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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-12-09

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] Eurobarometer : decline in public confidence but continued strong support for EU priorities
  • [02] Air France et Alitalia proposent des mesures correctives pour rendre leur alliance bilatérale conforme aux règles de concurrence
  • [03] Commission clears Outokumpu's control of Boliden
  • [04] Commission clears northern England train JV between FirstGroup and Keolis
  • [05] Aide espagnole aux producteurs de fruits à coque et de caroubes pour l'année 2003
  • [06] Déchets d'emballages : le recyclage va être plus que doublé
  • [07] Soins de santé transfrontaliers : les ministres de la santé et la société civile appellent à une coopération plus étroite
  • [08] World Summit to set out a strategic vision for a global information society
  • [09] Commission strongly supports the energy markets integration in the Balkans and promotes its connection with the EU
  • [10] Commission reports progress on the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans
  • [11] EU challenges Indian anti-dumping practices
  • [12] La Commission nomme un chargé des relations avec les consommateurs
  • [13] Pascal Lamy visits all four Mercosur countries
  • [14] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 09/12/2003 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 09/12/2003

  • [01] Eurobarometer : decline in public confidence but continued strong support for EU priorities

    The latest Eurobarometer opinion poll, from which preliminary results are published today, reveals a general decline in public confidence since the previous survey carried out in the spring. This is reflected in growing concerns about the economic and employment outlook for next year and a decrease in confidence in public institutions in general. This increased sense of pessimism appears to have affected people's attitudes towards the European Union and its institutions. Despite this, those who feel their country's membership of the EU is a "good thing" still outnumber by more than three-to-one those who do not. The survey is notable for the very uneven shifts in opinion from Member State to Member State.

    [02] Air France et Alitalia proposent des mesures correctives pour rendre leur alliance bilatérale conforme aux règles de concurrence

    Air France et Alitalia ont présenté des propositions pour répondre aux préoccupations exprimées par la Commission européenne sur leur alliance, qui est susceptible de réduire significativement la concurrence sur les liaisons entre la France et l'Italie. Les propositions consistent à céder des créneaux d'atterrissage et de décollage, principalement aux aéroports de Paris et de Milan, pour permettre à d'autres compagnies aériennes d'assurer la liaison entre la France et l'Italie, afin que les voyageurs entre les deux pays bénéficient d'un ample choix de services et de la concurrence par les prix. Avant de se prononcer, la Commission invite les tiers intéressés à présenter leurs observations sur les propositions publiées ce jour au Journal officiel de l'Union européenne.

    [03] Commission clears Outokumpu's control of Boliden

    The European Commission has cleared an operation whereby Finnish metals company Outokumpu Oyj will sell its zinc and copper mining and smelting activities to Boliden AB, a Swedish mining and metals group. At the same time, Outokumpu will acquire Boliden's brass and copper businesses. As a result of the transaction, which also involves the acquisition of shares, Outokumpu will take control of Boliden.

    [04] Commission clears northern England train JV between FirstGroup and Keolis

    The European Commission has approved under the Merger Regulation the creation by FirstGroup plc (United Kingdom) and Keolis (France) of Trans- Pennine Express JV, which will operate a train service between Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and other towns in the north of England.

    [05] Aide espagnole aux producteurs de fruits à coque et de caroubes pour l'année 2003

    Le comité de gestion des paiements directs s'est prononcé aujourd'hui en faveur d'une proposition de la Commission européenne tendant à approuver pour 2003 une aide d'un montant maximum de 241,50€ à l'hectare, accordée par l'Espagne aux producteurs de fruits à coque et de caroubes. Il s'agit d'un secteur où les plans d'amélioration qualitative et de commercialisation ont pris fin en 2002. L'aide nationale proposée par l'Espagne servirait à assurer la transition entre les contributions relatives aux plans d'amélioration venus à expiration en 2002 et l'aide prévue dans le cadre de la politique agricole commune réformée, qui entrera en vigueur en 2004. Cette aide d'Etat s'élève à 76,6 millions d'€ pour une superficie estimée à 280.000 ha. La proposition va maintenant être formellement adoptée par la Commission.

    [06] Déchets d'emballages : le recyclage va être plus que doublé

    La Commission européenne se félicite de l'accord conclu le 8 décembre au sein du comité de conciliation Parlement européen - Conseil, en vertu duquel les objectifs de recyclage minimaux pour les déchets d'emballages passeront de 25 à 55% d'ici à 2008. "Je me félicite de cet accord qui ouvre la voie à une augmentation sensible du recyclage des déchets d'emballages. Il permettra aux consommateurs de participer activement aux programmes de recyclage et de faire preuve de leur engagement en faveur d'une gestion plus responsable des déchets d'emballage", a déclaré Mme Margot Wallström, Commissaire responsable de l'environnement.

