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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-03
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Fixation de teneurs maximales pour les dioxines et les PCB dans les
aliments pour animaux et les denrées alimentaires
[02] Commission clears joint venture between G+J and SMI
[03] Statement by Vice-President Franco Frattini on cartoons published by a
Danish newspaper (02/02)
[04] Internal Market : Commission asks industry to evaluate implementation
of Financial Collateral Arrangements Directive
[05] Flash estimate - January 2006 : Euro-zone inflation estimated at 2.4%
[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'UE25
[07] EU welcomes repeal of Byrd Amendment; regrets transition period
[08] EU external assistance : record performance in 2005
[09] Stavros Dimas aux réunions de Dubaï sur l'environnement et
destinées faire progresser le débat sur le développement durable de la
planète
[10] Jan Figel' visits the USA to strengthen transatlantic relations in
higher education
[11] Senior Lithuanian official appointed to head EU Agency
[12] Andris Piebalgs to open Sunflower Solar Solidarité exhibition
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-02-03
Reference: MEX/06/0203
Date: 03/02/2006
EXME06 / 3.2
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
03/02/06
[01] Fixation de teneurs maximales pour les dioxines et les PCB dans les
aliments pour animaux et les denrées alimentaires
La 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 SMI
The 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 Directive
The 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'UE25
En 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 period
On 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 2005
In 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
planète
M. 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 education
Ján 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 Agency
The 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 exhibition
Energy 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 diffusé
Questions and answers on dioxins and PCBs
Getting 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/
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