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Tuesday, 5 November 2024
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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-11-28Midday 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
[01] La Commission se félicite de l'accord trouvé par le Conseil concernant la modernisation des directives sur l'assurance automobileLa Commission européenne a salué l'accord politique relatif à la proposition de cinquième directive sur l'assurance automobile auquel est parvenu le Conseil des ministres européens chargés de la concurrence à sa réunion du 26 novembre 2003. Cette directive vise, en effet, à moderniser et à améliorer les dispositions des directives sur l'assurance automobile aujourd'hui en vigueur, en facilitant l'accès des conducteurs à l'assurance et en renforçant la protection offerte aux victimes. La Commission avait présenté sa proposition en juin 2002 (voir IP/02/838 et MEMO/02/133). L'accord politique trouvé doit, à présent, se concrétiser par l'adoption formelle d'une position commune du Conseil, après quoi le texte retournera au Parlement européen pour une seconde lecture.[02] Review of capital requirements for banks and investment firmsA consultation note on the revised proposals of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision concerning the treatment of expected and unexpected losses in the proposed new capital requirements framework has been published on the European Commission's Europa website (see http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/regcapital/index_en.htm). Under the modified Basel proposals, credit institutions and investment firms would be required to hold capital only against unexpected losses. The Commission is seeking comments from interested parties on the proposed new rules on the treatment of expected losses and the recognition of provisions by 31 December 2003.[03] Emploi : la Commission examine les progrès accomplis dans l'amélioration quantitative et qualitative de l'emploiL'Union européenne progresse sur la voie de l'amélioration de la qualité de l'emploi mais un rapport récent de la Commission indique que cela ne suffit pas encore. Le rapport passe en revue les mesures prises pour améliorer la qualité de l'emploi conformément à la demande formulée par le Conseil européen réuni à Bruxelles au printemps 2003, souligne le besoin de mettre en œuvre des mesures pour renforcer cette dimension et relève les différences de performances entre Etats membres.[04] Estimation rapide - novembre 2003 : l'inflation de la zone euro estimée à 2,2%Selon une estimation rapide publiée aujourd'hui par Eurostat, le taux d'inflation annuel de la zone euro s'établirait à 2,2% en novembre 2003. En octobre 2003, le taux était de 2,0%.[05] November 2003 : biggest rise in economic sentiment indicator since turnaround in summerThe economic sentiment indicator (ESI) in the EU made a strong showing in November, increasing by 0.6 percentage points, the biggest rise of the indicator since its turnaround in summer. It has now reached a level of 96.5 compared to 95.9 for the euro area, where the indicator rose by 0.4 percentage points in November. In both the EU and the euro area, the indicator is now at its highest level since mid-2002. The main factor behind the stronger improvement in the EU in comparison with the euro area is the development in the industry sector, where the EU confidence indicator grew strongly from -10 to -7, while progress of the euro area indicator was more muted (from -8 to -7). The developments of the other components of the ESI were broadly similar in the EU and the euro area, with construction and consumer confidence supporting the general upward trend in the two areas while retail trade, following its improvements in previous months, saw a small decline in November in both the EU and the euro area. The service sector, which is not included in the ESI, continued its steady improvement in the EU and in the euro area.[06] November 2003 : strong improvement for the euro area business climate indicatorThe Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area increased by 0.23 points between October and November, continuing the upward trend since August. The BCI reached a value of 0.02, its first positive value since May 2001. The BCI combines the responses of managers in industry to the questions regarding production trend in the recent past, production expectations, total order books, export order books and stocks of finished products. Its increase in November was driven by positive developments in all components of the indicator.[07] La Commission salue l'accord sur le nouveau Règlement FusionsLe Commissaire européen à la Concurrence Mario Monti a tenu à saluer l'adoption le 27 novembre par le Conseil Compétitivité de la proposition de révision du Règlement sur le contrôle des concentrations ("Règlement Fusions"). "Le nouveau règlement ainsi que les changements intervenus depuis l'année dernière donneront, j'en suis convaincu, à l'Union européenne un régime hors pair pour examiner les fusions et acquisitions dans une Union à 25 membres", a indiqué M. Monti.[08] Antibiotics : €13 million to step up EU research on antibiotic resistanceToday 200 scientists meet in Rome at the EU conference on "The Role of Research in Combating Antibiotic Resistance". It was organised by the European Commission together with the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Antibiotics, once hailed as a panacea to combat bacterial infections, seem to be more and more ineffective. The human body is responding less and less to antibiotics. New, more dangerous diseases, stubbornly resisting their power, are developing. The aim of the conference is to identify future research priorities to tackle the problem of anti-bacterial resistance and human health, addressing both basic and clinical research. At the same time, the Commission is announcing that it will invest €6 million to support two major research projects in this field, with a total project budget of €12.6 million from the first call for proposals in the Sixth Research Framework Programme (2002-2006). One of these projects looks into resistance to the major class of antibiotics in clinical use, while the other project investigates basic molecular mechanisms of resistance. The projects are being negotiated and will start in a few weeks after signing of contracts.