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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-11-19

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Commission proceeds with excessive deficit procedure for Germany
  • [02] Droit des sociétés : la Commission propose une directive sur les fusions transfrontalières
  • [03] La Commission adopte des propositions de réforme pour les secteurs du tabac, de l'huile d'olive, du coton et du houblon en Europe
  • [04] Commission outlines ways to facilitate the work of the Competitiveness Council
  • [05] Bosnia and Herzegovina : Commission approves Feasibility Study
  • [06] Karl-Johan Lönnroth appointed Director General of DG Translation
  • [07] Commission strengthens Internal Audit Service to meet additional challenges
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [08] Lutter contre la contrefaçon et le piratage grâce à la recherche européenne
  • [09] September 2003 : Euro-zone external trade surplus €8.5 billion ; €0.5 billion deficit for EU15
  • [10] Commission underlines success at 2003 ITU World Radiocommunications Conference
  • [11] 20% testing requirement for imports of poultry meat from Thailand lifted
  • [12] Poul Nielson to visit Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar (20-30/11)
  • [13] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 19/11/2003 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 19/11/2003[I] Résultats de la Commission du 18 novembre 2003 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 18 November

  • [01] Commission proceeds with excessive deficit procedure for Germany

    The European Commission has adopted today two recommendations for the Council in relation to the excessive deficit procedure for Germany. The first, under article 104(8) establishes that the action taken by Germany in 2003 is proving inadequate and as a result the excessive deficit will persist in 2004. The second, under Article 104(9), requests Germany to take new measures to reduce the budget deficit and remedy the situation by 2005 at the latest. In order to avoid the risk that the excessive deficit continues for the fourth year in a row in 2005, the Commission considers that the budgetary adjustment in 2004 should be larger than the one contained in the draft Budget for 2004. It is recommended to reduce the cyclically-adjusted deficit by 0.8% of GDP in 2004. Overall, budgetary consolidation measures should secure a lasting improvement in the general government balance. When drawing up the measures to be taken in order to comply with these recommendations, Germany should take into account the recommendations issued by the Council in the framework of the 2003-2005 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. They highlight the need for structural reforms as the main solution to the growth under-performance of the German economy. This decision follows the Council Recommendation under Article 104(7) of the Treaty on 21 January 2003.

    [02] Droit des sociétés : la Commission propose une directive sur les fusions transfrontalières

    La Commission européenne a présenté une proposition de directive visant à faciliter les fusions transfrontalières, en supprimant les obstacles inhérents à la coexistence de législations nationales différentes. Si elle concerne toutes les sociétés de capitaux, cette directive servirait tout particulièrement les intérêts des PME souhaitant opérer dans plusieurs Etats membres, mais non dans toute l'Europe, et, partant, peu susceptibles de demander le statut de société européenne. Ses dispositions établiraient une procédure de fusion transfrontalière, selon laquelle ce type d'opérations serait régi, dans chaque Etat membre, par les principes et règles applicables aux fusions "nationales". La proposition de directive, qui vise à combler une lacune importante du droit des sociétés, est la première mesure présentée au titre du plan d'action de la Commission sur la modernisation du droit des sociétés et le renforcement du gouvernement d'entreprise dans l'Union européenne, publié en mai 2003 (voir IP/03/716 et MEMO/03/112). Conformément à la procédure dite "de codécision", elle sera soumise pour adoption au Conseil de l'Union européenne (qui doit la voter à la majorité qualifiée) et au Parlement européen.

