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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-05-03
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of
today's Commission meeting
[01] Enlargement, two years on: all win as new Member States get richer
[02] Commission welcomes agreement on increased citizens' involvement in EU
environmental policy making
[03] Greater transparency in EU affairs will strengthen legitimacy
[04] <!-- PRV_ENDREF -->
[05] Competition: Commission fines seven companies €388.128 million for
bleaching chemicals cartels
[06] Proposed Budget 2007: Focus on economic growth and progress
Midday Express of 2006-05-03
Reference: MEX/06/0503
Date: 03/05/2006
EXME06 / 03.5
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
03/05/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of
today's Commission meeting
[01] Enlargement, two years on: all win as new Member States get richer
Two years later, the biggest enlargement ever of the European Union is an
economic success: the 10 new Member States’ economies are growing at a
rapid pace enabling them to progressively bridge the gap with their richer
neighbours. But the latter also win as the increase of the EU’s single
market by 75 million to 450 million inhabitants brings a wealth of trade
and investment opportunities. More importantly, enlargement has acted as a
force of modernisation in the EU as a whole – a timely force given the
sudden emergence on the world scene of China and India.
[02] Commission welcomes agreement on increased citizens' involvement in EU
environmental policy making
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomes the agreement reached by
the European Parliament and the Council last night in Conciliation on a
Regulation which will reinforce access to environmental information and
provide for more involvement of citizens in EU decision-making relating to
the environment. The Regulation will apply the Aarhus Convention on Access
to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to
Justice in Environmental Matters to all European Union institutions and
bodies. "The agreed legislation demonstrates that we take our commitments
in the field of environmental democracy seriously, by applying it not only
to Member State administrations but to all EU institutions and bodies,"
said Commissioner Dimas. "In addition to the European Commission, the
European Parliament and the Council, all other agencies and bodies forming
part of the EU administration will now be under an obligation to grant
access to environmental information and to involve the public in their
decision-making relating to the environment.” More information on the
Aarhus Convention and the background to the new Regulation can be found at
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/aarhus/index.htm
[03] Greater transparency in EU affairs will strengthen legitimacy
“The public has a right to know” – this is the key message of the
Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative adopted today by the
European Commission. The open public consultations which start today launch
a debate on lobbying, on the introduction of legal obligations for Member
States to publish the information about the beneficiaries of funds under
shared management, as well as on the Commission’s consultation practices.
[04] <!-- PRV_ENDREF -->
Correct implementation of EU legislation is one of the main priorities of
the Commission. Three years after the deadline to transpose the European
Directives of the 1st railway package, the European Commission reports
today on concrete implementation in the Member States. Adopted in 2001,
this legislative package is the first step aimed at reviving the railways
by gradually creating a “railway area” which is integrated at a
European level, in particular opening rail freight markets and to specify
the conditions under which railway undertakings can access the railway
infrastructure. The report concludes that legal implementation is
completed; however, efforts have to be enhanced in some countries to ensure
an effective regulatory framework and the satisfactory functioning of the
rail service market. Member States must also complete the restructuring of
their railway undertakings and adapt them to the new, open and competitive
market context in the European Union.
[05] Competition: Commission fines seven companies €388.128 million for
bleaching chemicals cartels
[06] Proposed Budget 2007: Focus on economic growth and progress
(!embargo 13h00!) An 11.5 % increase in EU funding for goals linked to
competitiveness and a nearly 15% rise for cohesion for growth and
employment – the European budget proposal for 2007 was presented by the
European Commission today. It is the first one to run under the new
financial framework which will guide EU finances until 2013. The Commission
proposals for EU spending in 2007 amount to EUR 126.8 billion, a 4.6 %
increase of commitment appropriations compared to 2006. Payment
appropriations increase as well – by
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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