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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-12-22
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 21 décembre 2005 -
[01] Alimentation biologique : un nouveau règlement plus clair pour les
consommateurs et les agriculteurs
[02] Personnel : Commission appoints new Director-General of the
Directorate-General for Communication
[03] Politique du personnel : la Commission nomme le nouveau directeur
général de la DG Energie et transports
[04] Personnel : Commission appoints new Deputy Secretary-General
[05] Personnel : Commission appoints new Deputy Director-General of
Directorate-General RELEX
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Commission warns Microsoft of daily penalty for failure to comply with
2004 decision
[07] Joe Borg : "Council agreement on fishing possibilities for 2006
confirms gradual but sustained approach to stocks recovery"
[08] Commission launches much-awaited revision to the Medical Device
Directive
[09] Une alimentation plus sûre en 2006 grâce à une législation plus
stricte sur les denrées alimentaires et les aliments pour animaux
[10] Ban on antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed enters into
effect
[11] Sus aux "supermicrobes" : les Etats membres doivent faire davantage
pour combattre la résistance aux substances antimicrobiennes
[12] EU citizens highlight their interest in animal welfare
[13] La Commission co-organise à Pékin une conférence internationale des
donateurs sur la grippe aviaire et humaine
[14] Commission clears acquisition of ACR by Kuehne + Nagel
[15] Commission clears acquisition of Budapest Airport by Fraport and
Deutsche Bank
[16] Commission clears acquisition of Budapest Airport by HTA and CDPQ
[17] Commission approves acquisition of Vodafone Sverige by Telenor
[18] Commission approves acquisition of Aral ÄŒR by OMV
[19] Commission clears acquisition of German slaughterhouse company
Südfleisch by Dutch group Sovion
[20] La Commission ouvre la procédure d'examen à l'égard de l'aide
publique octroyée à l'Institut Français du Pétrole
[21] La Commission autorise le versement de €270,5 millions d'aides dans
le cadre de la reconduction du régime économique et fiscal des îles
Canaries
[22] Commission investigates aid to Polish building company Chemobudowa
Kraków
[23] Les réformes des services d'intérêt économique général engagées
par l'UE profitent aux consommateurs et améliorent les performances
[24] Industrial property : Commission proposes linking of EU design
registration system with WIPO international system
[25] Internal Market : Commission report on motor insurance issues
[26] Programme Culture 2000 : 217 projets paneuropéens soutenus en 2005-
2006
[27] Commission allocates €15 million in humanitarian aid to vulnerable
populations in Burma/Myanmar and to Burmese refugees along the Myanmar-Thai
border
[28] Commission releases €1.5 million to support peace and reconciliation
in Colombia
[29] EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
[30] October 2005 compared to September 2005 : industrial new orders down
by 0.5% in euro-zone ; EU25 stable
[31] Commerce extérieur en produits de Noël : jouets chinois, vins
mousseux français et arbres de Noël danois...
[32] Agriculture and environment indicator report available
[33] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-12-22
Reference: MEX/05/1222
Date: 22/12/2005
EXME05 / 22.12
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
22/12/05
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 21 décembre 2005 -
Outcome of Commission meeting of 21 December
(voir aussi - see also ME of 21/12)
[01] Alimentation biologique : un nouveau règlement plus clair pour les
consommateurs et les agriculteurs
La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition pour un nouveau
règlement sur l'alimentation biologique qui sera plus clair pour les
consommateurs et les agriculteurs. Les nouvelles règles seront plus
simples et donneront une plus grande latitude pour tenir compte des
spécificités régionales concernant le climat et les conditions de
production. Les producteurs d’aliments biologiques auront le choix
d'utiliser ou non le logotype de l'UE signalant les produits issus de
l'agriculture biologique. S'ils décident de ne pas l'utiliser, leurs
produits devront obligatoirement porter la mention standard "UE
BIOLOGIQUE". Seuls les aliments pour lesquels 95% au moins du produit final
est issu de l'agriculture biologique pourront être ainsi étiquetés. Les
denrées alimentaires contenant des OGM ne pourront pas bénéficier de
l'étiquetage réservé aux produits biologiques, hormis ceux contenant
jusqu'Ã 0,9% d'OGM pour cause de contamination accidentelle. Les
importations de produits biologiques seront autorisées pour autant que les
pays d’origine respectent les normes UE ou offrent des garanties
équivalentes.
