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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-05-24Midday 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[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb24/05/06[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting[01] Un élan nouveau pour l’OLAF : la Commission propose d’améliorer l’encadrement des enquêtes et la gouvernance de l’officeLa réforme du cadre règlementaire instituant OLAF a pour toile de fond un constat partagé par l’ensemble des acteurs des consultations menées depuis février 2004 : la structure actuelle d’OLAF, service de la Commission bénéficiant d’une indépendance fonctionnelle pour ses activités d’enquête, est satisfaisante. Elle n’est pas touchée par la proposition de modification du règlement présentée aujourd’hui qui vise améliorer le fonctionnement de l’office l’intérieur du cadre existant. Elle renforce l’efficacité de l’activité d’enquête de l’Office, sa gouvernance politique, le respect des droits procéduraux et individuels tout au long de l’enquête et le flux d’information relatif aux enquêtes, tout en préservant l’indépendance et la confidentialité du travail d’investigation de l’OLAF.[02] La Commission encourage le «travail décent» dans le monde afin de lutter contre la pauvreté et de favoriser une mondialisation équitableLa Commission européenne a pris aujourd'hui une initiative importante visant renforcer les actions et améliorer la cohérence des politiques menées en faveur du «travail décent», ainsi qu' œuvrer plus efficacement en la matière. Le travail décent, qui implique des emplois plus nombreux et de meilleure qualité, une protection sociale, l'égalité des chances et le dialogue social, peut aider les pays en développement lutter contre la pauvreté. Mais il peut aussi aider les pays développés améliorer leurs conditions de travail et de vie et appliquer des politiques appropriés l'heure où la mondialisation, les progrès technologiques et l'évolution démographique provoquent de nombreux changements. La communication «Promouvoir un travail décent pour tous», adoptée aujourd'hui par la Commission, a pour but de renforcer les politiques et programmes européens qui contribuent faire du travail décent une réalité de plus en plus répandue tant l'intérieur qu' l'extérieur de l'Union européenne.[03] Revised package for EU programmes 2007-2013 – priority for modernisation and economic progressThe Commission’s proposals for EU programmes to start next year under the new 2007-2013 financial framework prioritise policies for growth and economic progress. The revised package, which sets out details of funds for each programme and legal acts necessary for their implementation, is a major step before the programmes can be effectively launched.[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[04] Commission proposes to strengthen solidarity between Member States on asylum policies and address emergency situations with EU assistanceThe Commission adopted today an Amended proposal for the European Refugee Fund (ERF). This Proposal aims to ensure strong financial support for the efforts made by Member States to address particular pressures situations, to resettle to their territories persons in need of international protection, to enhance their practical cooperation and to implement burden- sharing operations. These funds will be made available in 2008.[05] Less pressure on 2006 December Fisheries Council: Commission proposes new timetable for earlier consultation.The European Commission has today published a Communication on improving consultation on EU fisheries management. It proposes a number of significant changes to the way the annual Council regulation on fishing opportunities is prepared. Hitherto the Commission’s proposal, prepared on the basis of scientific advice received in late October, is not tabled until beginning of December with the decision taken before Christmas. In future, the Commission plans to table its proposals for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for those stocks for which scientific advice is available early in the year by September. For all stocks which are subject to annual quotas, the Commission will present a policy statement in April each year outlining the main principles which it intends to apply. Together, these changes will create the basis for a more comprehensive dialogue between the Commission and its partners, while respecting the need to set TACs for certain particularly vulnerable species in the light of information which is only available in the latter part of the year.[06] Publication of GALILEO signal interface definition documentA most important step in the Galileo programme has been achieved: on 23 May 2006, the document describing the GALILEO signal definition was published on the website of the Galileo Joint Undertaking (www.galileoju.com). After several years of signal design trade-offs, analyses and technical qualifications, as well as international negotiations, the best solutions have been chosen to enable Galileo to provide accurate location information and state-of-the-art navigation performances to worldwide users. They also ensure full compatibility with GPS (Global Position System) signals. This will now enable manufacturers to start designing, testing, and preparing for the manufacturing of receivers for the reception of Galileo signals, promote Galileo standardisation, and develop applications for the European GNSS programme (Global Navigation Satellite System). The actual manufacturing and selling of Galileo receivers by manufacturers worldwide will be subject to IPR (intellectual property rights) licences which will be issued at a later stage by the Galileo concession holder on behalf of the owner of the system, the GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) in the name of the EU institutions.