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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-12-05Midday 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
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[01] La Commission propose une simplification radicale du mode de fonctionnement de l'Union européenneLa Commission européenne a proposé de modifier en profondeur le mode de fonctionnement des institutions européennes et de simplifier le processus décisionnel tout en respectant l'équilibre entre le Parlement européen, le Conseil et la Commission. Ces institutions représentent les trois sources de la légitimité européenne : les peuples, les Etats membres et l'intérêt général de l'Europe. Le Parlement doit jouer un rôle accru dans les domaines législatif et budgétaire. La règle de l'unanimité au Conseil des Ministres devrait être supprimée et le Conseil devrait prendre ses décisions par un vote à la majorité des Etats membres représentant la majorité de la population de l'Union européenne. Le droit d'initiative de la Commission doit être renforcé afin que l'intérêt de l'Europe demeure au centre de toutes les initiatives politiques. La politique étrangère de l'UE devrait être renforcée par la désignation d'un Secrétaire de l'Union siégeant à la Commission et également responsable devant le Conseil. Le Président de la Commission devrait être élu par le Parlement européen avec la garantie de préserver l'indépendance de la Commission. La Commission devrait devenir politiquement responsable devant le Parlement et le Conseil. Le texte de la Communication de la Commission à la Convention sera disponible sur le site web du Président : http://europa.eu.int/prodi[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[02] Margot Wallström to visit Galicia on 6 DecemberEuropean Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström will visit Galicia, Spain on Friday 6 December to take stock of the damage to the environment caused so far by the "Prestige" tanker accident, and its implications for the population of the region. The Commissioner will explore how the Commission can assist Spain further in dealing with the environmental consequences of this disaster. Commissioner Wallström will be accompanied by Mr Jaume Matas, Spanish Minister for the Environment. She will visit areas affected by the oil pollution, meet with volunteers active in the cleaning-up of the beaches as well as with NGOs, and meet with the President of the Xunta of Galicia. The Commissioner will also seek impressions on the assistance provided to Spain by other EU Member States, which has largely been coordinated by the Commission.[03] La Commission donne le feu vert à l'acquisition de Busslink par KeolisLa Commission européenne a approuvé l'acquisition par l'entreprise française Keolis SA d'une participation de contrôle dans l'entreprise suédoise Busslink. Celle-ci était précédemment contrôlée par Storstockholms Lokaltrafik. Keolis et Busslink exercent leurs activités dans le secteur des services de transport public en Suède, en particulier dans la région de Stockholm. Cette acquisition ne soulève cependant aucun problème de concurrence.[04] Fisheries : 8,139 serious breaches of CFP rules in 2001 highlight need for reformThe European Commission has presented a report on conduct seriously infringing the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2001. This is the second report of its kind designed to increase transparency in enforcement across the EU. Member States reported 8,139 cases of serious infringements in 2001, a rise of 12% on the number for 2000. The amount of fines imposed for the same type of breach varies significantly across Member States. "This report clearly highlights how necessary our reform proposals to step up controls and harmonise sanctions are. This would significantly improve enforcement in EU fisheries. Member States' deterrent systems seem inadequate to stop overfishing, misreporting or the use of illegal fishing gear. They must do better to prevent these practices which are so harmful to fish stocks and to the fishing sector. If fishermen could be sure that all breaches of CFP rules are detected and punished on an equal basis throughout the EU, it would go a long way in improving compliance with the rules", said Franz Fischler, European Commissioner responsible for Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Fisheries.[05] La Commission décerne le prix Descartes à deux projets de recherche, l'un en médecine, l'autre en astrophysique, pour une valeur totale de 1 million d'€La Commission européenne a décerné aujourd'hui à Munich le prix Descartes de l'Union européenne à deux projets de recherche dans les domaines de la médecine et de l'astrophysique. L'un de ces projets porte sur la sclérose en plaques ; il fait progresser la compréhension de cette maladie et propose des composés chefs de file pour de nouveaux médicaments. L'autre projet a permis la découverte de l'origine des bouffées de rayons gamma, et apporte de nouveaux éléments d'information permettant de mieux comprendre la formation des étoiles et des planètes. Chaque prix, doté d'un montant de 500.000€, récompense de remarquables travaux de recherche scientifique, menés dans le cadre d'une coopération transnationale. Les deux projets lauréats ont été sélectionnés sur une liste de dix projets en collaboration, représentant un large éventail de domaines de recherche scientifique.