[02] Personnel : Commission appoints new Director-General of the
Directorate-General for Communication
The European Commission has appointed Claus Haugaard Sørensen as the new
Director-General of Directorate-General for Communication. Mr Sørensen
will be responsible, under the authority of Vice-President Margot
Wallström, for overall communication policy.
[03] Politique du personnel : la Commission nomme le nouveau directeur
général de la DG Energie et transports
M. Matthias Ruete a été nommé directeur général de la direction
générale de l'énergie et des transports. Dans le cadre de ses nouvelles
fonctions, M. Ruete sera appelé, sous l'autorité du vice-président
Barrot et du commissaire Piebalgs, chargé des transports et de l'énergie,
à définir la stratégie globale, à gérer et à diriger la direction
générale et à élaborer une stratégie dans les domaines de l'énergie et
des transports, y compris dans celui de la sûreté et de la
sécurité nucléaire. Il devra planifier et gérer utilement les
activités de la direction générale, définir des orientations et veiller
à l'efficacité de la direction. Il lui incombe également de garantir la
cohérence et la compatibilité des politiques de la direction générale
avec les objectifs généraux de la Commission.
[04] Personnel : Commission appoints new Deputy Secretary-General
Mr Alexander Italianer was appointed Deputy Secretary-General in the
Secretariat-General. In his new capacity, Mr Italianer will support the
overall activities of the Secretariat-General. He will represent the
European Commission at senior level in inter-institutional forums and will
chair inter-service groups. He will also have specific coordination and
management responsibilities for a number of Directorates inside the
Secretariat-General.
[05] Personnel : Commission appoints new Deputy Director-General of
Directorate-General RELEX
The European Commission has appointed Mr Fokion Fotiadis as the new Deputy
Director-General of Directorate-General External Relations. In his new
functions, Mr Fotiadis will be in charge of the European Neighbourhood
Policy and of the relations with Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central
Asia, Middle East and South Mediterranean area. He will also coordinate the
work of three directorates, two of which cover the geographic areas
"Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asian Republics" and "Near and
Middle East, South Mediterranean Region". Mr Fotiadis will be in charge of
defining strategic guidelines for the negotiation and implementation of the
Agreements and supervising the planning of the various cooperation models.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Commission warns Microsoft of daily penalty for failure to comply with
2004 decision
The European Commission has issued a Statement of Objections against
Microsoft for its failure to comply with certain of its obligations under
the March 2004 Commission decision (the "March 2004 Decision", see
IP/04/382). That decision found Microsoft to have infringed the EC Treaty
rules on abuse of a dominant position (Article 82) by leveraging its near
monopoly in the market for PC operating systems onto the markets for work
group server operating systems and for media players. One of the remedies
imposed by the decision was for Microsoft to disclose complete and accurate
interface documentation which would allow non-Microsoft work group servers
to achieve full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers. The
Statement of Objections indicates that the Commission's preliminary view,
supported by two reports from the Monitoring Trustee (see IP/05/1215), is
that Microsoft has not yet provided complete and accurate specifications
for this interoperability information. After giving Microsoft an
opportunity to reply to the Statement of Objections, the Commission may
impose a daily penalty.
[07] Joe Borg : "Council agreement on fishing possibilities for 2006
confirms gradual but sustained approach to stocks recovery"
Following the adoption of the fishing possibilities for 2006 by the Council
of Fisheries Ministers, early this morning, Joe Borg, European Commissioner
for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, described the agreement as a further
step towards ensuring the environmental and economic sustainability of
fisheries. Ministers were discussing the Commission proposals on catch
levels for the Baltic Sea and for the rest of the Union's waters. With
regard to the main proposal, Commissioner Borg said that the agreement
reached would provide greater protection for the stocks that needed it most,
namely cod and deep-sea fish stocks. The measures for the Baltic paved the
way for the setting up of a multi-annual recovery plan for cod in 2007, he
said. The Council also adopted a recovery plan for the sole stock in the
Bay of Biscay. This plan aims to reduce the catches of sole until the stock
reaches safe biological levels. A management plan will subsequently be put
in place to ensure the continued protection of this stock.
[08] Commission launches much-awaited revision to the Medical Device
Directive
Medical devices have become an increasingly important health care area in
relation to their impact on health and health care expenditure. The sector
covers some 10,000 types of products, ranging from simple bandages and
spectacles, through life maintaining implantable devices, equipment to
screen and diagnose disease and health conditions, to the most
sophisticated diagnostic imaging and minimal invasive surgery equipment.
The public expects that these devises meet the highest safety standards.