[07] European Charter for Film Online endorsed by major industry playersAt the Cannes Film Festival today, major representatives of the film and content industry, of Internet service providers and of telecom operators from the EU and the U.S. endorsed the European Film Online Charter that they had jointly developed under the auspices of the European Commission. This Charter – the first of its kind in the world – identifies the preconditions for enabling content and infrastructure providers to make film online services a commercial success. The Charter will serve as reference for future commercial agreements as well as for a broader Content Online policy of the European Commission.[08] Commissioner Kyprianou to open European Consumer Centre in SlovakiaMarkos Kyprianou, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, will make an official visit to Slovakia on Friday 26 May to attend the official opening of the European Consumer Centre (ECC) in Bratislava. He will hold a press conference with Minister of Economy Jirko Malchárek to mark the event. The ECC will serve to provide Slovakian citizens with information and assistance regarding their rights as consumers in the EU. The Slovak European Consumer Centre belongs to a network now covering 23 EU Member States as well as Iceland and Norway. Commissioner Kyprianou said: "Consumers in the EU should feel as confident when shopping in another EU country as they do at home. The Slovak European Consumer Centre is part of an EU-wide network which provides consumers with information and direct help with any cross-border problems arising from their activities as a consumer in Europe. The aim is to increase consumer confidence throughout the EU by informing consumers of their rights and assisting them in seeking redress." During his time there, Mr Kyprianou will also hold courtesy meetings with several of his counterparts.More information on the ECC-network can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/consumers/redress/ecc_network/index_en.htm [09] Green Week 2006: Biodiversity is life!Stepping up action to halt the rapid loss of biological diversity - the wealth of species, ecosystems and genes that constitute the web of life - is the focus of this year’s Green Week, the European Commission’s annual conference and exhibition event dedicated to the environment. Under the banner Biodiversity is Life!, Green Week 2006 will take place at the Charlemagne building from 30 May to 2 June, just ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June. More than 20 conferences and side events will bring together leading decision-makers and experts from Europe and around the world to address the economic, social and environmental dimensions of biodiversity loss and how to reverse it. Up to 4000 participants are expected. A highlight of Green Week will be an awards ceremony on 1 June at which the winners of this year’s environment awards for businesses, local authorities and schools will be announced. The European Investment Bank and five other European multilateral development banks will use the occasion of Green Week to sign a declaration of environmental principles.[10] EU assistance over after six-week long intervention in face of floodsSlovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria have closed the request for assistance to deal with the consequences of severe floods, which they had lodged in April through the European Commission's EU mechanism for civil protection. The Commission's disaster Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) monitored the situation and was in constant dialogue with the countries at risk, facilitated and co-ordinated the provision of assistance, provided detailed satellite images and a continuous information flow on the emergency among the 30 countries taking part in the Mechanism. Specialised pumping teams and their equipment, waterproof gear, vaccines, medicines, around a million sandbags and other types of assistance were sent by a number of European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Romania. These floods displaced over 20,000 persons and flooded over 150,000 hectares of land, damaging households, crops, pasture, roads and public buildings alike.For further information visit: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/index.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/index.htm [11] Mergers: Commission clears Orica/Dyno Nobel merger subject to conditionsThe European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition by Australia-based Orica Ltd. (“Orica”) of most of the businesses of Norwegian company Dyno Nobel ASA (“Dyno”) outside North America and Australia. Both companies are active in the explosives and detonators industry. The Commission, which had been requested by the national competition authorities of Sweden, Germany and Norway to look at this transaction, gave its go ahead subject to Orica’s commitment to divest its explosives business in Norway and Sweden, where the merging parties are by far the largest suppliers. In light of this commitment, the Commission has concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or a significant part of it.[12] Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of BAA by Ferrovial, Québec and GICThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of joint control of the UK airport operator BAA plc by a consortium made up of the Spanish company Ferrovial Infrastructuras S.A. (“Ferrovial”), the Canadian institution Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (“Quebec”) and the Singapore investor GIC Special Investments Pte Ltd (“GIC”). After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.