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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-05-05Midday 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 Communicationb05/05/08[01] Presidents of Commission, Council and Parliament discuss climate change and reconciliation with European faith leadersOn the initiative of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, an informal dialogue took place on 5 May in the headquarters of the European Commission, bringing together around twenty high-level representatives of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in Europe. The meeting was co-chaired by European Commission President Barroso, Slovenian Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering. This year's meeting focused on two major challenges facing the European Union: Climate Change and Reconciliation.[02] Commissioners host meeting to boost energy co-operation with Mashreq countries, Iraq and TurkeyEuropean Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, meet representatives of the Mashreq countries, Iraq and Turkey on 5 May in Brussels to discuss improving energy security in the region and in the EU, in particular by deepening co-operation on natural gas. The meeting will be attended by the Minister of Petroleum of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Famy, and the Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources of the Arab Syrian Republic, Sufian Al-Alao, the Deputy Minister and Chairman of Egyptian Natural Gas Company, Eng Mahmoud Latif, as well as senior officials from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The meeting will support finalisation of the Arab Gas Pipeline, and promote its role as a future supplier of the Nabucco project. It will also encourage the full participation of Iraq in regional energy activities, including as a partner in the Arab Gas Pipeline.[03] EU has a key role in fostering social success"The EU has a significant role to play in fostering social success" is the message set forth by Vladimír pidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities at the two-day conference on 'Responding to new social realities' taking place in Brussels today. The event, bringing together all EU and national players, sets the stage for a new Communication on the EU Agenda for Opportunities, Access and Solidarity, planned for June 2008.[04] Commissioner Kuneva visits LEGO facilities to exchange ideas on toy safetyEuropean Commissioner for Consumers Meglena Kuneva today visited the LEGO toy company in Billund (Denmark), to discuss the important role of industry in ensuring toy safety. The visit comes in the run-up to the conclusion of a voluntary agreement, in which the European toy industry will engage in a common mission to spread best safety practices. The CEO of LEGO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Commissioner Kuneva discussed the company's approach to ensuring consumer safety and confidence, and exchanged ideas on how best practice can be promoted around Europe and in third countries. The visit comes on the heels of the publication of the 2007 report on the Rapid Alert System for non-food products (RAPEX), which revealed toys to be the most notified product last year (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/597&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/08/597).[05] Commissioner Piebalgs and Minister Khristenko discuss EU-Russia Energy CooperationEuropean Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs met the Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Victor Khristenko in Moscow at an official dinner organized by the latter yesterday to discuss EU-Russia Energy Cooperation. Ahead of the G8 Energy Ministers Meeting on 8th June in Aomori in Japan and also ahead of the EU-Russia Summit that will take place on 26 June in Khanty Mansiysk in Russia, they assessed the Russia-EU issues of common interest and prospects of enhanced cooperation in the field of energy.[06] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of a controlling shareholding in Aker Yards by STXThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of control of the Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Yards by STX of South Korea. After an in-depth investigation, launched in December 2007 (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1979&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/07/1979), the Commission concluded that effective competition on the shipbuilding markets would not be significantly impeded as a result of the proposed transaction.[07] Sûreté aérienne: pas de nouvelles contraintes de la Commission européenne pour la taille des bagages de cabineUn règlement qui entre en vigueur aujourd’hui annule des dispositions qui devaient limiter au niveau européen la taille des bagages de cabine lors de voyages en avion. En octobre 2006, des experts en sûreté avaient conseillé la Commission européenne de limiter 56 × 45 × 25 cm la taille autorisée des bagages de cabine pour toute l’UE. Mais l’application de cette mesure a été retardée dans l’attente d’études et d’analyses approfondies commandées par la Commission. Celle-ci, qui souhaite concentrer ses efforts sur les mesures de sûreté les plus efficaces, a conclu que la mesure était d’une utilité trop limitée compte tenu des coûts et de la gêne qu’elle entraîne pour les passagers.[08] Science and research Commissioner Janez Potočnik visits Albania on 5 and 6 MayCommissioner Potočnik’s first state visit to Albania follows less than 5 months after Albania's decision to join the European Community’s Seventh Framework for Research (FP7) from 1 January 2008. This allows Albanian Researchers to collaborate with scientists and engineers across the EU Member States and the other Balkan countries on an equal footing. This visit is part of a tour to all Balkan countries to discuss with the authorities the importance of research and cooperation with the European Union. In Tirana Commissioner Potočnik will meet the President, the Prime Minister and the Albanian Minister of Education and Science. He will also speak on 6 May to 100 scientists, engineers, researchers and policy makers at an Information Day on FP7 organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science.Rediffusion [09] La Commission européenne condamne l'assassinat du Chef de mission de Save the Children UK au TchadLe Commissaire Louis Michel en charge du développement et de l’aide humanitaire a appris avec une profonde tristesse l’assassinat de Pascal Marlinge, Chef de Mission de l'ONG Save the Children UK, qui a eu lieu le 1er mai sur la route de Farchana/Adre dans l’est du Tchad.[10] Autre matériel diffusé• Memo on Presidents of Commission, Council and Parliament will discuss climate change and reconciliation with European faith leaders on 5 May 2008 - Participants' list• Memo on Questions and answers on the visit of Commissioner Kuneva to LEGO facilities • Speech by President Barroso “Europas Potenziale Nutzen” (Exploiting Europe’s Potential), Aachen • Speech by Commissioner "Rehn Europe's smart power in its region and the world", Oxford • Speech du Commissaire pidla sur Un Agenda Social Renouvelé • Speech by Commissioner Fischer Boel "Agriculture and the food industry in the New Member States: have we taken the opportunity?", Warsaw • Speech by Commissioner McCreevy "The EU and the East", Co. Clare • Closing remarks by Commissioner Fischer Boel at the conference "Agriculture and food industry – four years after EU enlargement" at the Warsaw School of Economics - EMBARGO 13h00 - A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : EMC/Iomega Boeing / Alenia NA / GA Vienna Insurance Group/EBV ArcelorMittal/ Borusan
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 |