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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-11-17Midday 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 Communicationb17/11/08[01] Consumers: European Commission hosts first high level EU-China-US product safety summitEU Consumer Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, the US Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Nancy Nord, and the Chinese vice-Minister of AQSIQ, Wei Chuanzhong, met today in Brussels for the first high-level trilateral summit on product safety. The high level meeting is intended to send a strong political signal of the determination of all sides to keep product safety at the top of the international political agenda, recognising that open markets can only be built on strong and secure management of global product supply chains. The tripartite meeting will step up EU- China - US co-operation. First, a revised Memorandum of Understanding strengthening bilateral co-operation between the EU and China to enforce product safety standards and strengthen cooperation and exchange of information on food safety will be signed by Commissioner Kuneva, Commissioner Vassiliou and vice-Minister Wei prior to the high level meeting. Then, trilateral priority areas for action will be agreed and set out in the joint press statement, including on product traceability, co- operation by all three parties on toy safety standards, expertise exchange and joint enforcement actions. Finally, discussions will focus on action to strengthen information exchange between the partners on alerts and recalls – in particular using new US product safety legislation which will allow more open information exchange on product recalls and dangerous products. Today's activities are part of a broader Product Safety Week, which is being hosted by the Commission from 17-21 November.[02] Conférence de clôture de l’Année européenne du dialogue interculturel: de nouvelles perspectives pour le dialogue interculturel en EuropePlus de 600 participants venant des quatre coins de l’Europe ou d’au- delà sont attendus aujourd'hui à Paris pour dresser le bilan de l'Année européenne du dialogue interculturel de 2008, au cours d'une conférence de clôture intitulée «Nouvelles perspectives du dialogue interculturel en Europe». Par la mise en lumière, le développement et la promotion, tout au long de l’année, de centaines d’activités et de projets, la campagne de communication a sensibilisé l’opinion publique européenne à l’importance et aux bénéfices du dialogue interculturel. Partant de cette expérience, l'objectif du colloque est d’envisager l’avenir de l’Europe sous l’angle de la diversité culturelle.[03] Telecoms: Commission requests more market data before concluding on draft regulatory measures in the Slovenian mobile marketIn a letter dated 13 November 2008 the Commission has informed the Slovenian telecom watchdog, APEK, that at this stage it has serious doubts as to the finding of joint dominance in the Slovenian mobile access and call origination market. During the following two months the Commission will call for and assess further market data from APEK and market players.[04] Commission recommends the negotiation of Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements with Cape VerdeToday the Commission recommended that the Council open negotiations on agreements to facilitate the issuance of short-stay visas and on readmission between the European Community and Cape Verde.[05] European Commissioner Louis Michel reaffirms commitment to people of ZimbabweEuropean Commissioner Louis Michel has underlined Europe’s commitment to helping the people of Zimbabwe during talks with Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai at this year’s European Development Days in Strasbourg, France.[06] Euro area external trade deficit € 5.6 billionThe first estimate for the euro area (EA15) trade balance with the rest of the world in September 2008 gave a € 5.6 billion euro deficit, compared with +€ 2.9 billion in September 2007. The August 2008 balance was € - 9.4 billion, compared with €+1.1 billion in August 2007. In September 2008 compared with August 2008, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 2.2% and imports by 2.1%. The first estimate for the September 2008 extra-EU271 trade balance was a deficit of € 23.0 billion, compared with € -16.6 billion in September 2007. In August 2008, the balance was € -27.5 billion, compared with € -16.6 billion in August 2007. In September 2008 compared with August 2008, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.7% and imports by 0.2%. These data are released by Eurostat.[07] CAP Health Check: Commission calls for a bold agreement for the good of Europe's farmersStatement by Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel before the decisive negotiations on the CAP Health Check, which begin on Wednesday: "This week's Agriculture Council is a key moment in the development of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Health Check is designed to help farmers meet the challenges they face now. We cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away. We all have to come to Brussels willing to compromise. But we also need to be bold. Our proposals aim to further modernise, simplify and streamline the CAP and remove remaining restrictions on farmers to help them respond to market signals. We need to free our farmers to follow their business instincts, whilst continuing to provide them with support from the public purse. There are a number of issues which remain open as we enter the final round of talks. We propose to shift more money into Rural Development by