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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-09-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] September 2008: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area continues
to decline in September
[02] September 2008: Economic sentiment continues to decline in both the EU
and the euro area
[03] Commission consults on how to put Europe into the lead of the
transition to Web 3.0
[04] Impressive Turnout for the European Job Days in the Commission
headquarters
[05] Summit puts equality at heart of EU social agenda
[06] Commission adopts multi-annual planning of financial assistance to the
Western Balkans and Turkey
[07] La recherche dans le domaine de la sécurité pour un monde plus sûr
[08] Signature d'un accord sur l'aviation civile au sommet UE-Inde
[09] La Commission approuve un nouveau programme pour supprimer les
obstacles électroniques
[10] EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez POTOÄŒNIK hails the
European Research Establishments in Aeronautics signature of the European
Charter for Researchers
[11] Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou tackles obesity through
football and healthy food
[12] Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou expresses full support of the
objectives of the World Heart Federation
[13] Commission clears acquisition of Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden Hotel by MSREF
[14] Commission clears acquisition of DeTe Immobilien by Strabag
[15] Joe Borg welcomes continued progress in NAFO to protect the marine
environment
[16] Member States endorse Commission proposals to reduce electricity
consumption
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-09-29
Reference: MEX/08/0929
Date: 29/09/2008
EXME08 / 29.09
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
29/09/08
[01] September 2008: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area continues
to decline in September
The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area decreased
significantly to values last observed in 2003. The low level of the
indicator suggests that industrial activity remains subdued. Four out of
five underlying components of the BCI declined. The decline was fairly
sharp for managers' assessment of production trend observed in recent
months, total order books and export order books; while their assessment of
stocks of finished products worsened only slightly and production
expectations remained unchanged.
[02] September 2008: Economic sentiment continues to decline in both the EU
and the euro area
In September, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) fell by 1.5 points in
the EU and by 0.8 points in the euro area, to 85.2 and 87.7 respectively.
In the EU, the ESI reached its lowest level since December 1993, while for
the euro area it approached its 2001 trough.
[03] Commission consults on how to put Europe into the lead of the
transition to Web 3.0
Europe could take the lead in the next generation of the Internet. The
European Commission today outlined the main steps that Europe has to take
to respond to the next wave of the Information Revolution that will
intensify in the coming years due to trends such as social networking, the
decisive shift to on-line business services, nomadic services based on GPS
and mobile TV and the growth of smart tags. The report shows that Europe is
well placed to exploit these trends because of its policies to support open
and pro-competitive telecom networks as well as privacy and security. A
public consultation has been launched today by the Commission on the policy
and private sector responses to these opportunities. The Commission report
also unveils a new Broadband Performance Index (BPI) that compares national
performance on key measures such as broadband speed, price, competition and
coverage. Sweden and the Netherlands top this European broadband league,
which complements the more traditional broadband penetration index used so
far by telecoms regulators.
[04] Impressive Turnout for the European Job Days in the Commission
headquarters
The European Job Days are taking place simultaneously in September and in
October all over Europe. Jobseekers and employers have the possibility to
visit over 500 diverse events, ranging from recruitment fairs to seminars
and lectures on job mobility. The flagship event in Brussels, which took
place at the European Commission headquarters on Saturday 27th September
attracted close to 10,000 jobseekers and 60 employers.
[05] Summit puts equality at heart of EU social agenda
400 high-ranking delegates will today discuss the next steps in the EU's
strategy to tackle discrimination at the second annual European Equality
Summit in Paris. A key element of the discussions will be the European
Commission's proposal from July 2008 to extend existing EU protection from
discrimination to areas like access to goods and services, education and
healthcare. Equality ministers and stakeholders – NGOs, social partners,
companies and independent equality bodies from around Europe – will be
able to give their views on the proposal, and also follow up on the
commitments made by EU countries as part of the European Year of Equal
Opportunities for All in 2007.
