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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-10-29
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 29/10/2001
[01] Transit routier en Europe : Loyola de Palacio appelle à la mise en
oeuvre rapide des propositions de la Commission
L'incendie du tunnel du Gothard pose de redoutables problèmes au système de
transport européen. Loyola de Palacio, vice-présidente de la Commission
européenne en charge des Transports et de l'Energie, a appelé vendredi
dernier l'ensemble des acteurs à faire preuve de responsabilité et à se
mobiliser pour désengorger l'Europe. Elle a souligné l'importance d'une
réponse concertée. "Ce tragique accident concerne tous les Européens : l'UE
doit, en coopération avec la Suisse, rechercher des solutions rapides à
l'engorgement du trafic européen." Elle a également indiqué que "pour sa
part, la Commission a déjà mis sur la table de nombreuses propositions,
directement ou indirectement liées aux circonstances et à l'impact de cet
accident. Il faut les mettre en vigueur le plus rapidement possible". "La
Commission poursuivra tous ses efforts pour apporter des réponses concrètes
immédiates et à plus long terme", a-t-elle ajouté.
[02] Fonds structurels : la Commission apporte une aide de 1,8 milliard
d'euros pour le développement des transports dans les régions italiennes du
Mezzogiorno
La Commission européenne a approuvé un programme en matière de transports
destiné aux régions italiennes en retard de développement pour la période
2000-2006. D'un montant total de 4,28 milliards d'euros, le programme est
financé par une contribution communautaire de 1,801 milliard d'euros et par
un apport des autorités nationales de 2,479 milliards d'euros. Il doit
permettre aux régions italiennes du Mezzogiorno de développer leur système
de transports dans le contexte des objectifs du Cadre Communautaire
d'Appui.
[03] Non-road mobile machinery : Commission welcomes adoption of new
emissions limits that will curb formation of ground level ozone
The European Commission welcomes the EU Council of Environment Ministers
political agreement on measures to limit the emissions of air pollutants
from small machinery equipped with petrol engines. The types of engines
covered are those used in, for instance, lawn movers, chain saws, bush
cutters, trimmers and snow removal equipment. In Europe, 25 million engines
are produced every year and they contribute 10-15% of the overall emissions
load of volatile organic compounds. Consequently, they contribute to the
formation of ground level ozone. Ground level ozone affects the respiratory
system and is particularly problematic for people with asthma and it has
been detected as one of the key remaining air quality problems facing the
EU in the so called "Auto-Oil 2 programme".
[04] Commission welcomes adoption of strategy that promotes sustainable
development in coastal zones
The European Commission today welcomed the Environment Council's political
agreement on a Recommendation concerning Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(ICZM). The Recommendation calls on EU Member States to develop national
strategies that promote sustainable development in coastal zones through
integrated management of these areas. Environment Commissioner Margot
Wallström said : "The Recommendation sends a clear message to the Member
States about the need for national governments to take a strategic approach
to coastal zone management, consistent with the principles of good
governance".
[05] Environmental risk reduction : Commission imposes further restrictions
on purifying agent hexachloroethane
The European Commission has adopted a further restriction on use of the
chemical product hexachloroethane (HCE). From 30 June 2003 the use of HCE
in the manufacturing or processing of any non-ferrous metals will be
prohibited, because it poses an unacceptable environmental risk, in
particular to aquatic organisms. The substance has no known adverse impact
on human health.
[06] Second quarter of 2001 - EU15 current account deficit euro 11.5
billion ; euro 4.1 billion surplus on trade in services
(! embargo 12 am !) According to the latest revisions by Eurostat, the EU15
external current account recorded a deficit of euro 11.5 billion in the
second quarter of 2001, as compared with a deficit of euro 15.2 billion in
the second quarter of 2000 and a deficit of euro 24.7 billion in the first
quarter of 2001. In the second quarter of 2001 the EU15 external balance of
trade in services recorded a surplus of euro 4.1 billion as compared with a
surplus of euro 2.6 billion in the second quarter of 2000 and a deficit of
euro 4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2001.