[13] Commission clears acquisition of Novogate by Bayerngas and Deutsche EssentThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Novogate GmbH of Germany by Bayerngas GmbH and Deutsche Essent GmbH, both of Germany. Bayerngas is active in the regional procurement, transportation and sale of natural gas. The company operates a regional transportation network and a natural gas storage facility in Southern Germany (Bavaria). Deutsche Essent is controlled by Essent N.V. of the Netherlands and is active in the transportation and storage of natural gas and arrangement of gas trading contracts in Germany. Novogate supplies natural gas and gas-related consulting services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[14] EU-Russia Summit in Sochi on 25 MayLeaders from the EU and Russia will meet in Sochi (Russia) on 25 May 2006 for the EU-Russia Summit. Participants are expected to agree on the broad approach to developing a new framework for EU-Russia relations to replace the existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The Summit will also seek to give renewed impetus to the implementation of the four Common Spaces Road Maps agreed by the EU and Russia Summit in May 2005, and will provide an opportunity for discussion a broad range of issues in EU-Russia relations, including energy, in light of the developments over the past months. Agreements between the EU and Russia for visa facilitation and readmission will also be signed at the Summit press conference. A range of international and regional issues are also likely to be discussed including Iran, the Middle East Peace Process, and issues in the EU and Russia’s common neighbourhood, including Belarus and frozen conflicts.The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, will represent the Commission at the Summit which is hosted by President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Austrian Chancellor, Wolfgang Schüssel, will represent the EU Presidency, assisted by the Secretary-General/High Representative, Javier Solana. [15] EU - Russia Summit - An EU25 trade deficit of more than 50 bn euro with Russia in 2005; Russia third largest trading partner of EU25On the occasion of the European Union - Russia summit, which will take place on Thursday 25 May 2006 in Sochi in Russia, Eurostat, issues data on trade in goods between Russia and the 25 Member States of the EU. Between 1999 and 2005, EU25 trade in goods with Russia more than tripled in value: exports rose from 16.6 billion euro to 56.4 bn, while imports increased from 34.3 bn to 106.7 bn. As a result, the EU25 deficit in trade with Russia increased from 17.6 bn in 1999 to 50.3 bn in 2005. This increased deficit was due to imports of energy, which rose from 17.6 bn in 1999 to 70.6 bn in 2005. The share of Russia in the EU25's total external trade in goods has doubled between 1999 and 2005. In 2005, Russia accounted for just over 5% of EU25 exports and 9% of EU25 imports, and was the EU25's third most important trading partner, after the USA and China.[16] Commission welcomes Council's green light to an additional €34 million humanitarian aid package for the Palestinian territoriesFollowing a proposal by Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, the Humanitarian Aid Committee of the EU Council has given its green light on 23 May to a €34 million decision by the European Commission for humanitarian aid. This substantial financial contribution will mitigate the effects of the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories.[17] 25 May 2006 - International Missing Children's DayFor the second consecutive year, the European Commission is supporting the International Missing Children's Day on 25 May, organized by the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children. The main purpose of the International Missing Children's Day is to encourage the population to think about all the children still missing in Europe and around the world and to spread a message of hope and solidarity at international level to parents who have no news about their children and do not know where they are or what has become of them.[18] ITER parties come to an agreement on the world’s largest international scientific partnershipITER, a project to demonstrate the potential of fusion as an energy source, will be the world’s biggest scientific collaboration of its kind and involve countries representing over half the world’s population. The 7 Parties engaged in the project met in Brussels on 24 May 2006 to confirm the agreements negotiated over the past year, following the decision to select the site for the construction and operation of ITER in Europe at Cadarache in southern France. The ITER project is an international collaborative research project on an unprecedented scale, which will reproduce the physical reaction - fusion - that occurs in the sun and stars. Fusion has several attractions as a large-scale energy source; its basic fuels are abundant and available everywhere; no greenhouse gas emissions; no transportation of radio-active materials; no possibility of “meltdown” or “runaway reactions”; no long-lasting radioactive waste to be passed on to future generations. The Seven Parties to ITER are the European Union, Russia, Japan, China, India, South Korea and the United States.[19] Autre matériel diffusé25 May 2006 - International Missing Children's Day : Commission's actions in favour of children and young peoplePreparation of the Competitiveness Council of Ministers, Brussels, 29/30 May 2006 ITER and fusion energy research – your questions answered Speech by Charly Mc Creevy : “Turning words into action” at the Investment Management Association Dinner (London) Q&A on the legislative package of EU programmes for the financial programming period 2007-2013 Calendrier du 29 mai au 4 juin 2006 [20] Notifications Préalables disponibles au secrétariat de J. Todd -BERL 3/315KPN/Heineken/ONScottish & Newcastle/Kuehne + Nagel/JV
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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