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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-05-15Midday 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 Communicationb15/05/07[01] Emissions trading: Commission adopts decision on Italy's national allocation plan for 2008-2012The European Commission today concluded the assessment of Italy's national plan for allocating carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances for the 2008- 2012 trading period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The Commission accepted Italy's national plan on condition that certain changes are made, including a reduction in the total number of emission allowances proposed. The cleared annual allocation is 195.8 million tonnes of CO2 allowances, 6.3% less than Italy had proposed. The Emissions Trading Scheme ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered are cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.[02] Joining forces for growth and jobs: Commission, Member States and industry to pool investment in strategic research programmesA new era of research and development funding began today with the adoption of proposals by the European Commission to launch the first ever Europe- wide public-private R&D partnerships. The Commission presented two Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) on Embedded Computing Systems and Innovative Medicines. These JTIs will pool industry, Member States and Commission resources into targeted research programmes. JTIs will move away from the traditional case-by-case public funding of projects approach towards large scale research programmes dedicated to common strategic research targets. This new approach will create critical mass for European research and innovation, consolidate the European research community in key strategic areas and streamline project funding to bring research results on stream quicker. Today's decision creates the legal framework to establish ARTEMIS, the embedded computing systems JTI, and IMI, the Innovative Medicines Initiative.[03] European Commission launches "EU Mini-chefs," a website for children on healthy cookingThe European Commission and Euro-toques International, the European Chefs' association, today launched "EU Mini-chefs" - a website for children which aims to contribute to the fight against child obesity by encouraging healthy eating and cooking. It promotes the European Day for Healthy Food and Cooking, to be celebrated on 8 November 2007. On that day chefs across the EU will demonstrate to children how to cook and eat healthily in schools and restaurants. The website also outlines how children can take part in a drawing contest for a poster to be used in the campaign. It provides an internet forum on healthy food & cooking for parents, teachers and children. The website includes simple healthy recipes and cooking advice from some of the best chefs of Europe.[04] The President of European Parliament, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission meet faith leaders to discuss human dignityThis meeting with leading representatives of the three monotheistic religions was held on 15 May 2007 in the Berlaymont building on the initiative of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Together with German Chancellor and European Council President Angela Merkel and European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, President Barroso co hosted the discussions, which were attended by 21 leading representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths in Europe. He had hosted similar meetings in 2005 and 2006, but this is the first time such a gathering had taken place under the auspices of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council Presidency. The topic chosen for this year’s discussion was "Building a Europe based on human dignity".[05] IEA Ministerial meeting: Andris Piebalgs calls for an International Agreement on Energy EfficiencyAt the Ministerial meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which is taking place on 14-15 May in Paris, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs called for an International Agreement on Energy Efficiency. Initially this agreement would bring together OECD countries and key developing countries to agree on common approaches to saving energy. Commissioner Piebalgs said: "Climate change and energy security are global challenges that must to be tackled at a global level. If every single country in the World adopted an approach to energy efficiency, we could reduce global CO2 emissions, improve global energy security and contribute massively to economic development and the emergence of new and clean technologies. "[06] Flash estimates for the first quarter of 2007 - Euro area and EU27 GDP up by 0.6% - +3.1% and +3.2% respectively compared to the first quarter of 2006GDP grew by 0.6% in both the euro area (EA13) and the EU27 during the first quarter of 2007, compared to the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published by Eurostat. In the fourth quarter of 2006, growth rates were +0.9% both in the euro area and in the EU27. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP grew by 3.1% in the euro area and by 3.2% in the EU27 in the first quarter of 2007, after +3.3% and +3.5% respectively in the previous quarter. During the first quarter of 2007, US GDP increased by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, after +0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2006. Compared to the first quarter of 2006, GDP grew by 2.1% in the US, after +3.1% in the previous quarter.[07] EU - Russia Summit - A EU27 external trade deficit of almost 70 bn euro with Russia in 2006 - Russia third largest trading partner of EU27Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 exports of goods to Russia more than tripled in value, from € 22.7 billion to € 72.4 billion, while EU27 imports from Russia more than doubled, from € 63.8 billion to € 140.6 billion. As a result the EU27 deficit in trade with Russia increased from € 41.0 billion in 2000 to € 68.2 billion in 2006. This increased deficit was primarily due to an increase in the deficit for energy, only partially offset by an increase in the surplus for machinery and vehicles. The share of Russia in the EU27's total external trade in goods has nearly doubled between 2000 and 2006. In 2006, Russia accounted for just over 6% of EU27 exports and 10% of EU27 imports, and was the EU27's third most important trading partner, after the USA and China. On the occasion of the European Union - Russia summit, which will take place on Friday 18 May 2007 in Samara in Russia, Eurostat issues data on trade in goods and services, as well as investments between Russia and the EU.[08] Commission analyses medium-term outlook for international agricultural commodity marketsInternational agricultural markets are entering a boom era for commodity prices. This boom is partly caused by drought last year and partly by the unprecedented level of biofuel demand as well as by global economic growth, driving demand for higher valued food products. The outlook is for prices to stay high, and the "food versus fuel" discussion will continue. The market outlook is subject to many uncertainties: the further development of biofuels, policy changes such as the outcome of the WTO Doha-Round and, as always, the weather. These are, in a nutshell, the main messages in the latest issue of the "Monitoring Agri-trade Policy" newsletter series published by the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. You will find the newsletter at <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/map/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/map/index_en.htm[09] Commission clears acquisition of Volker Wessels by CVC and VRThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Koninklijke Volker Vessels Stevin N.V. (Volker Wessels) of the Netherlands by CVC Capital Partners Group (CVC) of the Cayman Islands and Victor Rijssen BV (VR) of the Netherlands. CVC provides investment advice. VR is a holding company. Volker Wessels is active in the building and construction sector. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[10] Emissions trading: Community Independent transaction log publishes installation-level compliance dataToday, the Community Independent Transaction Log (CITL) published verified emissions plus the number of allowances surrendered per installation for 2006. This information is however not yet in aggregate form. The aggregated information, together with the Commission's assessment, will be made available before June. Installations that have surrendered allowances equal to their verified emissions are indicated as in compliance; installations that have not surrendered before the deadline of 30 April 2007 are indicated as not in compliance. On 2 April verified emissions per installation were published on the CITL with a view to releasing this highly market-sensitive information to the public as soon as possible, but without any indication on the quantity of allowances surrendered as the due date for surrender was 30 April 2007 Both installation-level verified emissions data and installation-level compliance data may be downloaded from the CITL and freely aggregated by the general public. The Commission will provide its own assessment of the aggregated verified emissions data before June, timed to coincide with the publication of the latest information on overall EU emissions (not just within the EU ETS) trends. In parallel, the Commission will prepare for the public installation-level reports on the compliance situation in each Member State.[11] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Joe Borg "Increasing role of economic analysis in fisheries management" at the Economic Seminar organised by DG Fisheries in BrusselsSpeech by Mariann Fischer Boel: "Tools in the toolbox: ICT and broadband in rural areas at the Conference on Broadband in Rural Areas, Brussels Speech by Neelie Kroes "Broadband rollout and competition policy – what role for public funding? At the 'Bridging the Broadband Gap' Conference in Brussels Speech by Charlie McCreevy "The future of the Single Market" at Sofia University Memo on Faster access to better medicines: the Innovative Medicines Initiative Memo on Joint Technology Initiatives, a new EU research initiative: FAQ Memo on Consumer Affairs: Council due to consider Consumer Credit Directive
(Monday 21st May 2007)
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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