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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-10-26Midday 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 Communicationb26/10/06[01] EU-Ukraine Summit to Further Strengthen Bilateral RelationsEuropean Commission President José Manuel Barroso will attend tomorrow 27 October the EU-Ukraine Summit in Helsinki, accompanied by Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The Summit comes at an important moment for the process of democratic consolidation and overall reform in Ukraine. It also takes places at a crucial time when relations between the EU and Ukraine are being placed on a new basis, through the forthcoming negotiations for a new Enhanced Agreement, which is to replace the current EU-Ukraine Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.[02] Time to step up action- enhancing European prevention, preparedness and response to terrorism: Commission allocates 9 Mio €The European Commission today decided to allocate 9 Million € for the pursuit of actions against terrorist attacks, initiated under the "Pilot Project Fight against Terrorism". This includes actions in relation to critical infrastructure protection, terrorist financing, explosives and violent radicalisation.[03] Environment: Commission proposes ban on EU mercury exportsThe European Commission today proposed legislation to ban all European Union exports of mercury from 2011. The ban forms a key part of the EU's strategy for reducing global exposure to mercury, which is highly toxic to both humans and the environment. The export ban will significantly reduce global supply and thereby also emissions of the heavy metal into the environment.. The proposed Regulation requires mercury that is no longer used in the chlor-alkali industry or that is produced in certain other industrial operations to be put into safe storage once the export prohibition takes effect in July 2011. The Commission is organising an international mercury conference on 26-27 October in Brussels to promote global action, including the possible development of a legally binding international agreement, to reduce human and environmental exposure.[04] Cohesion policy to boost knowledge economy in Spain, Danuta Hübner tells Madrid seminarRegional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner addressed today in Madrid a conference "Spain and the European Union: Working together for the Knowledge Economy". She focused on the role of the new Cohesion Policy for the development of the knowledge economy and its impact on Spain and its regions competitiveness. The conference is a joint initiative organized within the context of the ongoing discussions between the Commission and the Spanish authorities on Spain's national strategic framework and priorities for the programming period 2007-2013. On this occasion the Commissioner met with Spanish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy and Finance, Pedro Solbes. Commissioner Hübner is also visiting Murcia to meet with Murcia president Ramón Luis Valcárcel and to address the general assembly of the "Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions" (CPMR).[05] Madrid accueille une importante conférence sur l’analyse de l’opinion publique européenneLa conférence sera présidée par Margot Wallström, vice-présidente de la Commission européenne et commissaire chargée des relations institutionnelles et de la stratégie de communication. Le commissaire Joaquín Almunia interviendra également.[06] Rédiffusion[07] Joe Borg welcomes “balanced Council agreement on fish quotas for 2007 in the Baltic Sea”European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, has welcomed the adoption by the Fisheries Council, in Luxembourg, yesterday, of the fishing possibilities and related measures for 2007 in the Baltic Sea. The deal reached by Fisheries Ministers involves reductions in both the number of days spent at sea and fishing possibilities in all Baltic cod fisheries as well as strengthened control measures. Fishing days will be further reduced by 10%. The cuts in cod quotas have been set as an incentive for the rapid adoption of a long-term cod recovery plan. Thus, the cod quotas will be reduced by 10% and 6% subject to an agreement on the setting up of the cod recovery plan by 30 June 2007. If such agreement is not reached by that date, the reductions will automatically increase to 15% for the two stocks concerned. Sprat has been increased by 8% while catch possibilities on herring remain more or less the same. There is a 5% reduction in the number of salmon that can be caught (see IP/06/1147). The package of measures adopted will provide the necessary provisions and incentives to rebuild Baltic cod and to protect healthy fish stocks.[08] New “Youth in Action” programme stimulates young Europeans to become involved in the communityThe Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament, during its plenary session of 25 October, of the new ‘Youth in Action’ programme, the latest generation of the Commission’s youth programme. It covers the period 2007 - 2013. With its budget of 885 million euros, the Youth in Action programme is simpler and more flexible than its predecessor. It will be accessible to young people aged between 15 and 28 (13-30 for some specific actions), and is also open to a wider selection of partner countries.[09] ‘Lifelong learning’: a new education and training programme to build the Knowledge SocietyThe Commission welcomes the final step in the legislation process to adopt the ‘Lifelong Learning Programme’: on 25 October, the European Parliament adopted the Commission’s ambitious proposals for this new action programme in the field of education and training. For the first time, a single programme will cover learning opportunities from childhood to old age. The Lifelong Learning Programme will cover the period 2007-2013, and is the successor to the current Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and eLearning programmes. It has a budget of € 7 bn to support projects and activities that foster interchange, cooperation and mobility between education and training systems within the EU, so that they become a world quality reference.[10] Commission welcomes European Parliament's agreement for strict rules on the use of perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS)The European Commission has welcomed the adoption by European Parliament of the proposal to severely restrict the use of perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS) in the EU. PFOS comprise a group of chemical substances which are persistent in the environment, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. The EP reached an agreement on the amended proposal of the EP rapporteur, Mr Carl Schlyter (Greens/European Free Alliance), in close cooperation with the Finnish Presidency and with the support of the Commission. The proposal places severe restrictions on the marketing and use of PFOS and related substances, and allows certain exemptions for essential small scale uses, where there is no unacceptable risk. This agreement by Parliament will pave the way for early adoption of the proposal by the Council. This proposal represents one of the last restrictions of dangerous substances under the current legislation and will be incorporated in the proposed new Regulation on chemicals (REACH) once it comes into force.[11] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Joaquín Almunia « Euro government bonds market : bigger, more liquid but with potential for more integration » at the European Government Bond SummitSpeech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner on “Frozen Conflicts: Transnistria, South-Ossetia, and the Russian-Georgian dispute” at the European Parliament Plenary in Strasbourg Speecgh by Benita Ferrero-Waldner on “EU-Syria Association Agreement” at the European Parliament Plenary in Strasbourg Speech by Marianne Fischer-Boel on the Reform of the Fruits and Vegetables CMO at the European Parliament Inter-group on fruit and vegetables in Strasbourg Speech by Charlie McCreevy “The Internal Market – Future Directions and Priorities” at the Breakfast Meeting Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) Speech by Danuta Hübner “La economía del conocimiento en la Política de Cohesión y su relevancia para España » - Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda Speech by Janez Potocnik “Scientific and Research Challenges for Europe within a Globalised World” at Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University Memo on “Commission allocates €9 million enabling the pursuit of
numerous actions initiated under the “Pilot Project Fight against
Terrorism”
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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