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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-03Midday 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 Générale Presse etbCommunication03/02/06[01] Fixation de teneurs maximales pour les dioxines et les PCB dans les aliments pour animaux et les denrées alimentairesLa Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui une nouvelle législation de transposition fixant des teneurs maximales pour la somme des dioxines et des polychlorobiphényles (PCB) de type dioxine dans les aliments pour animaux et les denrées alimentaires. Des teneurs maximales pour les dioxines dans les aliments d’origine animale et dans tous les aliments pour animaux sont applicables depuis juillet 2002. Toutefois, aucune teneur n'avait été fixée pour les PCB de type dioxine car, ce moment-l , on ne disposait pas de données et d'informations scientifiques suffisantes. Depuis 2002, de nouvelles données sont disponibles sur les PCB de type dioxine et la législation adoptée aujourd'hui fixe des limites contraignantes pour la teneur combinée en dioxines et PCB de type dioxine. A compter de novembre 2006, tout aliment pour animaux ou toute denrée alimentaire dans lesquels la somme des dioxines et des PCB de type dioxine dépasse ces teneurs maximales ne pourra plus être commercialisé au sein de l'UE. La réduction de la présence de substances chimiques persistantes comme les dioxines et les PCB de type dioxine dans la chaîne alimentaire est un élément important pour garantir la santé et la sécurité des consommateurs européens. Les dioxines et les PCB ont des propriétés toxiques qui peuvent entraîner une série de problèmes de santé, parmi lesquels le cancer, des troubles immunitaires et du système nerveux, des lésions du foie et la stérilité. Les teneurs maximales adoptées aujourd'hui concourent la stratégie globale lancée par la Commission en 2001 pour réduire la teneur en dioxines et PCB dans l'environnement, les aliments pour animaux et les denrées alimentaires.[02] Commission clears joint venture between G+J and SMIThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to a joint venture (JV) between G+J International Publishing Holding GmbH (G+J) of Austria and Sanoma Magazines International B.V. (SMI) of the Netherlands. G+J is a company of the Bertelsmann Group. SMI is part of the Sanoma WSOY group of companies. Both G+J and SMI are active in the creation, production and publication of magazines. The JV will publish magazines in the Eastern Adriatic region, initially limited to Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[03] Statement by Vice-President Franco Frattini on cartoons published by a Danish newspaper (02/02)"As European Commissioner responsible for integration policy as well as the promotion and respect of fundamental rights, integrating communities with different religions, cultures and political affiliations is an objective that I strive for in my everyday activities. This is an objective that flows from the liberal principles that govern the European Union and its institutions, and indeed the life and history of our continent. I can understand the feelings of indignation, frustration and sadness of the Muslim communities over the last few days as they viewed the cartoons published by a Danish newspaper. Such events do not facilitate dialogue between faiths and cultures and provide barriers to the integration process to which the Member States of the Union are committed."[04] Internal Market : Commission asks industry to evaluate implementation of Financial Collateral Arrangements DirectiveThe European Commission has published a questionnaire asking industry and the private sector for their views on the implementation of the Directive on Financial Collateral Arrangements (2002/47/EC), which aims to create a uniform EU legal framework to limit credit risk in financial transactions through the provision of securities and cash as collateral. This follows a detailed questionnaire on the Directive sent recently to all Member States. The replies to both questionnaires will form the basis of a report evaluating how the Directive has been implemented in Member States and providing Member States with useful practical information on each other's national laws. Replies should be sent by 31 March 2006. The questionnaire is available at: <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/financial- markets/collateral/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/financial- markets/collateral/index_en.htm[05] Flash estimate - January 2006 : Euro-zone inflation estimated at 2.4%Euro-zone annual inflation is expected to be 2.4% in January 2006 according to a flash estimate issued by Eurostat. It was 2.2% in December 2005. Euro- zone inflation is measured by the Monetary Union Index of Consumer Prices (MUICP). To compute the MUICP flash estimates, Eurostat uses early price information relating to the reference month from Member States for which data are available as well as early information about energy prices.[06] Décembre 2005 par rapport décembre 2004 : hausse du volume des ventes du commerce de détail de 0,8% dans la zone euro ; hausse de 2,3% dans l'UE25En décembre 2005, par rapport décembre 2004, le volume des ventes du commerce de détail a augmenté de 0,8% dans la zone euro et de 2,3% dans l'UE25. Par rapport novembre 20053, l'indice des ventes a progressé de 0, 1% dans la zone euro et de 0,4% dans l'UE25. En décembre 2005, par rapport décembre 2004, le secteur de l'«alimentation, boissons, tabac» a crû de 0,4% dans la zone euro et de 1,5% dans l'UE25. Le secteur non alimentaire a augmenté respectivement de 1,3% et 3,0%. Parmi les Etats membres pour lesquels les données sont disponibles, les ventes du commerce de détail ont progressé en Lettonie (+23,9%), en Lituanie (+16,1%), en Slovénie (+12,4%), en Suède (+10,8%), au Danemark (+5,9%), en Finlande (+5,6%), au Royaume-Uni (+4,7%), en Slovaquie (+4,6%), en Pologne (+4,3%), en France (+2,1%), au Portugal (+1,9%), en Belgique (+0,8%) et au Luxembourg (+0,2%). Elles sont restées inchangées en Espagne et ont baissé en Allemagne (-1,8%). Par rapport 2004, l'indice moyen du volume des ventes au détail a progressé en 2005 de 0,8% dans la zone euro et 1, 6% dans l'UE25. Ces premières estimations sont publiées par Eurostat.