[06] Commission adopts multi-annual planning of financial assistance to the
Western Balkans and Turkey
The Commission has completed today the strategic planning of EU financial
support for 2008-2010 to the candidate countries and potential candidates:
Croatia, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo. This financial assistance
aims to enhance political and economic reform and development to realise
their European perspective. For 2008-2010, the overall indicative amount of
EU financial assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance
(IPA) is €4.471 billion.
[07] La recherche dans le domaine de la sécurité pour un monde plus sûr
Rendre l’Europe plus sûre pour ses citoyens tout en préservant les
droits civiques et les libertés, tel est l’objectif de la recherche
européenne sur la sécurité. Grâce à la coopération et à la
coordination des efforts au niveau européen, l’Union est mieux à même
de comprendre les risques présents dans un monde en constante évolution
et d’y répondre tout en améliorant sa compétitivité. Des solutions
technologiques novatrices telles que les systèmes avancés de
vidéosurveillance dans les stades publics facilitent la tâche des
autorités de sécurité. Il s’agit d’un nouveau projet de recherche
mené en commun par les administrations en charge de la sécurité de 23
pays européens et une agence des Nations unies. Ce projet vise à tirer
parti de l’expérience de chacun, à éviter les activités redondantes et
à obtenir une masse critique de ressources. Le réseau de recherche,
baptisé EU-SEC II, est financé par la Commission européenne au titre du
7e programme-cadre pour la recherche. Cette action concrète parmi beaucoup
d’autres est présentée aujourd’hui à la troisième conférence
européenne de recherche en sécurité.
[08] Signature d'un accord sur l'aviation civile au sommet UE-Inde
Au sommet UE-Inde organisé aujourd'hui à Marseille, il a été
signé un accord horizontal dans le domaine de l'aviation, qui rétablira
la sécurité juridique des accords bilatéraux sur les services aériens
conclus entre l'Inde et des États membres de l'UE et développera les
relations UE-Inde en la matière.
[09] La Commission approuve un nouveau programme pour supprimer les
obstacles électroniques
La Commission a approuvé aujourd’hui une proposition de décision du
Parlement européen et du Conseil relative à un nouveau programme
concernant des solutions d’interopérabilité pour les administrations
publiques européennes (ISA), qui couvrira la période 2010-2015.
[10] EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez POTOÄŒNIK hails the
European Research Establishments in Aeronautics signature of the European
Charter for Researchers
In the presence of Commissioner POTOÄŒNIK, the 12 members and associate
members of the EREA signed today a statement of support to the European
Charter and Code of Conduct for Researchers. EREA gave their backing to the
European Commission's Recommendation, which aims to create an
internationally competitive labour market where motivated, highly skilled
researchers can work in a supportive research environment. The European
Charter for Researchers addresses the roles, responsibilities and
entitlements of researchers and their employers. It aims to ensure that the
relationship between these parties contributes to successful performance in
the generation, transfer and sharing of knowledge, and to the career
development of researchers. As for the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment
of Researchers, its aim is to improve recruitment, to make selection
procedures fairer and more transparent. Link to the Charter and Code: <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index_en.cfm?l1=0&l2=3">http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index_en.cfm?l1=0&l2=3
For more information, click on the following link to the "News alert" of
our Research website: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2008&na=na-
290908">http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2008&na=na-
290908
[11] Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou tackles obesity through
football and healthy food
The European Commission joins forces with the Union of European Football
Associations (UEFA) and the World heart Federation today to publish a
cookbook with recipes by 12 famous football players. The aim of the 'Eat
for Goals' cookbook is to raise awareness about healthy eating and
encourage children and their families to adopt active lifestyles. ThisÂ
UEFA activity builds on previous cooperation with the Commission on
nutrition and physical activity, including TV spots promoting physical
activity which were shown during last year's UEFA championship. For more
information: <a href="http://www.uefa.com/uefa/e4g.html">http://www.uefa.com/uefa/e4g.html
<a href="http://www.mueva.eu/projects/eatingforgoals/9-24/cover3Dbig-
E.jpg">http://www.mueva.eu/projects/eatingforgoals/9-24/cover3Dbig-E.jpg
[12] Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou expresses full support of the
objectives of the World Heart Federation
European Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou expressed her full
support of the objectives of the World Heart Federation's World Heart Day.
