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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-11-17Midday 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 Communicationb17/11/06[01] Lancement du nouveau site web des fonctionnaires de la Commission européenneLa Commission européenne est trop souvent décrite comme une bureaucratie sans visage, une armée d'"eurocrates" anonymes basés à Bruxelles, dont la mission est de compliquer la vie des autres citoyens. La réalité est tout autre. Ce nouveau portail permet de faire la connaissance des fonctionnaires de la Commission et de découvrir qui ils sont et ce qu'ils font. Pour la première fois, les informations relatives aux fonctionnaires de la Commission sont rassemblées en un point d'accès unique, afin de permettre aux citoyens européens à s'y retrouver parmi la profusion d'informations qui s'offrent à eux sur le site web Europa. Ce portail est l'une des premières réalisations de la nouvelle génération de sites thématiques destinés à aider les citoyens à trouver les informations qu'ils recherchent.[02] EU united in call for effective action against destructive fishing methods at UN General AssemblyThe European Union will again be calling for an effective package of measures to tackle the impact of destructive fishing practices on the high seas at the UN General Assembly debate on sustainable fisheries which resumes today in New York. The Member States of the EU have given their unanimous support to the position that will be advanced by the European Commission on their behalf. Based on the conviction that Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) are key to the effective governance of high seas fisheries, the Commission will propose a radical overhaul to the regulatory approach by both RFMOs and States. Today, any activity that is not regulated is implicitly permitted. In the future, fishing with bottom gears that may have adverse impacts on vulnerable ecosystems would need to be assessed before it is authorised. This far-reaching change in the way in which fishing activities with potential destructive effects are regulated represents a decisive step forward in ensuring both better fisheries governance and effective environmental protection.[03] La Commission se félicite des nouvelles mesures arrêtées par la Commission des pêches de l'Atlantique du Nord-Est pour lutter contre la pêche illégaleLa Commission européenne a salué le nouveau dispositif de contrôle par l'Etat de port adopté aujourd'hui par la Commission des pêches de l’Atlantique du Nord-Est (CPANE) afin de faire reculer la pêche illégale. En vertu de ce dispositif, dont la date d'entrée en application a été fixée au 1er mai 2007, les navires étrangers ne pourront débarquer des produits de la pêche congelés dans les ports des parties contractantes que si l'Etat de port a reçu le feu vert de l'Etat de pavillon à cet effet. Sont également prévus de nouvelles obligations et de nouveaux critères en matière d'inspection par l'Etat de port. Il s'agit d'une avancée très importante dans la lutte contre les captures illégales plus difficiles à détecter, notamment lorsque le poisson est débarqué à l'état congelé, comme c'est souvent le cas du cabillaud de la mer de Barents.[04] Moldova, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine join the Energy Community as ObserversTurkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Norway were admitted to the Energy Community as Observers at the Ministerial meeting of the organisation that took place in Skopje today. European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs declared: "The European Union's voice is clear: we will act to bring our relations with key countries onto a legal basis so as to reinforce our common interests". He underlined the fact that eventual membership was on offer. "We want the European Union to share the benefits of the internal energy market as well as to underpin our commitment to our partners, and secure energy supplies", he said.[05] Réunion de la Communauté de l'énergie : les ministres s'accordent sur des mesures concrètes de développement du marché de l'énergieAndris Piebalgs, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de l'énergie, et Vera Rafajlovska, ministre macédonienne de l'économie, ont présidé aujourd'hui à Skopje la première réunion des ministres de l'énergie de la Communauté de l'énergie, après l'entrée en vigueur du traité fondateur de cette communauté. Le Conseil des ministres, rappelant l'engagement de toutes les parties à œuvrer à la réforme du marché, a adopté des feuilles de route nationales pour le développement du marché de l'énergie. Celles-ci décrivent concrètement la situation actuelle, les défis à relever et les institutions responsables de chaque pays.