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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-07-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] No delay in enlargement of the European Union
[02] Message of Romano Prodi to Leonid Kouchma
[03] Structural Funds : EU contributes an additional €30 million for
regions bordering candidate countries
[04] Fonds structurels : incidence des dépenses de l'Objectif n°1 entre
2000 et 2006
[05] La Commission crée un Groupe pour la politique en matière de spectre
radioélectrique et un Groupe des régulateurs européens
[06] Franz Fischler calls for political leadership to make headway in WTO
farm talks
[07] "EU ready to take the lead in WTO farm talks", says Franz Fischler in
Thailand
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 29/07/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 29/07/2002
[01] No delay in enlargement of the European Union
A report in the press has suggested that the European Commission has
discussed possible delays in the enlargement of the European Union. The
Commission at its weekly meeting on 24 July discussed briefly a number of
issues related to the likely sequencing of events in 2004. The target date
of 1 January 2004 for enlargement was not questioned. The Commission will
continue to do all it can to complete negotiations by the end of 2002 and
is committed to the schedule for enlargement decided by the European
Council. President Romano Prodi said : "Enlargement is the top priority of
my Commission. We are working day and night to achieve it as soon and as
successfully as possible."
[02] Message of Romano Prodi to Leonid Kouchma
The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has sent the
following message to the Ukranian President, Leonid Kouchma : "It was with
great sadness that I learned about the tragic plane accident in Lviv, which
claimed so many lives. On behalf of the European Commission and on my own
behalf, allow me to offer you and the people of Ukraine our sincere
condolences, and the expression of our deepest sympathy and solidarity with
the families of the victims."
[03] Structural Funds : EU contributes an additional €30 million for
regions bordering candidate countries
Michel Barnier, Member of the European Commission responsible for regional
policy, announced the adoption by the Commission of a decision which makes
available an extra €30 million to fourteen crossborder and interregional
cooperation programmes (Interreg) for regions bordering candidate
countries. This special support will enable them to further cross-border
cooperation in fields such as transport, training, support for SMEs and
intercultural cooperation.
[04] Fonds structurels : incidence des dépenses de l'Objectif n°1 entre
2000 et 2006
M. Michel Barnier, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de la
politique régionale, a présenté les résultats d'une nouvelle étude qui
examine l'incidence économique de la politique régionale de l'Union
européenne sur les principaux bénéficiaires, les régions de "l'objectif
n°1". Cette étude couvre des régions d'Espagne, du Portugal, d'Irlande et
de Grèce, ainsi que le Mezzogiorno en Italie et les Länder est-allemands.
L'UE prévoit de dépenser quelque 135 milliards d'€ dans ces régions sur une
période de sept années, de 2000 à 2006, auxquels s'ajouteront des
contributions nationales et régionales par voie de cofinancement. L'étude
met en évidence, notamment, que le revenu total (PIB) devrait augmenter de
3,5% au Portugal et de 2,4% en Grèce et que jusqu'à 700.000 emplois
bénéficieront d'un soutien.
[05] La Commission crée un Groupe pour la politique en matière de spectre
radioélectrique et un Groupe des régulateurs européens
La Commission a créé aujourd'hui un Groupe pour la politique en matière de
spectre radioélectrique et un Groupe des régulateurs européens. Ces deux
groupes consultatifs joueront un rôle essentiel en assistant la Commission
dans le développement du marché intérieur de la société de l'information.
Selon M. Erkki Liikanen, Commissaire européen chargé de la société de
l'information : "Avec la création du Groupe pour la politique en matière de
spectre radioélectrique, l'Union européenne s'est enfin dotée d'une plate-
forme qui permettra aux Etats membres, à la Commission et autres parties
intéressées de coordonner l'utilisation du spectre radioélectrique. Cette
coordination est nécessaire pour mettre en œuvre les politiques convenues
au niveau de l'UE et contribuera à l'achèvement du marché intérieur dans ce
secteur. Quant au Groupe des régulateurs européens, il garantira une
application cohérente des réglementations adoptées récemment pour les
services de communications électroniques dans l'ensemble de l'UE."
[06] Franz Fischler calls for political leadership to make headway in WTO
farm talks
Speaking at the QUINT meeting of farm ministers from Japan, the US, Canada,
Australia and the European Union (27/07), European Farm Commissioner Franz
Fischler called upon his colleagues to show political leadership to make
headway in the WTO negotiations on agriculture. "Without an acceptable
compromise in the agricultural negotiations, there is little hope for the
Doha round", he said. "A spirit of compromise and a process that provides
leadership are essential ingredients to achieving successful results.
Europe stands ready to do its part. The direction should be clear : reduce
trade-distorting domestic support and all forms of export subsidisation,
improve market access, provide more favourable treatment to developing
countries, take into account non-trade concerns such as the environment,
food safety, which are key to maintain public support to further trade
liberalisation."
[07] "EU ready to take the lead in WTO farm talks", says Franz Fischler in
Thailand
On his official visit to Thailand, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for
Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, emphasised the importance of
Thai-EU relations and how pertinent cooperation was to achieve an agreement
in the Doha Development Round. "Thailand and the EU both have a real
interest to make it a success. If our commitments made in the Doha
Development Agenda lead to a successful conclusion, the multilateral trade
system will definitely benefit. All WTO members will gain trading
opportunities, and our bilateral relations will flourish within the
improved WTO framework. Europe stands ready to take the lead", said Mr
Fischler. "Opening up trade should create opportunities", stated
Commissioner Fischler. "But this should not lead to a situation where
legitimate interests of the society, such as the environment or food safety
are ignored. Results must be fair and equitable for all and have to yield a
clear benefit for the developing countries. Unlike the US, the EU is
determined to set an example. My recent proposals to review the EU's Common
Agricultural Policy demonstrate that supporting farmers with minimal
effects on international trade is possible. The proposed decoupling of
direct income support payments from production would be totally non-trade
distorting", he explained.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Franz Fischler : WTO negotiations on agriculture the challenges
we face together" at a meeting with the WTO Joint Committee of Thailand
(Bangkok)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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