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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-07-10
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission takes action on financial mismanagement in Eurostat
[02] La Commission propose des orientations éthiques strictes concernant le
financement communautaire de la recherche sur les cellules souches
embryonnaires humaines
[03] Initiative for Growth : boosting investment in Trans European Networks
and major R&D projects
[04] La Commission ouvre une procédure d'examen à l'égard des aides
françaises à Interbev
[05] Free movement of capital : Commission requests Spain and Italy to
change laws on investment in energy companies
[06] Pensions taxation : Commission decides to refer Denmark to Court over
discrimination and to open infringement procedures against the UK and
Ireland
[07] Taxation des véhicules : la Commission saisit la Cour contre le
Danemark et demande à la Grèce d'éliminer la discrimination
[08] Taxation : Germany and Austria must end discrimination against foreign
investment funds ; Commission seeks information from France
[09] Industrial property : eight Member States referred to Court for
failure to implement Directive on legal protection of biotechnological
inventions
[10] Temps de travail des marins : la Commission dénonce l'Irlande et le
Luxembourg
[11] Services de remorquage et taxes prélevées sur les navires, les
véhicules et les passagers dans les ports grecs : la Commission décide de
saisir la Cour de justice à l'encontre de la Grèce
[12] Rail infrastructure package : Commission sends reasoned opinions to
ten Member States
[13] Ban on certain goods on the A12 Inntal motorway in Austria :
Commission pursues infringement proceedings
[14] Road safety : Commission refers Austria and Luxembourg to the Court of
Justice
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[15] Romano Prodi visits Croatia
[16] Selon la Commission, l'action engagée devant l'OMC contre le marché du
sucre de l'UE portera préjudice aux pays en voie de développement
[17] Commission indicator forecasts euro area quarterly GDP growth of 0% to
0.4% for 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2003
[18] Deuxième estimation pour le premier trimestre 2003 : le PIB de la zone
euro et celui de l'UE15 en hausse de 0,1%; +0,8% et +1,1% respectivement
par rapport au premier trimestre 2002
[19] Année européenne de l'éducation par le sport 2004 : lancement d'un
concours pour le logo de l'Année
[20] EUROPE DIRECT : rapprocher l'Union européenne du citoyen
[21] First stakeholder conference on European Environment and Health
Strategy
[22] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 10/07/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 10/07/2003[I] Résultats de la Commission
du 9 juillet 2003 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 9 July 2003
(voir aussi see also ME of 09/07)
[01] Commission takes action on financial mismanagement in Eurostat
Over the past few weeks the European Commission has conducted its own
internal investigations into the Statistical Office of the European
Communities, Eurostat. The preliminary results of these analyses clearly
point towards the existence of systemic management weaknesses and
irregularities within Eurostat. With all due respect to the independent and
on-going proceedings of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the
Commission believes these concerns have to be dealt with immediately.
Therefore the Commission has agreed on a series of measures which are
designed to address the most pressing problems.
[02] La Commission propose des orientations éthiques strictes concernant le
financement communautaire de la recherche sur les cellules souches
embryonnaires humaines
La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition d'orientations éthiques
concernant le financement communautaire de la recherche sur les cellules
souches embryonnaires humaines. Le sixième programme-cadre de recherche de
l'Union européenne (6e PC 2003-2006), adopté par le Conseil et le Parlement
européen en 2002, autorise le financement de la recherche sur les cellules
souches embryonnaires humaines dans le cadre de la lutte contre certaines
grandes maladies. Cette recherche, en particulier lorsqu'elle implique le
prélèvement des cellules souches sur des embryons humains surnuméraires,
doit nécessairement s'inscrire à l'intérieur d'un cadre d'orientations
éthiques claires et strictes. Le programme de recherche de l'Union
européenne contient des dispositions éthiques applicables aux domaines de
recherche sensibles. Etant donné le caractère sensible de la recherche sur
les cellules souches embryonnaires humaines, le Conseil et la Commission
sont convenus, dans le cadre du processus décisionnel relatif au 6e PC, que
de nouvelles orientations éthiques seraient adoptées avant la fin de
l'année 2003 pour définir les principes devant régir les décisions et le
suivi des décisions de financement communautaire de la recherche sur les
cellules souches embryonnaires. La proposition adoptée aujourd'hui présente
un ensemble cohérent d'orientations éthiques strictes applicables aux
décisions de financement communautaire des projets de recherche qui
impliquent le prélèvement de cellules souches sur des embryons humains
surnuméraires. En parallèle, la Commission publie un appel de propositions
concernant l'élaboration d'un registre européen des cellules souches et la
participation à l'établissement de banques de cellules souches publiques.
