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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-02-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission Reform progress report : profound extensive modernisation
is operational and will be sustained
[02] Biodiversity : Commission sounds alarm on need to reduce global
biodiversity loss
[03] La Commission demande la suppression des restrictions de concurrence
non justifiées dans le secteur des professions libérales
[04] Dangerous products in the spotlight : Commission to publish weekly
reports on safety alerts
[05] Posted workers : Commission takes action against the Netherlands
[06] Blanchiment de capitaux : la Commission somme six Etats membres
d'appliquer la législation européenne qu'ils ont adoptée
[07] Qualifications professionnelles : la Commission demande au Portugal et
à l'Italie d'appliquer la loi européenne
[08] Interreg programme : Commission approves €35 million support for cross-
border cooperation between Greece and Turkey for 2004-2006
[09] Commission adopts two new plans to deliver € 30 million in
humanitarian aid to vulnerable displaced populations in Burundi and
Tanzania
[10] EU-Colombia : President visits Commission; new programme for
internally displaced people launched
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 09/02/2004
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 09/02/2004
[01] Commission Reform progress report : profound extensive modernisation
is operational and will be sustained
The European Commission today adopted the latest in its series of Reform
Progress Reports. The report - which covers 2003 - shows that the
Commission has successfully installed 95 out of the 98 modernisation
commitments listed in the March 2000 Reform Strategy White Paper Action
Plan, that the remaining actions are in the course of application, and that
profound updating of the Staff Regulations will come into effect, on
schedule, on May 1st. The report includes numerous practical examples of
the way in which comprehensive Commission Reform is meeting the strategic
objectives of promoting higher quality service to the public, employing new
means of effective planning of tasks and resources, modernising personnel
policy, implementing the highest modern standards of internal control and
financial management, and generating cost savings. The report also details -
inter alia - the further reinforcing measures being taken in response to
irregular practises detected in Eurostat ; it incorporates new proposals
relating to the work of the EU's anti-fraud office, OLAF ; and it sets out
guidelines to improve the use of existing rules to facilitate
'Whistleblowing'.
[02] Biodiversity : Commission sounds alarm on need to reduce global
biodiversity loss
The European Commission will be seeking agreement on concrete measures to
put a break on the decline in global biodiversity at an international
conference taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 9-20 February. During
this 7th Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the Biodiversity Convention,
the 188 parties, including the European Commission, will promote actions to
reduce global biodiversity loss. The Commission hopes to reach agreement on
the establishment of a global network of protected areas, indicators to
measure biodiversity and strengthening access to genetic resources and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use. Success will
depend on all parties giving greater priority to the links between
biodiversity protection and poverty eradication.
[03] La Commission demande la suppression des restrictions de concurrence
non justifiées dans le secteur des professions libérales
La Commission européenne demande aux Etats membres, professions libérales
et leurs organes de régulation de revoir ou supprimer les honoraires fixes
et autres restrictions qui entravent la concurrence, notamment parmi les
avocats et architectes, à moins qu'elles soient clairement justifiés par
des considérations liées à l'intérêt général. "Le secteur des services est
le principal moteur de la croissance dans l'Union européenne, et les
professions libérales apportent une contribution importante en ce sens. Un
allègement de la régulation de ces professions permettrait d'offrir des
services plus compétitifs aux entreprises et aux consommateurs, et
contribuerait à améliorer la compétitivité de l'Europe conformément aux
objectifs fixés dans l'agenda de Lisbonne", a déclaré le Commissaire Mario
Monti. Dans un rapport adopté ce jour sur la concurrence dans le secteur
des professions libérales, la Commission conclut que la plupart des
restrictions présentent essentiellement une dimension nationale, et qu'il
est donc préférable de les traiter à l'échelon national. Cette conclusion
va dans le même sens que la mise en oeuvre décentralisée des règles de
concurrence de l'UE à partir du 1er mai prochain. La Commission suivra les
efforts entrepris par les autorités nationales antitrust dans le cadre du
Réseau européen de la concurrence, et continuera de se pencher sur les cas
d'infraction qui ne peuvent être réglés au niveau national.
[04] Dangerous products in the spotlight : Commission to publish weekly
reports on safety alerts
The European Commission is to start publishing weekly summaries of the
alerts it receives from Member States about dangerous non-food consumer
products. The first of these is available on the Commission's Consumer
Affairs website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_safe/prod_safe/gpsd/rapex_en.htm#overviews.
The Commission typically receives between 2 and 4 safety alerts each week
via an EU-wide rapid alert system known as RAPEX. The dangers presented
often include risks of choking and suffocation, electric shocks and fires.