Today, the European Commission has proposed amendments to the current
legislative framework. The proposal has been developed involving extensive
stakeholder consultation and has also been subject to a public
consultation. This brought forward many relevant and important
contributions which, where appropriate, were incorporated into the
proposal. The most significant proposals concern conformity assessment,
including design documentation and design review, clarification of the
clinical evaluation requirements, post market surveillance, compliance of
custom-made device manufacturers and the alignment of the original medical
device directive 90/385/EEC.
[09] Une alimentation plus sûre en 2006 grâce à une législation plus
stricte sur les denrées alimentaires et les aliments pour animaux
Le 1er janvier 2006 sera une date importante pour la sécurité alimentaire
au sein de l'UE. C'est en effet à cette date qu'entrera en vigueur un vaste
ensemble de textes législatifs actualisés concernant les denrées
alimentaires et les aliments pour animaux. Le train de mesures relatives Ã
l'hygiène, le règlement concernant les critères microbiologiques
applicables aux denrées alimentaires, le règlement relatif aux contrôles
officiels des aliments pour animaux et des denrées alimentaires et le
règlement relatif à l'hygiène des aliments pour animaux représentent un
ensemble complémentaire de règles visant à renforcer et harmoniser
l'action de l'Union dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire. Ces
textes législatifs s'appliqueront à chaque maillon de la chaîne de
production des denrées alimentaires, conformément à la démarche "de la
ferme à la table" adoptée par l'UE. Un des principaux aspects de la
nouvelle législation réside dans le fait que la responsabilité première
du contrôle du respect des normes de sécurité définies incombera à la
totalité des opérateurs du secteur des denrées alimentaires et des
aliments pour animaux (des agriculteurs aux exploitants d'entreprises de
transformation, en passant par les commerces de détail et les traiteurs)
qui mettent ces produits sur le marché de l'Union.
[10] Ban on antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed enters into
effect
An EU-wide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed
enters into effect on January 1, 2006. The last four antibiotics which have
been permitted as feed additives to help fatten livestock will no longer be
allowed to be marketed or used from this date. The ban is the final step in
the phasing out of antibiotics used for non-medicinal purposes. It is part
of the European Commission's overall strategy to tackle the emergence of
bacteria and other microbes resistant to antibiotics, due to their
overexploitation or misuse.
[11] Sus aux "supermicrobes" : les Etats membres doivent faire davantage
pour combattre la résistance aux substances antimicrobiennes
Selon un nouveau rapport de la Commission, il faut intensifier les efforts
visant à réduire le recours inopportun aux antibiotiques dans l'Union
européenne et à faire pièce à l'apparition de "supermicrobes" résistant
aux traitements médicaux. L'utilisation abusive ou inadéquate
d'antibiotiques a entraîné une accélération de la prolifération
générale de bactéries et d'autres microbes immunisés contre les
médicaments que l'on utilise normalement pour en venir à bout. Ce
phénomène, connu sous le nom de "résistance aux substances
antimicrobiennes" (RSAM), peut représenter une grave menace pour la santé
en ôtant toute efficacité aux traitements traditionnellement employés
contre certaines affections. Le rapport publié aujourd'hui énumère les
principales mesures que doivent prendre les pouvoirs publics pour éliminer
la RSAM, parmi lesquelles un endiguement plus efficace des infections, une
diminution de l'automédication par antibiotiques et une meilleure
information des citoyens quant au bon usage des traitements antimicrobiens.
