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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-11-26

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>

MIDDAY EXPRESS

News from the Spokesman's midday briefing

Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb

26/11/1996


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Jacques Santer: "Je souhaite que les Européens connaissent leurs droits"
  • [02] Citizens First - raising people's awareness about their rights
  • [03] Commission completes directive: new symbols for reusable and recyclable packaging
  • [04] Commission refers proposed concentrations RWE/Thyssengas and Bayernwerk/Isarwerke to the German Bundeskartellamt
  • [05] Europartenariat Italia 1996 in Genoa
  • [06] Pêche: conférence à Venise sur des règles communes de conservation en Méditerranée
  • [07] Sir Leon Brittan: progress of ITA and telecoms vital for success at Singapore
  • [08] Padraig Flynn criticises the simplistic terms in which the debate on competitiveness, growth and employment is conducted
  • [09] Emma Bonino salue l'initiative de Marseille sur la gestion de l'eau dans un contexte euro-méditerranéen

  • [01] Jacques Santer: "Je souhaite que les Européens connaissent leurs droits"

    A l'occasion du lancement de la campagne d'information "Citoyens d'Europe" au Parlement européen, Jacques Santer a déclaré: "En tant que Président de la Commission, je souhaite que les Européens connaissent leurs droits, qu'ils les utilisent, qu'ils disent haut et fort quand ils n'y ont pas accès et je souhaite qu'il y ait une voix qui réponde à leurs questions. C'est là tout le défi de la campagne "Citoyens d'Europe" que nous lançons aujourd'hui avec le Parlement Européen. Sans que les citoyens s'en soient vraiment rendu compte, l'Europe est devenue de plus en plus présente dans leur vie quotidienne. Cela est ressenti parfois comme un carcan, alors qu'une information concrète, ciblée et opérationnelle montrera aux Européens tous les bénéfices qu'ils peuvent tirer, à tout moment, de l'unité qui s'instaure."

    [02] Citizens First - raising people's awareness about their rights

    Citizens First, the most ambitious information initiative ever undertaken by the European Commission, was launched on November 26 with the theme "Your right to know and to be heard". For the first time, the Commission is trying to reach everyone living in the European Union (EU), so that a maximum number of people become aware of the rights and opportunities they enjoy as a result of the Single Market and other EU policies and can obtain factual information about how to put these rights into practice. This information is available on demand from a free telephone number in every Member State, according to each individual‘s particular interests and in their own language.

    [03] Commission completes directive: new symbols for reusable and recyclable packaging

    The European Commission has adopted a proposal on marking of certain packaging and on the establishment of an assessment procedure for the compliance with the Packaging Directive for all packaging. The proposal introduces one symbol for reusable packaging and one symbol for recyclable packaging. It also sets up a procedure to assess the compliance of the packaging with the essential requirements. The purpose of marking of packaging is to enable the consumer to contribute to the protection of the environment, to give the consumer the choice - thus making it a kind of quality marking, indicating which packaging is more environmentally friendly than another. To fulfill this objective proper information and education of consumers is essential. The proposal will allow Member States to target their information campaigns in order to influence consumers' and users' behaviour as responsible contributors to an environmentally sound waste management.

    [04] Commission refers proposed concentrations RWE/Thyssengas and Bayernwerk/Isarwerke to the German Bundeskartellamt

    The European Commission decided to refer the proposed concentrations RWE/ Thyssengas and Bayernwerk/Isarwerke to the Bundeskartellamt with a view to the application of the German competition law. RWE Energie AG intends to acquire a 50% share in Thyssengas GmbH from VIAG's subsidiary Bayernwerk AG. As a countermove, Bayernwerk AG is to acquire RWE´s share in Isarwerke GmbH. Together with an already existing participation and another proposed acquisition, Bayernwerk would have a majority shareholding in Isarwerke after the transaction. Both of the concentrations fall within the scope of application of the EC Merger Regulation and were therefore notified to the Commission. Because of the threat of strengthening of dominant positions in regional gas and electricity markets, the Bundeskartellamt requested referrals in both cases.

