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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-12-10Midday 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
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etbCommunication10/12/04[01] GALILEO : la dernière ligne droiteGALILEO sera bien opérationnel en 2008 : une étape décisive vient d'être franchie qui permettra la réalisation complète du programme GALILEO, en dépit d'un chemin semé d'embûches. Sur proposition de la Commission, le Conseil a confirmé aujourd'hui les caractéristiques techniques du système, en particulier les services offerts. Il s'est prononcé pour le passage aux phases de lancement (2006-2008) et d'exploitation du projet et a confirmé que l'UE participerait au financement de ces deux phases. "GALILEO est sans doute le plus beau projet technologique européen. Nous sommes désormais dans la dernière ligne droite : l'année prochaine verra le lancement des premiers satellites", a déclaré Jacques Barrot, Vice-Président de la Commission. "GALILEO représentera une révolution technologique équivalente à celle engendrée par la téléphonie mobile. Cette aventure illustre comment l'Europe sait mettre les efforts en commun au service d'une ambition collective".[02] Eurobaromètre : nette amélioration de l'image de l'Union européenne et de son actionL'Eurobaromètre 62, réalisé entre le 2 octobre et le 8 novembre 2004, indique que le climat de l'opinion s'est amélioré depuis le printemps, même si le chômage demeure au cÅ“ur des préoccupations de l'opinion. L'UE bénéficie d'une image plus positive et l'idée d'une Constitution pour l'Union est approuvée par les deux tiers des citoyens. On assiste à un quasi-consensus sur le principe d'une politique étrangère et de sécurité commune.[03] L'UE classe ses entreprises les plus performantes en matière d'investissement dans la R&D industrielleEn 2003, les 500 plus grandes entreprises européennes ont consacré 100 milliards d'euros à la recherche et au développement. Les investissements en 2003 ont cependant baissé par rapport à 2002 et les entreprises non européennes investissent davantage. C'est ce qui ressort du premier tableau de bord sur les investissements en R&D industrielle publié ce jour. Le tableau de bord compare les entreprises, les secteurs et les zones géographiques et dresse un tableau complet de la position concurrentielle des entreprises européennes sur le plan de la R&D au niveau mondial.[04] First estimates for the third quarter of 2004 : EU25 current account deficit €5.3 billion ; €10.3 billion surplus on trade in servicesAccording to the provisional data issued today by Eurostat, the EU25 external current account recorded a deficit of €5.3 billion in the third quarter of 2004, as compared with a surplus of €6.4 billion in the third quarter of 2003 and a deficit of €3.0 billion in the second quarter of 2004. In the third quarter of 2004 the EU25 external balance of trade in services recorded a surplus of €10.3 billion as compared with a surplus of €8.4 billion in the third quarter of 2003 and a surplus of €14.3 billion in the second quarter of 2004.[05] Markos Kyprianou discusses international cooperation in health security at G7 Ministerial in ParisEuropean Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou today attended the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the G7 Global Health Security Initiative in Paris to discuss international co-operation in the area of health security and preparedness and response planning. One of the main items discussed was preparedness for an influenza pandemic. Commissioner Kyprianou said : "I am proud of the contribution that the European Commission has made to the G7 Global Health Security Initiative, especially in alert communications and in research collaboration. On preparedness and response planning, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control will be a central pillar in the surveillance of communicable diseases in Europe. I am confident that the ECDC can also make a significant contribution to the G7 Initiative." An inaugural meeting of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's Management Board was held in Stockholm in September 2004 (see MEMO/04/227) and the agency is on course to be set up in May 2005. The first Director of the ECDC is expected to be nominated by the Centre's Management Board on Tuesday 14 December.[06] Viviane Reding welcomes EU-wide investigation on cost of using a mobile phone abroadOn 9 December, mobile telephone network operators across the EU have been sent a questionnaire as part of an investigation into wholesale prices for "international roaming", which result in high charges for people who use their mobile phones in other Member States. This initiative, supported by the Commission, was announced by the European Regulators Group (ERG), which brings together national regulatory authorities responsible for electronic communication markets.[07] European Union to become member of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in 2005European Commissioner Joe Borg, responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has welcomed the invitation extended to the EU on 9 December to become a Member of the newly established Regional Fisheries Organisation (RFO) for the Western and Central Pacific tuna resources. The inaugural meeting of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) was held in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, on 9-10 December. At this meeting, following a proposal from the Forum Fisheries Agency (Pacific Island States), the EU was invited by consensus to become a Member of this Organisation with the strong support of Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Cook Islands, Fiji, and other Members. The EU will become a Member from the first days of 2005, after the deposit of the Instrument of Ratification with the Depositary, New Zealand. This accession to the WCPFC means that the EU is now a Member of all five tuna RFOs in the world.[08] EU Election Observation Mission to West Bank and Gaza deployedThe European Union Election Observation Mission for the Presidential elections in West Bank and Gaza has begun work. In total, the EU is deploying more than 260 observers. This includes the EU Election Observation Mission with a core team of 13 staff, which arrived in the West Bank and Gaza this week, some 40 long-term observers, arriving around 15 December, and more than 130 short-term observers, arriving in early January. The total also comprises an observation delegation from the European Parliament made up of 30 Members of Parliament plus 16 assistants, and contributions from the governments of Switzerland, Norway and Canada. The EU Election Observation Mission's Chief Observer, Mr Michel Rocard, Member of the European Parliament, has started a round of meetings with relevant interlocutors in the West Bank and Israel. The presence of the EOM and the reporting of its observers will help to increase transparency and provide an independent and impartial assessment of the election process.[09] The EU, the Mediterranean and the Middle East : a longstanding partnershipThe EU Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East was adopted by the European in Brussels, in June 2004. It provides a policy framework for these two regions with a view to promoting political, economic and social reform, generated from within the affected societies, as well as contributing to their socio-economic development.[10] "Forum for the Future" : Commission supports initiative for the Wider Middle East and the MediterraneanEuropean Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, JoaquÃn Almunia, are attending the first Forum for the Future on December 11th in Rabat, Morocco. The Forum for the Future follows the "Broader Middle East and North Africa" initiative endorsed by the G8 this summer. The Forum for the Future will bring together all G8 countries and wider Middle East and Mediterranean countries, from Mauritania to Pakistan, to discuss the main problems and challenges facing the region. The EU has established partnerships with countries throughout the region (see MEMO/04/294). It has been deeply engaged particularly with the countries of the Barcelona Process since 1995, and has recently taken steps to further intensify links with the region through the European Neighbourhood Policy (see IP/04/1453).[11] Autre matériel diffuséThe Copenhagen Process – the European Vocational Education and Training policy – Frequently Asked QuestionsKey findings of the First Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard Speech by Joe Borg at the plenary meeting of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture Speech by President José Manuel Barroso : "The Lisbon Commission" at UNICE Competitiveness Day (09/12) Speech by Günter Verheugen : "Making Europe more competitive" at UNICE Competitiveness Day (09/12) Speech by Ján Figel' : "Closing the Investment Gap in Education and Training" at UNICE Competitiveness Day (09/12) Calendrier du 13 au 17 décembre
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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