L'UE contribuera de la sorte à optimiser l'accès à ces cellules et leur
utilisation, ce qui garantira que les résultats de la recherche soient
finalement mis plus rapidement à la portée de l'ensemble des patients à
travers l'Europe.
[03] Initiative for Growth : boosting investment in Trans European Networks
and major R&D projects
The European Commission has outlined its comprehensive package of financial
and regulatory measures to boost investment in Trans European Networks
(TENs) and major Research and Development (R&D) projects : the Initiative
for Growth. The obstacles to more private sector investment in these two
areas are multiple and complex. They can only be overcome if EU Member
States take the long-term view and develop credible policies to overcome
the regulatory and technical obstacles that hinder an acceleration of
investment in these fields. Governments are invited to review their revenue
and expenditure plans, to redirect their public expenditure towards growth-
enhancing investment and to seek a higher leverage from private investment.
EU funding has to become more focused on high priority projects and the
European Investment Bank (EIB) has to provide support with the necessary
instruments to accompany this effort. The "Initiative for Growth" follows
on the Thessaloniki European Council conclusions and builds on the
preparatory work carried out by the Commission since the Spring Council in
these respective areas. More detailed proposals in cooperation with the EIB
will be tabled in time for the October European Council. The Italian
Presidency has made it a priority to coordinate the various Council
formations involved and to generate the necessary political support that is
crucial for this important initiative to deliver tangible results.
[04] La Commission ouvre une procédure d'examen à l'égard des aides
françaises à Interbev
La Commission européenne a décidé d'ouvrir une procédure formelle d'examen
à l'égard des cotisations interprofessionnelles en France au profit de
l'Association Nationale Interprofessionnelle du Bétail et des Viandes
(Interbev). Cet examen porte surtout sur les cotisations qui concernent les
viandes importées pour être consommées en France ainsi que les animaux
expédiés vers d'autres Etats membres.
[05] Free movement of capital : Commission requests Spain and Italy to
change laws on investment in energy companies
The European Commission has decided to send Spain and Italy formal requests
to comply with Community law with regard to the legislation that limits the
voting rights on investment in the energy sector by state-owned companies.
The Commission is concerned that certain provisions of the Spanish and the
Italian laws in question constitute unjustified restriction on the free
movement of capital in violation of EU Treaty rules (Article 56). The
Commission's requests are in the form of reasoned opinions, the second
stage in the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC
Treaty. Should the authorities of the Member States concerned not take
satisfactory steps to comply within two months of receiving the reasoned
opinion, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the EU's Court of
Justice.
[06] Pensions taxation : Commission decides to refer Denmark to Court over
discrimination and to open infringement procedures against the UK and
Ireland
The European Commission has decided to refer Denmark to the Court of
Justice because pension contributions paid to non-Danish funds are not tax
deductible while contributions paid to domestic funds are. The Commission
considers that Danish legislation in this respect is contrary to the
principles of freedom to provide services (Article 49 of the EC Treaty) and
the free movement of workers and capital (Articles 39 and 56 of the EC
Treaty). Denmark has not amended its legislation despite a formal request
from the Commission to do so in February 2003 (see IP/03/179). The
Commission has also expressed its serious concerns as to the compatibility
with EU law of the tax legislation of the United Kingdom and Ireland
regarding pension contributions. It has therefore decided to issue formal
requests to the UK and Ireland for information concerning their legislation
and practice. These requests take the form of so-called 'letters of formal
notice', the first stage of formal infringement procedures under Article
226 of the EC Treaty. They will have two months to reply.
