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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-11-29

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] La Commission adopte des plans communautaires dans le cadre de la préparation à une pandémie de grippe et à d'autres menaces pour la santé
  • [02] EU adopts new 'tariff-only' import regime for bananas from 1 January 2006
  • [03] José Manuel Barroso and Benita Ferrero-Waldner to meet Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghadeli
  • [04] La Commission lance un débat public sur l'avenir du Réseau européen des migrations
  • [05] Commission publishes indicative figures on the distribution of direct farm aid
  • [06] Droit des sociétés : adoption et publication de la directive sur les fusions transfrontalières
  • [07] New fisheries partnership agreement and protocol between the EU and the Comoros signed in Brussels
  • [08] Journée internationale de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien : Louis Michel réaffirme l'engagement européen
  • [09] European Union and United States economic ministerial meeting to drive forward transatlantic economic integration (30/11)
  • [10] Andris Piebalgs congratulates BP on $1.8 billion investment in alternative and renewable energies
  • [11] Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner to launch Border Assistance Mission in Odessa (30/11)
  • [12] Public hearing on mortgage credit
  • [13] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2005-11-29 Reference: MEX/05/1129 Date: 29/11/2005 EXME05 / 29.11

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb

    Communication

    29/11/05


  • [01] La Commission adopte des plans communautaires dans le cadre de la préparation à une pandémie de grippe et à d'autres menaces pour la santé

    La Commission européenne a adopté deux plans afin d'aider l'Union et les Etats membres à faire face à d'importantes urgences sanitaires transfrontalières (telles que le SRAS et le bioterrorisme) et à une éventuelle pandémie de grippe. Le premier plan est une Communication visant à renforcer la capacité de réaction coordonnée de l'Europe à des urgences génériques de santé publique, telles que les flambées de SRAS et les attaques d'anthrax aux Etats-Unis. La deuxième Communication sur la planification de la préparation de l'Europe en cas de grippe pandémique applique la stratégie exposée dans la communication générique et actualise le plan en vigueur de la Commission, qui date de mars 2004. Les communications fournissent aux Etats membres une base pour revoir et renforcer au besoin leurs plans nationaux. La capacité de l'UE et de ses Etats membres à réagir de manière coordonnée à une pandémie de grippe a été testée lors d'un exercice de simulation à l'échelle européenne les 23 et 24 novembre. Le Commissaire Markos Kyprianou, chargé de la santé et de la protection des consommateurs, informera les ministres de la santé de l'évaluation de cet exercice lors du Conseil "Santé" le 9 décembre prochain. Se félicitant des efforts déployés par les Etats membres ces derniers mois pour renforcer et coordonner leurs plans en cas de pandémie, M. Kyprianou a néanmoins souligné la nécessité de continuer à améliorer les moyens de défense contre toute crise de santé publique à grande échelle.

    [02] EU adopts new 'tariff-only' import regime for bananas from 1 January 2006

    The European Union today agreed a new import tariff of €176 per tonne to apply from 1 January 2006 to bananas imported from countries - mainly in Latin America - enjoying Most Favoured Nation status. The new import regime will also include a duty-free annual import quota of 775,000 tonnes for ACP bananas, also to apply from 1 January 2006. The decision was taken by EU governments on a proposal of the European Commission.

    [03] José Manuel Barroso and Benita Ferrero-Waldner to meet Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghadeli

    European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero- Waldner, will be meeting Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli of Georgia during his first visit to Brussels on 29-30 November. President Barroso and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will reaffirm their support for Georgia's reform efforts since the ‘rose revolution' two years ago. EU assistance to Georgia has doubled to €137 million for 2004-2006 and consultations have started this week on an Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy. This will further strengthen existing political and economic ties between the EU and Georgia, and support Georgia's own transformation into a modern stable, democratic and prosperous country.

    [04] La Commission lance un débat public sur l'avenir du Réseau européen des migrations

    La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui le livre vert intitulé "Sur l'avenir du Réseau européen des migrations" (REM). Ce réseau a été mis en place en 2002 pour répondre à la nécessité d’améliorer la collecte et l'échange d'informations sur tous les aspects de la migration et de l'asile. Alors que la phase préparatoire s'achève en 2006, se pose la question de la meilleure voie à suivre. Le livre vert participe à cette réflexion en favorisant un débat public sur ce que devrait être la mission du futur REM, en s'appuyant sur l'acquis des trois premières années. Le processus de consultation publique débutera par une conférence élargie sur l'intégration, entre les responsables du REM et les points de contact nationaux ; une audition d'experts sera ensuite organisée sur ce thème en mars 2006. La Commission tiendra compte des conclusions de ce large débat dans sa proposition de cadre juridique pour un futur REM, qui devrait être adoptée avant la fin de l'année 2006.

    [05] Commission publishes indicative figures on the distribution of direct farm aid

    The European Commission has transmitted indicative figures on the distribution of direct farm payments by size-class of aid received for the financial years 2002 and 2003 to the Budgetary Control Committee, the Budget Committee and the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament. The figures have been derived from the EAGGF (European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund) payment data received from the Member States. For obvious reasons, direct payments in these years reflect a situation predating the CAP reforms of 2003 and 2004. These figures must also be regarded as purely indicative. The Commission intends to publish such aggregated figures on a regular basis in the future. The figures are available on the internet at :

    <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/fin/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/fin/index_en.htm

    [06] Droit des sociétés : adoption et publication de la directive sur les fusions transfrontalières

    La Commission européenne s'est félicitée de l'adoption récente de la directive sur les fusions transfrontalières, désormais publiée au Journal officiel. La directive a été adoptée en première lecture, tant au Conseil qu'au Parlement européen. Répondant à une demande forte des entreprises, ce texte essentiel permettra les fusions transfrontalières entre sociétés de capitaux de l'UE, alors que ces opérations étaient jusqu'à présent très difficiles et très coûteuses, sinon impossibles. Il présente un intérêt particulier pour les petites et moyennes entreprises qui veulent opérer dans plus d'un Etat membre, mais non à l'échelle européenne, et qui ne peuvent prétendre au statut de Société européenne. Tout en garantissant la sécurité juridique requise, la directive devrait réduire le coût des fusions transfrontalières et bénéficier au plus grand nombre d'entreprises possible. C'est l'une des mesures phares de l'agenda de Lisbonne pour la croissance et pour l'emploi.