[06] EU energy actors meet to discuss an external energy security policyOn 20 and 21 November, the European Commission will bring together in Brussels main influential players in the energy sector to discuss EU external energy policy and how to assure a high level of supply security. Representatives from the Commission, Member States, key third countries, the industry and international organisations will debate during two days the external aspects of European policies on energy matters focusing on oil and natural gas security supplies issues as well as trade and development related topics. Among others, Commission President Barroso, Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner, Piebalgs, Mandelson and Michel, SGHR Solana and around 30 Ministers of External Relations or Energy from EU Member States and third countries will participate. The debates will be summed up Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner and Piebalgs on Tuesday 21 November at 12h30.[07] Commission welcomes Court of Justice decision against Spain for not transposition of the Gas DirectiveEuropean Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed decision on 16 November of the European Court of Justice against Spain for not having transposed the 2003 directive for the liberalisation of Gas Markets. "This ruling confirms the commitment of the Commission to have the existing legislation", said Commissioner Piebalgs.[08] Promoting healthy diets : Commission-funded programme wins WHO Counteracting Obesity AwardA project to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables, financed by the European Commission to the tune of €600,000, has just won a major international award. The Irish "Food Dude" campaign won a World Health Organisation Counteracting Obesity Award 2006. The award was presented by Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou during the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity being held from 15 to 17 November 2006 in Istanbul. The initiative, which is one of the 146 commitments made to the Commission's Platform for Action on Diet Physical Activity and Health, was praised by Commissioner Kyprianou as "an innovative approach to promoting a healthy and balanced diet among children". The three-year programme was singled out for its success in promoting "fruit and vegetable consumption in a way that changes children's behaviour for the better on a permanent basis while ensuring the availability of the promoted product". This is just one of a number of EU co-financed agricultural promotion projects aimed at boosting healthy eating, at a time when Europe faces a growing problem of obesity, particularly among the young. The award comes as the Commission finalises its proposals to reform the way it supports fruit and vegetable growers across the EU. Better promotion of fruit and vegetables to stimulate consumption will be a major cornerstone of the reform, due to be unveiled on 24 January. Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "This is an excellent example of how our promotion efforts can make a real difference to the long-term health of our citizens. It's just the sort of thing I want to build on when we make our proposals to reform our fruit and vegetable market."[09] Les prix d'excellence Marie Curie 2006 récompensent cinq éminents chercheursLa Commission européenne a annoncé les noms des lauréats des prix d'excellence Marie Curie 2006. Cette année, les prix sont attribués à Michal Lavidor, d'Israël et du Royaume Uni, Frank Keppler, d'Allemagne, Chris Ewels, du Royaume-Uni et de France, Nicolas Cerf, de Belgique, et Paola Borri, d'Italie et du Royaume-Uni. Leurs travaux de recherche couvrent des domaines très variés : neuroscience et psychologie cognitives, science de l'atmosphère et science environnementale, nanotechnologie et science des matériaux, et physique. Les prix d'excellence Marie Curie, d'une valeur de €50.000 chacun, permettent de récompenser chaque année cinq chercheurs qui ont bénéficié de programmes de soutien européens. La cérémonie de remise des prix s'est déroulée à l'Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. Ces prix permettent de mettre en lumière de nouveaux talents au sein de la communauté scientifique européenne.[10] Joe Borg : "ICCAT meeting is make or break for future of Atlantic bluefin tuna stock and related fisheries" (16/11)At the start of crucial talks within the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has called on all interested Parties to fully commit to the protection of the threatened Atlantic bluefin tuna. Reiterating the urgent need to ensure a substantial cut in fishing pressure on this stock, Commissioner Borg confirmed the Commission's determination to come back from Dubrovnik, (Croatia), where the meeting is being held, with a truly effective management plan which can deliver sustainability for both the bluefin stock and the related fisheries. Mr Borg warned, however, that this would happen only if all Parties were equally committed and if all stages of the bluefin tuna fishery were covered. "Given the migratory nature of bluefin tuna and the range of fisheries concerned, the success of any management measures will depend entirely on both the full commitment of all the interested Parties to such measures and their effective enforcement at every stage. Control and monitoring of compliance must start from the time bluefin tuna is caught to its landing at a port, transfer to cages or processing on board through to the sale or import and retail of bluefin tuna products. Only