[06] October 2002 : monthly note on the euro-denominated bond marketsThe euro yield curve steepened as longer-term yields move higher. Compared to September, total bond issuance fell slightly to €118bn in October, broadly in line with the seasonal pattern. The composition of issuance still indicates difficult issuing conditions for corporates, with issuance in this sector amounting to only 4% of total in October. Full document available on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/bondmarkets_en.htm[07] Anna Diamantopoulou welcomes social partners' agreement on training in the agriculture sectorAt a ceremony in Brussels today, European Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou witnessed the signing by EU-level social partners of an agreement on training in the sector. The agreement, negotiated and adopted within the European social dialogue committee for agriculture between GEOPA-COPA (farm employers) and EFFAT (representing agricultural workers), aims to raise the skills levels of farm employees and encourage free movement within the EU.[08] Anna Diamantopoulou launches a series of discussions on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and the need to promote inter-cultural dialogueEuropean Employmanet and Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou has today launched the first of a series of European round table discussions on the fight against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The Commissioner decided to take this initiative in response to the rise in anti-Semitic and xenophobic attacks in the wake of 11 September, the second Intifada and as a practical follow-up to her visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in September. "Europe cannot allow its societies to be torn by divisions on ethnic or religious lines. Physical and verbal attacks based on religious or racial hatred are an outrage and all political leaders have a responsibility to fight them", she said today.[09] Oral vaccination of foxes against rabiesAt their last plenary meeting, the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare adopted a report on the most appropriate strategy to eradicate fox rabies from the EU entitled 'The oral vaccination of foxes against rabies'. The report considered the types of vaccines and baits to be used, methods and seasonal patterns of their release as well as bait density and distribution patterns. Oral vaccination of foxes against rabies has been carried out in a number of Member States affected by epidemics of wildlife rabies, with financial assistance from the EU. As a result of oral vaccination campaigns, a number of countries are now free of fox rabies, although a few cases continue to occur in Germany. The report assists Member States in better co-ordination of the vaccination campaigns and gives the Commission a tool to evaluate the eradication programmes of the Member States and in future of the candidate countries. The report concluded that oral vaccination of foxes against rabies has been generally successful and that coordination and monitoring of campaigns are important factors in the ultimate success of a vaccination strategy. Bait distribution and density need to take into account factors such as habitat, landscape features and fox population density, while the stability of vaccines and baits under various climatic conditions is also an important consideration. Recommendations are made in the report regarding the planning and monitoring of vaccination, the vaccines and baits to be used, methods and seasonal patterns of release, as well as bait density and distribution patterns. For more information, please see : http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/outcome_en.html#opinions[10] Commission opts for long-term recovery plan for cod rather than moratorium, Fischler tells European ParliamentSpeaking in the European Parliament yesterday, European Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler said : "Given the lack of a recovery plan for 2003, the scientific advice is to close targeted cod fishing in the North Sea, Irish Sea, West of Scotland, Skaggerak and Kattegat. A ban on haddock and whiting fishing is also recommended because cod is a by-catch in those fisheries. It has not proved enough just to reduce cod fishing over the last few years. Unfortunately, it seems that cutting quotas can lead to falsified catch declarations and illegal fishing. Scientists have therefore repeatedly warned that we must also reduce fishing effort so that we can better monitor compliance with total allowable catches and thus avoid giving an over-optimistic picture of the state of our stocks. I quote from the 1990 ICES report on cod and other stocks : "... fishing mortality rates can only be reduced on these stocks by direct control of fishing effort. "We forwarded the ICES findings to our Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), which advised that the probability of cod stock recovery will remain low unless stringent management action is taken immediately."[11] L'élargissement de l'UE : principaux indicateurs conjoncturels pour les dix pays en passe d'adhérerA l'occasion du prochain Conseil européen des chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement qui se tiendra les 12 et 13 décembre 2002 à Copenhague, Eurostat publie aujourd'hui les dernières données disponibles concernant un certain nombre d'indicateurs conjoncturels pour les dix pays en passe d'adhérer, ainsi que les agrégats de l'UE15 et de la zone euro. Compte tenu des travaux d'harmonisation en cours, les données peuvent ne pas être encore totalement comparables aux données communautaires.