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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-04-14
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commissioner Hübner in Belfast to launch new drive to boost growth
and jobs in Northern Ireland
[02] Environnement: la Commission se félicite de l'adoption définitive de
la directive «Qualité de l’air»
[03] Industrial production up by 0.3% in euro area
[04] Search is on for most entrepreneurial region
[05] Dutch EU officials debate Europe with Dutch students at their former
schools
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-04-14
Reference: MEX/08/0414
Date: 14/04/2008
EXME08 / 14.04
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
14/04/08
[01] Commissioner Hübner in Belfast to launch new drive to boost growth
and jobs in Northern Ireland
Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, visits Belfast
today to launch new investment programmes for Northern Ireland with Ian
Paisley, Northern Ireland's First Minister, Brian Cowen, Prime Minister
designate of Ireland, Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister of Northern
Ireland and Peter Robinson, Minister for the Northern Ireland Department of
Finance. And the Commissioner will formally present the Commission's
Northern Ireland Task Force's report on the region. This sets out a wide
range of opportunities for Northern Ireland to tap into EU programmes and
resources to help consolidate peace and stability, as well as its economic
upturn.
[02] Environnement: la Commission se félicite de l'adoption définitive de
la directive «Qualité de l’air»
La Commission européenne se félicite de l'adoption de la directive
concernant la qualité de l'air ambiant et un air pur pour l'Europe. Cette
directive s'inspire rigoureusement de la proposition de la Commission de
septembre 2005 et témoigne de la ferme détermination de l'Union
européenne à améliorer la qualité de l'air en fixant des normes
contraignantes pour les particules fines PM2.5
[03] Industrial production up by 0.3% in euro area
In February 2008 compared with January 2008, seasonally adjusted industrial
production grew by 0.3% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.5% in the EU27. In
January production rose by 0.6% and 0.7% respectively. In February 2008
compared with February 2007, industrial production rose by 3.1% in the euro
area and by 3.3% in the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat.
[04] Search is on for most entrepreneurial region
The search for the most entrepreneurial region in the EU is on again. The
European Commission has just launched the 2008 European Enterprise Awards
(EEA). The EEA are rewarding excellence in enterprise and entrepreneurship
promotion especially at regional level. Participation is open to national,
regional or local authorities, or public-private partnerships, from
anywhere in the EU and Norway. There are five categories: 1.
Entrepreneurship promotion: initiatives encouraging an entrepreneurial
mindset; 2. Red-tape reduction: measures to simplify administrative
procedures for businesses, particularly Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
(SMEs); 3. Enterprise development: innovative policies to promote
enterprise; 4. Investment in skills: initiatives to improve entrepreneurial
skills; and 5. Responsible and inclusive entrepreneurship: actions
promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainable business
practices. There are two selection stages; only by completing initial
selection at national level can entrants be considered for the European
Awards to be finalised by November 2008. A high profile jury will select
the final winners, to be announced at a ceremony in May 2009 in Prague in
cooperation with the Czech Presidency. The national competitions are being
launched this week and each country is free in how it organizes the
selection at national level. Regions which are interested in joining this
competition can obtain more information via the following link.
More information: <a href="http://www.european-enterprise-awards.org">www.european-
enterprise-awards.org
[05] Dutch EU officials debate Europe with Dutch students at their former
schools
On April 14th, more than 350 Dutch EU employees and politicians will visit
their former secondary school (age 12-18) in the Netherlands. They will
offer guest lessons and enter into talks with current pupils to discuss
their work and their involvement in Europe. State Secretary Frans
Timmermans (European Affairs) will visit his former school, the Bernardinus
College in Heerlen, and the SG Zuidwest in The Hague. The project "EU back
to school" is an initiative of the Representation of the European
Commission in the Netherlands and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, as well as
the Dutch General Governing Board Service. The practical organisation is
carried out with the assistance of the Dutch European Platform and the
Council for Secondary Education. For more information: Gemma Buters, press
officer of the Representation of the European Commission in The Hague.
Tel.: +31 70 3135300, mobile +31 6 51210424, e-mail: <a href="mailto:gemma.buters@ec.europa.eu">gemma.buters@ec.europa.eu
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on United Kingdom: Operational programme 2007-2013 "Northern-
Ireland"
A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315):
Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :
Arrow Electronics/Logix
Solvay/ Sibur/ JV
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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