[09] L'agriculture et la Méditerranée : la conférence de Venise plante le décor pour une coopération plus étroiteS'exprimant le 27 novembre à Venise devant la conférence Euromed, M. Franz Fischler, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de l'agriculture, du développement rural et de la pêche, a souligné que les régions méditerranéennes doivent relever un certain nombre de défis qui leurs sont communs. "A cet égard, il ne fait aucun doute qu'une approche transfrontalière unifiée constituerait un précieux facteur de durabilité. La conférence de Venise, me semble-t-il, a montré que nous devons renforcer les partenariats existants et favoriser de nouvelles ouvertures. Le processus de Barcelone prévoyait pour l'horizon 2010 une libéralisation totale des échanges entre l'Union européenne et nos voisins méditerranéens, objectif qui devrait être à notre portée. L'agriculture est un élément important de l'intégration régionale dans le contexte de ce processus. Je suis attaché au renforcement des liens qui nous unissent à nos partenaires méditerranéens dans le domaine de l'agriculture et je pense que la création d'une plate-forme commune, relativement à certains aspects de notre politique agricole, contribuera à la réalisation de cet objectif."[10] Boosting the participation of acceding and candidate countries in EU researchToday in Brussels European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin will meet ministers and high level representatives of the 13 acceding and candidate countries. They will discuss their participation in the EU's Sixth Framework Programme for research 2002-2006 (FP6) and, more specifically, their response to the first calls for proposals. Data available shows that the participation of acceding/candidate countries in FP6 could be improved. Out of more than 100,000 applications for participation in FP6, only 13,000 are from acceding/candidate countries barely 12.7%. And only 1500 organisations were eventually retained for funding, mostly in nanotechnology, information society, energy and transport projects. Earlier this year the Commission launched €13 million worth of "specific support actions" to stimulate, encourage and facilitate the participation in FP6 of the 13 acceding/candidate countries : Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.[11] Global earth observation plan takes critical step forward - Italy hosts second follow-up meeting to Earth Observation SummitThe ad hoc intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) will hold its second meeting on November 28-29 in Baveno, Italy. The meeting aims to give direction to the continued development of a 10-year plan to implement a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Earth observation system or set of systems. The first meeting took place in August 2003 in Washington, DC, immediately after the first Earth Observation Summit, which established the group. In Baveno, the Group will review the first draft of the GEO Framework Document that will lead to a 10-year implementation plan to be presented at the next ministerial meeting to be held in Tokyo next spring. The Plan will direct the coordination of observing systems that link thousands of individual technological assets into a comprehensive Earth observation effort and provide critical information needed to address important global economic, social and scientific challenges. This information will help policy-makers around the world make more informed decisions regarding climate, the environment, and a host of other economic and social issues that are affected by Earth and climate systems.[12] Sixth Euro-Med Ministerial Conference : reinforcing and bringing the Partnership forwardThe sixth Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Foreign Affairs Ministers takes place in Naples on 2 and 3 December. It will be the last ministerial meeting before the enlargement of the EU in May. Ministers will discuss the political and economic prospects for the region offered by the EU's Wider Europe policy. This initiative offers the EU's neighbouring partners, in exchange for tangible political and economic reforms, gradual integration into the expanded European internal market and the possibility of ultimately reaching the EU's four fundamental freedoms : free movement of goods, services, capital and people. Ministers are also expected to back the Commission's proposal to set up a Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue of Cultures, a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly and a reinforced European Investment Bank (EIB) lending facility to encourage private sector investment in the region. The Naples meeting is particularly important in light of the stagnation of the Middle East Peace Process, the struggle to win peace in Iraq and the deadly terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, all of which highlight the threats to stability in the region and underline more than ever the urgent need for Europe to support political and economic reform in the region.[13] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Erkki Liikanen : "The Central role of the Competitiveness Council as engine for Economic growth and prosperity in Europe" at Competitiveness Council (27/11)Speech by Viviane Reding : "Sportpolitiek der EU : Welche Perspektiven ?" at the Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport (Magdeburg) Speech by David Byrne : "Consumer aspects of mortgage lending" at European Mortgage Federation Conference Note sur les résultats du Conseil Compétitivité (aspects marché intérieur) Note sur la préparation du Conseil Emploi et Affaires sociales, Santé et Protection des Consommateurs (01/12) Calendrier du 1er au 7 décembre 2003 From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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