then, will we have a chance to eliminate illegal fishing of bluefin tuna and at the same time bring overfishing to an end. The Union will certainly continue to play a full and active role in reaching the necessary agreement. For more information, see:<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com06_65_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com06_65_en.htm ; Midday Express:06/1009 ; ICCAT: <a href="http://www.iccat.en/">http://www.iccat.en/ [11] Danuta Hübner in Leeds : "Innovation and competitiveness crucial tools of Cohesion policy 2007-2013"European Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner is visiting Leeds to discuss how European Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 will help to modernise the economies of the European regions by promoting innovation and competitiveness. During the visit, the Commissioner will meet with high level representatives of the regional authorities and of Leeds University, and will give a public lecture at the School of Politics and International Studies / Jean Monnet Centre at the University. She will also open officially the Europe Direct Information Centre in Leeds.[12] Stavros Dimas to attend Euro-Med conference in Cairo (20/11)On 20 November 2006 the European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will attend the Euro-Med Environment Conference taking place in Cairo. At the conference environment ministers from the non-European countries bordering the Mediterranean will meet some of their European counterparts to agree on a timeline for stepping up efforts to protect the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This meeting is the first Euro-Mediterranean environment ministerial meeting held outside of the European Union. The EU and its Member States are fully committed to improving cooperation with their Mediterranean neighbours on protecting Europe's largest sea. The Cairo meeting embodies the political will of neighbours on either side of the Mediterranean to move forward to protect a shared heritage. Commissioner Dimas said : "I look forward to presenting the Commission's new Strategy for the protection of the Mediterranean at the conference. We want to revitalise and strengthen cooperation between the EU, our Mediterranean neighbours and the relevant international organisations to safeguard the region's environment and natural resources for the long term. If we fail, the Mediterranean could deteriorate beyond repair." For more information, see <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enlarg/med/index.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enlarg/med/index.htm[13] September 2006 : Euro area external trade surplus €2.0 billion ; €13.4 billion deficit for EU25The first estimate for the euro area trade balance with the rest of the world in September 2006 gave a €2.0 billion surplus compared with €1.3 billion in September 2005. The August 2006 balance was € -5.4 billion, compared with €-2.9 billion in August 2005. In September 2006 compared with August 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 2.0% while imports fell by 0.1%. The first estimate for September 2006 extra-EU25 trade was a deficit of €13.4 billion, compared with €-9.5 billion in September 2005. In August 2006, the balance was €-21.3 billion, compared with €- 14.7 billion in August 2005. In September 2006 compared with August 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 1.6% while imports fell by 1.7%. These data are released by Eurostat.[14] Margot Wallström évoque en direct et sur Internet l'avenir de l'Europe avec des enfants européensLe lundi 20 novembre, à 16h00 CET, des enfants de tous les pays d'Europe se réuniront en ligne pour débattre de l'avenir de l'Europe avec Margot Wallström, vice-présidente de la Commission européenne et commissaire chargée des relations institutionnelles et de la stratégie de communication.L'adresse Internet du dialogue en direct est: <a href="http://www.managenergy.tv/me_portal/com/dg_comm_webcast_november_2006">http://www.managenergy.tv/me_portal/com/dg_comm_webcast_november_2006 [15] Autre matériel diffuséPreparation of the Agriculture / Fisheries Council2006 Marie Curie Excellence Awards – details of the five winners Speech by Mariann Fischer Boel : "Innovation as a tool to increase competitiveness in the EU's agricultural sector" at Young Farmer's Conference (Brugge, ! embargo 15h00 !) Speech by Danuta Hübner : "New directions in EU regional policy: the innovation and competitiveness agenda" at University of Leeds Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Going local on European issues" at opening of the Europe Direct Centre (Leeds) Discours de clôture de M. Louis Michel aux Journées européennes du Développement Speech by Joe Borg : "Aiming at the Sustainable Use of our Oceans and Seas" at International Ocean Institute (Malta, ! embargo 14h30 !) Speech by Franco Frattini : "Chances and risks of migration and its significance for the security of the European Union" (16/11, Wiesbaden) Calendrier du 20 au 25 novembre 2006
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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