    [07] New fisheries partnership agreement and protocol between the EU and the Comoros signed in Brussels

    Later today, Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, on behalf of the European Union and Mr Mohamed Abdoulhamid, Minister of Rural Development, Fisheries and Environment of the Islamic Republic of the Comoros Islands, will sign the new EU/Comoros fisheries protocol which will be in place until 31 December 2010 (see ME 26/11/04). This new protocol heralds a new era in cooperation by establishing both a clear commitment to fisheries policy cooperation between the two Parties, and the mechanisms to turn that commitment into a reality.

    [08] Journée internationale de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien : Louis Michel réaffirme l'engagement européen

    Le Commissaire européen au Développement et à l'Aide humanitaire, Louis Michel, se rend aujourd'hui dans les territoires Palestiniens, pour rencontrer les victimes civiles du conflit et réaffirmer la solidarité européenne. Celle-ci s'exprime par un soutien financier important de la Commission, un des principaux donateurs mondiaux. Cette visite intervient au moment où une nouvelle aide humanitaire de €8,3 millions vient d'être allouée en faveur des populations palestiniennes. Dans le cadre de cette mission, le Commissaire rencontrera également le Premier ministre palestinien, Ahmed Qorei.

    [09] European Union and United States economic ministerial meeting to drive forward transatlantic economic integration (30/11)

    The first informal EU-US economic ministerial meeting hosted by the EU Presidency will take place on 30 November 2005 in Brussels to discuss transatlantic economic integration and shared economic challenges. A US delegation, led by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, will meet with Vice President of the European Commission Günter Verheugen, Commissioner Peter Mandelson, UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alan Johnson, Austrian Minister of Economics and Labour Martin Bartenstein, and Finnish Under Secretary of State for External Economic Relations Pekka Lintu. It will tackle the most significant issues in the transatlantic economy, including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), regulatory cooperation, trade and security and improving innovation. Ministers and Commissioners are expected to welcome agreement on a joint work programme to implement the Economic Initiative of the 2005 EU-US Summit. The meeting will be followed by a press conference at 09h45 a.m. at the Justus Lipsius building

    [10] Andris Piebalgs congratulates BP on $1.8 billion investment in alternative and renewable energies

    BP met today with European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs to give details of their plan to double investment in alternative and renewable energies thus creating a new low-carbon power business. This further investment into BP Alternative energy will also build on BP Solar investment by managing a programme in solar, wind, hydrogen and combined- cycle-gas-turbine (CCGT) power generation. The Commission welcomes the increased choice of energy this programme will provide for consumers who are ever more concerned about the environment. One of many planned projects of the investment will include a hydrogen plant in Scotland where the hydrogen will in turn be generated into large quantities of "clean" electricity with waste products being pumped back into an offshore field. Another project would be to increase significantly power generation by wind farms in the US.

    [11] Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner to launch Border Assistance Mission in Odessa (30/11)

    High Representative Javier Solana and European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will represent the European Union in Odessa on 30 November at a ceremony to mark the launch of the EU Border Assistance Mission and the enhanced team of the EU Special Representative for Moldova. The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Borys Tarasyuk and the Foreign Minister of Moldova, Andrei Stratan will also attend. The Border Assistance Mission will be headed by Brigadier- General Ferenc Banfi of Hungary, and will include border police and customs officials from 16 EU Member States. This Mission will help prevent smuggling, trafficking, and customs fraud, by providing advice and training to improve the capacity of the Moldovan and Ukrainian border and customs services. The Mission will work very closely with the team of the EUSR for Moldova Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, which is being strengthened with additional advisors in Kiev, Chisinau and Odessa on issues related to borders.

    [12] Public hearing on mortgage credit

    In July 2005, the European Commission published a Green Paper 'Mortgage Credit in the EU', launching a consultation lasting until 30 November 2005. To mark the conclusion of the consultation, the Internal Market and Services Directorate General is hosting a public hearing on mortgage credit in Brussels on 7 December 2005. The purpose of the Hearing is to stimulate debate amongst key stakeholders on issues raised during the consultation process. The hearing, together with the results of the consultation on the Green Paper, will help to shape the direction of any future EU level work in this area. The Commission expects the hearing to be attended by a large number and variety of key stakeholders, with over 200 people already having registered to attend. The keynote speech will be delivered by Charlie McCreevy, Internal Market and Services Commissioner. Attendance at the hearing is open to all, subject to registration by 30 November 2005. Registration details and the hearing programme are available at :

    <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/finservices-retail/home- loans/index_en.htm#hearing">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/finservices- retail/home-loans/index_en.htm#hearing

    [13] Autre matériel diffusé

    Preparing for influenza and major health threats

    European Migration Network

    Speech by Olli Rehn : "Bulgaria's work programme up to accession in the light of the monitoring report" to the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee (28/11)

    Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Stocking on industrial and intellectual property" to European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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