further reducing direct payments to farmers above a €5,000 threshold. This is crucial if we are to equip our farmers to face the new challenges of the 21st century – like climate change, water management, the protection of biodiversity and the development of bioenergy. And it will also play a key role in helping sectors which face a difficult period of adjustment, such as dairy farmers in mountain regions. Milk quotas are set to go in 2015, but we must give the dairy sector a soft landing through a sensible increase in quotas between now and then. We need to give farmers the maximum flexibility by phasing out most of the remaining production- linked payments. Of course we understand the need to maintain coupled payments in certain circumstances and that is reflected in our proposals for sheep, goat and suckler cow payments. The need for tailor-made solutions for certain sectors is the driving force behind our proposal to allow Member States to top slice up to 10 percent of their direct payments and transfer this money into crisis management measures and programmes to help farmers in disadvantaged regions. Finally, we need to return the intervention mechanism to its original purpose as a genuine safety net. I realise that every minister will have his or her own priorities. We all have our shopping lists, but I believe that we are all in the same shop. We need to find a workable compromise which everyone can live with. But we need to remain faithful to the principles of the Health Check. I believe a very good deal is within reach. I will do all I can to make sure we achieve it."[08] Second EUROMED Ministerial Conference On Health - EUROMED Countries Together For Health (Egypt, 17 November 2008)Today, EU Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou participates in the meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Ministers of Health in Cairo. Under the French and Egyptian co-presidencies of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, the aim of the meeting is to discuss common health issues and cooperation in the region. Ministers will underline the important contribution that health cooperation can play in helping to achieve peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region. "The Commission, stands ready to play a pivotal role to ensure that health remains at the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean agenda for today and for future generations" said Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou.Rediffusion [09] Le Grand Prix Natali 2008 a été décerné au journaliste béninois Larisse HOUSSOU pour un article sur le DarfourA l'occasion de la Cérémonie de Remise des Prix, organisée pendant les Journées européennes du Développement à Strasbourg, 17 lauréats du Monde entier ont reçu un Prix Natali parmi plus de 1500 candidats issus de plus de 150 pays. 5 Premier Prix Régionaux, un Grand Prix et un Prix Spécial TV et Radio ont été remis. Le Grand Prix Natali a été décerné à Larisse Houssou pour son article sur le Darfour: "Dressés pour tuer...".[10] Accounting: European Securities Committee votes to grant "equivalence" in relation to third country GAAPsEuropean Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has warmly welcomed the positive opinion of Member States in support of Commission proposals for granting equivalence to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAPs) of certain third countries as from next year. The vote, by the European Securities Committee today, follows a favourable resolution of the European Parliament. The proposals will now pass to Parliament and Council for formal opinions and then to the Commission for adoption.[11] Bluefin tuna : statement by Joe Borg on upcoming ICCAT meeting"The meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which opens next week in Marrakesh will really be make-or-break for the historic Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock. Scientists tell us that the situation is extremely serious. Our action must be equal to that situation. After two years of implementation of the bluefin tuna recovery plan, it is clear that far more rigorous measures and stronger application of the rules are needed. We cannot let things just go on as they are. The status quo is not an option. We need to accelerate the implementation of the plan, and we need to strengthen those measures which do not go far enough in their present form to do the job.(...)"[12] Autre matériel diffusé• Memo on Questions and Answers: International Product Safety Week and international cooperation on product safety• Memo on Consumer Product Safety – a Common Objective • Memo on European Year of Intercultural Dialogue: Activities and results at European level – 10 questions and answers • Memo on Preparation Agriculture/Fisheries Council of November 2008 • Speech by Commisioner Borg on the Reform of the Control System of EU fisheries, Brussels • Speech by Vice-President Wallström 'Ireland's future in the European Union', Dublin • Speech by Commissioner Kuneva 'High level EU-China-US Trilateral Summit on Product Safety', Brussels • Discours de la commissaire Reding 'La bibliothèque numérique européenne: du rêve à la réalité', Avignon • Speech by Commissioner McCreevy 'The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)', Frankfurt • Speech by Commissioner McCreevy 'Prudential Supervision in an Integrated Market', Frankfurt A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Danfoss/VKR Holding/JV Santander / LASG / DCS Iberia/Vueling/Clickair Sofinco/Banco Popolare/Agos/Ducato Schaeffler/Continental
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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