    [03] La Commission adopte des propositions de réforme pour les secteurs du tabac, de l'huile d'olive, du coton et du houblon en Europe

    La Commission européenne a présenté des propositions visant à réformer les règles de la politique agricole commune (PAC) concernant le tabac, l'huile d'olive et les olives de table, le coton et le houblon, qui mettent l'accent sur la compétitivité, une orientation plus nette sur le marché, un respect accru de l'environnement, la stabilisation des revenus des agriculteurs et une meilleure prise en compte de la situation des producteurs dans les régions défavorisées. Ces propositions sous-tendront la prochaine étape de la réforme de la PAC qui fera suite aux décisions de réforme adoptées le 29 septembre 2003 par le Conseil des ministres de l'UE. Pour les quatre secteurs concernés, une partie importante des paiements actuellement liés à la production serait transférée vers le régime du paiement unique découplé. Les subventions en faveur du houblon seraient entièrement découplées, de même que l'aide au tabac, pour laquelle la Commission envisage une approche progressive en trois étapes. Pour le coton et l'huile d'olive, un paiement couplé spécifique serait maintenu. Ainsi, la proposition tient compte de l'impact potentiel d'un découplage total des aides dans ces secteurs, et notamment du risque que la production soit abandonnée et que la compétitivité des zones rurales diminue. Ces propositions font suite à la communication de la Commission de septembre 2003 (voir IP/03/1285 et IP/03/1314) sur la manière de parvenir à un modèle d'agriculture durable dans ces quatre secteurs par le biais de la réforme de la PAC. A la suite de consultations approfondies avec les Etats membres, les régions concernées et les représentants des secteurs, la Commission a introduit certaines modifications dans les textes juridiques relatifs au tabac et à l'huile d'olive en ce qui concerne la communication. Les réformes proposées entreraient en vigueur en 2005 et seraient soumises à une révision à mi-parcours. Elles seraient neutres, sur le plan budgétaire, par rapport aux dépenses passées.

    [04] Commission outlines ways to facilitate the work of the Competitiveness Council

    The European Commission has launched a Communication that will facilitate and guide the work of the Competitiveness Council to improve competitiveness across the EU. With its Communication "Some key issues of Europe's competitiveness towards an integrated approach", the Commission aims to re-launch Europe's competitive drive. The Communication issues a first reflection about the performance and future of EU industry, based on an analysis of its current state of competitiveness. The Communication pinpoints how exploiting synergies between different policies at EU and national level such as Industrial Policy, Internal Market Strategy, Research and Competition will pay off in increased competitiveness. It urges all EU institutions and the Members States to play their part by adopting and implementing legislation crucial for economic growth, but also by taking full account of the competitiveness consequences of all their decisions. This integrated approach, which responds to a request by the Spring European Council, will be discussed with Member States at the Competitiveness Council on 27 November.

    [05] Bosnia and Herzegovina : Commission approves Feasibility Study

    The European Commission has approved a Feasibility Study assessing the readiness of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to take its next steps towards European Integration, by opening negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The Commission concludes that it hopes to be able to recommend the opening of SAA negotiations next year - on the condition that BiH makes significant progress in a number of areas identified as priorities for action : compliance with existing conditionality and international obligations; more effective governance; more effective public administration; European integration; effective human rights provisions; effective judiciary; tackling crime, especially organised crime; managing asylum and migration; customs and taxation reform; budget legislation; budget practice; reliable statistics; consistent trade policy; integrated energy market; BiH single economic space and public broadcasting.

    [06] Karl-Johan Lönnroth appointed Director General of DG Translation

    The European Commission has appointed Mr Karl-Johan Lönnroth, Commission official of Finnish nationality, Director General of DG Translation. Mr Lönnroth will take over the DG, the Commission's largest, at a time when it is going through a major restructuring and preparing for enlargement, which will increase the number of official languages from 11 to 20.

    [07] Commission strengthens Internal Audit Service to meet additional challenges

    The European Commission has approved measures to strengthen the Internal Audit Service by splitting the current structure into two distinct directorates, one focusing on carrying out audits and the other responsible for resources, coordination and communication. It also cleared the way for advertising, both internally and externally, the post of Director General of the IAS, in order to find a replacement for Jules Muis, who steps down at the end of March next year. The IAS was created in 2000 and has been shown to play a crucial role in financial management and control at the Commission. A number of new challenges, including the new Financial Regulation and EU enlargement, justify further strengthening this vital Directorate-General.

