|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-11-20
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
Midday Express 20/11/2001
[01] Commission approves takeover of Mannesmann Sachs by ZF Friedrichshafen
The European Commission has approved the takeover of German engineering
firm Mannesmann Sachs AG (Sachs) by auto components maker ZF
Friedrichshafen AG (ZF), also German. The deal will reinforce ZF's strength
in certain products, namely in gearboxes and rubber-metals used in chassis,
but it will face sufficient competition from rivals as well as the strong
buying power of the automobile industry.
[02] Money laundering : Commission welcomes Council adoption of new
Directive
The European Commission yesterday welcomed the definitive adoption by the
EU's Council of Ministers of the proposal to upgrade the EU's money
laundering Directive. This is the final stage in the procedure and the
legislation will now officially enter into force in eighteen months' time.
The text approved had been agreed in a conciliation procedure between the
Parliament and the Council (see IP/01/1441) and was endorsed by the
Parliament at its November Plenary (see IP/01/1580).
[03] Kosovo elections : statement by Chris Patten
European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten yesterday stated
: "I am delighted that the elections in Kosovo have taken place in such a
peaceful and orderly fashion. I congratulate everyone involved, from the
organisers of the elections, to those who took part in them. It is
particularly encouraging that voters from right across the community came
out to vote in large numbers. Now it is important for all concerned -
winners or losers - to respect the results of the elections, and to set
about the task of making the institutions of provisional self government
work effectively for all the people of Kosovo. We look forward to
continuing to support Kosovo in this task."
[04] Signature of euro 12 million emergency aid package for FYROM
Speaking during yesterday's General Affairs Council, External Relations
Commissioner Chris Patten welcomed the vote in the FYROM Parliament
adopting changes to the constitution and announced the start of the
implementation of a euro 12 million emergency aid package. "The European
Commission has pledged, ever since the signature of the Lake Ohrid
agreement on 13 August, that it would provide substantial assistance to
help with its implementation. The money we are releasing today following
the adoption by the Parliament in Skopje of the constitutional amendments
required under that agreement is further evidence that we are living up to
that commitment. The aid will make a big difference to people's lives,
helping to repair homes and get basic services such as electricity and
water working again. It comes over and above the considerable help, worth
some euro 12.8 million, that we have already been delivering during the
crisis in recent weeks."
[05] Aide de près de 2 millions d'euros pour les sinistrés à la suite des
inondations au Vietnam, en Chine et en Corée du Nord ainsi qu'en faveur des
victimes de la sécheresse au Cambodge
La Commission européenne a récemment approuvé quatre décisions en vue
d'apporter une aide humanitaire aux victimes des inondations survenues au
Vietnam, en Chine et en Corée du Nord ainsi qu'au Cambodge, touché par une
grave sécheresse. Ces ressources seront acheminées par l'intermédiaire de
l'Office d'aide humanitaire (ECHO), placé sous l'autorité du commissaire
Poul Nielson.
[06] EU-Iran : Commission proposes mandate for negotiating Trade and
Cooperation Agreement
The European Commission yesterday approved a proposal for negotiating
directives for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the Islamic Republic
of Iran. Given the relationship between the EU and Iran a contractual basis
will contribute to improvements in trade, business and investment
conditions and to the country's efforts in economic liberalisation and
deregulation. The Agreement will also strenghthen cooperation with Iran in
key areas of mutual interest such as drugs, refugees, energy and the
environment, and will facilitate regional co-operation.
[07] Anna Diamantopoulou promeut l'agenda social européen et son volet
international
Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissaire européenne à l'Emploi et aux Affaires
sociales, ouvrira aujourd'hui à 14h30 à Bruxelles une conférence à haut
niveau entitulée "L'agenda social européen et les partenaires
internationaux de l'Union européenne". Le but de la conférence, qui
s'étalera sur deux jours, est d'accorder au modèle social européen un
profile international et de lancer une réflexion sur la pertinence de ce
modèle pour d'autres pays et régions du monde. Les autres orateurs de la
conférence sont, entre autres, Laurette Onkelinx, Vice premier ministre
belge et Ministre de l'Emploi et de l'Egalité des chances, Michel Rocard,
Président de la Commission de l'Emploi et des Affaires sociales du PE, Juan
Somavia, Directeur-général de l'Organisation internationale du travail, et
Donald Johnston, Secrétaire-général de l'OCDE, et un représentant de la
Banque mondiale. L'événement passera en revue le rôle crucial des
partenaires sociaux et de la société civile dans le développement social.
[08] Competitiveness press conference
On Thursday 22 November, at 11 am CET, European Enterprise Commissioner
Erkki Liikanen will present the Commission's annual report on the state of
the competitiveness of the European Union. This report analyses the
competitiveness of the individual Member States and compares the situation
of the European Union with that of its major trading partners. The
Commissioner will also present the Commission's annual enterprise
scoreboard that looks at the performance of each of the Member States in
relation to others. These reports are important tools that the Commission
is using to move towards meeting the goal, set by the Lisbon European
Council, to make the Union the world's most competitive economy. The
reports will contribute to the preparations of the Special European Council
in Barcelona March next year. The press conference will take place in the
Commission's press room. Graphic and summary information will be available.
[09] Un nouveau service d'information pour la presse audiovisuelle
La Direction générale Education et Culture lance aujourd'hui Tvlink, un
service Internet gratuit à disposition des médias audiovisuels. Sur Tvlink,
vous trouverez des informations sur les politiques communautaires dans les
domaines de l'éducation, de la formation professionnelle, de la culture, de
l'audiovisuel, du sport et sur nos actions de promotion du dialogue avec la
société civile. Tvlink, ce sont des reportages vidéos et des images
d'actualité libres de droits, accompagnés d'un bref descriptif en français
et en anglais. Vous trouverez aussi sur Tvlink un calendrier des principaux
événements dans les domaines d'activité de la Direction générale Education
et Culture. L'adresse de Tvlink : http://www.tvlink.org/educationandculture
[10] September 2001 - Industrial production down by 0.5% in euro-zone ;
EU15 down by 0.6%
(! embargo 12 am !) Seasonally adjusted industrial production decreased by
0.5% in the euro-zone in September 2001 compared to August 2001, Eurostat
estimates today. This follows an increase of 1.5% in August and a fall of
1.7% in July. Output in the EU15 decreased by 0.6% in September, after an
increase of 1.3% in August and a drop of 1.5% in July. In September 2001
compared to September 2000, industrial production dropped by 0.6% in the
euro-zone and by 1.2% in the EU15.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Statement of Romano Prodi and Guy Verhofstadt on the Middle East Peace
Process
Commission services paper on the processing, disposal and uses of animal by-
products in Member States
Speech by Frits Bolkestein : "Tomorrow's insurance industry - a European
response" at the Chatham House Conference on 'Regulating tomorrow's
insurance industry' (London)
Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "eEurope: challenges and opportunities" at the
European-Americain Business Council (19/11, Washington)
Discours de M. Fischler à la commission Agriculture du Parlement européen
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
