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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-07-27

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 27/07/2001

  • [01] La Commission autorise la création d'une entreprise commune entre Accenture et Lagardère La Commission européenne a autorisé la création d'une entreprise commune entre les entreprises françaises Accenture et Lagardère dans le domaine de la télévision interactive. L'entreprise commune, StudioCo, sera spécialisée dans les services de conseil et développement pour les éditeurs de programmes de télévision interactive, en France dans un premier temps.
  • [02] Commission clears the retail joint venture Coop Norden The European Commission has approved the joint venture Coop Norden to be established between three co-operative societies in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The three co-operatives will combine their business activities with regard to procurement, wholesale and retail of daily consumer goods. The Commission has authorised the transaction as it does not raise any competition problems.
  • [03] Fonds structurels : la Commission approuve une aide de 106 millions d'euros pour la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (Belgique) La Commission européenne a adopté un programme de soutien destiné à la région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Relevant de "l'objectif 2" des fonds structurels (aide aux régions en reconversion économique et sociale), ce programme permettra à la région de bénéficier d'un concours communautaire de 43,930 millions d'euros pour la période 2000-2006. Au total, l'intervention des crédits communautaires conduira à mobiliser plus de 106 millions d'euros dont 57,496 millions en provenance des autorités publiques de l'Etat membre et 4,465 millions en provenance du secteur privé. Ce nouveau programme devrait permettre la création de 350 emplois et 45 entreprises. Il contribuera également à la revitalisation économique des quartiers et à la mise en place d'un cadre pour le développement urbain durable.
  • [04] Droit d'accises : la Commission propose d'autoriser l'application d'un taux d'accise réduit aux boissons spiritueuses produites et consommées à Madère et aux Açores La Commission européenne a soumis au Conseil des Ministres de l'Union européenne une proposition de décision autorisant le Portugal à appliquer une réduction du taux d'accise dans la région autonome de Madère au rhum et aux liqueurs qui y sont produits et consommés, ainsi que dans la région autonome des Açores, aux liqueurs et eaux-de-vie qui y sont produites et consommées. Le taux réduit proposé ne peut être inférieur de plus de 75% au taux d'accise national sur l'alcool (lequel est actuellement fixé à 836,04 euros par hectolitre d'alcool pur). Cette proposition est limitée à une période de sept ans s'étendant du 1er janvier 2002 au 31 décembre 2008. Au plus tard le 31 décembre 2005, le Portugal doit transmettre à la Commission un rapport permettant à celle-ci d'évaluer la persistance des raisons ayant justifié l'octroi du taux réduit
  • [05] Examen des demandes d'asile dans l'UE ("Dublin II") La Commission européenne a adopté hier une proposition de Règlement du Conseil établissant les critères et mécanismes de détermination de l'Etat membre responsable de l'examen d'une demande d'asile présentée dans l'un des Etats membres.
  • [06] Euro-zone external trade surplus euro 1.7 billion in May 2001 ; euro 6.3 billion deficit for EU 15 (! embargo 12 am !) According to first estimates by Eurostat, euro-zone trade with the rest of the world in May 2001 had a euro 1.7 billion surplus, compared with +1.0 billion in May 2000. Euro-zone trade recorded a deficit of 2.9 billion for the first five months of 2001, compared with -0.7 billion in 2000. The first estimate for May 2001 extra-EU15 trade was a euro 6.3 billion deficit, compared with -6.7 billion in May 2000. There was a deficit estimated at 40.6 billion in the first five months of 2001 compared with -39.4 billion in 2000. For the first time this month, Eurostat is also publishing seasonally adjusted series in annex to this release. These series have been calculated using one harmonised methodology for all Member States. The availability of seasonally adjusted series is an important improvement in the analysis of the external trade of the EU and euro-zone as they give a complementary view of the monthly evolution of trade.
  • [07] Commission proposes a revised approach towards the evaluation of pesticides safety The European Commission has identified in a new report the need for a fresh approach towards the evaluation of the safety of active substances in plant protection products. This is called for in the light of the experience and progress over the past ten years in the evaluation of existing substances authorised for use by the Member States. The existing mechanisms and lack of resources in both the Member States and the Commission have slowed progress. The Commission is of the view that improved procedures and increased resources are necessary if the goal of evaluation at the Community level of existing and new active substances is to be achieved within a reasonable time period. This is in turn necessary to provide improved safeguards that plant protection products, including pesticides, can be used in a manner which is safe for the environment and human health.
  • [08] Commission publishes results of Pesticide Monitoring Programme 1999 The Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission has published the results of the 1999 pesticide residue monitoring programme. The report highlights the results of the analysis of pesticide residues in 40,000 samples of fruits, vegetables and cereals. Each test is capable of detecting up to 100 or more pesticides, indicating that an estimated 4 million individual determinations were carried out. The results on these tests provide conflicting messages. The good news is that 64% of the samples contained no detectable pesticide residues and that in a further 32% the levels found were below the relevant MRLs (maximum residue limits). This, however, must be contrasted with the remaining 4% of samples where MRLs were exceeded a significant increase on previous levels.
