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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-05-08
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Prévisions économiques de printemps de la Commission pour 2006-2007
: la croissance s'accélère
[02] Polish ban on the use of certain GM and non-GM maize seed varieties
authorised
[03] Commission launches public consultation on EU-China trade relations in
the twenty-first century
[04] Young Europeans come face to face with the world's biggest aid donor
[05] Développement durable : Stavros Dimas aux Nations Unies pour discuter
de l’avenir de l'énergie durable
[06] Selection of a commemorative €2 coin to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-05-08
Reference: MEX/06/0508
Date: 08/05/2006
EXME06/ 8.5
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
08/05/06
[01] Prévisions économiques de printemps de la Commission pour 2006-2007
: la croissance s'accélère
Selon les prévisions économiques de printemps de la Commission
européenne, la croissance économique devrait s'accélérer pour atteindre
2,3% dans l'Union européenne et 2,1% dans la zone euro en 2006, contre 1,
6% et 1,3% respectivement en 2005. Ce nouvel élan est principalement lié
à la progression soutenue de l'investissement, au maintien d'une croissance
mondiale vigoureuse et à une amélioration des perspectives en Allemagne.
La croissance devrait ralentir légèrement en 2007 pour s'établir à 2,2%
pour l'UE et à 1,8% dans la zone euro. L'UE dans son ensemble devrait
créer 3,5 millions de nouveaux emplois durant la période 2006-2007 après
en avoir créé près de 3 millions au cours des deux années
précédentes. Cela contribuera à ramener le chômage de son niveau record
de plus de 9% en 2004 Ã 8,2% en 2007 dans l'UE. L'inflation demeure
remarquablement stable à un peu plus de 2% malgré l'envol des prix du
pétrole, qui constituent toujours la menace principale pour la croissance
économique.
[02] Polish ban on the use of certain GM and non-GM maize seed varieties
authorised
The European Commission has today decided to authorise a Polish ban on the
use of 16 varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize and around 700
varieties of non-GM maize, throughout the whole country. These maize
varieties are listed in the EU Common Catalogue of Varieties of
Agricultural Plant Species, which means that their seeds can be marketed
anywhere in the EU. However, Poland sent a request to the Commission for a
national ban on the use of such varieties on the basis of Article 16(2)(b)
of Directive 2002/53/EC, which states that a Member State may prohibit the
use of a variety listed in the Common Catalogue if it is not suitable for
cultivation in any part of its territory. In the case of both the GM and
non-GM maize varieties in question, the varieties are known to have too
high a maturity class to enable them to be cultivated in Poland. This means
that these maize varieties are characterised by a long growing cycle and,
under Polish climatic conditions, will not reach the necessary ripeness
required at the harvesting stage. Member States experts voted unanimously
in favour of the Decision to allow Poland to ban the use of these varieties
in the Standing Committee on Seeds and Plant Propagating Material on 9
March 2006. Following today's decision, Poland may implement the ban
immediately and it will remain in place for an unlimited period of time.
For more information on GMOs, see: <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm
[03] Commission launches public consultation on EU-China trade relations in
the twenty-first century
The European Commission has today launched a public consultation designed
to form part of its forthcoming major strategic review of trade and
economic relations between the EU and China. The Commission will invite all
interested parties to comment on how the EU should manage its relationship
with China in the decade to come. The Commission's Communication on the
EU's trade and economic relationship with China will be published in the
last quarter of 2006.
[04] Young Europeans come face to face with the world's biggest aid donor
For the third year running, the EuropeAid Cooperation Office is organising
a special initiative for the 9th May to raise young Europeans' awareness of
the very important role played by the EU as a development partner and aid
donor around the world. 66 speakers from EuropeAid, DG Relex, DG
Development and ECHO will take the debate to 34 regions around Europe,
giving European teenagers a chance to learn more about the way the EU plays
its part in improving living conditions and spreading higher standards of
human rights. In 68 schools, youngsters will be able to question the
experts and argue for the kind of Europe they want to see on the world
stage. By "going local" with this initiative, the European Commission hopes
to improve understanding of a major field of activity and one of the major
elements in the EC budget. The countries involved this year are Italy,
Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands,
Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France and Great Britain.
[05] Développement durable : Stavros Dimas aux Nations Unies pour discuter
de l’avenir de l'énergie durable
M. Stavros Dimas, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de
l'environnement, représentera la Commission à la partie ministérielle de
la 14ème session de la Commission du développement durable des
Nations Unies (CDD) qui se tiendra du 10 au 12 mai 2006 Ã New York. Cette
réunion examinera les progrès réalisés en matière d’énergie durable,
de changement climatique et de pollution atmosphérique ainsi que dans le
domaine du développement industriel. Le commissaire Dimas plaidera en
faveur de politiques énergétiques qui améliorent l'accès des
populations pauvres de la planète aux services énergétiques tout en
renforçant au maximum l'efficacité énergétique et le recours aux
énergies renouvelables à l'échelon mondial, contribuant ainsi à mieux
protéger l'environnement. Il annoncera également le lancement de la
facilité UE pour l'énergie, qui permettra de dégager €220 millions
pour des projets améliorant l'accès à l'énergie (notamment les énergies
renouvelables), principalement en Afrique subsaharienne.
[06] Selection of a commemorative €2 coin to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
A jury composed of Ms Pervenche Berès, President of the Economic and
Monetary commission of the European Parliament, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker,
President of the Eurogroup, and Commissioner Joaquin Almunia in charge of
Economic and Monetary affairs, selected on 5 May the design of a €2 coin
to be issued next year by euro area countries to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The Treaty of Rome was signed on 25
March 2007, establishing the European Economic Community and launching the
European integration project. The competition was organised by the European
Mints. The new €2 coin wil go into circulation in March 2007. The
selected design shows the Treaty signed by the six founding countries on a
background evocating the paving (designed by Michelangelo) of the Piazza
del Campidoglio in Rome, where the Treaty was signed on 25 March 1957. This
design constitutes the outcome of a joint preparation by several European
Mints. Pictures (high definition) are available on Audiovisual service
website :
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/avservices/photo/photo_news_en.cfm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/avservices/photo/photo_news_en.cfm
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Classical Swine Fever in Germany: restrictions agreed in response to
suspected outbreak in Borken (05/05)
Speech by Andris Piebalgs : "The EU gas market developments : the case of
the Baltic Sea Region countries" at the Baltic Gas Seminar (Vilnius)
Speech by Siim Kallas: "Freedom is the solution, not the problem" at Middle
East Technical University (Ankara, ! embargo 17h00 !)
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Egypt-European Union relations in the
age of reform" at Egyptian Foreign Relations Council and Egyptian European
Council luncheon (07/05, Cairo)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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