[12] EU citizens highlight their interest in animal welfare
The results of an EU-wide internet consultation on the welfare of farm
animals have been published today, serving to highlight the strong interest
and concerns of the public on this subject. The survey which was launched
on 8 November received over 40,000 responses by its closing date of 20
December. The results show that respondents believe that more should be
done to ensure the welfare and protection of farm animals, particularly
laying hens, broiler chickens and fur animals for example. Data was also
collected on the sources of information used by citizens on this issue, and
there was strong support for better labelling on the animal welfare
conditions under which products were obtained. Respondents overwhelmingly
believed that imported food products should be produced under animal
welfare conditions at least as high as those applied in Europe, and most
were also convinced that higher animal welfare standards could result in
better animal health and more ethically acceptable food products. The
Commission is currently preparing a 5-year Action Plan on the protection
and welfare of animals, which is expected to be published by the end of
January 2006. These results along with stakeholder input, research data and
the findings of recent Eurobarometer surveys on consumer attitudes will
help the Commission in shaping future policy decisions on the protection
and welfare of animals. For full results of the consultation, see:
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/consultations/action_plan_farmed_background_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/consultations/action_plan_farmed_background_en.htm
[13] La Commission co-organise à Pékin une conférence internationale des
donateurs sur la grippe aviaire et humaine
La Commission européenne va organiser à Pékin, en collaboration avec le
gouvernement de la République populaire de Chine et la Banque mondiale,
une conférence internationale des donateurs sur le thème de la grippe
aviaire et humaine, à laquelle ont été invités plus de quatre-vingt-dix
pays et vingt-cinq organisations, dont l'Organisation mondiale de la santé
(OMS), l'Office international des épizooties (OIE) et l'Organisation des
Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO). Plusieurs
commissaires - Mme Benita Ferrero-Waldner, MM. Markos Kyprianou et Louis
Michel - préparent l'intervention qu'y fera la Commission elle-même,
représentée pour l'occasion par le commissaire à la santé et à la
protection des consommateurs, M. Kyprianou. Ce dernier, qui co-présidera
la conférence, a déclaré : "La grippe aviaire menace le monde entier et
seule une action conjointe de la communauté internationale visant Ã
attaquer le problème à la racine nous permettra de nous protéger de
manière efficace." La Commission est occupée à calculer, sur la base des
disponibilités des budgets 'Relations extérieures' et 'Aide au
développement', le montant définitif qu'elle s'engagera à verser. Ce
montant sera annoncé à la conférence et viendra s'ajouter à l'aide qui
sera accordée par les Etats membres de l'Union.
[14] Commission clears acquisition of ACR by Kuehne + Nagel
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of ACR Logistics Holdings BV
(ACR) of the Netherlands by Kuehne + Nagel International AG (K+N) of
Switzerland. K+N is a worldwide logistics company and its activities
include sea freight, airfreight and contract business logistics. ACR
(formerly referred to as Hays Logistics) is a worldwide contract logistics
provider. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[15] Commission clears acquisition of Budapest Airport by Fraport and
Deutsche Bank
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Budapest Airport Rt. of
Hungary by Fraport AG of Germany and HAH Limited of the UK, an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG of Germany. Fraport operates
and manages airports in Frankfurt, Frankfurt-Hahn, Saarbrücken, Hannover,
Antalya and Lima. HAH and Deutsche Bank are active in banking. Budapest
Airport operates and manages Budapest airport. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[16] Commission clears acquisition of Budapest Airport by HTA and CDPQ
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Budapest Airport Rt.
(Budapest Airport) of Hungary by Hochtief AirPort GmbH (HTA.) of Germany
and Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ) of Canada. HTA is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Hochtief Aktiengesellschaft (HT) and focuses on
airport management services. CDPQ is a financial institution which manages
funds for public and private pension and insurance funds. Budapest Airport
is a Hungarian company operating and managing the Budapest Ferihegy
International Airport. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[17] Commission approves acquisition of Vodafone Sverige by Telenor
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition by the incumbent Norwegian telecommunications operator
Telenor ASA ("Telenor") of Europolitan Vodafone AB (which includes Vodafone
Sverige AB, "Vodafone Sverige"), the Swedish mobile telecommunications
operator, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vodafone group. The
Commission has concluded that the transaction would not significantly
impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any
substantial part of it.
[18] Commission approves acquisition of Aral ÄŒR by OMV
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Aral ÄŒR a.s. ("Aral ÄŒR") by OMV Aktiengesellschaft
("OMV"). Although both parties are active in retail and non-retail sale of
fuel in the Czech Republic, there are a number of other multinational and
local competitors active on the markets. The Commission therefore concluded
that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition
in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it and has
therefore approved the concentration.
[19] Commission clears acquisition of German slaughterhouse company
Südfleisch by Dutch group Sovion
The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of the German
slaughterhouse company Südfleisch by the Dutch-based Sovion group under
the EU Merger Regulation. Both companies are active in the slaughtering of
pigs and cattle and meat sales. The main impact of the transaction will be
on the slaughtering markets in the southern region of Germany. The
Commission has concluded that the transaction would not significantly
impede effective competition in the slaughtering markets in the southern
region of Germany or in any other markets where the parties are active.
