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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-01-17Midday 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 Communicationb17/01/08[01] First meeting of High Level Expert Group on administrative burdens chaired by Edmund StoiberThe High Level Expert Group on Administrative Burdens will hold its first meeting today. The group will discuss how best to support the Commission in the implementation of the Action Programme to Reduce Administrative Burdens and will decide on procedural aspects of its work.[02] EU and Ukraine agree terms for Ukrainian WTO accessionLate yesterday the European Union and Ukraine resolved the final outstanding issues in their discussions on Ukraine's accession to the WTO. At a meeting in London, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Hryhory Nemyrya sealed the final terms of the agreement. The agreement clears the way for the final approval by WTO members of the terms of Ukraine's accession. Following ratification of the accession agreements, Ukraine will become a member of the WTO. The agreement also clears the path for an EU-Ukraine FTA.[03] Le règlement sur l'itinérance internationale: La Commission se félicite de l'adoption du premier rapport comparatif de mise en œuvreLe premier rapport comparatif sur l'itinérance internationale a été publié aujourd'hui par le Groupe des régulateurs européens (ERG). Ce rapport confirme que le règlement sur l'itinérance internationale a été globalement bien mis en œuvre avec un degré de conformité élevé dans tous les Etats membres de l'Union européenne. La Commission européenne se félicite des conclusions de ce rapport; elle encourage vivement les régulateurs nationaux à continuer à surveiller les développements de façon à ce que tous les consommateurs bénéficient pleinement des tarifs de "roaming" réduits lorsqu'ils passent ou reçoivent un appel à l'étranger.[04] Euro area external trade surplus € 2.6 billionThe first estimate for the euro area (EA13) trade balance with the rest of the world in November 2007 gave a € 2.6 billion surplus, compared with € +5.2 billion in November 2006. The October 2007 balance was € +5.4 billion, compared with € +2.4 billion in October 2006. In November 2007 compared with October 2007, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 0.3% and imports by 0.5%. The first estimate for the November 2007 extra-EU27 trade balance was a deficit of € 16.8 billion euro, compared with € -12.4 billion in November 2006. In October 2007, the balance was € -14.3 billion, compared with € -14.9 billion in October 2006. In November 2007 compared with October 2007, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 0.8% and imports by 0.6%. These data are released by Eurostat.[05] La production dans le secteur de la construction en baisse de 0,8% dans la zone euroDans le secteur de la construction, la production corrigée des variations saisonnières a diminué de 0,8% dans la zone euro (ZE13) et de 0,2% dans l’UE27 en novembre 2007, par rapport au mois précédent. En octobre, la production avait progressé de 0,6% dans la zone euro et de 0,3% dans l’UE27. Par rapport à novembre 2006, la production a enregistré en novembre 2007 une baisse de 0,8% dans la zone euro, mais a progressé de 0, 8% dans l’UE27. En octobre, la croissance annuelle était de 2,8% dans la zone euro et de 3,0% dans l'UE27. Ces premières estimations sont diffusées par Eurostat.[06] Commission receives scientific and ethics opinions regarding food from cloned animalsThe Commission has now received the draft opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the implications of animal cloning on food safety, animal health, animal welfare and the environment as well as the opinion of the European Group of Ethics (EGE) on ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply. EFSA's opinion has been made available for public consultation. EFSA will finalise its opinion after the consultation is completed later this year. The Commission cannot comment on the Opinion until it has received the final version. The EGE adopted yesterday also an opinion on the ethical aspects of cloning for food supply. This is publicly available on EGE's website. EGE makes several recommendations concerning the production of food from clones and their offspring. The Commission will examine in detail the Opinions of these two independent bodies. Upon completion of this examination, the Commission will launch a wide consultation to obtain stakeholders' feedback. It must be made clear that the two opinions relate to the risk assessment of the relevant aspects deriving from the cloning of animals for food production. The Commission has not made any risk management decision on this matter. This will be done upon completion of the consultation to be launched by the Commission as described above. The Commission has also begun work on a Eurobarometer study to learn about consumers' attitudes and demand for information on cloning. The results of this survey should be available in the second half of 2008. A comprehensive discussion on animal cloning is indispensable with regard to deciding on the EU's future approach to the production and use of cloned animals in the food chain. The Commission intends to lead this discussion and obtain the widest feedback possible before deciding on the necessity to propose any actions.<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm [07] The Commission explains all you ever wanted to know on Renewables for internet surfers in EU TubeThe European Commission has posted today in EU Tube a three minute video on Renewable Sources of Energy ahead of the Renewable Energy and Climate Change package that is going to be adopted on 23 January . The Commission hopes that this short clip will, in a didactic way, aid understanding of what renewable energies are, why they are so important, and the overall targets of the European Union for Renewable energy. The video can be found in good quality in the following URL links:<a href="http://ec.europa.eu./avservices/video/video_prod_en.cfm?type=detail&prodid=4783&src=1">http://ec.europa.eu./avservices/video/video_prod_en.cfm?type=detail&prodid=4783&src=1 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cysaOnlv_E">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cysaOnlv_E Rediffusion Protection des consommateurs: la commissaire Kuneva salue la décision du Parlement Européen soutenant la nouvelle Réglementation sur le Crédit à la Consommation À la suite d’une décision prise par le Parlement Européen aujourd’hui, mercredi 16 janvier, le consommateur européen qui contracte un emprunt – pour financer des vacances, un mariage ou une nouvelle voiture – sera mieux à même de choisir en connaissance de cause. La proposition de directive de l’Union européenne (UE) sur le crédit aux consommateurs a pour objet d’ouvrir le marché européen des prêts à la consommation, qui représente 800 milliards d’euros et reste largement fragmenté en marchés nationaux, ce qui prive le consommateur d’un choix plus vaste et de prix plus concurrentiels. Les nouvelles règles accroîtront la transparence du marché au profit du consommateur et des opérateurs économiques. [08] Autre matériel diffusé• Speech by Commissioner Fischer Boel "2008: Year of the Health Check"A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Reitan / SAS / NSB / Marked / Vizz / Travel REWE/UAB Palink Compagnie de Saint Gobain-Maxit
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 |