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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-06-12Midday 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 Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb12/06/06[01] President Barroso, Commissioner Hübner open “Innovating through EU regional policy" conferenceEuropean Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, and Regional Policy Commissioner, Danuta Hübner, opened today in Brussels the conference on "Innovating through EU Regional policy" organised by the Regional Policy directorate general. Commission vice-president Günter Verheugen and Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner, Vladimir pidla, will also deliver key-note speeches during the two-day conference which aims to examine best practices in fostering knowledge transfer, innovation and clusters, with particular attention to success stories in less prosperous regions. Three sessions of workshops are bringing together policy makers, expert advisers and practitioners while an exhibition of innovative projects from across the EU, stands with information on relevant Community programmes, and advisory booths will be available to the participants.[02] Internal Market: call for evidence on transparency in bond markets and other non-equity marketsThe European Commission has launched a call for evidence on transparency in the bond markets and other non-equity markets. The call for evidence relates to a report that the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament have asked the Commission to make by the end of October 2007. It will investigate whether and to what extent new requirements on pre- and post-trade transparency should be introduced at EU level to the trading in financial instruments such as bonds and other non-equities. All interested stakeholders, including industry and individuals, are encouraged to reply. The closing date is 15 September 2006.[03] Internet for all: EU ministers commit to an inclusive and barrier-free information societyA pan-European drive to use information and communication technologies to help people to overcome economic, social, educational, territorial or disability-related disadvantages was endorsed by ministers of 34 European countries in Riga (Latvia) today. "e-Inclusion" targets including halving the gap in internet usage by groups at risk of exclusion, boosting broadband coverage in Europe to at least 90%, and making all public web sites accessible by 2010.[04] Unlocking enterprises’ potential: a big week for small business in EuropeThe European Commission is keeping SMEs at the top of its political agenda and at the centre of policy making. A series of SME Days are being held, in Brussels today and in many national capitals, during the first two weeks of June, spreading the message: “The EU is good for SMEs, and SMEs are good for Europe”. Tomorrow also sees the start the European Charter for Small Enterprises Annual Conference in Vienna. Organised by the Commission and the Austrian Presidency, the two-day event aims to encourage the exchange of good practice between Member States with a view to further improve the environment for small businesses throughout Europe. Responding to the call of the Spring European Summit, topics such as quicker and simpler start-up procedures and measures to make the recruitment of the first employee easier are high on the agenda.[05] Regional policy in 2005: remarkable progress, but stark disparities remain in the modern infrastructure needed to generate growth and jobsDanuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, today presented the Fourth progress report on cohesion, which provides a snapshot of economic and social disparities in the EU and reviews progress over the past year in tackling them. Among the highlights of the year: the reform of EU regional policy, excellent progress in preparing the new regional programmes due to start in 2007, and a growing recognition that helping less prosperous regions to catch up on a sustainable basis is key to increasing competitiveness. However, the report also shows that much remains to be done, in particular to narrow severe regional disparities in modern infrastructure and innovative capacity. Regional policy will therefore continue to play a vital role in improving Europe’s economic prospects.[06] State aid: Commission decides Nordbrandenburger UmesterungsWerke does not qualify for regional investment bonus for SMEsThe European Commission has decided, on the basis of EC Treaty state aid rules, that NUW is not eligible for the bonus for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) under approved regional investment schemes in Germany. Germany intends to grant regional investment aid to NUW Nordbrandenburger UmesterungsWerke GmbH & Co. KG, which is active in the production of bio- diesel. The proposed aid includes a bonus, subject to Commission approval, for SMEs. However, given the ownership structure and links between companies held by the same family, NUW does not constitute an SME as defined under Community law.[07] Rédiffusion[08] Déclaration du Vice-Président Jacques Barrot sur l’accord politique relatif aux services de transport locaux (Conseil Transports, Luxembourg, le 9 juin 2006)Je salue l’accord politique atteint par le Conseil sur les nouvelles règles communautaires pour les transports publics de passagers par rail et par route. Cet accord intervient après six ans d’intenses négociations, et suit la proposition révisée que j’avais présentée en juillet 2005. Les nouvelles règles donneront davantage de choix aux autorités locales pour organiser les transports locaux et fournir les obligations de service public. Elles simplifieront la vie des autorités locales qui - en respectant les règles - n’auront plus notifier les compensations octroyées aux opérateurs pour les services publics. Enfin, ces nouvelles règles permettront de développer les services publics de transport, et d’améliorer leur qualité. Les autorités locales et régionales auront la possibilité d’opter pour l’attribution directe de contrats de transport public un opérateur interne, ou de faire jouer la concurrence par la voie de l’appel d’offre, comme c’est déj le cas dans beaucoup de villes européennes. Dans le premier cas de figure, l’opérateur protégé sur son propre marché ne pourra pas être en compétition pour des appels d’offres dans d’autres villes européennes. Avec cette avancée importante, l’Union européenne montre sa détermination améliorer la qualité des transports publics locaux, tout en respectant pleinement l’autonomie locale et la subsidiarité. Cela amènera de la sécurité juridique dans un domaine o les recours étaient de plus en plus nombreux. Une fois que le Conseil aura établi sa position commune, le projet sera présenté au Parlement européen en deuxième lecture. J’espère que nous pourrons adopter les nouvelles règles au cours du premier semestre de 2007.[09] Avian Influenza: H5 virus confirmed in geese in HungaryThe Hungarian authorities have informed the European Commission of a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza in a domestic flock of geese in Bács- Kiskun, in the south of the country. The tests carried out so far have shown that is a H5 highly pathogenic strain, while it is still to be determined whether or not this is the H5N1 strain. Samples will be sent to the Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Weybridge for further tests. The flock was situated in a county where cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred in wild birds earlier this year (see IP/06/179). Although the measures applied in response to the wild bird cases had been lifted, a high level of surveillance was maintained in the area, which enabled the rapid detection of the outbreak in the domestic geese.[10] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Andris Piebalgs “Gas goes global – Sellers or Buyers market?” at the World Gas Conference in Amsterdam on 9 JuneSpeech by Charlie McCreevy on “Globalisation and Financial Services” at the opening address to 4th INFINITI Conference on International Finance in Dublin Speech by Danuta Hübner on “Innovating through EU Regional Policy” at the Conference “Regions for Economic Change : Innovating through EU Regional policy” Discours de Vladimír Spidla (!embargo: 17h30!) “Stimuler l’innovation parle biais du Fonds Social euro péen” la Conférence “Regions for economic change: innovating through EU Regional Policy Speech by Janez Potocnik on « A new era for road transport research » at the Transport Research Arena – Europe 2006 Conference in Gothenburg Information and communication technology for an inclusive society – Frequently asked questions Stimulating entrepreneurship – Good practice examples and programme of
SME days in Member States
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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