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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-10-25Midday 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 Communicationb25/10/07[01] Further set of rural development programmes for the period 2007-2013 agreed: Cyprus, Flanders, Germany (3 Länder) Italy (3 regions), Spain (National Framework)Today the Rural Development Committee (consisting of representatives of the 27 Member States) gave a positive opinion to the Rural Development programmes of Cyprus, Flanders, Germany (3 Länder), Italy (3 regions) and Spain (National Framework) for the financial period 2007-2013. These programmes are defined to guarantee infrastructure, create new income opportunities for rural regions, promote growth and fight unemployment. The Commission still has to formally adopt the programmes in the next weeks. The approval of the programmes for other countries and regions will follow in the next months.[02] Competitive and sustainable destinations discussed at European Tourism ForumStrategies to make EU tourism destinations competitive by embracing sustainability will be the focal point of discussions at the 6th European Tourism Forum, which takes place tomorrow in Portimao, Algarve in Portugal. At the occasion of this conference, European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen will present the awards to the winners of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) tomorrow. At the forum the European Commission will also present its new communication launching a strategy to foster sustainable and competitive tourism in Europe. It invites all stakeholders to strengthen the contribution of sustainable practices to making Europe the most attractive tourism destination.[03] Cadre européen des certifications: pour la promotion de la mobilité et de l’apprentissage tout au long de la vieLe Parlement européen a voté aujourd’hui en faveur de l’adoption de la recommandation établissant le cadre européen des certifications (CEC) pour l’apprentissage tout au long de la vie, proposée par la Commission en septembre 2006. Le CEC établira des liens entre les systèmes de certification nationaux, améliorera la transparence et servira ainsi de mécanisme de correspondance permettant aux États membres, aux employeurs et aux citoyens de comparer et mieux comprendre les certifications des ressortissants d'autres États membres de l'UE.[04] Fiscalité directe: la Commission demande à l'Espagne de modifier les règles fiscales discriminatoires que ce pays applique aux non-résidents recrutés pour occuper un poste dans des services diplomatiques ou consulaires espagnolsThe first meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on Culture will be held in Lisbon today under the auspices of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU. At the meeting, the EU - represented by the Portuguese Minister of Culture Isabel Pires de Lima ,Commissioner Ján Figel' responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth and by the Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti of the incoming Slovenian Presidency – and the Russian Federation - represented by the Minister of Culture Alexander Sokolov – will adopt a Joint Statement outlining the future priorities for cultural cooperation between the two partners. This statement will be an important contribution to the EU-Russia summit which takes place in Mafra on 26 October.[05] Culture: Ján Figel' in Lisbon for the first ever Permanent Partnership Council on culture with RussiaThe first meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on Culture will be held in Lisbon today under the auspices of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU. At the meeting, the EU - represented by the Portuguese Minister of Culture Isabel Pires de Lima ,Commissioner Ján Figel' responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth and by the Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti of the incoming Slovenian Presidency – and the Russian Federation - represented by the Minister of Culture Alexander Sokolov – will adopt a Joint Statement outlining the future priorities for cultural cooperation between the two partners. This statement will be an important contribution to the EU-Russia summit which takes place in Mafra on 26 October.[06] Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Launch of four programmes to improve quality of life in Slovak regionsA ceremony will take place in KoÅ¡ice today to mark the adoption of four Operational Programmes (OPs) for Slovakia, to cover Cohesion Policy implementation for 2007-2013. Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will sign the programmes in the presence of Mr. Marian JanuÅ¡ek, Minister of Construction and Regional Development and Mr. ĽubomÃr Vážny, Minister of Transport. Tomorrow, together with the Prime Minister Mr. Robert Fico, she will open the new railway station in PreÅ¡ov.[07] 20th EU-Russia Summit in MafraOn October 26th European and Russian leaders will meet in Mafra, Portugal, to discuss the steady expansion in co-operation under the four common spaces, developments in the EU and Russia, as well as international and regional issues, in particular Kosovo. The European Union will be represented by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Portuguese Prime Minister and head of the Portuguese EU-Presidency José Socrates, , as well as External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, , and High Representative Javier Solana. The Russian delegation will be headed by President Vladimir Putin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, Ministers of Trade and Economy, Elvira Nabiullina and Minister for Energy and Industry, Viktor Khristenko.[08] Journée européenne de la Justice civile, une initiative conjointe de la Commission européenne et du Conseil de l'EuropeA l’image d'autres grandes journées européennes, la Commission européenne et le Conseil de l’Europe ont créé en 2003 une «Journée européenne de la justice civile », le 25 octobre de chaque année, afin de mettre la justice civile véritablement à portée de main des citoyens européens.