[20] La Commission ouvre la procédure d'examen à l'égard de l'aide
publique octroyée à l'Institut Français du Pétrole
La Commission européenne a ouvert la procédure formelle d'examen, prévue
par l'article 88(2) du Traité CE, à l'égard du soutien public octroyé
par la France à l'Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) et certaines de ses
filiales. L'IFP est un organisme à but non lucratif de recherche, de
formation et de documentation dans le domaine des hydrocarbures et
bénéficie à ce titre d'un soutien public qui s'est élevé à €200
millions en 2003 et à €163 millions en 2004. Sur le marché des
technologies de raffinage et de pétrochimie, la Commission considère que
l'IFP et son entreprise filiale Axens constituent un acteur unique, en
concurrence avec d'autres opérateurs privés. De plus, la Commission
estime que les dépenses de R&D de l'IFP et sa filiale sur ce marché sont
au moins partiellement financées par l'aide versée par l'Etat pour les
activités non lucratives de l'IFP et elle doute que ce financement soit
compatible avec les règles communautaires en matière d'aides d'Etat.
L'ouverture d'examen permettra à la Commission d'obtenir de plus amples
informations sur le périmètre et la nature des activités menées par
l'IFP et certaines de ses filiales et financées par l'Etat et donnera aux
parties intéressées l'occasion de commenter la mesure. Elle ne préjuge
pas du résultat de l'enquête.
[21] La Commission autorise le versement de €270,5 millions d'aides dans
le cadre de la reconduction du régime économique et fiscal des îles
Canaries
La Commission européenne a approuvé la reconduction jusqu'à fin 2006 du
régime économique et fiscal des îles Canaries. Ce régime vise Ã
promouvoir les activités économiques aux Canaries en permettant aux
entreprises établies dans une zone considérée comme une région
périphérique de surmonter leurs handicaps structurels naturels.
L'enveloppe de l'aide, d'un montant de €270,5 millions, stimulera la
création d'entreprises et leur extension en soutenant l'investissement
productif et en contribuant à leur capitalisation.
[22] Commission investigates aid to Polish building company Chemobudowa
Kraków
The European Commission has initiated a formal in-depth investigation under
EC Treaty state aid rules (Article 87) into aid granted to Chemobudowa
Kraków, a state-owned building company. Poland has notified two measures
supporting the restructuring of Chemobudowa, both amounting to €2.67
million and have informed the Commission about other measures in favour of
the company granted during the restructuring period. Poland claims that the
latter do not constitute state aid. The Commission has doubts as to the
compatibility of the notified measures and as to the absence of aid as
regards the other measures. While the Commission has no competence to
assess aid granted before accession, it needs to verify the aid character
of all measures that are part of the same restructuring plan in order to
assess the compatibility of the measures granted after accession, in
particular to determine whether the aid is limited to the minimum
necessary. The opening of the formal investigation will allow interested
parties to comment, but does not prejudge the Commission's final decision.
[23] Les réformes des services d'intérêt économique général engagées
par l'UE profitent aux consommateurs et améliorent les performances
Les réformes des services d'intérêt économique général (SIEG), tels
que les télécommunications, les transports aériens et les services
postaux, ont produit des avantages évidents pour les consommateurs
européens en termes de prix réduits, de choix et de meilleurs services,
comme le montre un rapport de la Commission européenne. Cependant, le
progrès actuel est lent et des obstacles à la concurrence et Ã
l'achèvement du marché unique européen subsistent. Il appartient à la
fois à la Commission et aux Etats membres de résoudre ces questions. Une
concurrence renforcée dans ces industries est également essentielle pour
les Etats membres ayant adhéré en 2004 pour parer aux pressions
inflationnistes résultant du processus de rattrapage.
[24] Industrial property : Commission proposes linking of EU design
registration system with WIPO international system
The European Commission has presented two proposals to link the 'Community
Design' system, which protects designs within the EU, with the
international design registration system of the World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO). The proposals would allow companies, with a single
application, to obtain protection of a design not only throughout the EU
with the Community Design, but also in the countries which are members of
the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement concerning the international
registration of industrial designs. The first proposal relates to the
accession of the European Community to the Geneva Act. The second proposal
contains the necessary provisions to give effect to that accession, in
particular through an amendment of Council Regulation No 6/2002 on
Community Designs.
