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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-05-13Midday 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 Communicationb13/05/08[01] Brussels: Public debate on bridging inter-religious dividesThe role of active citizenship in bringing together people of different faiths will be discussed on Wednesday 14 May in the third Brussels Debate organised in the framework of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. The debate entitled “New horizons: active citizenship to bridge inter-religious divides" has been prepared by the European Commission in cooperation with the European Policy Centre. It will take place at 18:30 in the Residence Palace and will be opened by EU Commissioner Ján Figel'. Mario Mauro, Vice-President of the European Parliament, will wrap up the Debate.[02] Commission casts ICT in green roleAs part of its effort to combat climate change, the European Commission today announced that it would promote the use of ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) to improve energy efficiency throughout the economy, starting with buildings, lighting and the power grid. ICT can enable, across the economy, greener behaviour, which would massively cut Europe's carbon footprint if widely deployed. The Commission will encourage the ICT industry to demonstrate leadership in reducing its own CO2 emissions and by identifying and creating solutions that will benefit the whole economy. For instance the most advanced computer servers consume the same amount of energy as a standard light bulb; if widely used they could offer potential energy savings of up to 70%.[03] Auditing: Commission issues Recommendation to strengthen confidence in statutory audit (see MEMO/08/300)The European Commission has issued a Recommendation on "external quality assurance for statutory auditors and audit firms auditing public interest entities". It provides guidance to Member States for establishing an independent and effective system of inspections on the basis of the Directive on Statutory Audit. In essence, this Recommendation gives more responsibilities to the public oversight bodies, strengthens the independence of inspection teams and enhances transparency on the results of inspections of individual audit firms.[04] EU and US to issue first ever joint statement on open investmentEU and US warn on rising protectionist rhetoric - The EU and the US will use today's meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council to adopt and issue their first ever joint statement on investment. In the face of rising protectionist pressures, the world's two largest investors will assert the value of an open global investment climate. The Joint Statement sets out for the first time in a joint EU-US declaration the fundamental nature of these policies to their economic prosperity. It affirms the commitment of both parties to promoting open investment policies at home and abroad. The Statement sets out the line for further joint work and serves as a touchstone for future policies in this area.[05] Intérêt croissant des étudiants et des universités pour le programme ErasmusCréé en 1987, Erasmus, le programme phare de l’Union européenne dans le domaine de l’éducation et de la formation pour la mobilité et la coopération dans l’enseignement supérieur en Europe, continue à se développer. Erasmus est doté d’un budget d'environ 450 millions d’euros par an au titre du programme communautaire pour l’éducation et la formation tout au long de la vie 2007-2013. Les chiffres révèlent une progression du nombre de séjours à l’étranger de 3% pour les étudiants et de 10% pour les professeurs d’université en 2006-2007 par rapport à l’année académique précédente, ce qui représente un total de quelque 160 000 étudiants et 26 000 professeurs pour cette seule année. C’est dans les pays d’Europe centrale et orientale ainsi qu’en Turquie que l’augmentation du nombre de participants au programme est la plus marquée.[06] Figel' : lancement d’un projet décisif en faveur du patrimoine culturel dans les Balkans occidentauxLe «Processus de Ljubljana - Financement de la réhabilitation du patrimoine en Europe du sud-est» a été lancé aujourd’hui par le commissaire Ján Figel' dans la capitale slovène. Cette initiative commune de la Commission européenne et du Conseil de l’Europe financera un nombre important de projets en matière de patrimoine culturel dans les Balkans occidentaux et encouragera l’adoption de stratégies de financement durable pour ces projets. L’investissement global nécessaire pour les 26 «Projets consolidés» identifiés à ce jour dans la région est estimé à 50 millions d’euros environ.[07] An EU27 trade deficit of € 17 billion euro with the LAC countries in 2007Between 2000 and 2007, EU27 exports of goods to the 33 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries grew more slowly than imports: exports rose from € 59 billion to € 75 billion, while imports increased from € 54 billion to € 92 billion. As a result, the EU27 balance of trade with the LAC countries turned from a € 5 billion surplus in 2000 to a € 17 billion deficit in 2007. The LAC countries accounted for around 6% of the EU27's total external trade in goods in 2007. On the occasion of the fifth European Union - LAC summit, which will take place on Friday 16 May 2008 in Lima in Peru, Eurostat issues data on trade in goods and services between the 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries and the 27 Member States of the EU.[08] Global Biosafety Conference under way in BonnRepresentatives from the European Commission, national governments, civil society and business are meeting in Bonn, Germany, from 12 to 16 May 2008, for the fourth meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (MOP4). The meeting will review implementation of the Protocol, and take additional decisions to advance the process. The Cartagena Protocol, which has been in force since 2003, is an international convention designed to protect the environment from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms (GMOs). To date it has been ratified by 147 States. The Commission leads the EU in the main negotiations at MOP4. These focus on international rules on liability and redress for damage that may occur when GMOs are traded internationally. The EU adopted in 2004 the Environmental Liability Directive that obliges Member States to put in place national systems to effectively prevent and remedy damage to the environment. This Directive also applies to damages resulting from GMOs. The rules developed under the Protocol will require more countries to establish effective national liability systems.Rediffusion [09] Roadmap on visa free travel for all citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaEuropean Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot, in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, welcomed the transmission of the Roadmap on visa liberalisation to Foreign Minister Antonio Milošoski today in a meeting which took place in Brussels. The Roadmap gives clear indications to the candidate country's authorities on the measures that need to be taken in order to grant visa free travel to all its citizens in the near future.[10] Un rapport du Parlement européen salue le Livre blanc de la Commission sur le sportLe Parlement européen a salué aujourd’hui la première initiative globale de la Commission européenne dans le domaine du sport. Dans un rapport détaillé, il a soutenu l’approche de la Commission et la plupart des mesures prévues dans le Livre blanc sur le sport adopté en juillet 2007. Le rapport du Parlement contribuera à la mise en application du plan d’action «Pierre de Coubertin», qui accompagne le Livre blanc et ouvre la voie à de futures initiatives communautaires qui pourraient être basées sur les dispositions relatives au sport dans le Traité de Lisbonne, actuellement en cours de ratification par les États membres.[11] European Commission and West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) join efforts to tackle food crisis and boost regional integrationThe European Commission and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (Senegal, Benin, Togo, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast) agreed to increase their collaboration in a number of sectors, including initiatives that can have a positive impact in food prices and regional integration. President of the Commission of the UEMOA, Soulaïma Cissé, met yesterday and today the Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, and the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, to discuss concrete initiatives to strengthen economic and political cooperation between UEMOA and the European Commission. President Cissé also met EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, to discuss progress in the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and West Africa.[12] Autre matériel diffusé• Memo on Second TEC meeting to further strengthen EU/US economic integration• Memo on Antitrust: Commission closes investigation into transport of bulk liquids by sea • Memo on Preparation of Eurogroup and Economic and Finance Ministers Council, Brussels, 13 and 14 May 2008 • Memo on Conference on Counterfeiting and Piracy: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) • Memo on Commission Recommendation on external quality assurance for statutory auditors and audit firms auditing public interest entities: Frequently Asked Questions (see IP/08/734) • Memo on EU-US Open Investment Statement • Speech by Commissioner Kuneva 'Airline Ticket Sweep Investigation', Brussels • Speech by Commissioner McCreevy on 'Counterfeiting and Piracy', Brussels A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : News Corp/Premiere BAT / Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni
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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