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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-11-27Midday 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 Communicationb27/11/07[01] Sixth Report on practical preparations for the euro: countdown for Cyprus and MaltaWith only five weeks to go before the adoption of the euro by Cyprus and Malta, the Commission made a final assessment of the state of practical preparations for the currency changeover in both countries. The Commission concluded that both Member States are well prepared for the introduction of the euro.[02] Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Commission adopts major programmes for environment and transport in BulgariaA ceremony to mark the approval of two major programmes for environment and transport will take place in Brussels today. Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner will receive Bulgarian minister of Finance Mr Plamen Oresharski, minister for Transport Mr Peter Vasilev Mutafchiev, and minister for Environment Mr Djevdet Chakarov for the signing of programmes launching EU investment worth €3 billion for 2007-2013 to boost the country's development.[03] Iraq: third round of negotiations for a Trade and Cooperation AgreementOn 27-29 November the EU and Iraq will hold the third round of negotiations for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) in Brussels. The areas foreseen to be covered by this round of negotiations are energy, environment, some trade provisions, human rights, science and technology and security, weapons of mass destruction and counter terrorism. The TCA negotiations were launched by Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner and Mandelson, on behalf of the Commission, and by Barham Salih, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, on behalf of Iraq on 20 November 2006. The TCA will help to progressively strengthen the EU’s relations with Iraq and integrate the country in the world economy.[04] EU and China – a global partnershipThe 10th annual EU-China Summit will take place on 28 November in Beijing. The European Commission will be represented by President José Manuel Barroso and Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, as well as Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs. The Chinese delegation will be led by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. The leaders will discuss the full range of bilateral and international issues, with particular focus on strengthening co-operation someone some of today’s key global challenges such as climate change and energy security and supporting development in Africa. Apart from discussions on bilateral issues – including the state of play on negotiations for a PCA, and concerns about exchange rate / trade deficit - EU and Chinese leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues, including Burma/Myanmar, non-proliferation in North Korea and Iran, and the Middle East Peace Process.[05] Climate change: Bali conference must launch negotiations and fix ‘roadmap’ for new UN agreementThe UN climate change conference from 3 to 14 December in Bali, Indonesia must agree to launch negotiations on a comprehensive and ambitious global climate change agreement for the period after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period ends. This is the key objective of the Commission and EU member states following the alarming assessment of current and future climate change recently completed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will participate in the high-level segment of the Bali conference from 12 to 14 December. This will be preceded on 8-9 December by a meeting of trade ministers on trade-related climate issues and on 10-11 December by a meeting of finance ministers on funding for low-carbon technologies.[06] Climate change: EU on track towards Kyoto target but efforts must be maintained, projections showThe EU is moving closer to achieving its Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases but additional initiatives need to be adopted and implemented swiftly to ensure success. This is the conclusion of the Commission's annual report on progress towards meeting the Kyoto objectives. The latest projections from Member States indicate that measures already taken, together with the purchase of emission credits from third countries and forestry activities that absorb carbon from the atmosphere, will cut EU-15 emissions in 2010 to 7.4% below levels in the chosen base year (1990 in most cases) - just short of the 8% reduction target for 2012. Additional policies and measures under discussion at EU and national levels will allow the target to be reached and even take the reduction to 11.4% if implemented promptly and fully.[07] Les services aux citoyens dans l’UE en faits et chiffresCombien de ménages possèdent seulement des téléphones mobiles dans l'UE? Combien de temps parlent-ils par jour sur leur téléphone mobile? Combien d’habitants sont desservis par un bureau de poste d’un État membre? Combien y a-t-il de guichets automatiques de banque (GAB) par habitant dans l’UE? Comment les Européens préfèrent-ils régler leurs achats? Les réponses ces questions et bien d’autres se trouvent dans la nouvelle édition de "Consumers in Europe - Facts and Figures"1 publiée conjointement par Eurostat et la Direction générale Santé et protection des consommateurs de la Commission européenne. Cette troisième édition se concentre sur les industries de réseau fournissant des services d’intérêt général aux consommateurs européens. Ces services d'utilité publique, tels que les transports, l’énergie, l'approvisionnement en eau et en électricité, les télécommunications, internet, les services postaux et les services bancaires, jouent un rôle fondamental dans la vie économique et sociale des citoyens.[08] Call for tender to evaluate CAP direct support measuresThe European Commission has launched a call for tender for a framework contract to evaluate CAP measures concerning sectors subject to past or present direct support. The 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was adopted with the aim of promoting a more market-oriented and competitive agriculture. The biggest change was to remove the link between support and production. Only to a very limited degree, certain forms of coupled direct support were maintained. This framework contract has the objective of evaluating the impacts of the transition from coupled support to decoupling as well as the impact of remaining coupled support. The full range of CAP instruments directed to a sector concerned will have to be taken into account. The framework contract will be awarded in the form of nine lots, one contract per lot. Tenders will be evaluated separately for each lot. The deadline for submitting offers expires on 21 February 2008.The Commission intends to award contracts in the first half of 2008, following the evaluation of the offers received. The expected period of performance of the contracts is 4 years.<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tenderdocs/2007/276302/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tenderdocs/2007/276302/index_en.htm [09] EU and Norway reach agreement on fishing possibilities for 2008On 26 November, the European Commission, negotiating on behalf of the European Union, and Norway agreed on the fishing possibilities for 2008 for the seven main jointly managed fish stocks in the North Sea. The agreement is based on the latest available scientific advice and takes account of the need to ensure sustainable fisheries. For those stocks which are in poor condition (herring, whiting), substantial cuts in Total Allowable Catches (TACs) were made. In the case of North Sea cod, however, the recent improvement in the stock noted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) allowed an agreement on an 11% increase in TAC, accompanied by a commitment by the EU to introduce measures to reduce the cod discard rate (i.e. the proportion of the catch that is discarded) to 10% in the North Sea. Both parties agreed to continue to cooperate in securing continued responsible fisheries and ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable exploitation of the marine resources for which they are responsible. There are currently four joint multi-annual plans in place for cod, haddock, saithe and herring. The plans for saithe and herring will be revised in 2008, and work will start in early 2008 to draw up a joint long-term plan for plaice to complement the EU recovery plan. Norway and the EU also agreed on a series of exchanges of fishing possibilities in the North Sea and North-East Atlantic, giving extended opportunities to both Parties to fish in a sustainable manner on species of common interest. Continued and substantial progress has also been made in strengthening control and enforcement on a number of fronts. Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg informed ministers at today's Fisheries Council on this agreement with Norway. For details of the agreement, see<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_86_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_86_en.htm Autre matériel diffusé • Memo: Bulgaria – Operational Programme 2007-13: Environment • Memo: Bulgaria – Operational Programme 2007-13: Transport • Memo: Germany- Operational Programme for Brandenburg 2007-2013 • Memo: Germany- Operational Programme 2007-2013: Saarland • Memo: Climate change and the EU’s response • Rediffusion Speech by Commissionner PIEBALGS on Nuclear Energy within the climate change and energy security debate • Rediffusion Speech by Vice-President Kallas at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales • Speech by Commissioner Mandelson on Protecting IPR in China • Speech by Commissioner Potočnik : The Future of Europe Lies in Knowledge • Speech by Commissioner Reding on "Europe's evolving single market for telecoms: the future challenges of cooperation between the European Commission and National Regulatory Authorities" in Budapest • Speech by Commissioner Hübner on "Telling the Story: new opportunities, new challenges" • Speech by Commissioner McCreevy on EU-US cooperation on reporting standards audit oversight and regulation A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Motorola / Vertex Standard
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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