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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-02-03
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission autorise le rachat par la société belge UCB de trois
unités de production de spécialités chimiques appartenant à Solutia
[02] Animal welfare : Commission reduces export refunds for live cattle
[03] Décembre 2002 : le chômage dans la zone euro stable à 8,5% ; l'UE15 en
hausse à 7,8%
[04] December 2002 : industrial producer prices up by 0.3% in euro-zone ;
up by 0.4% in EU15
[05] Economic review of EU Mediterranean Partners
[06] First meeting of high level group on patient mobility
[07] Tobacco Control and Development Policy meeting in Brussels on 3-4
February
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 03/02/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 03/02/2003
[01] La Commission autorise le rachat par la société belge UCB de trois
unités de production de spécialités chimiques appartenant à Solutia
La Commission européenne a autorisé UCB SA/NV, une entreprise belge de
produits pharmaceutiques et de spécialités chimiques, à mener à bien son
projet d'acquisition de l'activité résine, adhésifs et additifs de la
société américaine Solutia Inc.
[02] Animal welfare : Commission reduces export refunds for live cattle
In order to take account of animal welfare concerns, a regulation reducing
the cases for which a refund for the export of live bovine animals can be
granted has come into force today. This regulation also provides for a
substantial simplification of the scheme by eliminating 26 lines of export
refunds for live animals. From today, export refunds will no longer be
granted for slaughter animals, except to third countries which need to
satisfy their traditional demand for cultural and/or religious reasons.
Moreover, with regard to pure-bred breeding animals, and in order to
prevent abuse of the refund system, the payment of export refunds will be
limited to females of 30 months or less. The consequence of this decision
is the dramatic reduction of the number of cases for which an export refund
can be granted for live animals. Furthermore, on 21 January the Commission
services have presented a draft regulation to reinforce veterinary controls
and sanctions in case of non-compliance with the animal welfare
legislation. These two legislative initiatives follow the announcement made
in the mid-term review of July 2002 where the European Commission announced
"to reinforce the conditions and controls under which export subsidies for
live animals can be granted".
[03] Décembre 2002 : le chômage dans la zone euro stable à 8,5% ; l'UE15 en
hausse à 7,8%
Le taux de chômage de la zone euro, corrigé des variations saisonnières,
s'élevait à 8,5% en décembre 2002, inchangé par rapport au mois de novembre,
selon les données publiées aujourd'hui par Eurostat. Il était de 8,1% en
décembre 2001. Le taux de chômage de l'UE15 s'élevait à 7,8% en décembre
2002, comparé à 7,7% en novembre. Il était de 7,4% en décembre 2001. En
décembre 2002, les taux les plus bas ont été enregistrés au Luxembourg (2,
7%), aux Pays-Bas (2,9% en novembre), en Autriche (4,2%), en Irlande (4,4%)
et au Danemark (4,7%). Le taux de chômage de l'Espagne (12,0%) est resté le
plus élevé de l'UE.
[04] December 2002 : industrial producer prices up by 0.3% in euro-zone ;
up by 0.4% in EU15
The euro-zone industrial producer price index increased by 0.3% in December
2002 compared with the previous month, Eurostat estimates today. EU15
prices increased by 0.4%. In November 2002 prices decreased by 0.3% in the
euro-zone and by 0.2% in the EU15. In December 2002 compared to December
2001, industrial producer prices increased by 1.5% in the euro-zone and by
1.4% in the EU15.
[05] Economic review of EU Mediterranean Partners
At the same time as the Conference on "The Euro, the Mediterranean and the
Gulf" in Athens today, the European Commission publishes a document the
main purpose of which is to give an overview of recent macroeconomic and
structural developments in Mediterranean countries. The structure of this
first issue is as follows : a) a section on some basic economic
characteristics and selected trends of Mediterranean countries, including
relations with the EU ; b) a broad overview of macroeconomic developments
in the region as a whole ; and c) country specific sections on
macroeconomic developments, structural reforms and international relations
for each of the Mediterranean countries. Full document available on :
http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/occasional_papers/occasionalpapers2_en.htm
[06] First meeting of high level group on patient mobility
Health ministers from most Member States will attend a meeting hosted by
the European Commission in Brussels today to launch an informal high level
process of reflection on the question of patient mobility. Co-chaired by
Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne and Employment and
Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, the meeting is the first
in a series of high level discussions planned for this year. The reflection
process seeks to produce a coherent political response to a range of issues
affecting healthcare systems including recent European Court of Justice
judgements (see IP/01/995) on the right of patients to have their national
healthcare system pay for treatment received in another Member State. The
aim is to produce a set of conclusions by the end of 2003. The launching of
the reflection process follows discussions between the Commission and
Member States on this issue and a debate at the June 2002 Health Council
concerning patient mobility (see MEMO/02/155). Representatives of civil
society are participating in the process and EU Internal Market
Commissioner Frits Bolkestein is also closely involved in its work and will
give a presentation to today's meeting.
[07] Tobacco Control and Development Policy meeting in Brussels on 3-4
February
A seminar and round table on tobacco control and development has been
organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank. Commissioners Poul Nielson,
responsible for Development and Humanitarian aid, and David Byrne,
responsible for Health and Consumer protection, will both take part in the
round table on Tuesday. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the WHO,
Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa, Brazilian Ambassador and Chairman of the
International Negotiation Body for a Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC), and Annette Dixon from the World Bank will also participate
as well as a number of high-level representatives from developing countries
and NGOs. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss how EU development
cooperation can be used to support efforts made in developing countries to
reduce tobacco consumption. EU development cooperation is largely based on
support to partner countries. While not trying to impose tobacco control on
any country, it is clear that increased tobacco consumption poses a severe
health threat. The Commission is therefore open to discuss with developing
countries how existing funds and instruments can be used to address the
problems. The meeting will also discuss the economics of addressing tobacco
control in developing countries. According to studies undertaken by the
World Bank, most countries would make net economic gains if their demand
for tobacco products fell. The round table on tobacco control takes place a
few weeks before the next FCTC negotiation round starts in Geneva. WHO and
Commission hope that this round will be able to finalise a FCTC text which
can then be signed by governments later this spring.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de M. Prodi : "L'Union européenne du futur" à l'occasion du 20ème
anniversaire du Patronat Català (Barcelone, ! embargo 14h30 !)
Speech by Romano Prodi : "Albania's European destiny" at the Albanian
Parliament (31/01, Tirana)
Discours de Mme Reding : "Diversité culturelle : l'Europe en première
ligne" aux 2èmes rencontres internationales des organisations
professionnelles de la culture (02/02, Paris)
Speech by Pedro Solbes : "The euro, the Mediterranean and the Gulf"
(Athens)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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