    [07] Soins de santé transfrontaliers : les ministres de la santé et la société civile appellent à une coopération plus étroite

    Les ministres de la santé des Etats membres actuels et futurs de l'UE se sont réunis hier à Bruxelles avec des représentants du secteur de la santé en Europe, des membres du Parlement européen et David Byrne, Commissaire européen responsable de la santé et de la protection des consommateurs, pour conclure le document informel intitulé "Processus de réflexion à haut niveau sur la mobilité des patients et l'évolution des soins de santé dans l'Union européenne". Ils ont adopté un rapport contenant 19 recommandations d'action au niveau européen. Ces recommandations vont de travaux sur les systèmes d'information pour faciliter l'achat transfrontalier de soins médicaux, à des explications supplémentaires sur les droits des patients et l'utilisation des Fonds structuraux de l'UE pour améliorer les hôpitaux et les cliniques dans les nouveaux Etats membres. Le processus de réflexion a été lancé par les commissaires David Byrne et Anna Diamantopoulou lors d'une réunion ministérielle tenue en février 2003. Son rapport final prépare le terrain à une communication que la Commission a l'intention de publier en 2004 et qui prendra en compte les 19 recommandations du rapport.

    [08] World Summit to set out a strategic vision for a global information society

    The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will take place in Geneva from the 10th to the 12th December 2003. This is the single most important political event dedicated to the Information Society since the European Commission coined the phrase in the mid-Nineties. Heads of State and Government and senior ministers from around the world should agree a Declaration of Principles governing the global information society and a Plan of Action to guide countries in making it a reality. Erkki Liikanen, Commissioner for the Information Society, has been asked by President Romano Prodi to represent the European Commission throughout the Summit, while Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, Poul Nielson, will attend the Summit on the 10th December to sign a joint position on information society for development with the Union's African, Caribbean and Pacific partners. A second session of the World Summit will take place in Tunis in November 2005.

    [09] Commission strongly supports the energy markets integration in the Balkans and promotes its connection with the EU

    On 8 December was signed in Athens a very important Memorandum of Understanding which aims at integrating the energy markets in the SouthEast Europe and targets its connection with the EU. Loyola de Palacio, vice- president in charge of transport and energy, represented the European Commission. She highlighted the great importance of the setting-up of a regional energy market in South East Europe. "Beyond the technical aspects of the energy market, what has been achieved in South East Europe is momentous", she said. "For the first time, on a regional level, encompassing all countries and states, is being created a regional market with a political function. This is a new very important step of a long process towards a closer cooperation which will ensure peace and stability in this European region", she added.

    [10] Commission reports progress on the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans

    At a meeting of the Western Balkans Forum in Brussels on 9 December Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, will present a progress report on how the European Commission is following up the commitments made in the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro). The Commission is on track with many of the initiatives agreed at the Thessaloniki European Council in June 2003 and is already producing tangible results, in the launching of European Partnerships, actions to enhance support for institution building, initiatives to promote economic development and measures in the field of justice and home affairs, as well as progress in introducing some of the techniques that helped today's Accession countries prepare for closer integration with the EU. The Forum will discuss EU-Western Balkans relations, including follow-up to the Thessaloniki Agenda, developments in the region and latest events in the EU.

    [11] EU challenges Indian anti-dumping practices

    On 8 December, the EU has formally requested WTO consultations with India on practically all of its anti-dumping measures affecting European exports. This move comes after growing frustration amidst EU exporters not only at the escalation in the number of measures imposed by India, which has now become the world's largest user of anti-dumping practices, but also at the very low standards applied. Despite numerous discussions, it has not been possible to persuade India to align itself on WTO standards. The sectors concerned are mainly chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textiles and steel.

    [12] La Commission nomme un chargé des relations avec les consommateurs

    Aujourd'hui, le Commissaire européen à la concurrence M. Mario Monti a nommé M. Juan Riviere y Marti au poste nouvellement créé de chargé des relations avec les consommateurs au sein de la direction générale de la Concurrence. La Commission a annoncé la création de ce poste en décembre 2002, afin de pouvoir instaurer un dialogue permanent avec les consommateurs européens, dont le bien-être est l'un des principaux objectifs de toute politique de concurrence, mais dont la voix n'est pas suffisamment entendue lors du traitement des différentes affaires ou lors des discussions sur des questions de politique de concurrence.

    [13] Pascal Lamy visits all four Mercosur countries

    Following from the recent EU-Mercosur trade ministerial meeting and shortly after the adoption of the EU strategy to revive the Cancun talks, European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy travels to all four Mercosur countries between 10 and 16 December. High on the agenda will be discussions on a region-to-region Association Agreement, Mercosur progress in regional integration as well as the on-going talks under the Doha Development Agenda. Before departing for Buenos Aires Pascal Lamy said : "My end-of- year 'marathon' to the region is a clear sign of our commitment to develop deep and ambitious relations with the Mercosur. This will be an opportunity to discuss with the administrations and citizens of the four countries the recently adopted roadmap for the final phase of the negotiations for an EU- Mercosur bi-regional agreement. The trip also comes timely to discuss with the 'G20' group of developing countries how we can work together to revive the WTO Doha Agenda which failed in Cancun. All of us have recently signalled our strong commitment to the multilateral system : we now need to make sure that our words translate into deeds. My message will be loud and clear : the EU is ready to resume the talks. But the clear lesson of Cancun is that no single player or group of players can deliver the Round or make the multilateral system work on his own. I look forward to discussing with my colleagues the efforts needed from all sides if we are to re-launch this year."

    [14] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by David Byrne : "Do we need a Constitution for the EU?" at the Institute of European Affairs (08/12)

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


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