The type of products most often notified in these alerts are toys, followed
by electrical appliances. The RAPEX system was recently strengthened by the
coming into force on 15 January of the new revised General Product Safety
Directive which introduced new obligations for businesses to alert the
authorities to dangerous products (see IP/04/53). The EU has a separate
rapid alert system on food and feed safety (RASFF), which also makes
available weekly summaries of alerts (see IP/03/750).
[05] Posted workers : Commission takes action against the Netherlands
The European Commission has decided to formally open infringement
proceedings against the Netherlands following a judgment delivered by the
country's Supreme Court ("Hoge Raad der Nederlanden"), the effect of which
is to exclude from the Netherlands social security system a worker posted
to Germany and in possession of a certificate of posting. The Commission
feels that the Supreme Court's reasoning is inconsistent with the EU's
principles and rules on freedom of movement for workers. It has therefore
sent a letter of formal notice to the Netherlands authorities, asking them
to submit their comments within two months.
[06] Blanchiment de capitaux : la Commission somme six Etats membres
d'appliquer la législation européenne qu'ils ont adoptée
La Commission européenne a décidé de demander officiellement à l'Italie, au
Portugal, à la Grèce, à la Suède, au Luxembourg et à la France d'appliquer
la deuxième directive antiblanchiment (2001/97/CE, voir IP/01/1608). De
fait, aucun de ces Etats membres ne lui a encore notifié de mesures visant
à transposer cette directive en droit national. Les demandes de la
Commission prendront la forme d'avis motivés, qui représentent la deuxième
étape des procédures d'infraction, prévue à l'article 226 du traité. En
l'absence de réaction satisfaisante à ces avis motivés, la Commission
pourrait décider de traduire les Etats membres concernés devant la Cour de
justice européenne.
[07] Qualifications professionnelles : la Commission demande au Portugal et
à l'Italie d'appliquer la loi européenne
La Commission européenne a décidé de demander formellement au Portugal de
supprimer certaines conditions qu'il pose pour la reconnaissance des
qualifications professionnelles de moniteurs d'auto-école d'autres Etats
membres. Ces conditions ne sont pas conformes à la directive qui complète
le système général de reconnaissance des formations professionnelles
(92/51/CEE). Elle a également décidé d'envoyer une demande formelle à
l'Italie de rectifier la non-conformité au droit européen d'un accord
bilatéral entre des organisations professionnelles italienne et française
en ce qui concerne la reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles
des ingénieurs. Les demandes de la Commission revêtent la forme d'avis
motivés, la deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction prévue par
l'Article 226 du Traité CE. En l'absence d'une réponse satisfaisante de la
part des autorités nationales dans les deux mois suivant la réception de
l'avis motivé, la Commission peut saisir la Cour de justice européenne.
[08] Interreg programme : Commission approves €35 million support for cross-
border cooperation between Greece and Turkey for 2004-2006
The European Commission adopted a cross-border cooperation programme
between Greece and Turkey, which will be financed by the EU Initiative
Interreg III. The programme covers the whole of the eligible neighbouring
regions of the two countries for the period 2004-2006. The programme's main
objectives are to promote sustainable development of the cross-border
region and economic cooperation. As far as the Greek side is concerned, the
EU contribution amounts to €35 million and the Greek national/regional
public co-financing to €11.6 million. For actions on the Turkish side, the
EU will make available €15 million under the pre-accession instrument for
Turkey which will add to €4.4 million provided by Turkish national co-
financing.
[09] Commission adopts two new plans to deliver € 30 million in
humanitarian aid to vulnerable displaced populations in Burundi and
Tanzania
The European Commission has adopted two humanitarian aid packages totalling
€30 million to meet the needs of vulnerable people in Burundi (€15 million)
and Tanzania (€15 million) during 2004. The funds are managed by the
Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner
Poul Nielson. Projects will be implemented by humanitarian agencies
operating in the target regions.
[10] EU-Colombia : President visits Commission; new programme for
internally displaced people launched
The President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, will attend a working breakfast
with President Romano Prodi and Commissioners Chris Patten and Pascal Lamy,
on Tuesday 10 February at 8:00 in Brussels. President Uribe will also meet
with Commissioner Franz Fischler in Strasbourg later that day. The
Commission will reiterate the solidarity of the EU with the Colombian
people who have suffered decades of internal conflict, as well as the EU's
support to the government in its efforts to establish the rule of law
throughout the country. The visit coincides with the launching of a new
programme to support the integration process and improvement of living
conditions of internally displaced people in Colombia, with a total budget
of €9.2 million.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Note sur la préparation du Conseil Ecofin
Speech by Franz Fischler : "EU Enlargement and Globalisation - A dual
Challenge for Europe" at the Ökosoziales Forum (Vienna)
Introduction by Neil Kinnock : "Progress review of reform" to his press
conference
Perte de la diversité biologique: faits et chiffres
The Convention on Biological Diversity: background and glossary
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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