    [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

    [08] Lutter contre la contrefaçon et le piratage grâce à la recherche européenne

    Comment pouvez-vous être sûr que votre montre n'est pas une contrefaçon ? Comment éviter le changement, ou la disparition, de la cargaison d'un conteneur de fret entre son point de départ et son point d'arrivée ? Le Centre commun de recherche de la Commission européenne (CCR) a mis au point des dispositifs techniques d'aide à la lutte contre la contrefaçon et le trafic illicite. A l'aide de techniques sophistiquées, conçues à l'origine pour le secteur des garanties nucléaires, la Commission a inventé et testé des prototypes et des applications qui serviront à identifier les montres et à sceller les conteneurs de fret. On peut citer, par exemple, des transpondeurs radio intégrés dans des montres, l'identification par ultrasons de certaines marques faites sur des montres ou encore le scellement électronique de cargaisons de fret au moyen de transpondeurs radio multiples. La contrefaçon, le piratage et le trafic illicite touchent entre 5% et 7% des échanges mondiaux. La contrefaçon représente un chiffre d'affaires annuel de 450 millions d'€ sur le plan mondial, dont 60% est réalisé dans des pays de l'UE. C'est le secteur des montres qui est le plus touché (5%).

    [09] September 2003 : Euro-zone external trade surplus €8.5 billion ; €0.5 billion deficit for EU15

    According to Eurostat, the first estimate for euro-zone trade with the rest of the world in September 2003 was a €8.5 billion surplus, compared with +9.2 billion in September 2002. The August 2003 balance was +7.5 billion compared with +8.5 billion in August 2002. In September 2003, exports and imports, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 0.9% and 2.4% respectively compared to August 2003. The first estimate for September 2003 extra-EU15 trade was a €0.5 billion deficit, against a €1.4 billion surplus in September 2002. In August 2003, the balance was +1.8 billion, compared with +1.3 billion in August 2002. In September 2003, exports and imports, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 2.5% and 0.6% respectively compared to August 2003.

    [10] Commission underlines success at 2003 ITU World Radiocommunications Conference

    Today the European Commission adopted a Communication underlining the successes achieved for Europe at the World Radiocommunications Conference, which completed its work in July 2003 (the WRC-03). The Communication provides an analysis of the impact of WRC decisions on underlying EU policies and identifies necessary implementation actions, based on the outcomes of this regulatory conference that agreed Radio Spectrum access at a global level.

    [11] 20% testing requirement for imports of poultry meat from Thailand lifted

    The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on a Commission proposal to lift the remaining 20% testing requirement of poultry meat from Thailand. Since March 2002, all consignments of shrimps and poultry from Thailand had to be tested for the presence of residues since nitrofurans had been detected in imported products from this country (see IP/02/436). The requirement to test all consignments of shrimps was lifted on 24 June 2003 and the testing obligation for poultry meat was reduced from 100% to 20% of the consignments on 28 July 2003. The results of checks carried out by Member States are now favourable and the competent authority of Thailand has provided all the appropriate guarantees, in particular the guarantee of a systematic pre-shipment check to control the presence of nitrofurans and other residues. The proposal will enter into force after the formal adoption by the Commission, in the next few weeks.

    [12] Poul Nielson to visit Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar (20-30/11)

    Mr Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, will visit Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar, with a stop-over in Mauritius between 20 and 30 November. The visit will provide an opportunity to build on the EU's close partnership with these countries and to conduct in-depth discussions on the progress of the EU's development assistance programmes. It will also be an occasion to exchange views on issues relating to regional security, integration and trade. Commissioner Nielson will also use this opportunity to address the Nairobi 'Energy for Africa' Conference and the International Investors Round Table Meeting in Tanzania.

    [13] Autre matériel diffusé

    Introductory remarks by Pedro Solbes to press conference on Commission decision on Excessive Deficit Procedure for Germany (18/11, Strasbourg)

    Proposition de directive sur les fusions transfrontalières présentée par la Commission foire aux questions

    Note sur la préparation du Conseil Télécoms (20/11)

    Speech by Poul Nielson : "CAPs for 2004" at launch of the UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals (CAPs) for 2004


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


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