It is important to stress that the majority of cases are preventable
through healthier lifestyles. Reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease
in Europe is therefore possible. A major step forward would be increased
awareness of factors associated with cardiovascular health such as avoiding
the use of tobacco, taking adequate physical exercise, choosing healthy
food, and not getting overweight. Commissioner Vassiliou said "it is very
important to stress that the majority of these cases could be prevented if
people followed better and healthier lifestyles". And that is why the
European Commission has invested a great deal of effort in addressing the
problem over the past years, through actions, including awareness raising,
focused on major determinants of CVD, such as tobacco, nutrition and
physical activity, alcohol, and psychosocial stress. Indeed, a very high
proportion of CVD is potentially preventable through action on these areas
which are common determinants not only for cardiovascular disease but for
many other chronic diseases. Cardiovascular diseases represent the single
most important cause of death in the EU (over 2 million deaths per year,
42% of all deaths in the EU). The main forms of CVD are coronary heart
disease (CHD) and stroke. Cardiovascular diseases are also associated with
social conditions, and differences in cardiovascular disease rates are the
biggest single cause of health inequalities both between and within
countries.
[13] Commission clears acquisition of Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden Hotel by MSREF
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of seven InterContinental-
branded hotels located in the European Union (Portfolio Hotels) by Morgan
Stanley Real Estate Fund VI International-GP LLC (MSREF) of the USA,
controlled by Morgan Stanley of the USA and InterContinental Hotels Group,
plc (IHG) of the United Kingdom. MSREF acquires the whole of one Crowne
Plaza branded hotel business (Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden Hotel) of Germany.
MSREF is active in real estate investment and management. IHG provides
ownership, management and franchising of hotels on a world-wide basis. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[14] Commission clears acquisition of DeTe Immobilien by Strabag
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of DeTe Immobilien Deutsche
Telekom Immobilien und Service GmbH DeTe Immobilien) of Germany by Strabag
SE of Austria. Strabag is globally active in all sectors of the building
and construction industry, especially structural and civil engineering and
road construction. DeTe Immobilien is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG
and provides different services in connection with real estate management.
The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
Rediffusion
[15] Joe Borg welcomes continued progress in NAFO to protect the marine
environment
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg has
welcomed the continued progress made by the North West Atlantic Fisheries
Organisation (NAFO) on the conservation of the marine environment at its
30th Annual Meeting held in Vigo, Spain, this week. The Commissioner
underlined the advances that NAFO's decisions will make to meeting the
ambitious targets set by the United Nations General Assembly in December
2006 regarding the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.
[16] Member States endorse Commission proposals to reduce electricity
consumption
Today at the meeting of the Ecodesign Regulatory Committee EU Member States
endorsed the European Commission's proposals for two regulations aimed at
reducing the electricity consumption in Europe. The first one targets
office, industrial and street lighting products while the second affects
the devices that convert digital TV signals to analogue signals, known as
simple set-top boxes for televisions. "These measures are concrete
contributions to reach the EU's energy efficiency targets. Once they are in
place they will significantly reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions and
foreign dependency in a cost effective manner", said Energy Commissioner
Andris Piebalgs.
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo 'McCreevy announces major initiatives on accounting rules for
small businesses'
• Speech by Commissioner Mandelson 'The challenge of raw materials',
Brussels
• Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner 'International Conflict
Resolution: Why it matters for Business How the EU deals with Global
Challenges?', New-York
• Speech by Commissioner Hübner 'Equity and Efficiency: two missions and
one policy', Porto
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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