[12] Elargissement de l'UE : principales données structurelles sur les dix pays en passe d'adhérerL'élargissement sera le principal thème du prochain Conseil européen des chefs d'Etat ou de gouvernement qui aura lieu les 12 et 13 décembre 2002 à Copenhague. A cette occasion, Eurostat publie aujourd'hui une série d'indicateurs économiques et sociaux concernant les dix pays en passe d'adhérer.[13] Guyana : Commission adopts the cooperation framework for 2002-2007 worth €48 millionThe European Commission has approved a €48 million cooperation programme for the period 2002-2007 with Guyana. This Country Strategy Paper (CSP) focuses on infrastructure development, notably to prevent land from sinking into the sea, and macro-economic support above all to reduce poverty. The non-repayable funds have been allocated from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF), which is the financial instrument of the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou in June 2000. Further to this grant, the Guyanan private sector will benefit from loans through the Investment Facility in order to boost local enterprises and foreign direct investment.[14] Poul Nielson condems the eviction of Chechen refugees from the camp of Aki Yurt in IgushetiaEuropean Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Affairs, Poul Nielson having taken notice of the closure of the Aki Yurt refugee camp in Ingushetia by the Russian authorities said : "I am deeply concerned by the closure of the refugee camp Aki Yurt. The closure of this and other camps constitutes a serious neglect of humanitarian concerns as long as the situation in Chechnya does not allow for a safe return of the refugees."[15] Chris Patten welcomes the release of Dr Saad Eddin Ibrahim from prison"We greatly welcome decision of 3 December by the Egyptian Court of Cassation to uphold the appeal of Dr Saad Ibrahim and his co-accused against the trial verdicts of imprisonment by the State Security Court of 29 July 2002, and to order a full re-trial. We are pleased to learn that Dr Saad Ibrahim and his three other imprisoned co-defendants have now been released from prison", European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said following the decision by Egypt's Court of Cassation to overturn the 29 July verdict by the State Security Court in the case of Dr Saad Eddin Ibrahim.[16] Chris Patten warmly welcomes ratification of EU-Lebanon Association Agreement by Lebanese Parliament"I am delighted at ratification on 3 December of the EU-Lebanon association agreement by the Lebanese Parliament. This agreement opens up considerable opportunities for Lebanese and European governments, business and societies to develop closer and mutually beneficial relations and it constitutes a milestone in our partnership", European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said and encouraged EU Member States to proceed speedily to ratification of the agreement on their side. Mr Patten at the same time expressed his hope that "negotiations with Syria can be accelerated so that our important objective of concluding associations agreements with all our Euro-Med partners could be soon accomplished".[17] Global Health Security Initiative : David Byrne in Mexico for G7+ meetingThis third meeting of the G7+ Global Health Security Initiative takes place in Mexico City on 6 December. The initiative was launced in Ottawa in November 2001, when European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne and Health Ministers from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, the UK, France and Italy met and forged a partnership for concerted global action to strengthen the public health response to the threat of international biological, chemical and radio-nuclear terrorism. Participants in the ministerial meeting in Mexico will discuss issues such as the terms of reference for the Global Health Security Laboratory Network and for the action plan on chemical terrorist events, risk management and communication, smallpox vaccination production and proposals from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for a global strategic smallpox vaccine reserve as well as for a pandemic influenza initiative.[18] Autre matériel diffuséQuestions et réponses : une architecture institutionnelle pour l'Union européenne (Paix, Liberté, Solidarité)Speech by Romano Prodi : "The European Union's new institutional structure" at the European Parliament" Note on the signature of the Training Agreement in Agriculture Speech by Anna Diamantopoulou on the agreement on Training in the Agriculture Sector Déclaration de M. Prodi sur le Conseil européen de Copenhague à la Conférence des présidents des groupes politiques du Parlement européen (04/12) Discours de M. Prodi : "L'Europe du droit" au 50e anniversaire de la Cour de Justice (04/12, Luxembourg) Speech by Margot Wallström : "Greenhouse gas emissions trading within the European Union" at the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) Second Annual Conference (04/12) Speech by Mario Monti : "The integration of European capital market infrastructures and competition law" to the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers (APCIMS) Note on European Voluntary Service : citizenship and intercultural dialogue in moving From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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