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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-04-17

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>

CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Visit of Polish Prime Minister Kaczynski to Commission
  • [02] Anchovy in the Bay of Biscay : Commission sets out conditions of experimental fishery
  • [03] Member States back proposal to preserve plant genetic resources
  • [04] UE-AmĂ©rique centrale : Ă l'occasion de sa visite au Guatemala, Benita Ferrero-Waldner annonce un programme d'aide de €840 millions
  • [05] 26 jeunes europĂ©ens se rendent au Rwanda pour faire l'expĂ©rience de l'aide au DĂ©veloppement de la Commission europĂ©enne
  • [06] Conference underlines crucial role of small enterprises and crafts for growth and jobs
  • [07] European experts debate future of the food industryA conference on 'Perspectives for Food 2030' being held on 17 and 18 April in Brussels brings together the food industry to look at what research is needed to face up to challenges it might face in the future. These include changing lifestyles, emerging markets, the impact of enlargement and the emergence of new technologies. Speakers from industry, consumer groups, academia, retailing, agriculture and other sectors will put forward their ideas on how the food industry and consumer demand will evolve over the next 25 years and to consider the implications this may have for food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology. Issues to be covered include what the consumer will want on his plate, how the supermarket of the future will look and what new food technologies will emerge. The conference comes at the beginning of the 7th Research Framework programme, which will allocate at least €1.9 billion to research in this field between 2007 and 2013. 'Perspectives for Food 2030' opens with a keynote speech on 17 April by European Science and Research Commissioner Janez PotoÄŤnik and will be closed by European Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Marianne Fischer-Boel on 18 April. The conference can be followed via live webstreaming at: <a href="http://scic.cec.eu.int/streaming/char">http://scic.cec.eu.int/streaming/char. Presentations of speakers will be made available at the conference website <a href="http://www.ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2007/food2030/program_en.htm">www.ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2007/food2030/program_en.htm.
  • [08] February 2007 : Euro area external trade deficit €1.7 billion ; €17.6 billion deficit for EU27
  • [09] Autre matĂ©riel diffusĂ© Midday Express of 2007-04-17 Reference: MEX/07/0417 Date: 17/04/2007 EXME07 / 17.4

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    17/04/07

    •

    [01] Visit of Polish Prime Minister Kaczynski to Commission

    The European Commission will receive the Prime Minister of Poland, Mr Jaroslaw Kaczynski, on an official visit, on 18 April. This will be the Prime Minister's first visit to the College (but not his first visit to the Commission). Mr Kaczynski will meet with the College of Commissioners between 12h00 and 13h00. The College will have an exchange of views with him on key issues on the European political agenda. Thereafter, President José Manuel Barroso will host a lunch for the Prime Minister. Meetings are also scheduled with Commissioners Hubner, Kyprianou, Dimas and Kroes in the afternoon. A press point will be organised after the lunch at 14h15 in the press room.

    [02] Anchovy in the Bay of Biscay : Commission sets out conditions of experimental fishery

    In a letter to the Fisheries Ministers of France and Spain sent earlier today, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, set out the conditions governing the experimental fishery on anchovy in the Bay of Biscay. Commissioner Borg says that, "after exhaustive discussions with the two Member States concerned, including in the margins of the Council meeting yesterday, the Commission considers that the experimental fishery on anchovy in the Bay of Biscay should be conducted in the following manner : - France will immediately recall to port the vessels that have already gone out to fish for anchovy ; - the consort fishery, by 10 vessels, will start on the 23rd of April, accompanying the research vessels that should start their campaign on that date ; - for the remaining 18 vessels, the Commission will convene a meeting in the coming days with scientists from French and Spanish research institutes, in particular to determine the timing and the area coverage of the experimental fishery by those vessels. The Commission will be immediately making the STECF report available to the public.

    [03] Member States back proposal to preserve plant genetic resources

    A European Commission proposal aimed at protecting seed varieties of agricultural crops which may be threatened by genetic erosion was backed by the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry today. The proposal foresees derogations from EU seed marketing legislation for seed varieties that are naturally adapted to local conditions but which currently cannot be marketed due to the fact that they do not fulfil certain mandatory criteria. Under EU legislation, seed varieties must undergo an approval process and be inscribed in the national and in the Common seed catalogues before they can be marketed within the territory of the EU. Moreover, the multiplication of seed of these varieties has to meet certain criteria, which is officially certified. These rules ensure that EU farmers have access to high quality seed. However, certain varieties which are not inscribed in the catalogues and do not conform to the strict EU criteria are still important for ensuring that plant genetic diversity is not diminished. The Commission has therefore proposed that these varieties could be inscribed in the catalogues without official examination, once they meet set minimum standards. Furthermore, they could be produced and marketed without official certification, according to the text agreed today. In order to ensure that these varieties are only used for the envisaged objective, quantitative restrictions will apply to the production and marketing of these varieties, and they will only be allowed to be marketed in the region to which they are naturally adapted. This proposal will have benefits for the environment, by helping to preserve biodiversity, and will also enable small plant breeding companies to supply local markets with naturally adapted seed varieties.

