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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-10-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Déclaration conjointe de la présidence du Conseil ECOFIN et de la
Commission européenne sur l'attribution d'une assistance financière de
moyen terme à la Hongrie
[02] Journée de la Birmanie/Myanmar: société civile et perspectives
d'avenir
[03] Fruit and Vegetable marketing standards: Commission puts the record
straight
[04] Commission authorises the use of GM LLCotton25
[05] Commission to propose additional funding of approximately 100 million
euros in 2009 to help Member States tackle Bluetongue
[06] Fisheries Council: Member States agree on fishing opportunities
Midday Express of 2008-10-29
Reference: MEX/08/1029
Date: 29/10/2008
EXME08 / 29.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
29/10/08
[01] Déclaration conjointe de la présidence du Conseil ECOFIN et de la
Commission européenne sur l'attribution d'une assistance financière de
moyen terme à la Hongrie
Compte tenu des effets négatifs de la crise financière mondiale sur la
situation économique et financière de la Hongrie, la présidence du
Conseil de l'Union européenne et la Commission ont exprimé, le 13 octobre
dernier, l’engagement de l'Union européenne à utiliser tous les
instruments dont elle dispose afin d'aider la Hongrie à faire face aux
pressions du marché qui se sont récemment faites jour, en dépit des
politiques macroéconomiques et financières menées par les autorités au
cours des dernières années, notamment une réduction significative du
déficit budgétaire depuis mi-2006.
[02] Journée de la Birmanie/Myanmar: société civile et perspectives
d'avenir
Le 29 octobre, la Commission européenne accueillera à Bruxelles une
conférence intitulée «Birmanie/Myanmar – Perspectives d'avenir».
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, commissaire chargée des relations extérieures et
de la politique de voisinage, a pris l'initiative d'inviter ONG, groupes de
défense, organisations internationales et groupes de réflexion actifs en
Birmanie/Myanmar et en Europe pour analyser la situation actuelle dans ce
pays et réfléchir à son avenir. Cette conférence permettra également de
se pencher de plus près sur le rôle de la société civile.
[03] Fruit and Vegetable marketing standards: Commission puts the record
straight
The Commission has learned that a major British retailer has launched a
campaign against what it calls "bonkers" EU fruit and vegetables
regulations. The Commission wants to underline that it is already getting
rid of these marketing standards for fruit & vegetables (F&V). A vote will
probably take place on November 12 in the Management Committee. This will
repeal EU marketing standards for 26 types of F&V. Marketing standards will
remain for 10 types of F&V. However, even for these 10, shops would be
allowed to sell products which do not meet the marketing standards as long
as they are labelled appropriately. The new rules will come into force on
July 1 2009. The Commission believes that this should not be regulated at
EU level.
[04] Commission authorises the use of GM LLCotton25
The European Commission adopted today a Decision authorising the use of
genetically modified (GM) LLCotton25 in food and feed. The decision has
been adopted following an application submitted by Germany's Bayer
CropScience AG and a favourable scientific assessment by the European Food
Safety Authority (EFSA), which addressed all safety concerns. The
assessment concluded that there is no risk to human or animal health or to
the environment. The Commission's proposal on GM LLCotton25 was first
submitted to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health
(SCoFCAH), but there the Member States did not achieve qualified majority,
either for or against the proposal. As the procedure provides for, the
Commission referred the issue to the Council, which had three months to
act. Consequently, the proposal was considered by the Agricultural and
Fisheries Council and the result of the vote there was similar to that at
SCoFCAH – there was no qualified majority either for or against. In short,
the Council neither adopted nor indicated its opposition to the proposed
measure. Following the procedure provided by EU law, the Commission adopted
today the Decision, which authorises the placing on the market of food and
feed containing, consisting of, or produced from, GM LLCotton25. For more
information, see: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/index_en.htm
[05] Commission to propose additional funding of approximately 100 million
euros in 2009 to help Member States tackle Bluetongue
The European Commission today announced its intention to propose in early
2009 additional funding of approximately €100 million in order to co-
finance the administration of vaccines to control Bluetongue disease in
2009. Subject to the assessment of actual needs and absorption capacity,
this commitment, made in an amending letter to the 2009 budget adopted
today, would raise the total amount likely to be allocated to assist
vaccination efforts in 2009 up to €160 million. Prior to today's decision,
the Commission had already proposed in the preliminary draft budget 2009 to
allocate €60 million to co-finance the purchase of vaccines and
surveillance of the insects which carry the disease. The Commission's total
funding during the period 2008-2009 is expected to exceed €300 million.
European Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou said: "Bluetongue has
been causing serious concern to farmers and Member State authorities. It
now affects large parts of the EU. Extensive vaccination will contain the
disease and reduce its prevalence and its effects. I am pleased that we
have been able to make this political commitment today. The total funding,
which is expected to exceed €300 million, indicates the Commission's
strong determination to decisively support Member State efforts to combat
Bluetongue." The amending letter to the 2009 budget is now being forwarded
to the European Parliament and the Council. The agreement of both
institutions will be necessary in order to release the funds. The
additional funding will assist Member States by financing up to 50% of the
costs incurred by them in administering the Bluetongue vaccine.
Rediffusion
[06] Fisheries Council: Member States agree on fishing opportunities
The Commission welcomes the outcome of yesterday's Fisheries Council. Joe
Borg, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said: "Discussions
were very constructive and we managed to secure agreements on some
important issues that will help us to move ahead with the European agenda
for sustainable fisheries for the future". An agreement was obtained on
Baltic TACs (Total Allowable Catches) and quotas, which builds further on
the Recovery Plan adopted in June 2007. For western herring, the
Commission's proposal recommended a 63% reduction in the TAC in line with
scientific advice, but the Council agreed to a 39% reduction. The
Commission accepted this as a first step, as the Council decision is
coupled with a commitment to establish a long-term management plan for this
stock. As for the two Baltic cod stocks, the Council agreed to a 15%
reduction in the TAC for the western stock and a 15% increase for the
eastern stock. The Council also endorsed the Commission's proposal to
reduce effort in the eastern Baltic by 10%. On deep-sea species, the
Commission managed to secure a meaningful agreement which will considerably
reduce fishing pressure on these vulnerable stocks, while at the same time
trying to keep discards to an absolute minimum. In this vein the Council
agreed to reduce the TAC for deep-sea sharks to zero by 2010, while
providing for a 10% allowance to cover inevitable by-catches and thus avoid
discards. Furthermore, the Council succeeded in agreeing to a 15% reduction
in the TACs for roundnose grenadier and for orange roughy a 50% reduction
for 2009 and a zero TACs for 2010. It also decided to lower the TACs for
black scabbard fish by 10% for 2009 and 7% for 2010. On TACs for the Black
Sea, the Council reached agreement in line with the Commission's original
proposal. As regards the annual negotiations with Norway, there was a very
useful exchange of views which will help the Commission greatly to focus
its priorities as negotiations get underway in November. Finally, the
Commission Borg was pleased to announce that Member States adopted a very
bold position for the upcoming ICCAT annual meeting, in particular on
bluefin tuna. Everybody realises that a lot is at stake, and that time is
running out to save the bluefin tuna stock from collapse. With this
position, the EU will be able to champion bold and decisive measures, in
particular, to resolve the issue of overcapacity, to reduce the length of
the fishing seasons, and to identify specific measures that can reinforce
control throughout the market chain. "The EU stands ready to take its
responsibilities and do all that is necessary in order to ensure that the
bluefin tuna fishery is sustainable, and we hope that all the members of
ICCAT will join us in making this exceptional effort at November's annual
meeting in Marrakesh, " declared Dr. Borg yesterday evening.
A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315):
Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :
Raiffeisen Informatik/PC-Ware
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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