for Health and Consumer Protection,
and Pascal Lamy, responsible for Trade. Journalists are invited to attend
the plenary sessions of the TACD at the Centre Borschette (the closing
session is on Friday, 4 May, from 15:15 to 17:00h).
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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