[07] Taxation des véhicules : la Commission saisit la Cour contre le
Danemark et demande à la Grèce d'éliminer la discrimination
La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de Justice contre le
Danemark concernant l'application discriminatoire d'une taxe dite
"d'immatriculation" aux voitures des personnes qui transfèrent leur
résidence définitive vers ce pays. Par ailleurs, la Commission a décidé
d'adresser une demande formelle à la Grèce de ne plus appliquer de façon
discriminatoire la taxation des bases de camions d'occasion en provenance
d'autres pays. Cette demande à la Grèce est sous forme d'un avis motivé, la
deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction sous l'Article 226. Ces
démarches s'insèrent dans la stratégie globale de taxation des voitures
particulières dans l'Union européenne récemment présentée par la Commission
(voir IP/02/1274 du 9 septembre 2002).
[08] Taxation : Germany and Austria must end discrimination against foreign
investment funds ; Commission seeks information from France
The European Commission has decided to send official requests to Germany
and Austria to put an end to discriminatory tax treatment of foreign
investment funds that makes it more difficult for foreign funds to market
their services in these two countries. The Commission considers that
certain tax provisions in the two countries violate EC Treaty rules on free
movement of services and capital (Articles 49 and 56). In particular, in
Germany only half the profits from domestic investment funds are taxable
whereas all the profits from non-domestic investment funds are taxable.
Also in Austria, profits from domestic investment funds are taxed less than
profits from foreign funds. In both cases the formal requests take the form
of reasoned opinions, the second stage of the infringement procedure
provided for in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence of a
satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may decide to refer
the cases to the Court of Justice. The Commission has also decided to send
a formal request for information to France concerning tax allowances that
are available on income from shares issued in France but not elsewhere.
This request takes the form of a letter of formal notice, the first stage
of infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty.
[09] Industrial property : eight Member States referred to Court for
failure to implement Directive on legal protection of biotechnological
inventions
The European Commission has decided to refer Germany, Austria, Belgium,
France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden to the European Court
of Justice, as they have still not implemented Directive 98/44/EC on the
legal protection of biotechnological inventions. The Directive should have
been written into national law by 30 July 2000. It aims to clarify certain
principles of patent law applied to biotechnological inventions whilst
ensuring that strict ethical rules are respected. Such clarifications have
proved essential in order to fully exploit the medical, environmental and
economic potential of biotechnology in line with high ethical standards.
Non-implementation of this Directive is putting the European biotechnology
sector at a serious disadvantage. Despite the Commission's efforts to co-
operate closely with them in order to try and accelerate the implementation
procedure, the Member States concerned failed to reply satisfactorily to
formal requests - in the form of reasoned opinions - sent by the Commission
in December 2002 (see IP/02/1928).
[10] Temps de travail des marins : la Commission dénonce l'Irlande et le
Luxembourg
La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de justice à l'encontre
de l'Irlande et du Luxembourg pour défaut de communication à la Commission
des mesures nationales de transposition de la directive sur le temps de
travail des gens de mer.
[11] Services de remorquage et taxes prélevées sur les navires, les
véhicules et les passagers dans les ports grecs : la Commission décide de
saisir la Cour de justice à l'encontre de la Grèce
La Commission européenne a décidé d'introduire devant la Cour de justice
deux recours contre la Grèce en raison du non-respect par ce pays de la
législation européenne relative au transport maritime. L'un des recours
concerne la législation grecque sur les services de remorquage, l'autre les
droits portuaires prélevés en infraction des règles européennes sur la
libre prestation des services de transport maritime.
[12] Rail infrastructure package : Commission sends reasoned opinions to
ten Member States
The European Commission is launching legal proceedings against the ten EU
countries that have failed to notify the Commission of any transposition of
the rail infrastructure package opening the market for international rail
freight services. The transposition of this set of three directives into
the national legal framework should enable more efficient and on-time cross-
border operations needed by rail to compete with road. The Commission will
fully play its role in ensuring a European level playing field.