    [04] UE-Amérique centrale : à l'occasion de sa visite au Guatemala, Benita Ferrero-Waldner annonce un programme d'aide de €840 millions

    La Commissaire européenne en charge des Relations extérieures et de la Politique de voisinage de l'UE, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, va présenter le 18 avril 2007 à Guatemala City le nouveau programme d'aide que la Commission propose à l'Amérique centrale pour les années 2007-2013. Il s'agit d'une expression concrète de la solidarité de l'UE avec la région pour faire face aux défis du processus de négociations du futur Accord d'Association. La Commission a développé, pour chacun des pays de la région, une stratégie visant à appuyer leurs priorités politiques et sociales, notamment la bonne gouvernance et la démocratie, la justice et la lutte contre l'insécurité, la lutte contre les inégalités et contre la pauvreté, ainsi que l'environnement. Les montants proposés pour la période 2007-2013 s'élèvent à €34 millions pour le Costa Rica, €121 millions pour le Salvador, €135 millions pour le Guatemala, €223 millions pour le Honduras, €214 millions pour le Nicaragua, €38 millions pour le Panama et €75 millions pour la coopération régionale.

    [05] 26 jeunes européens se rendent au Rwanda pour faire l'expérience de l'aide au Développement de la Commission européenne

    Entre le 17 et le 21 avril, 26 jeunes européens âgés de 16 à 18 ans et leurs professeurs se rendent au Rwanda avec le Commissaire européen au Développement et à l'Aide humanitaire, Louis Michel. Ils y feront la connaissance de jeunes Rwandais, de leur pays et de leur histoire. Ils feront aussi l'expérience directe de la valeur ajoutée de l'Europe dans le monde à travers la politique de développement et l'aide humanitaire de la Commission européenne. Ces jeunes de 25 Etats membres de l'UE sont les lauréats du "Prix Jeunesse et Développement" remis lors des Premières Journées européennes du Développement qui ont eu lieu à Bruxelles en novembre 2006.

    [06] Conference underlines crucial role of small enterprises and crafts for growth and jobs

    The 4th European conference 'Challenges and opportunities for craft and small enterprises' hosted by the European Commission in Stuttgart today and yesterday highlighted the importance of these companies for growth and jobs. In the presence of EU Council President Angela Merkel and Commission Vice President GĂĽnter Verheugen, the conference discussed how to further promote and reinforce the vital role of crafts and small enterprises as dynamic drivers of the economy. Conference participants adopted a declaration with conclusions addressed to the European, national and regional authorities and to the business sector itself. The Commission will use them in forthcoming policy initiatives. The conference has also been the occasion to launch the Commission's new portal for Small and Medium- Sized Enterprises (SME's), which pools all information on EU action of interest to SME's.

    [07] European experts debate future of the food industryA conference on 'Perspectives for Food 2030' being held on 17 and 18 April in Brussels brings together the food industry to look at what research is needed to face up to challenges it might face in the future. These include changing lifestyles, emerging markets, the impact of enlargement and the emergence of new technologies. Speakers from industry, consumer groups, academia, retailing, agriculture and other sectors will put forward their ideas on how the food industry and consumer demand will evolve over the next 25 years and to consider the implications this may have for food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology. Issues to be covered include what the consumer will want on his plate, how the supermarket of the future will look and what new food technologies will emerge. The conference comes at the beginning of the 7th Research Framework programme, which will allocate at least €1.9 billion to research in this field between 2007 and 2013. 'Perspectives for Food 2030' opens with a keynote speech on 17 April by European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik and will be closed by European Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Marianne Fischer-Boel on 18 April. The conference can be followed via live webstreaming at: <a href="http://scic.cec.eu.int/streaming/char">http://scic.cec.eu.int/streaming/char. Presentations of speakers will be made available at the conference website <a href="http://www.ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2007/food2030/program_en.htm">www.ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2007/food2030/program_en.htm.

    [08] February 2007 : Euro area external trade deficit €1.7 billion ; €17.6 billion deficit for EU27

    The first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in February 2007 gave a €1.7 billion deficit compared with €- 3.3 billion in February 2006. The January 2007 balance was €-7.0 billion, compared with €-9.9 billion in January 2006. In February 2007 compared with January 2007, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 0.6% and imports by 2.3%. The first estimate for February 2007 extra-EU27 trade was a deficit of €17.6 billion, compared with €-16.1 billion in February 2006. In January 2007, the balance was €-26.0 billion, compared with €- 26.2 billion in January 2006. In February 2007 compared with January 2007, exports, seasonally adjusted, fell by 0.4% while imports rose by 1.2%. These data are released by Eurostat.

    [09] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Mariann Fischer Boel : "Giving a voice to the future of farming in the EU" at European Young Farmers' Day

    Speech by Joaquín Almunia : "The euro and the dollar – pillars in global finance" at Federal Reserve Bank of New York (New York, ! embargo 15h30 !)

    Speech by JoaquĂ­n Almunia : "Reforming Europe for a Globalised World" at Spain-US Chamber of Commerce (16/04, New York)

    Speech by Vladimir Špidla : "Erfahrung ist Zukunft – Die Bedeutung der Älteren für die Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung" at Conference on 'Demographic Change as Opportunity: The Economic potential of the Elderly' (Berlin)

    Speech by Vladimir Ĺ pidla : "Flexicurity: Eine Antwort Europas auf die Globalisierung ?" at Hertie School of Governance (Berlin)

    Speech by Danuta HĂĽbner : "SMEs are drivers for growth in European regions" at Conference 'Structural Funds 2007- 2013: Opportunities for Small and medium-sized Enterprises' (16/04, Limassol) 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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