[09] EU Russia industrialists’ round table meeting in LisbonSpeaking at a meeting of European and Russian business leaders on 25 October in Lisbon, Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen will ask the industry to identify three or four key priority economic issues on which political leaders can work to improve economic links. Among the conference speakers, besides Mr Verheugen, are Mr Jose Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr Andris Piebalgs, European Energy Commissioner, Mr Sergei Naryshkin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Viktor Khristenko, Russian Minister for Industry and Energy, and Mrs Elvira Nabiullina, Russian Minister for Economic Development and Trade. The EU- Russia Industrialists’ Round Table (IRT) is a business-driven process providing a permanent forum for business people to present joint recommendations with regard to promotion of industrial co-operation. The conference is open to the press and will take place in the Lisboa Congress Centre, from 8.30 – 19.00. The EU is Russia’s most important trade and investment partner. In turn, Russia is now the EU’s third most important trading partner.[10] Russia third trade partner of the EU27 - Supplies 42% of EU27 natural gas importsRussia is the EU27's third most important trading partner, after the USA and China, accounting for 6.2% of EU27 exports and 10.4% of EU27 imports in 2006, compared to 2.7% and 6.4% respectively in 2000. The EU27 deficit in trade with Russia increased from 41 billion euro in 2000 to 69 billion in 2006. This increased deficit was due to imports of energy, which rose from 36 billion in 2000 to 94 billion in 2006, while exports of machinery and vehicles increased from 8 billion in 2000 to 34 billion in 2006. Among the EU27 Member States, Germany was by far the largest exporter to Russia in 2006, with 23 bn euro, or 32% of the total, followed by Italy (8 bn or 11%) and Finland (6 bn or 9%). Germany (29 bn or 21%) was also the largest importer, followed by the Netherlands1 (17 bn or 12%) and Italy (14 bn or 10%). In 2005, Russia supplied more than 40% of EU27 natural gas imports and more than 30% of crude oil imports, compared to 50% and 22% respectively in 2000. In 2006, the EU27 exported 13 bn euro of services to Russia, while imports of services from Russia amounted to 10 bn, resulting in a EU27 surplus of 3 bn in trade in services with Russia. On the occasion of the European Union - Russia summit, which will take place on Friday 26 October 2007 in Mafra in Portugal, Eurostat publishes data on the EU27 and Russia.[11] L'UE27 a enregistré un déficit des échanges courants de 14,6 milliards d'euros -Excédent de 23,6 milliards d’euros pour la balance des servicesSelon les dernières révisions1, le compte des opérations courantes2 de l’UE273 avec les pays tiers a enregistré un déficit de 14,6 milliards d'euros au deuxième trimestre 2007, contre un déficit de 18,9 mrds au deuxième trimestre 2006 et un déficit de 28,1 mrds au premier trimestre 2007. Au deuxième trimestre 2007, par rapport au deuxième trimestre 2006, un moindre déficit a été enregistré pour le compte des biens (-33,9 mrds d'euros contre -41,2 mrds) et l'excédent du compte des services s'est accru (+23,6 mrds contre +18,7 mrds). L'excédent du compte des revenus a diminué (+8,0 mrds contre +14,5 mrds) et le déficit du compte des transferts courants a augmenté (-12,3 mrds contre -10,9 mrds). Ces données provisoires, publiées par Eurostat sont sujettes à révision.[12] Commission to decide on national allocation plans for Romania and Bugaria and on Germany's amendmentsOn Friday 26 October, the European Commission is scheduled to take its decisions on the national allocation plans for the year 2007 and the national allocation plans for the second period, submitted by Romania and Bulgaria under Directive 2003/87/EC, which establishes the EU emissions trading scheme for greenhouse gases, as well as the decision on the amendments to the national allocation plan of Germany notified by end 2006. The decisions will be communicated at 12 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST) via two press releases. The announcement will also be displayed simultaneouslyhttp://europa.eu.int/rapid/ and the DG Environment website at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.htm and <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm. The legal decisions will be posted on the DG Environment emissions trading website at the time of the announcement being made: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm. [13] Rédiffusion[14] Commission: Council decision is good for Baltic codThe European Commission has welcomed the agreement reached yesterday by the Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on fishing opportunities for 2008 in the Baltic Sea. On the two key cod stocks, which have been in poor biological condition for many years, ministers agreed a combination of cuts in total allowable catches (TACs) and days at sea (fishing effort) which should ensure both more sustainable fisheries and better application of the rules. For Eastern Baltic cod, the TAC will be cut by 5% to 38 765 tonnes, while days at sea are reduced by 20% to 178 days. For Western Baltic cod, the TAC will be reduced by 28% to 19 221 tonnes, while days at sea are cut by 10% to 223 days.[15] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by JoaquÃn Almunia on "Reinforcing economic resilience through stronger financial markets " at the European Primary Dealers Association Second Annual European Government Bond Summit in BrusselsSpeech by Andris Piebalgs on "EU-Russia energy cooperation" at the International Energy Week in Moscow Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner "EU-Russia: Preparation for the Summit on 26 October" at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Speech by Joe Borg "European Aquaculture and the challenges of the global economy" at the Aquaculture Europe 2007 Conference in Istanbul Speech by Olli Rehn on "Serbia's European Road" at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Memo on 50 years of EU gender equality law Memo on Frequently asked Questions: why does the EU need a European Qualifications Framework? Memo on the Spanish framework for Rural Development Memo Cyprus' Rural Development Plan Memo sur le Plan de développement rural pour la Flandre (Belgique) Memo on Rural development plans in Germany: 3 "Länder" Memo sur les Plans de développement rural: 3 régions en Italie
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 |