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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-06-27

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] North Korea : Commission approves more than €10 million in humanitarian aid
  • [02] Commission co-finances civil protection exercise in Poland
  • [03] GMOs : Commission reaction on Council votes on safeguards and GM maize MON863
  • [04] Commission welcomes groundwater agreement but disappointed at INSPIRE deal
  • [05] Commission clears Avnet's acquisition of Memec in the distribution of electronic components industry
  • [06] La Commission approuve l'acquisition de Allied Domecq par Pernod Ricard sous certaines conditions
  • [07] Joe Borg visits Estonia
  • [08] Louis Michel and Peter Mandelson to participate in UN High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development in New York
  • [09] Invitation aux journalistes Ă l'inauguration du nouveau centre d'information au Public : INFEUROPA SCHUMAN 14
  • [10] Autre matĂ©riel diffusĂ© Midday Express of 2005-06-27 Reference: MEX/05/0627 Date: 27/06/2005 EXME05 / 27.6

    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

    27/06/05


  • [01] North Korea : Commission approves more than €10 million in humanitarian aid

    The European Commission has adopted a €10.715 million humanitarian aid plan to support the health sector in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The aid is being provided through ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid department, which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel. It will provide much-needed equipment and medicines, and help rehabilitate health centres, hospitals and special services. Since 1996, ECHO has contributed more than €92 million to support humanitarian work in the region.

    [02] Commission co-finances civil protection exercise in Poland

    Following the recent EURATECH field exercise in France, which tested EU level emergency response to a major train accident, the European Commission will be supporting another real-life exercise in Poland. More than 250 rescue specialists from 14 European countries are gathering near Wroclaw in Poland this week (27 June to 1 July) for a practical exercise, simulating search and rescue operations after a major natural disaster. The exercise is 75% co-financed by the Commission, which is contributing €140,000. The exercise is part of the Commission's civil protection training programme. It finances field exercises and training for civil protection authorities within Europe out of a total budget of €4 million per year. The field exercise simulates a major earthquake combined with a spill of hazardous chemicals and a train accident leaving hundreds of victims. Search and rescue teams will operate under real-life conditions, using heavy equipment, helicopters and sniffer dogs to locate victims buried under debris and collapsed buildings. The objective of these real-life simulations is to enhance the levels of preparedness of European search and rescue teams in the event of major disasters. Cooperation is facilitated by the Commission's Civil Protection Monitoring and Information Centre.

    [03] GMOs : Commission reaction on Council votes on safeguards and GM maize MON863

    The Environment Council voted on 24 June on a package of proposals from the European Commission concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The proposals require the lifting of bans or restrictions (so-called national safeguard clauses) imposed by Austria, France, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg on eight authorised GM products. The Council voted against all eight Commission proposals. This is the first time that Council found a qualified majority against a Commission proposal on GMOs. It is thus a new situation in terms of subsequent action. The Commission will have to carefully consider the legal and scientific bases that underpin any further proposals, as well as the implications for EU internal market and trading partners. In a separate proposal involving the authorisation of placing MON863 maize on the European market for import, processing and feed use, the Council did not find the required qualified majority for or against. This case will now go back to the Commission for a final decision.

    [04] Commission welcomes groundwater agreement but disappointed at INSPIRE deal

    European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed political agreement by the Environment Council on 24 June on the proposed directive to protect groundwater against pollution. But he expressed disappointment with the Council’s political agreement on the 'INSPIRE' directive, designed to remove obstacles to the sharing of environmentally relevant data, as it is considerably less ambitious than the Commission's original proposal.

    [05] Commission clears Avnet's acquisition of Memec in the distribution of electronic components industry

    The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed merger of two electronic components distributors Avnet and Memec. The investigation has shown that the concentration will not significantly impede competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

    [06] La Commission approuve l'acquisition de Allied Domecq par Pernod Ricard sous certaines conditions

    La Commission européenne a autorisé la proposition d'acquisition de Allied Domecq plc par Pernod Ricard SA en vertu du règlement communautaire sur les concentrations. L'autorisation de la Commission est subordonnée à la vente par Pernod Ricard des marques écossaises de whisky "Glen Grant", "Old Smuggler" et "Braemer" ainsi que des marques portugaises de cognac "1920" et "CR&F". Elle dépend également de la cessation de certains accords de distribution concernant la marque de whisky irlandaise "Tullamore Dew" et, pour le Portugal uniquement, la distribution du champagne "Moët et Chandon". A la lumière de ces engagements, la Commission a conclu que l'opération ne devrait pas entraver de manière significative la concurrence effective dans l'EEE ou dans une partie substantielle de cet espace.

    [07] Joe Borg visits Estonia

    Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has been visiting Estonia since yesterday morning. Earlier today, he had a meeting with Estonian President Arnold Rüütel, in Talinn, where both gave speeches at a Conference entitled 'Influence of EU fisheries policy on Estonia'. The Commissioner has been accompanied throughout his visit by Estonia's minister for Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo. He also met with Environment minister Villu Reiljan. Yesterday, he toured fish and shellfish farms in Härjanurme, before being given an overview of the local fishing industry in Kallaste and a demonstration of fishing operations on Lake Peipsi. In a meeting with representatives of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, earlier today, Commissioner Borg told stakeholders that he had come to see for himself the problems they face and to listen to their suggestions. Some of the current measures to help Baltic stocks reach healthier levels were tough but they needed to be taken now so that fishing remains and continues to sustain coastal communities in the future, the Commissioner said. He urged stakeholders to become more involved in the fisheries management process as that was the best way to ensure the setting up and implementation of effective conservation measures. Mr Borg will be travelling to Lithuania later on this afternoon.

    [08] Louis Michel and Peter Mandelson to participate in UN High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development in New York

    European Commissioner for Development Louis Michel and European Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson will be in New York on June 27 and 28 2005 to participate in the UN High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development. This event is an important step in the preparation of the UN Summit in September, which will assess the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Both Commissioners call on all to ensure that the UN Summit is followed by concrete efforts to do more, faster and better in the fight against poverty.

    [09] Invitation aux journalistes Ă l'inauguration du nouveau centre d'information au Public : INFEUROPA SCHUMAN 14

    InfEuropa schuman 14 ouvrira ses portes le 30 juin prochain à 10h00 au Rond- Point Schuman, au cœur du quartier européen à Bruxelles. L'inauguration se fera en présence de M. Javier Solana, Haut représentant pour la politique étrangère et de sécurité commune, et de Mme Margot Wallström, vice-présidente de la Commission européenne en charge des Relations Institutionnelles et de la Stratégie de Communication, et sera suivie d'une réception. L'accès au centre se fait par la rue Archimède 1. Le nouveau centre est né de l'action conjointe du Conseil de l'Union européenne et de la Commission européenne. La cérémonie d'ouverture sera l'occasion d'assister en avant-première à l'exposition "EU Posters 1970-2000", une collection d'affiches, produites essentiellement par la Commission dans les trois dernières décennies, prêtées pour l'événement par les Archives de la Ville de Bruxelles.

    [10] Autre matériel diffusé

    Note on Telecom Council (Luxembourg)

    Speech by Joaquin Almunia : "For a closer economic and financial cooperation between Europe and Asia" at the ASEM financial ministerial (25/06, Tianjin)

    Speaking notes by Stavros Dimas on Climate Change at Environment Council (24/06, Luxembourg)

    Discours de M. Michel : "La politique de développement, une projection concrète et ambitieuse de l'UE" au Conseil des ministres ACP-UE (25/06, Luxembourg) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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