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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-05-18
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Commission recommends taking the Netherlands out of the excessive
deficit procedure
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to visit Israel, Palestinian
Authority and Jordan; stresses role of trade in Middle East stability
[03] Dialogue politique entre l’UE et les États-Unis sur la sécurité
des frontières et des transports
[04] EU-US partnership: Commission proposals to strengthen economic and
political relations
[05] La Commission européenne salue l'adoption de la Constitution en
République Démocratique du Congo
[06] Unspent EU funding record low in 2004
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-05-18
Reference: MEX/05/0518
Date: 18/05/2005
EXME05 / 18.5
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
18/05/05
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Commission recommends taking the Netherlands out of the excessive
deficit procedure
The European Commission today recommended closing the excessive deficit
procedure for the Netherlands after the Dutch government cut the deficit to
below 2.3% in 2004 from 3.2% in 2003. The deficit is projected to decrease
further in 2005 and 2006 ensuring that the Netherlands is firmly back on
the path of healthy fiscal consolidation.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to visit Israel, Palestinian
Authority and Jordan; stresses role of trade in Middle East stability
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will travel to the Middle East today
for three days of talks with senior ministers, officials and business
representatives from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.
Commissioner Mandelson will stress the EU’s readiness to help strengthen
trading links in the region and between the region and the EU as a means of
contributing to stability in the Middle East. Commissioner Mandelson will
make specific proposals for developing trade relations between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority, and on how they and other countries in the
region can benefit from the proposed new system of regional ‘cumulation
of origin’. Commissioner Mandelson will meet with, amongst others,
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, Israeli Minister of Finance
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Ehud Olmert and
Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Ali Zu’Bi . He will also
deliver a lecture at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on ‘EU Trade
policy and the Middle East’ on 19 May and participate in the World
Economic Forum in Jordan on Saturday 21 May.
[03] Dialogue politique entre l’UE et les États-Unis sur la sécurité
des frontières et des transports
Le 19 mai 2005, se tiendra Bruxelles la 3ème réunion du dialogue
politique UE-Etats-Unis sur la sécurité des frontières et des
transports. Les documents de voyage biométriques, la sécurité des
documents, la politique de visas, l’enregistrement des noms des passagers,
les transports et les douanes seront au nombre des sujets discutés, de
même que la préparation du sommet Europe-Etats-Unis qui doit se tenir
Washington le 20 juin.
[04] EU-US partnership: Commission proposals to strengthen economic and
political relations
Today the Commission has adopted a Communication entitled “A stronger EU-
US Partnership and a more Open Market for the 21st century”. This
contains a wide range of practical policy proposals for a joint EU-US
strategy to boost economic integration, and to strengthen the broader
framework of EU –US relations. On the economic side, the Commission
proposes a particular focus to improve regulatory cooperation, promote of
knowledge and innovation, and improve border arrangements. On the political
side, the Communication reviews options to raise the profile of the EU-US
relationship to make it more effective. The proposals in the Communication
prepare the EU-US Summit on 20th June which should establish the priority
sectors and measures that need to be taken to address regulatory
divergences between the EU and the US. The overall goal is to promote
transatlantic trade and investment and stimulate economic growth.
Rédiffusion
[05] La Commission européenne salue l'adoption de la Constitution en
République Démocratique du Congo
La Commission européenne s’est félicité aujourd’hui de l’adoption
vendredi dernier par l’Assemblée Nationale de la RDC d’un projet de
Constitution qui devrait permettre ce pays d’entrer dans la modernité
institutionnelle.
[06] Unspent EU funding record low in 2004
Only 1% of the EU budget remained unspent in 2004, setting a new record low
for unused funding of €1 190 million. Thanks to improved implementation
of the EU budget but also due to higher than expected revenue the total
budgetary surplus for 2004 amounted to € 2 737 million. This is the
lowest level seen since 1997. The Commission has therefore approved a
Provisional Draft Amending Budget to include the surplus into this year’s
budget, reducing the contributions required by Member States for 2005.
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Joe Borg : " European Values" at SDM International Conference –
the Common Heritage of Europe in Malta
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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