[07] EU welcomes repeal of Byrd Amendment; regrets transition periodOn February 1 2006 the United States Congress passed the "Deficit Reduction Act 2005", which among other provisions repeals the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act, more commonly known as the "Byrd Amendment". The Deficit Reduction Act will enter into force once the President signs it into law. The European Commission welcomes the move, and the leadership of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and USTR Rob Portman. The Byrd Amendment has been a persistent source of tension between the United States and some of its main trading partners and benefits only of a handful of US companies. Today's vote is a significant step towards bringing the United States into compliance with its WTO obligations and removing a serious trade problem.[08] EU external assistance : record performance in 2005In 2005 the European Commission has acted with record speed and efficiency to implement programmes so that the money reaches those who need it. The results show the value of reforms introduced in 2001 to improve the way in which the Commission's aid to third countries is spent. In 2005 €6.2 billion in development aid was disbursed, up from €5.7 billion the year before. Thanks to the reforms, the Commission is processing money pledged more effectively both in its own internal procedures and in the implementation of programmes themselves. A comparison between 2001 and 2005 shows commitments up by 54% and payments up by 52%.[09] Stavros Dimas aux réunions de Dubaï sur l'environnement et destinées faire progresser le débat sur le développement durable de la planèteM. Stavros Dimas, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de l'Environnement, représentera la Commission dans la série de conférences sur l'environnement organisées sous les auspices des Nations unies, qui débutera demain Dubaï, aux Emirats arabes unis. Ces réunions auxquelles participeront les ministres de l'environnement et les hauts responsables de plus de 180 pays visent faire progresser le débat sur le développement durable planétaire, plus particulièrement sur les questions de gestion des produits chimiques, d'énergie, d'écotourisme et de gouvernance internationale en matière d'environnement. Les participants chercheront notamment parvenir un accord final sur une approche stratégique concernant la gestion internationale des produits chimiques. Il s'agirait du premier accord international concernant la gestion des produits chimiques en général, la différence des accords portant sur des produits chimiques spécifiques. Il garantira que les produits chimiques sont produits et utilisés de manière réduire au minimum leurs effets néfastes.[10] Jan Figel' visits the USA to strengthen transatlantic relations in higher educationJán Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Multilingualism, will be visiting the USA from 6 to 8 February. He will meet the US Secretary for Education and other senior government officials, as well as the President of MIT, to reinforce and renew European-US cooperation in higher education and vocational training, which since it began in 1995 has involved over 600 institutions and 3000 students.[11] Senior Lithuanian official appointed to head EU AgencyThe Governing Board of the Translation Centre of the Bodies of the European Union, based in Luxembourg, has appointed Ms Gailè Dagilienè from Lithuania to be the new Director of the Centre for a period of five years. Ms Dagilienè, who was selected for the post on 1 February 2006, is currently Under-Secretary of State in the Lithuanian Ministry of the Interior. The Translation Centre was set up in 1994 to meet the translation needs of the EU agencies, and its role has since been expanded to giving a helping hand, when needed, to the EU institutions which have their own translation services. It has a staff of more than 180 members and translates over 400,000 pages per year.[12] Andris Piebalgs to open Sunflower Solar Solidarité exhibitionEnergy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will open on Monday 6 February at 12h30 the exhibition "Solar Solidarité" in the Piazza of the Berlaymont building. Solar Solidarité is an initiative, carried out by stagiaires of the European Commission, intended to raise awareness of the potential of renewable energy sources and to raise funds to support the solar electrification of schools in the developing world. The exhibition features an artistic installation of 1000 "Dang-cing" sunflowers by artist Dang and an informative presentation of rural electrification projects carried out by "Electriciens sans Frontières". The sunflowers are dancing by means of solar energy : such an installation is a "première". The proceeds of the event will go to the NGO “Electriciens sans Frontières” for the electrification of a school in Haïti. Contacts for press: <a href="mailto:info@solarsolidarite.org">info@solarsolidarite.org and/or <a href="http://www.solarsolidarite.org">www.solarsolidarite.org[13] Autre matériel diffuséQuestions and answers on dioxins and PCBsGetting the facts straight on the EU's agriculture offer in the Doha round Speech by Danuta Hübner : "The borders of Europe" at the 'Club of Three' Conference on the Frontiers of Europe (Warsaw, ! embargo 17h00 !) Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "The EU in the World" at the European Policy Centre breakfast briefing (02/02) Speech by Vladimir pidla : "Europas demografische Herausforderungen" at the Conference 'Demographie changes - Family needs partnership" (02/02, Vienna) Calendrier du 6 au 10 février 2006
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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