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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-07-09Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Convention des jeunes sur l'avenir de l'Europe : quatre jeunes femmes représentent la Commission européenneDu 9 au 12 juillet, 210 jeunes se rassemblent à Bruxelles pour la "Convention des jeunes" sur l'avenir de l'Union européenne. A cette occasion, ils pourront exprimer leur vision de l'Europe pour l'avenir. Agés de 18 à 25 ans, ces jeunes représentent les membres de la Convention présidée par Valéry Giscard d'Estaing et leurs suppléants. Pour la Commission européenne, quatre jeunes femmes ont été désignées par les Commissaires Michel Barnier et António Vitorino.[02] Eurobarometer "15 to 24-year olds" : young people want Europe to be tangibleBefore the Youth Convention on the future of the Union opens, the European Commission wanted to obtain the views of 15 to 24-year olds on the functioning of the European Union as well as their vision of Europe. Today, the results of the Eurobarometer Flash survey carried out between 27 May and 16 June 2002 on a representative sample of 7,558 young people are being presented by Michel Barnier. The survey examined two main questions : what practical measures can be taken to make young people identify with Europe and what are the key issues that the Convention should address ? This Eurobarometer Flash reveals that 15 to 24-year olds feel that employment, solidarity, mobility and respect for democratic values are crucial for the European project.[03] Les jeunes et l'avenir de l'Europe : début de mise en oeuvre du Livre blanc et Convention des jeunesLa Commission européenne et les Etats membres ont commencé à mettre en oeuvre la nouvelle politique européenne dans le domaine de la jeunesse, qu'avait proposée le Livre blanc de novembre dernier et qu'ont approuvée les ministres fin mai 2002. Le premier thème prioritaire est l'amélioration de la participation des jeunes. Les deux premiers exemples de la nouvelle approche sont la conférence "Jeunesse 2002" qui se déroule à Copenhague et la Convention des jeunes, qui se déroulera à Bruxelles à partir de mardi. En 2003 sera présenté un programme de travail concret sur la participation des jeunes Européens à la vie politique et sociale.[04] Deuxième rapport trimestriel sur la zone euro : dans la voie de la repriseSelon le deuxième rapport trimestriel sur la zone euro, la reprise économique suit, dans les grandes lignes, le cours prévu dans les prévisions d'automne de la Commission européenne. Le mouvement de sortie nette de capitaux enregistré dans la zone euro s'est inversé dernièrement et le redressement récent du taux de change de l'euro, conforme à la plupart des estimations, aura des effets positifs sur l'économie.[05] Indicator-based forecast for euro area GDP for 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2002The indicator-based model for quarterly GDP growth for the euro area, developed by the Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Commission, forecasts for the second quarter of 2002 a range of 0.3% to 0.6% for the percentage change of GDP vis-à-vis the previous quarter. For the third quarter of 2002, a significant acceleration is expected and quarter on quarter growth is forecast to be in the range of 0.7% to 1%. These forecast ranges are unchanged compared to the release of 30 May 2002. The situation in the retail sector remained weak while the international environment and the monetary conditions kept on improving gradually. Full document available on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/indicators/euroareagdp_en.htm[06] Second estimation for the first quarter of 2002 : Euro-zone and EU15 GDP up by 0.3% ; +0.3% and +0.4% respectively compared to first quarter of 2001Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.3% in both the euro-zone and the EU15 during the first quarter of 2002, according to estimates out today from Eurostat. These results follow a drop of 0.3% in the euro-zone and 0.2% in the EU15 in the fourth quarter of 2001. In comparison with the first quarter of 2001, euro-zone GDP grew by 0.3% and that of the EU15 by 0.4%, after increases of 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively, in the previous quarter.[07] Animal testing : Commission calls for coordinated research and development of alternatives"Reduction, Replacement and Refinement" the "Three Rs" - are the basic tenets of EU research and other policies concerning the use of animals in scientific experimentation and testing. To assess the latest scientific advances, reduce animal use, discuss forthcoming research priorities and ways to better develop research at EU level, the European Commission has organised a conference in Brussels on 9-10 July. Over the last two decades, the Commission has supported research on, and validation of, alternative methods. Forthcoming changes in regulations on cosmetics and chemicals and growing needs in medical research are drastically increasing the expectations on science to develop alternatives to animal-based tests. "This is a challenge for the research community, but it also encompasses a major effort to better organise research and development investments at EU level", said Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "The Commission is committed to fostering the Three Rs, including through its own research funding, but we can only get good results if there is a joint effort between scientists, national administrations, industry, NGOs and European policy-makers. With today's conference, I hope we can mobilise all stakeholders to work better together, in line with the objectives of the European Research Area."[08] Commission issues market power assessment guidelines for electronic communicationsThe European Commission has adopted guidelines on market analysis and the assessment of Significant Market Power (SMP), as required by Directive 2002/21/EC on a new common regulatory framework for electronic communications service (the Framework Directive). The guidelines set out the principles that national regulatory authorities (NRAs) will use to define markets and analyse effective competition. The guidelines were developed on the basis of existing case law and the Commission's practice in the enforcement of EU competition law.[09] Commission gives over €3 million aid to Timor, China and HaitiThe European Commission has decided to give humanitarian aid to displaced Timorese people (€1.935 million), to China (€0.73 million) and to Haiti (€0.4 million). The assistance is channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the authority of Commissioner Poul Nielson.[10] EU signs fisheries agreement with Kiribati : the first of its kind in the Pacific regionThe EU and the Republic of Kiribati have initialled a new bilateral fisheries agreement for an initial period of three years. This agreement, which is the first concluded by the EU in the Pacific region, will provide fishing possibilities exclusively for tuna for EU vessels fishing in the waters of Kiribati. The EU financial contribution will be approximately €1, 378,000, a portion of which will be allocated to targeted measures to strengthen Kiribati's participation in regional and international fisheries organisations and to support the country's institutional capability in the fisheries area. The agreement will enter into force once the two Parties will have completed their respective adoption procedures. "I welcome this new agreement which brings about a new dimension to the relations between the EU and Kiribati. This agreement meets the provisions in the Palau arrangement which aims to coordinate management measures in this area", said Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries.[11] Chris Patten on the International Criminal CourtThe Washington Post published today a response by European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten to Robert Kagan's recent article on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr Patten underlines that key concerns of the United States were taken up in the Rome Treaty establishing the ICC. He also argues that US opposition to the ICC threatens international stability, because it poses practical problems for the renewal of UN peacekeeping mandates around the world.[12] Autre matériel diffuséRomano Prodi welcomes the creation of the African Union and lends Commission support for this ambitious initiativeSpeech by Pedro Solbes : "The Stability and Growth Pact" at the European Policy Centre Speech by Pedro Solbes : "The Stability and Growth Pact: its performance and prospects" at the 'Euro 50 Group' meeting (! embargo 8.30 pm !) Discours de M. Busquin : "La recherche sur les méthodes alternatives à l'expérimentation animale" à la Conférence sur la réduction, le remplacement et le raffinement des expérimentations animales Speech by Chris Patten at the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership Pledging Conference From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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