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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-05-14Midday 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 Communicationb14/05/07[01] Telecommunications: Commission endorses the Polish regulator's modified market analysis of retail access marketToday the Commission has taken a Decision endorsing the Polish telecom regulator's amended proposal concerning the market for access to fixed telephony services. On 13 March 2007, the Commission told the Polish regulator UKE that broadband access services should not be included in the definition of the market. The Commission also suggested to UKE to enforce without delay regulation at wholesale level in order to improve competition in the Polish broadband market. The UKE's modified definition now excludes all retail broadband services.[02] Commissioner Fischer Boel receives the European Taxpayers' Award 2007Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for agriculture and rural development, today receives the European Taxpayers' Award for 2007 from the Taxpayers' Association of Europe. The award will be presented this evening at a ceremony at the Brussels offices of the Autonomous Province Bolzano/Bozen and the Autonomous Region Trentino-South Tyrol. This is the ninth time this award has been presented. The Association conferred the award for Mrs Fischer Boel's decision to abolish export refunds for exports of live cattle from the EU, and for her ongoing efforts to improve the transparency of agricultural payments.[03] Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the conduct of parliamentary elections in Armenia"I have taken note of the preliminary findings of the International Election Observation Mission for the 12 May parliamentary elections in Armenia, to which also a delegation of the European Parliament participated. I commend the people of Armenia and their leaders on the fact that these elections were conducted largely in accordance with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and other international standards for democratic elections. Armenia has thus made an important step forward in fulfilling a key priority of the EU / Armenia Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy. I am confident that the new parliament, together with the new government, will continue firmly on the path of reform. This is vital for the Armenian people as well as for the future of our relationship. "[04] March 2007 compared to February 2007 - Industrial production up by 0.4% in euro area - Up by 0.5% in EU27Seasonally adjusted industrial production increased by 0.4% in the euro area (EA13) in March 2007 compared with February 2007. Production rose by 0.5% in February and fell by 0.6% in January. In the EU27 output gained 0.5% in March, after an increase of 0.4% in February and a decrease of 0.5% in January. In March 2007 compared with March 2006, industrial production rose by 3.7% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat.[05] Commission to decide on Italian national allocation planOn Tuesday 15 May, the European Commission is scheduled to take its decision on the national allocation plan submitted by Italy under Directive 2003/87/EC, which establishes the EU emissions trading scheme for greenhouse gases. The decision will be communicated at 12 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST) via a press release. The announcement will also be displayedhttp://europa.eu.int/rapid/ and the DG Environment website at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.htm and http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm. The legal decision will be posted on the DG Environment emissions trading website at the time of the announcement being made: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm. [06] Rédiffusion[07] 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York: Joint Press Statement by Sigmar Gabriel, German Federal Minister for the Environment, representing the EU-Presidency and Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the EnvironmentThe European Union (EU) deeply regrets that the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was unable to agree on an ambitious text on energy, climate, air pollution and industrial development. The 15th annual session of the CSD met in New York in order to bring forward the commitments on sustainable development made in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation agreed in 2002. The European Union is convinced that the CSD is a unique forum to advance sustainable development at the global level. Sustainable development needs an integrated approach and the CSD is the right body to take this forward. It is regrettable that the CSD 15 did not succeed in playing that role.“The world has been waiting for the UN to take concrete steps to address issues such as poverty eradication through access to affordable and sustainable energy services, energy efficiency, renewable energies, climate change, air quality. The European Union has, therefore, worked tirelessly over the last two weeks to negotiate a meaningful agreement,” said the German Federal Minister for the Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, representing the EU-Presidency. “The challenges posed by climate change, energy security, and air pollution are now seen more clearly than five years ago. They require strengthened and more ambitious, international policy commitments. It is unfortunate that the CSD 15 was unable to deliver,” said Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment. The EU strongly supported time-bound targets for renewable energy, the integration of energy policies into national planning by 2010, a review arrangement for energy issues within in the CSD, an international agreement on energy efficiency, among others. The EU considers these as essential elements on the way to achieving the Millennium development goals. [08] European Diversity campaign reaches 100 million Eurovision TV viewersTonight the EU’s European Year of Equal Opportunities for All partnership with the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest will bring its message of tolerance and diversity to an estimated 100 million television viewers around Europe and beyond. The official partnership is the first time in twenty years that Eurovision has been associated with an EU initiative. “Providing equal opportunities for all is a key task for the EU and I am proud that thanks to the Eurovision song contest our message has reached millions of people over only a couple of days. Diversity is Europe’s strength and foundation, ” said Vladimír pidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, who visited the European Year pavilion on Friday 11 May together with Finnish Minister of Labour Tarja Cronberg. The European Year pavilion at the Eurovision village in central Helsinki has welcomed an estimated 320,000 visitors during the Eurovision week. An equal opportunities quiz and wheelchair basketball proved to be the most popular activities, while an exhibition match between disabled and non-disabled basketball players was launched by Commissioner pidla during his visit. In addition to TV spots broadcast in eleven countries during the contest’s final and semi-final, the European Year logo and web link have featured prominently on the Eurovision website, where 2.5 million people watched the contest’s semi-final online. EU anti-discrimination laws are amongst the most advanced in the world. Yet only one third of citizens know their rights should they become victims of discrimination. Meanwhile 64% of Europeans are of the opinion that discrimination is widespread in their country and 51% think not enough is being done to fight discrimination.Press photos are available at: http://equality2007.europa.eu [09] Autre matériel diffuséMemo on a Comprehensive European Migration PolicyMemo on Ethical standards in increasingly global research Speech by President José Manuel Barroso at the 10th meeting of SEECP at the South East Europe Cooperation Process meeting in Zagreb Speech by Joe Borg "Redefining Europe's borders – Bringing the Sea to the
Forefront at the Seminar of EPP Group of the Committee of Regions in
Funchal, Madeira
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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