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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 09-02-10
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Social Networking: Commission brokers agreement among major web
companies
[02] Spanish car workers to get help from EU Globalisation Fund
[03] COMMUNIQUE CONJOINT: Le Panama et la Commission européenne
s’accordent sur un programme de coopération de 18,5 millions d’euros
(25 millions de dollars)
[04] GALILEO: la Commission européenne et l'Agence spatiale européenne se
félicitent d'une coopération exemplaire pour l'aboutissement du projet
européen de radionavigation par satellite
[05] Marco Polo: third call for proposals to fight road congestion and
improve performance of freight transport
[06] Commission rewards Europe’s most pioneering Sustainable Energy
Projects
[07] 400 cities commit to go beyond the 20% EU's energy objectives through
the Commission's led Covenant of Mayors
[08] Commissioner for Health, Ms Androulla Vassiliou meets Dr Hatem El-
Gabali, Minister of Health and Population of Egypt
[09] On 11 February 2009 Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will participate in the EU-
Russia Foreign Ministers’ Troika in Moscow.
[10] Commission decision on Austrian safeguard clauses regarding maize
MON810 and T25
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2009-02-10
Reference: MEX/09/0210
Date: 10/02/2009
EXME09 / 10.02
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
10/02/09
[01] Social Networking: Commission brokers agreement among major web
companies
17 leading web firms have signed for the first time a European agreement to
improve the safety of under 18s who use social networking sites. These
include Arto, Bebo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Giovani.it, Google/YouTube,
Hyves, Microsoft Europe, Myspace, Nasza-klaza.pl, Netlog, One.lt, Skyrock,
StudiVZ, Sulake/Habbo Hotel, Yahoo!Europe, and Zap.lu. Social networking
sites are an emerging social and economic phenomenon, attracting 41.7
million regular users in Europe and changing the way we interact with each
other on the Web. The use of social networks has grown over the past year
by 35% in Europe and is expected to more than double to 107.4 million users
by 2012. To make sure that social networks continue to grow, young users
need to feel safe when expanding their networks or sharing any personal
information. The agreement signed today in Luxembourg at the Safer Internet
Day organised by the European Commission will empower teenagers to deal
with potential risks they may face online, like cyberbullying or revealing
personal information.
[02] Spanish car workers to get help from EU Globalisation Fund
The European Commission has today approved an application from Spain for
assistance under the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF). The
application will now be sent to the European Parliament and the Council who
have to approve the release of the funds. The application – for €1,
694,300 – was submitted after 1,082 employees were made redundant from
three car producers and nine car component manufacturers located in two
neighbouring Spanish regions: Castilla y León and Aragón.
[03] COMMUNIQUE CONJOINT: Le Panama et la Commission européenne
s’accordent sur un programme de coopération de 18,5 millions d’euros
(25 millions de dollars)
A l’occasion d’une réunion constructive qui s’est tenue hier Ã
Bruxelles, la Commissaire des Relations Extérieures et de la Politique du
Voisinage Benita Ferrero-Waldner et le Premier Vice Président et Ministre
des Affaires Etrangères de Panama Samuel Lewis Navarro sont convenus
d’allouer un montant de 18,5 millions d’euros (environ 25 millions de
dollars) à un programme d’appui à des zones rurales isolées au Panama.
[04] GALILEO: la Commission européenne et l'Agence spatiale européenne se
félicitent d'une coopération exemplaire pour l'aboutissement du projet
européen de radionavigation par satellite
Le Vice-président de la Commission en charge des transports, Antonio
Tajani, a rencontré aujourd'hui Monsieur Jean-Jacques Dordain, Directeur
Général de l'Agence Spatiale Européenne afin de sceller et célébrer
officiellement la continuation de leur coopération dans le programme
Galileo. Cette rencontre fait suite à la signature le 19 décembre 2008 par
la Commission européenne et l’Agence Spatiale Européenne (ESA) d'une
convention de délégation couvrant la phase de déploiement de Galileo.