    [05] Europartenariat Italia 1996 in Genoa

    More than two thousand small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are participating in Europartenariat Italie 1996, which takes place in Genoa on 27 - 29 November 1996. The aim of Europartenariat is to allow companies to meet and explore possibilities for partnerships or joint ventures as well as for the conclusion of cooperation agreements. The Europartenariat programme was launched by the European Commission in 1988 as part of its regional and enterprise policies. It was designed to stimulate the development of less-favoured regions by encouraging small and medium-sized businesses from all over the Community to establish business relationships with their counterparts from other regions. Experience with former editions of Europartenariat shows that 30-40% of the host companies conclude a formal co-operation agreement within one year. Europartenariat is also an important vehicle for the Commission's enterprise policy which aims to assist companies, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, to internationalise and "europeanise" their business strategies in order to participate fully in the Single European Market.

    [06] Pêche: conférence à Venise sur des règles communes de conservation en Méditerranée

    A l'initiative de la Commission européenne, une Conférence diplomatique sur la gestion halieutique en Méditerranée se déroulera à Venise ces 27, 28 et 29 novembre. L'objectif de cette conférence, qui fait suite à celle de Crète en 1994, est de concrétiser les points sur lesquels la coopération internationale en matière de pêche doit être axée et d'adopter une Déclaration solennelle réaffirmant la nécessité d'instaurer une gestion rationnelle et durable des ressources dans cette région.

    [07] Sir Leon Brittan: progress of ITA and telecoms vital for success at Singapore

    ( !!! embargo 4 pm !!!) Europe and her trading partners must pull out all the stops to achieve an Information Technology Agreement and a WTO telecommunications deal if the forthcoming WTO Ministerial in Singapore is to be a real success, says Sir Leon Brittan, EU Trade Commissioner. At a speech in the Netherlands he warns that the ITA talks are behind schedule but says the deal is within reach if all countries avoid calls for protection of narrow sectoral interests and if fair and reasonable conditions are agreed for other countries in time for Singapore. Sir Leon, who has received America's assurance it shares Europe's determination for a deal at Singapore, urges all countries to push for a broad-based ITA. ( !!! embargo 4 pm !!!)

    [08] Padraig Flynn criticises the simplistic terms in which the debate on competitiveness, growth and employment is conducted

    In a speech delivered today in Brussels to the International Management Development Institute, Social Affairs Commissioner Padraig Flynn said "the debate about competitiveness, growth and employment is characterised by more heat than light. We are told that European industry is not competitive. Yet Europe's trade is globally in balance. That we are losing jobs to the Far East and to Central and Eastern Europe. Yet external trade accounts for only 8% of the EU's GDP and we have a trade surplus with Central and Eastern Europe. That technology is destroying jobs. Yet there is no evidence that the rate of employment growth has changed with the advent of the new technologies. That a major cause of Europe's unemployment is the rigidity of our labour markets. Yet comparing employment rates shows Austria with 67%, Spain with 44%, and the UK, Germany and France clustered around the 55 to 59% mark." Mr Flynn went on to advocate "a third way between the extremes of the rabid deregulators, those who offer us the low pay, low productivity route, and those with an equally rigid view of social progress, those who see change as anathema". He explained that social policy can be a productive factor in guaranteeing our long run competitiveness but only if it is hammered into shape for the new conditions we face.

    [09] Emma Bonino salue l'initiative de Marseille sur la gestion de l'eau dans un contexte euro-méditerranéen

    Lors de son intervention aujourd'hui à la conférence euro-méditerranéenne sur la gestion de l'eau à Marseille, Emma Bonino, Commissaire européenne responsable de la Pêche, a souligné que l'initiative est essentielle aux yeux de la Commission car elle permet de placer le problème dans un contexte réellement euro-méditerranéen. En effet, le "système euro- méditerranéen d'information sur les savoir-faire dans le domaine de la gestion de l'eau" permettra l'information et l'échange de données, ainsi que l'optimisation des apports des bailleurs de fonds. Mme Bonino a souhaité qu'il soit conçu comme une fenêtre ouverte, facilement utilisable par tous, qu'il mette en commun les qualités techniques des uns et des autres et qu'il bénéficie des technologies de l'information. Un tel système pourra bénéficier de l'appui du programme MEDA. Mme Bonino a par ailleurs dressé un premier bilan sur l'application du partenariat euro- méditerranéen.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


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