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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-05-14
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Développer la coopération énergétique avec les pays voisins
[02] Commission charts course for closer EU-Canada relations
[03] Green light for the introduction of a risk equalisation scheme in the
Irish health insurance market
[04] Commission raises no objections to Irish State aid compensation
payments to airlines
[05] Feu vert de la Commission aux mesures fiscales françaises en faveur
des compagnies maritimes
[06] Commission approves proposed aid in favour of Adolf Jass Schwarza
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Retraites professionnelles : la Commission se félicite de l'adoption
définitive par le Conseil de la directive sur les fonds de pension
[08] Commission regrets US decision to file WTO case on GMOs as misguided
and unnecessary
[09] North Korea : Commission approves €7.5 million in humanitarian aid
[10] Zimbabwe : Commission approves €13 million in humanitarian aid
[11] Commissioner Wallström in Germany to promote new chemicals policy
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 14/05/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 14/05/2003[I] Résultats de la Commission
du 13 mai 2003 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 13 May 2003
[01] Développer la coopération énergétique avec les pays voisins
La Commission européenne a adopté une communication qui vise à renforcer la
coopération énergétique avec les pays voisins, dans le cadre de sa
stratégie plus large pour un nouveau cadre dans les relations avec ses
voisins. Cette communication définit des orientations pour faire face aux
défis d'une dépendance énergétique externe croissante entre l'Union
européenne et les pays voisins. Elle examine également la nécessité
d'aborder les questions d'infrastructure à un niveau régional, de
diversifier les sources d'énergie, à la fois au niveau géographique et
technologique, et d'élargir la base pour les échanges d'énergie entre
l'Europe et les continents voisins.
[02] Commission charts course for closer EU-Canada relations
The European Commission has adopted a Communication with a view to
strengthening further the ties between the EU and Canada. This
Communication, which is addressed to the European Council of Ministers and
Parliament, will be presented to the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien
by Commission President, Romano Prodi at the EU-Canada Summit in Athens on
28 May 2003. The central themes of the Communication are the reinforcement
of EU-Canada cooperation on international issues, notably under the EU's
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and the Commission's preliminary
thinking on the potential contents and scope of a bilateral trade and
investment agreement. Other issues addressed are collaboration on justice
and home affairs matters, on environmental questions, and strengthening
educational and cultural links between Europeans and Canadians.
[03] Green light for the introduction of a risk equalisation scheme in the
Irish health insurance market
The European Commission has decided not to raise objections to the
introduction of a risk equalisation scheme in the Irish health insurance
market. By introducing this scheme, the Irish authorities aim to prevent
new entrants in the market from "cherry picking" good insurance risks.
According to the Commission's investigation, the risk equalisation scheme
is necessary for the stability of the health insurance system chosen by the
Irish authorities. This choice implies a market relying on uniform tariffs
for different insurance products. Furthermore, the scheme has been designed
to ensure that the envisaged equalisation payments, to be administered by
the Irish Health Insurance Authority, are limited to the minimum necessary
to neutralise differences in health insurers' risk profiles. Therefore, the
risk equalisation scheme is in line with the EU rules on State aid.
[04] Commission raises no objections to Irish State aid compensation
payments to airlines
The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to
compensation under a procedure already in place in Ireland for losses
encountered by airlines due to the temporary closure of airspace especially
in the United States following the attacks of 11 September 2001. The
Commission concluded that this scheme is compatible with the common market.
[05] Feu vert de la Commission aux mesures fiscales françaises en faveur
des compagnies maritimes
La Commission européenne a décidé d'approuver le régime d'imposition
forfaitaire sur la base du tonnage que la France envisageait de mettre en
œuvre à partir de 2003 jusqu'en 2004 pour le secteur de transport maritime.