– EMBARGO 15h45 CET
[05] Marco Polo: third call for proposals to fight road congestion and
improve performance of freight transport
The European Commission has today published the third call for proposals
for the creation and update of freight transport services under the second
Marco Polo programme. Successful projects should fight congestion on
European roads and improve the environmental performance of the freight
transport system, two main objectives of the EU transport policy. Companies
across the European Union and beyond are invited to submit proposals.
[06] Commission rewards Europe’s most pioneering Sustainable Energy
Projects
The winners of the third edition of the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards
2009 were announced at a ceremony in the Albert Hall in Brussels on
February 10th, 2009. The awards are an integral part of the EU’s
Sustainable Energy Week, and its overall Sustainable Energy Europe
Campaign. They aim to showcase examples of the most outstanding, ambitious
and innovative initiatives in sustainable energy, and reward those projects
most worthy of recognition. They also seek to inspire the development of
Europe’s newest energy initiatives. These awards can recognise EU
projects but also include international both participants and
beneficiaries. EMBARGO 19h30
[07] 400 cities commit to go beyond the 20% EU's energy objectives through
the Commission's led Covenant of Mayors
In a solemn ceremony that has taken place today on in the Hemicycle of the
European Parliament, more that 350 cities across Europe have committed, by
signing the Covenant of Mayors, to go beyond the EU's energy objective of
reducing 20% CO2 emissions by 2020. With this initiative of the European
Commission in partnership with the Committee of Regions, the
representatives of over 60 million citizens will work together to achieve
the common goal of changing our environment and using energy more wisely.
[08] Commissioner for Health, Ms Androulla Vassiliou meets Dr Hatem El-
Gabali, Minister of Health and Population of Egypt
Today, in Brussels, European Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou
will meet with the Egyptian Health and Population Minister Dr Hatem El-
Gabali. Topics for discussion are: Egyptian health sector reforms,
emergency medical services preparedness in the region, including pandemic
preparedness, communicable diseases, and tobacco pictorials. The
Commissioner will also discuss the outcomes and follow up of the EuroMed
health ministers' conference, hosted and co-chaired by Egypt last November.
[09] On 11 February 2009 Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will participate in the EU-
Russia Foreign Ministers’ Troika in Moscow.
The Russian side will be represented by Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.
Following on from last week's bilateral talk with the Foreign Minister in
the margins of Commission's visit to Moscow the Troika will look at
bilateral issues such as external security as well as a range of
international topics such as the Middle East, South Caucasus and
Afghanistan.
[10] Commission decision on Austrian safeguard clauses regarding maize
MON810 and T25
Today the Commission submitted to the Council two proposals addressed to
Austria, asking it to repeal its safeguard measures on the cultivation of
GM maize lines MON810 and T25. These measures were adopted by Austria in
1999 and 2000 for MON810 and T25 respectively. Austria initiated work to
collect any relevant scientific evidence which in its view would justify
provisionally the maintenance of the safeguard measure, in particular in
reference to "the different agricultural structures and regional ecological
characteristics" as indicated in recital 3 of the Council Decision of 18
December. In November 2007, Austria submitted to the Commission the
scientific information that resulted out of its work. Subsequently, on 18
April 2008 the Commission requested EFSA to assess the information
submitted by Austria to support its safeguard measures. On 4 December 2008,
EFSA adopted its opinion (published on 11 December 2008) concluding that
the scientific evidence currently available does not sustain the arguments
provided by Austria, and that cultivation of maize lines MON810 and T25 is
unlikely to have an adverse effect on human and animal health and the
environment in Austria.Under these circumstances, Austria should repeal its
safeguard measure with regards to the use and sale of seeds of maize lines
MON810 and T25.
(for more information: B. Helfferich - Tel. 298 2010 - Fax. 296 3067)
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on Safer Internet Day 2009: Commission starts campaign against
cyber-bullying
• Memo on What is the Covenant of Mayors?
• Speech by Commissioner Reding ' First European agreement of Social
Networks – a Step Forward to child safety online', Luxembourg
• Speech by Commissioner Kroes 'Closing remarks at roundtable to discuss
future of the Car Block Exemption Roundtable to discuss future of the Car
Block Exemption', Brussels
• Memo on ï€Antitrust: Commissioner Kroes hosts roundtable to discuss
future of the Car Block Exemption Regulation
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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