  • [09] Free movement of goods : Commission pursues infringement proceedings against Italy and Greece The European Commission has decided to refer Italy to the European Union's Court of Justice for barriers to imports from other Member States of energy drinks and maritime equipment. The Commission has also decided to send formal requests to Italy and Greece that they remove barriers to imports of special nutritional products for people practising sports and food supplements respectively. In all four cases, the Commission considers that these import barriers constitute unjustified restrictions on the free movement of goods, in violation of EC Treaty rules (Article 28). The formal requests to Italy and Greece take the form of so-called 'reasoned opinions', the second stage of infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence of satisfactory replies from Italy and Greece within the two months following receipt of the reasoned opinions, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the European Court of Justice.
  • [10] Libre circulation des marchandises : la Belgique facilite les importations parallèles de médicaments La Commission européenne a décidé de classer une procédure d'infraction contre la Belgique pour violation des règles du Traité CE sur la libre circulation des marchandises (Article 28). Le gouvernement belge a adopté une nouvelle réglementation concernant les produits pharmaceutiques à usage humain parce qu'il a accepté le point de vue de la Commission selon lequel sa réglementation précédente entravait les importations parallèles de ces produits.
  • [11] Financial services : UK to be referred to Court over investor compensation Directive The European Commission has decided to refer the United Kingdom to the European Court of Justice for failure to implement the Directive on investor compensation schemes within the territory of Gibraltar.
  • [12] FYROM : Chris Patten welcomes latest agreement and insists that civilians be allowed to return immediately to their homes European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten issued the following statement : "The European Commission welcomes the cease-fire and the return agreement brokered by NATO and by the EU in the context of Lord Robertson and Dr Solana's mission to Skopje on 26 July. We earnestly hope that those who have been forced to leave their homes since the beginning of the conflict in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will now be allowed to return promptly and to resume their normal lives. Actions to expel civilians forcibly from their homes are completely unacceptable. The cease-fire must be respected to allow people to return to their homes without fear of violence or intimidation. The European Commission is preparing a comprehensive reconstruction and confidence-building programme in the country for implementation as soon as a political agreement is reached and areas become accessible on the ground."
  • [13] EU grants Ukraine euro 20 million for production of electricity following the closure of Chernobyl The European Commission committed a further euro 20 million today to supply Ukrainian power plants with additional fuel allowing them to increase electricity production during the coming winter. With this grant, the funds provided by the European Union towards meeting Ukraine's electricity demand since the closure of Chernobyl, amount to euro 45 million.
  • [14] Humanitarian response to the flooding in Orissa (India) The European Commission has reacted speedily to the news of the devastating floods in the Indian state of Orissa. As soon as the scale of the crisis became known, the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) contacted partner NGOs working in the stricken area with a view to supporting their efforts to deliver relief to the affected population.
  • [15] Commission assists to promote women's participation in Jordan's parliamentary elections The European Commission has decided to contribute euro 630.514 to finance a politically important project in Jordan, in the context of the forthcoming parliamentary elections set for November this year. Entitled "Women in Parliament" the project aims at promoting the participation of women in the decision-making process, and in particular the participation of women in parliament. This project is part of a wider EU effort in the Mediterranean region to protect and promote human rights and democratic principles. The project maintains political neutrality and will support active and potential female candidates from all political parties. Its twin goals consist of (a) increasing the chances of women to be elected to parliament through raising the understanding of university students on the role of women in the democratic process and (b) promoting the status of Jordanian women and their chances to succeed in the elections. Activities include awareness raising among voters, advocacy with decision-makers, training of candidates and their campaign teams, the production of educational material, and conducting national media campaigns. The project is led and managed by the British Council and sound partnerships have been developed with local organisations.
  • [16] Autre matériel diffusé Déclaration du Commissaire Vitorino à l'occasion du 50ème anniversaire de la Convention de Genève Discours de M. Lamy : "La gouvernance ou comment donner sens à la globalisation" au Séminaire de l'Escurial (Madrid)

    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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