[06] Commission approves proposed aid in favour of Adolf Jass Schwarza
The European Commission has no objections that Germany grants aid of €70
million in the form of direct grants to the undertaking Adolf Jass
Schwarza. This aid is destined to finance the construction of a new plant
for the production of light-weight corrugated base paper. The project will
be located in the East German region of Thuringia. The aid will help to
create some 480 jobs. For this project the Commission authorises a maximum
allowable aid intensity of 35%.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Retraites professionnelles : la Commission se félicite de l'adoption
définitive par le Conseil de la directive sur les fonds de pension
La Commission européenne a salué l'adoption définitive par le Conseil de la
directive sur les activités et la surveillance des institutions de retraite
professionnelle (IRP) (voir également IP/03/360, IP/02/820, IP/00/1141 et
MEMO/00/62). Un grand pas est ainsi franchi dans la voie de la création
d'un marché intérieur des retraites professionnelles, dans un cadre
prudentiel suffisamment solide pour protéger les droits des futurs
retraités. Grâce à la directive, les institutions de retraite
professionnelle pourront opérer avec un maximum de sécurité et
d'efficacité. Les institutions concernées (fonds de pension et caisses de
retraite) couvrent environ 25% de la population active de l'Union et gèrent
des actifs dont la valeur atteint les 2.500 milliards d'€ (29% du PIB de
l'UE). Le Conseil est parvenu à un accord sur le texte adopté le 12 mars en
seconde lecture par le Parlement européen. La Commission avait présenté sa
proposition originale en octobre 2000. La directive, qui constitue un
élément central du Plan d'action de la Commission pour les services
financiers, doit être mise en œuvre par les Etats membres dans les 24 mois
qui suivent sa publication au Journal officiel de l'Union européenne.
[08] Commission regrets US decision to file WTO case on GMOs as misguided
and unnecessary
On 13 May, the US announced their intention to request WTO consultations on
the EU's authorisation system for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The European Commission regrets this move as legally unwarranted,
economically unfounded and politically unhelpful.
[09] North Korea : Commission approves €7.5 million in humanitarian aid
The European Commission has adopted a €7.5 million humanitarian aid plan to
support the health sector in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK). Funds, allocated by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO,
under the supervision of Commissioner Poul Nielson, will provide much-
needed equipment and medicines, and help rehabilitate health centres,
hospitals and special services. The programmes will be implemented by
international agencies operating in the country and supervised by ECHO
support offices in Pyongyang and Beijing. Since 2001, ECHO has contributed
more than €24 million to support humanitarian work in the region.
[10] Zimbabwe : Commission approves €13 million in humanitarian aid
The European Commission has adopted a €13 million humanitarian aid package
to support vulnerable people affected by drought and food shortages in
Zimbabwe. The funds provided by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office,
ECHO, under the supervision of Commissioner Poul Nielson, will help improve
nutrition, food, water and sanitation levels and combat HIV/AIDS. The
projects will be implemented by ECHO's partners working in the field.
Including this latest decision, ECHO has committed €29.2 million to help
combat the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe since 2001.
[11] Commissioner Wallström in Germany to promote new chemicals policy
European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström will be in Germany on
Thursday and Friday this week to discuss the future chemicals policy with
representatives from industry and local government of Rhineland-Palatinate
and North Rheine-Westphalia. Last week the Commission gave their approval
to a final 8 weeks internet consultation of the workability of the new
regulatory system for chemicals jointly presented by Margot Wallström and
Industry Commissioner Erkki Liikanen (see IP/03/646). During her trip, the
Commissioner will meet the Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, Kurt
Beck, and the Minister for the Environment, Margit Conrad, on 15 May. A
visit to the BASF chemicals plant in Ludwigshafen is also planned. Press
points are foreseen at these two events. On 16 May Commissioner Wallström
will meet with the Minister President of North Rheine-Westphalia, Peer
Steinbrück, Environment Minister Bärbel Höhn and other Ministers. The
Commissioner will give a speech at a stakeholder conference on the
chemicals reform, which will be followed by a press conference at the
Regional Parliament of North Rheine-Westphalia.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Spokesperson's statement on dawn raids in the copper concentrate sector
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Ecofin aspects fiscalité et services
financiers
Speech by Günter Verheugen : "Implementation of reforms in Turkey is a
determining factor" at the EP plenary session (13/05, Strasbourg)
Speech by Michaele Schreyer : "Preliminary draft budget for 2004" at the
Ecofin Council (13/05)
Speech by Chris Patten : "The EU commitment to Colombia" at the occasion of
the Columbia-EU Forum (13/05, Bogota)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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