[25] Internal Market : Commission report on motor insurance issues
The European Commission has issued a report addressed to the European
Parliament and the Council on two motor insurance issues – compensation
bodies and third-party liability cover for trailers. Based upon various
consultations with interested parties carried out in 2005, the report
suggests possible solutions for improving compensation for victims of
accidents with a trailer, which could be examined when there is a recasting
of the Motor Insurance Directives in 2007-2008. The report also concludes
that compensation bodies are operating smoothly in the EU and that no major
revision of the Motor Insurance Directives is required at this stage. The
report has been issued in the form of a Commission Staff Working Paper and
is available at :
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/insurance/motor_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/insurance/motor_en.htm
[26] Programme Culture 2000 : 217 projets paneuropéens soutenus en 2005-
2006
La Commission européenne a annoncé que deux cent dix-sept projets auront
été subventionnés au titre de son programme Culture 2000 en 2005. Au
total, les subventions représentent un montant dépassant €33 millions
et auront bénéficié à environ 700 organisations culturelles réparties
entre les 30 pays participant à Culture 2000 (2000-2006).
[27] Commission allocates €15 million in humanitarian aid to vulnerable
populations in Burma/Myanmar and to Burmese refugees along the Myanmar-Thai
border
The European Commission has allocated €15 million in humanitarian aid for
vulnerable populations in Burma/Myanmar and to Burmese refugees along the
Myanmar-Thai border. This is the second allocation to the Burmese crisis in
2005, which in total has reached €16.5 million. This decision will aim at
providing protection and addressing some of the basic humanitarian needs in
the health, food aid, nutrition and water & sanitation sectors of around
770,000 people inside Myanmar. It will also provide humanitarian assistance
to over 130,000 Burmese refugees along the Myanmar-Thai border. Funds are
managed by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), whose newly
opened office in Yangon will help to monitor and increase the quality and
impact of the aid delivered.
[28] Commission releases €1.5 million to support peace and reconciliation
in Colombia
The European Commission will provide €1.5 million under its Rapid
Reaction Mechanism to follow-up on the 3 October 2005 Council Conclusions
on Colombia. After the July 2005 enactment of the Justice and Peace Law,
the EU Council confirmed the "readiness of the EU and its Member States to
assist the Colombian governement and civil society in providing support for
communities affected by the internal conflict, victims groups, local
reconciliation activities and reinsertion and demobilisation of child
soldiers". The Commission will now support a number of measures to
falicitate an effective and transparent implementation of the law and so
contribute towards the consolidation of lasting prospects for peace.
[29] EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
The European Commission has granted important preferences (duty and quota-
free access) to an additional 15 vulnerable developing countries that have
implemented sustainable development and good governance policies under the
'GSP+' incentive.
[30] October 2005 compared to September 2005 : industrial new orders down
by 0.5% in euro-zone ; EU25 stable
According to Eurostat, the euro-zone industrial new orders index fell by
0.5% in October 2005 compared to September 2005. The index rose by 1.6% in
September and remained unchanged in August. EU25 new orders remained stable
in October 2005, after rises of 0.7% in September3 and of 0.2% in August.
In October 2005 compared to October 2004, industrial new orders increased
by 4.4% in the euro-zone and by 4.9% in the EU25.
[31] Commerce extérieur en produits de Noël : jouets chinois, vins
mousseux français et arbres de Noël danois...
A l'approche des fêtes de fin d’année, Eurostat examine le commerce
extérieur de ces produits. Plus de 80% des jouets importés dans l'UE25
proviennent de Chine. L'UE25 est un importateur net de jouets en provenance
du reste du monde. Entre 1999 et 2004, les importations de jouets de l'UE25
sont passées de €4,0 à 4,8 milliards et les exportations de 0,6 à 0,7
milliard. Près de la moitié des importations de jouets de l'UE25 étaient
destinées au Royaume-Uni (€1,3 milliard) et à l'Allemagne (0,9
milliard). Avec des exportations d'un montant de €970 millions en 2004,
l'UE25 est un important fournisseur de vins mousseux pour le reste du
monde. La France (740 millions) a assuré plus des trois quarts de ce
total. L'UE25 a importé pour €600 millions d'articles de Noël
(principalement décorations de Noël et arbres de Noël artificiels) et
€220 millions de guirlandes électriques en 2004. Le commerce extérieur
des arbres de Noël naturels est principalement de nature intra-
communautaire. 80% des arbres de Noël naturels importés proviennent du
Danemark.
[32] Agriculture and environment indicator report available
Today the IRENA indicator report on agriculture and the environment has
been released. It provides a comprehensive overview on the interactions
between agriculture and the environment in the European Union and is a tool
for monitoring the integration of environmental concerns into the EU Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP).
[33] Autre matériel diffusé
Statement of objections to Microsoft for non-compliance with March 2004
decision - frequently asked questions
Questions and answers on the new EU rules on food and feed hygiene and
controls
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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