[13] Ban on certain goods on the A12 Inntal motorway in Austria :
Commission pursues infringement proceedings
The European Commission has decided to send Austria a reasoned opinion.
Austria is planning to ban heavy goods vehicles carrying certain goods from
a section of the A12 motorway from 1 August 2003. The measure breaches the
rules on the freedom to provide services and hampers the free movement of
goods in the Union. The information provided by the Austrian Government
since the Commission opened infringement proceedings on 25 June 2003 is
insufficient. The Austrian authorities have ten days to respond. If they do
not, or if their reply is unsatisfactory, the Commission could decide to
bring the matter before the Court of Justice.
[14] Road safety : Commission refers Austria and Luxembourg to the Court of
Justice
The European Commission has sent a formal complaint to the Court of Justice
concerning Austria and Luxembourg's failure to transpose EU road safety
legislation into national law. The Directive on the technical roadside
inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the
Union should have been transposed by 10/8/2002. The Directive aims to
improve the safety and environmental performance of heavy commercial
vehicles circulating in the Union by supplementing the annual
roadworthiness test with random inspections of a representative proportion
of the heavy commercial vehicle on Member States' roads each year. Vehicles
that prove not to be roadworthy as a result of a random inspection,
wherever they are registered may be prohibited from free circulation. It is
anticipated that the enforcement of these random inspections will rapidly
improve the maintenance condition of the Union's commercial vehicles and
commercial vehicles from third countries that transit the Union.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[15] Romano Prodi visits Croatia
The President of the European Commission Romano Prodi is visiting Croatia
today as part of the Commission's close relationship with this country.
During his visit, President Prodi will officially hand over the
Questionnaire with more than 2,500 questions necessary for the Commission
to prepare an Opinion on Croatia. This follows Croatia's membership
application submitted in February 2003 and the subsequent request of the
Council to the Commission to prepare an Opinion. President Prodi will
encourage the Croatian authorities to proceed with the necessary reforms,
including on some political issues, with the full support of the European
Commission. As a follow up to the Thessaloniki Summit, the President will
also reiterate the European Integration perspective for the other South-
eastern European countries.
[16] Selon la Commission, l'action engagée devant l'OMC contre le marché du
sucre de l'UE portera préjudice aux pays en voie de développement
L'UE regrette profondément la décision du Brésil, de l'Australie et de la
Thaïlande de demander la constitution d'un groupe spécial de l'OMC contre
l'organisation commune du marché du sucre de l'UE. Ces trois pays
contestent le droit de l'UE d'exporter du sucre sans restitutions à
l'exportation ainsi que les arrangements spéciaux accordés par le cycle de
l'Uruguay au sucre en provenance des pays d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du
Pacifique (pays ACP). Au cours des derniers mois, les pays ACP exportateurs
de sucre ont exprimé leurs profondes inquiétudes et leur opposition à
l'égard de l'action engagée par le Brésil, l'Australie et la Thaïlande, qui
comporte le risque de fragiliser leurs exportations préférentielles de
sucre à destination de l'Europe.
[17] Commission indicator forecasts euro area quarterly GDP growth of 0% to
0.4% for 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2003
The indicator-based model for quarterly GDP growth for the euro area,
developed by the European Commission's Directorate General for Economic and
Financial Affairs, forecasts a range of 0% to 0.4% for GDP growth in the
second quarter of 2003, unchanged compared to last release. Most indicators
used in the model for this horizon continue to suggest slow growth,
although some recent confidence indicators have shown a slight improvement.
For the third quarter of 2003, the model suggests growth in the same 0 to
0.4% range.
