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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-06-22
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 22/06/2001
[01] Commission clears acquisition of True North by Interpublic in the
marketing communications sector
The European Commission has decided to approve the proposed acquisition of
True North Communications Inc., US, by Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.,
US. Both companies are active in marketing communications. The market
position of the parties does not raise any competition concerns.
[02] EU and Norway agree on recovery measures for cod in the North Sea
Following negotiations in Brussels on 20 and 21 June, the European Union
and Norway have agreed on new measures to help the recovery of the badly
depleted cod stocks in the North Sea. These measures will include an
increase in the mesh sizes of nets used in demersal fisheries (bottom-
dwelling species) and the use of selective devices in fishing gears to
prevent the capture of young fish. "I am delighted that we have been able
to reach agreement with Norway. These measures will enhance the recovery of
cod in the North Sea. I believe that this agreement strikes the right
balance between the urgent need to protect cod and the need not to unduly
hinder other valuable fisheries. This is the result of extensive
negotiations with all the parties concerned, including the stakeholders",
Mr Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
said. The Commission will, as soon as possible, propose a follow-up
Regulation to implement these measures. This package of measures forms the
second stage of a three-stage approach : emergency measures established
last February, additional technical measures now and a full recovery plan
for which the Commission intends to submit a proposal to the Council and
the European Parliament at the end of the year.
[03] La Commission propose d'octroyer un financement permanent aux
organisations de défense de l'environnement
La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui une proposition de décision
relative à un nouveau programme d'action pour la promotion des
organisations non gouvernementales de défense de l'environnement
européennes (ONG). Ce programme vise à fournir un soutien financier
permanent aux organisations de défense de l'environnement pour les cinq
prochaines années. Il contient un certain nombre de caractéristiques
nouvelles. En effet, son champ d'application géographique a été étendu, ce
qui permettra aux ONG de défense de l'environnement des pays candidats et
des pays des Balkans de bénéficier de ses dispositions; sa durée est passée
de quatre à cinq ans et son budget, qui était de 10,6 millions d'euros, a
été porté à 32 millions d'euros. Mme Margot Wallström, membre de la
Commission chargée de l'environnement, a déclaré à ce propos : "Je suis
très heureuse de pouvoir renforcer le soutien aux ONG, à l'intérieur comme
à l'extérieur de l'UE. Les organisations de défense de l'environnement
jouent un rôle capital dans la formulation, la mise en œuvre et
l'évaluation de la politique. Je pense aussi que les ONG mènent une action
essentielle, dans leurs domaines d'activités respectifs, lorsqu'il s'agit
de faire participer les citoyens et d'assurer leur information, que ce soit
sur le plan local, régional ou national."
[04] Statement by the European Commission on Foreign Sales Corporations WTO
Panel
The WTO is due to issue a confidential interim report on the Foreign Sales
Corporations Panel today. This report is a confidential document circulated
by the panel to the parties in order to allow them to make comments and
suggestions before the panel issues its final ruling (due to be made public
on 13 August). The European Commission will carefully study the report in
order to send comments to the panel. It would be premature and
inappropriate for the Commission to comment on the content and potential
implications of the report at this stage.
[05] Anna Diamantopoulou meets the ambassadors of the ACP countries in the
run-up to the World Conference against Racism in South Africa
Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment and Social
Affairs, yesterday met ambassadors of the ACP countries to discuss the
forthcoming world conference against racism in Durban, South Africa. Mrs
Diamantopoulou, who will lead the European Community delegation at the
conference, scheduled for 31 August to 8 September, outlined her hopes for
the event and said it would provide "a prime opportunity for governments to
commit to concrete action against racial and ethnic inequality". She
stressed that the EU condemns all forms of racism, xenophobia and related
intolerance and said "racism is a violation of human rights, and a waste of
human talent and potential". The Commissioner set out the positive measures
taken at European level to combat racism and promote racial equality,
including the antidiscrimination package adopted last year. She ended by
expressing her concern about the divisions on questions such as colonialism,
slavery and compensation which may threaten the outcome of the conference.
She said : "An acknowledgement of historic injustices can build a bridge
between the past and the future. We must then cross this bridge and move
forward to concrete and constructive cooperation."
[06] Viviane Reding on "Television without frontiers" directive
In a speech hold today at the RTL Group Management Conference in Venice,
European Commissioner for Education and Culture Viviane Reding stressed
that : "The significance of changes in the audiovisual market is such as to
encourage us to rethink the concept of broadcasting. Even where content is
simultaneously distributed, this in no way means that it will be
simultaneously viewed. Perhaps the time has come to think in terms of users
who have access to a vast range of electronic content, which can take a
wide variety of forms, at a time - and very often at a place - of their own
choosing. In such a scenario, some public interest objectives, such as
pluralism, will increasingly be met by the market itself. Where they are
not, self-regulation may play a greater role than hitherto. Above all, we
must avoid over-regulation, which might hinder the development of the
market and harm Europe's competitiveness. Europe's competitiveness depends
in great part on the rapid move to the Information Society. We must ensure
a flexible regulatory framework that encourages innovation and transition."
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Romano Prodi : "Europe is listening" at an official dinner hosted
by Prime Minister Bertie Ahern (21/06, Dublin)
Calendrier du 25 juin au 1er juillet
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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