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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-11-15Midday 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 Communicationb15/11/07The way ahead for European aquaculture debated in Brussels Today and tomorrow the European Commission will be hosting a major conference in Brussels on "European Aquaculture and its Opportunities for Development". The purpose of the conference is to advance the debate on the sustainable development of European aquaculture, and in particular to examine the role that public authorities can and should play in this context. Around 200 delegates are expected to attend, including professionals from a number of sectors, representatives of national and regional authorities, scientists, NGOs and other stakeholders. The priorities identified in a recent consultation process will guide the future review of the existing strategy on sustainable aquaculture in Europe. Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg will give the closing address on Friday morning.[01] Call For Evidence On The Economics Of Biodiversity LossToday the European Commission launched a six-week-long internet-based call for evidence on the economics of biodiversity loss. Following commitments made at the G8+5 meeting of Environment Ministers in Potsdam in March 2007, the Commission is supporting Germany with the preparatory work for a Review on the Economics of Biodiversity Loss. The Review will be carried out by an independent economist who will be appointed as study leader[1].The Review will evaluate the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the associated decline in ecosystem services worldwide. It will consider the failure to take protective measures, versus the costs of effective conservation and sustainable use. While there are many reasons why preventing biodiversity loss should be addressed as a political priority, when the G8+5 ministers endorsed the Postdam Initiative they concluded that it was essential to have an objective assessment of the economic arguments. The Review will sharpen awareness of the value of biodiversity, and it is intended that the findings will facilitate the development of cost- effective policy responses. The results of the call for evidence will contribute to a preparatory report on the Review to be presented at the Ninth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, Germany, in May 2008. For further background information, text of the call for evidence, and terms of reference for the Review, see: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/call_evidence.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/call_evidence.htm. [02] Promoting the leadership of agro-food industryPromoting the leadership of agro-food industry is the theme of a European Commission conference on 15th and 16th November in Brussels. Discussions will focus on the competitiveness of the European food industry, the challenges and the future of the sector and a strategy for more value added products. Four horizontal themes will be addressed: the single market, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) (including access to financing), the international dimension (in particular access to raw materials) and innovation. Other themes will deal with the specificity of food sub- sectors. Welcoming the participants - among them representatives of leading agro-food companies - European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen will deliver a key note speech. The conference’s purpose is to trigger reactions from stakeholders and raise new operative ideas that would likely be implemented at EU level, with a view to boosting competitiveness of the European agro-food sector.[03] Euro area annual inflation up to 2.6%Euro area annual inflation was 2.6% in October 2007, up from 2.1% in September. A year earlier the rate was 1.6%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in October 2007. EU annual inflation was 2.7% in October 2007, up from 2.2% in September. A year earlier the rate was 1.8%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in October 2007. These figures come from Eurostat.[04] Public procurement: Commission welcomes adoption of Directive improving rights of rejected biddersThe European Commission has welcomed the adoption by the Council and the European Parliament of the Commission's proposal for a Directive reviewing EU rules on remedies in the area of public procurement. This new Directive improves the national review procedures that businesses can use when they consider that a public authority has awarded a contract unfairly. The Commission proposed the Directive in May 2006 (<a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/601&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/06/601). An agreement at first reading between Commission, Council and the European Parliament was reached in June 2007 (IP/07/861).[05] “Enlarge your vision” - European Young Journalist Award on EU EnlargementThe Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement in cooperation with the European Youth Press association launched today a pan-European competition for young journalists from all over Europe. The objective of the competition is to encourage young journalists to reflect and express their views on the European Union's enlargement policy.[06] More choice and lower costs when booking airline tickets: the Commission advocates more competition in airline ticket distributionThe European Commission adopted today a proposal to simplify and modernise the two-decade-old rules for computerised reservation systems (CRS). These systems are used by travel agents to book airline tickets on behalf of their customers. The revised rules will allow CRSs and subscribing travel agents to expand their offer and better compete in the airline distribution market.[07] 2008 guide prices for fisheries products: increases for white fish but decreases for most pelagic species and frozen productsToday, the European Commission has adopted its annual proposal on next year’s guide prices for fresh and frozen fisheries products as well as the Community producer price for tuna for processing. The Commission proposes to raise guide prices for the majority of white fish species including cod, redfish, saithe and haddock by between 0.5 % and 3 %. The market for white fish has recovered from the downward trend observed in 2002 and 2003 when there were considerable drops in prices and increased withdrawals. The market environment has been favourable in 2006 and the first half of 2007, resulting in moderate price rises for products originating in the EU. There will also be slight increases in guide prices for crustaceans. However, the market situation for pelagic species is less favourable. The upward trend observed during 2004 and 2005 came to an end in 2006, with prices dropping for most species except herring. As a result, guide prices for most pelagic species will be decreased by between 1.5% and 3%. For frozen products, the proposal mainly reflects decreasing prices on the international markets with decreases of between -0.5% and -3% for Greenland halibut, whole hake, swordfish, prawns and squid. Finally, the Commission proposes to increase the Community producer price for tuna products by 2 %. The Commission proposals are based on Member States' average market prices over the previous three years. Other important factors also taken into account include trends in production and market demand, the interests of consumers and the need to avoid withdrawals of fisheries products from the market.For full details of the Commission's proposal, see table at : <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_78_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_78_en.htm. [08] Airport slot allocation: for a better use of scarce airport capacity in EuropeThe European Commission today adopted a Communication on the operation of the amended slot allocation Regulation of 2004. The Communication concludes that there have been improvements in the use of scarce airport capacity the Regulation, but there is still some room for improvement, especially where it concerns market access and efficient use of slots.[09] Autre matériel diffuséMemo on Questions and Answers on aquacultureMemo on Ten ways in which Europeans have benefited from the Single Market Memo on Education, Youth Affairs and Culture Council, Brussels, 15-16 November 2007 Memo: Q&A on the revised rules for computerised airline ticket reservation systems Speech of Commissioner McCreevy at the European Youth Parliament in Dublin Memo: Cyprus - Operational programme 2007-2013: Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Speech of Commissioner Kroes at the 2nd Lisbon Conference on Competition Law and Economics [10] A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315):Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :Avnet/Acal IT Solutions DZ Equity Partner/Welle Holding/Paidi Moebel Quebecor World/RSDB STV Fund/Smith/@Balance
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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