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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-21Midday 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 etbCommunication21/03/06[01] "Broadband for all" : Commission mobilises all its policy instruments to bridge the broadband gapThe European Commission considers wide broadband coverage in Europe as crucial for fostering growth and jobs in Europe. This is why EU telecoms legislation, structural and rural policy instruments need to be mobilised in full respect of state aid rules in a joint drive to bring high-speed "broadband" internet access to all Europeans, in particular to the EU's less-developed areas. This is the conclusion of "Bridging the Broadband Gap", a Commission Communication presented today jointly by the European Commissioners for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding, Competition Neelie Kroes, Regional Policy Danuta Hübner, and Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel.[02] La Commission présente une nouvelle stratégie pour promouvoir le tourisme dans l'Union européenneLa mondialisation, les changements démographiques et l'évolution des transports sont des facteurs décisifs dans l'expansion rapide de l'industrie européenne du tourisme. Environ deux millions d'entreprises du tourisme emploient quelque 4% du total de la main-d'œuvre de l'Union, soit près de huit millions d'emplois. Bien que l'Europe soit la région du monde la plus visitée, la fréquentation des touristes internationaux augmente moins vite que la moyenne mondiale. La concurrence de nouvelles destinations se fait jour, renforçant encore celle à laquelle l'Union fait face sur le plan mondial. Devant ces défis, la Commission présente une proposition pour améliorer, en association avec toutes les parties prenantes, la compétitivité de l'industrie du tourisme. Comme de nombreux touristes considèrent l'Europe comme une seule et même destination, la Commission a ouvert un nouveau portail sur la Toile, "Visit Europe", pour promouvoir les destinations à l'intérieur de l'Union.[03] Innovation financing and start-ups : 22 champion regions present results of European cooperationInnovative start-ups are backed and promoted under the European Commission's PAXIS initiative. During the past five years, twenty-two leading innovation regions in Europe have cooperated to identify the most successful business start up practices. The new PAXIS manual describes some 65 good practices in policy design, innovation financing, technology transfer and start-up development.[04] Commission clears planned acquisition of Formula One owner SLEC by CVC, subject to conditionsThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition by the private equity investment firm CVC of SLEC, the owner of the Formula One Group. The Commission's clearance is conditional upon the divestiture by CVC of its Spanish subsidiary Dorna, which is the promoter of the Moto GP motorcycle Championship. In light of these commitments, the Commission has concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.[05] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Cegelec par LBO FranceLa Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de l'entreprise Cegelec Holdings SAS (Cegelec) en France par SAS Cegelec Financière, une filiale contrôlée par LBO France Gestion (LBO France). LBO France gère des fonds d'investissements. Cegelec offre des services contractuels sur l'électricité et la mécanique, du management de projet, des services et de la maintenance dans un certain nombre de secteurs industriels. Cette affaire a été traitée selon la procédure simplifiée.[06] Promotion of EU agricultural products outside the EUThe European Commission has approved measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries. Member States have submitted 12 promotion and information programmes to the Commission to be examined. The eight programmes that have been accepted are targeted at the USA, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Japan, China, India, Brazil, Norway and Switzerland. The products covered are wine, cheese, fruit, olives and quality products. The estimated expenditure for the EU is €8.2 million (50% of the budget of the programmes).[07] Le Conseil adopte une amélioration des dispositions concernant les produits agricoles de qualitéLe 20 mars, le Conseil de l'agriculture a adopté deux règlements destinés à clarifier et à simplifier les dispositions relatives à l'enregistrement des indications géographiques protégées (IGP), des appellations d'origine protégées (AOP) ainsi que des spécialités traditionnelles garanties (STG). Le premier règlement, qui porte sur les indications géographiques et les appellations d'origine, traduit également les conclusions d'un récent groupe spécial de l'OMC.[08] Louis Michel proposes a strategy for peace, security and development in the Horn of AfricaThe European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, proposed on 20 March a strategy for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa region, while attending the 11th summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government in Nairobi. IGAD, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, is a grouping of seven countries (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda). This strategy should focus, in particular, on regional governance, natural resources management, food security, border control and non-proliferation of small arms.[09] 22 March 2006 : World Water Day - 90% of EU25 population connected to waste water collection systemsIn connection with World Water Day (22 March), which is intended to draw attention to the problems of access to clean, fresh water and proper sanitation in developing countries, Eurostat, presents some information on connection to the public water supply and waste water treatment in the EU.[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner en visite à RabatLa Commissaire européenne aux Relations extérieures et à la Politique de Voisinage, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, se rendra à Rabat du 21 au 23 mars. Elle rencontrera le premier ministre Driss Jettou avec qui elle discutera les possibilités d'approfondir le partenariat UE-Maroc à la lumière de la demande marocaine d'obtenir un statut avancé. Mme Ferrero-Waldner rencontrera également le ministre des Affaires étrangères Mohammed Benaissa, le ministre délégué auprès du ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération Taieb Fassi Fihri, ainsi que le ministre des Finances et de la Privatisation Fathallah Oualalou, et le ministre de l'Education nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Formation des cadres et de la Recherche scientifique Habib El Malki. Toutes ces rencontres devraient permettre d'anticiper ce que seront les grands axes de la coopération euro-marocaine sur la période 2007-2013.[11] Putting Sustainability Impact Assessments at the heart of EU trade policyThe European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will today open the Commission's international Stocktaking Conference on Trade Sustainability Impact Assessments. Up to 400 participants from 60 countries will discuss progress made by the Commission in its efforts to gauge the potential impact of trade negotiations on sustainable development. French trade Minister Christine Lagarde will also address the conference.[12] Launch of Alliance for Corporate ResponsibilityOn 22 March European Commissioners Günter Verheugen and Vladimir Špidla together with representatives of big and small companies will launch the European alliance for a sustainable and competitive enterprise. This will be an open alliance with one ambition – to make Europe a Pole of Excellence on Corporate Social Responsibility, to support a competitive, sustainable enterprise and market economy. The launch will take place in the Berlaymont press room on Wednesday 22 March at 1pm. Following the presentation the two Commissioners and representatives from supporting organisations (such as CSR Europe, UNICE, UAPME) and from companies (such as Epson, VW, Microsoft, BASF, Arcelor, BP or Intel) will be available for the press.[13] Autre matériel diffuséCommission's "Broadband for all" policy to foster growth and jobs in Europe - frequently asked questionsComment les instruments financiers de l'Union soutiennent le tourisme Promoting smart innovation policy – good practice examples from leading innovative regions in Europe Neelie Kroes a rencontré les PDGs de Suez et Gaz de France (20/03) Speech by Günter Verheugen : "Tourismus - eine Schlüssel zu Wirtschaftswachstum und Beschäftigung in Europa" at Conference of EU Tourism ministers (Vienna) Speech by Peter Mandelson : "Sustainable Trade : observations on trade and protectionism" at Stocktaking Conference on Trade Sustainability Impact Assessments Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Banking regulation : next steps" at French Banking Federation Conference (Paris) Speech by Mariann Fischer Boel : "Commission acts to support poultry
markets" at Agriculture and Fisheries Council (20/03)
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 |