[07] Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Croatia
signed today
(! embargo 1 pm !) European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris
Patten, together with the Foreign Ministers of the 15 EU Member States,
signed today with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Communities and Croatia.
At the same time, Commissioner Patten, the EU Presidency and Croatian
Foreign Minister Picula also signed an Interim Agreement. These signatures
took place during a special ceremony organised in the margins of the
General Affairs Council.
[08] Anna Diamantopoulou to review 'social acquis' with Czech Deputy Prime
Minister Spidla
Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner responsible for employment and
social affairs, will receive Czech Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla
from 16.30 today in Brussels in order to review Czech preparations for
accession and in particular progress in assimilating the 'social acquis'
(free movement of persons, social policy and employment). Likely subjects
will include health and safety at work, equal treatment for men and women
and a strategy to combat social exclusion. The Commission is scheduled to
adopt on 13 November a 'Regular Report' on preparation for accession and an
'Accession Partnership 2001'.
[09] Round table on food and agriculture in London : needed shift in
attitudes of consumers and producers
At a high level round table with leading farming representatives, food
producers, retailers, consumer experts and scientists, European
Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, today in
London debated a strategic re-thinking of food production and food policy
in terms of quality, safety and cost. The Commissioner emphasised the need
for shifts in attitudes of both consumers and producers if society's
expectations of food and agricultural policy are to be met. Industry,
consumer and agricultural sector representatives welcomed the initiative as
timely and of strategic importance. With respect to food safety, the round
table emphasised the importance of the early establishment of an
independent European Food Authority. David Byrne underlined the need for
high quality food safety research : "Food safety research is absolutely
crucial if we are to develop the technological means to address known and
unknown safety concerns. It must be carried out to the highest and most
rigorous standards, including ethical standards. Similarly, it must be
validated in appropriate reference laboratories and peer reviewed."
[10] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Beck par Interbrew
La Commission européenne a autorisé vendredi dernier le projet
d'acquisition de la brasserie allemande Brauerei Beck's GmbH par
l'entreprise belge Interbrew S.A. Bien que les activités de ces deux
sociétés se chevauchent sur le marché de la bière en Europe, plus
particulièrement dans le segment de la lager premium (bière blonde),
l'opération ne soulève aucun problème de concurrence.
[11] "Territorial" nature of agriculture essential to detecting
environmental problems
With "public concern about the landscape is the increase", a publication
entitled "Towards agri-environmental indicators : Integrating statistical
and administrative data with land cover information" has been released
today. An exploratory work that looks to develop agri-environmental
indicators through the analysis of land cover data, it comprises eight
papers that argue that the territorial dimension of agriculture is a key
element in understanding its development. Given that the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) "no longer treats EU agriculture as merely an
economic system but more as an integrated territorial complex", it now has
a range of policy instruments available to it that encourage more
sustainable farming practices. These must now be defined at regional and
local levels in order to develop a well-founded and consistent system of
agri-environmental indicators that will contribute to the detection of
environmental problems. The major question raised in the publication is
related to the integration process of different data sources. It aims to
demonstrate that taking good account of localised data is a valuable tool
for developing agri-environmental policies. Analysing the territorial
information in statistical data (Farm Structure Surveys) or administrative
data (Integrated Administration and Control System) by remapping them to
relate to territorial units relevant to policy issues, such as landscape
units or river basins, is an important example. For the full text please
see : http://themes.eea.eu.int/Sectors_and_activities/agriculture/reports
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions / réponses sur la réglementation en matière d'OGM dans l'UE (mise
à jour)
Note sur la préparation du Conseil Recherche (30/10)
Note sur la préparation du Conseil Environnement (29/10)
Speech by Margot Wallström : "Combating climate change : the EU strategy"
at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (26/10)
Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "Smart houses the European challenge to ageing"
at the Conference Vitality in Age in the Information Society (26/10,
Tilburg)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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