[18] Deuxième estimation pour le premier trimestre 2003 : le PIB de la zone
euro et celui de l'UE15 en hausse de 0,1%; +0,8% et +1,1% respectivement
par rapport au premier trimestre 2002
Le Produit Intérieur Brut (PIB) de la zone euro et celui de l'UE15 ont
augmenté de 0,1% au cours du premier trimestre 2003, selon les estimations
publiées aujourd'hui par Eurostat. Ces résultats font suite à une
croissance de 0,1% dans les deux zones au cours du quatrième trimestre
2002. En comparaison avec le premier trimestre 2002, le PIB de la zone euro
a augmenté de 0,8% et celui de l'UE15 de 1,1%, après des hausses de
respectivement, 1,2% et 1,4% au cours du trimestre précédent.
[19] Année européenne de l'éducation par le sport 2004 : lancement d'un
concours pour le logo de l'Année
Ce concours s'adresse aux étudiants en design graphique vivant dans l'Union
européenne, dans l'un des nouveaux Etats membres ou dans un pays de
l'Espace économique européen. Le vainqueur recevra un prix d'une valeur de
5.000€ et sera invité aux Jeux olympiques d'Athènes ou à l'Euro de football
au Portugal. D'autres prix seront décernés aux projets classés deuxième et
troisième. Le logo, qui sera choisi par la Commission sur avis d'un jury
d'experts en design et en marketing, sera présenté dès l'automne 2003. La
date de clôture du concours est fixée au 15 septembre 2003.
[20] EUROPE DIRECT : rapprocher l'Union européenne du citoyen
Alors que la Convention sur l'avenir de l'Europe achève ses travaux cette
semaine, la Commission européenne étend son service EUROPE DIRECT un
exemple concret d'effort visant à rapprocher l'Europe des citoyens. EUROPE
DIRECT permet déjà aux citoyens et aux entreprises à travers l'Union
européenne (UE) d'obtenir des réponses à leurs questions au sujet de l'UE
dans les onze langues officielles, en appelant un numéro de téléphone
gratuit, le 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11, ou en utilisant le courrier électronique
(http://europa.eu.int/europedirect/). Depuis le mois dernier, ce service a
été étendu afin de permettre aux visiteurs du serveur web EUROPA d'être mis
en contact direct avec un opérateur du centre d'appels EUROPE DIRECT, qui
les aidera dans leurs recherches en ligne.
[21] First stakeholder conference on European Environment and Health
Strategy
On Friday 11 July 2003, at 10.00, European Environment Commissioner Margot
Wallström opens the first stakeholder meeting on the new "European
Environment and Health Strategy". The Commission adopted its Communication
on the new strategy on 11 June 2003 (see IP/03/823). The ultimate goal of
the strategy is to reduce diseases linked to environmental factors. The aim
is to enable a better understanding of the relationship between
environmental factors and adverse health effects, in particular focusing on
children's health. In the Communication, the Commission stressed that the
"Action Plan 2004-2010", which will be presented as the EU's contribution
to the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment & Health in Budapest in
June 2004, will be developed on the basis of full stakeholder consultation.
The Commission will work closely together with a broad range of environment
and health experts from the Member States and Acceding Countries,
stakeholders, NGO's, international organisations, academia, research, the
medical community, professional organisations and industry. Several Working
Groups and a Consultative Group on environment and health will be
established after the stakeholders conference. The press is invited to
attend the conference, which takes place in "Conference Center Albert
Borschette", Room OD, Rue Froissart, 36 in 1040 Brussels. website:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/health/index_en.htm
[22] Autre matériel diffusé
Note sur le Conseil informel Emploi et Affaires sociales (11-12, Varese)
Speech by President Romano Prodi : "Croatia's journey towards EU
membership" at Croatian Parliament (Zagreb)
Discours de M. Fischler sur la réforme de la PAC devant la commission
Agriculture et Développement rural du PE (09/07)
Discours de Mme de Palacio : "Pétrole et sécurité d'approvisionnement" au
dîner-débat 'The world oil market situation and OPEC' (09/07)
Discours de M. Busquin : "Pour une vraie stratégie spatiale pour l'Europe"
lors de la visite à Telespazio (Fucino)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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