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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-11-06

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

06/11/97


CONTENTS / CONTENU

[I] Résultats de la Commission du 5 novembre 1997 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 5 November 97

  • [01] Information and consultation of employees at national level: Commission launches second phase of consultation with the social partners
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [02] Jacques Santer au Sommet des pays ACP: la place du partenariat UE-ACP
  • [03] Business and consumer surveys - The economic sentiment at record level in October 1997
  • [04] L'inflation annuelle de l'UE est restée stable à 1,8% en septembre 1997
  • [05] Droit de séjour: la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de justice à l'encontre de l'Espagne et du Portugal
  • [06] Quality and training are the keys to competitiveness: Commission adopts communication on the European construction industry
  • [07] GMO Maïze in Austria and Luxembourg
  • [08] Christos Papoutsis: "The combat against child sex tourism and paedophilia is a high political priority for the Commission"
  • [09] Ritt Bjerregaard: "In Kyoto we will have to move from talking to action"
  • [10] Christos Papoutsis: "The energy sector faces a major challenge in the climate change debate"

  • [I] Résultats de la Commission du 5 novembre 1997 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 5 November 97

    (voir aussi - see also Midday Express of 5.11)

    [01] Information and consultation of employees at national level: Commission launches second phase of consultation with the social partners

    The European Commission has decided to consult the social partners at European Union (EU) level on the possible content of EU legislation in the field of information and consultation of employees at national level. The Commission's proposal, in the form of a consultative document to be sent to the social partners, marks the second phase of a process launched last June, when the social partners were consulted on the advisability of EU action in this field. Having considered the reactions to the first round of consultations, the Commission is now putting forward a set of possible measures aimed at establishing the fundamental right of workers to be consulted and informed on decisions likely to affect them; at developing effective mechanisms for anticipating and preventing the possible social consequences of industrial change and restructuring, and at strengthening the link between information and consultation on strategic and social issues. The social partners have now six weeks to either submit their opinion on the document, or, as the Commission fervently hopes, decide to negotiate an agreement themselves, under the Agreement on Social Policy. In the latter case, the Commission will suspend legislative action for 9 months while the agreement is negotiated.

    [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

    [02] Jacques Santer au Sommet des pays ACP: la place du partenariat UE-ACP

    "Le renouvellement des accords de coopération UE-ACP sera l'occasion de créer entre nos régions un lien plus complet, plus démocratique, plus participatif, et sans doute plus efficace et porteur de développement", a dit le Président de la Commission européenne, Jacques Santer, à l'ouverture du premier sommet que les pays d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (ACP) tiennent les 6 et 7 novembre à Libreville (Gabon). Jacques Santer, qui est accompagné de João de Deus Pinheiro, commissaire chargé de la politique de développement, a tenu a marquer par sa présence à Libreville l'engagement de la Commission à l'égard de la zone ACP qui s'est traduit il y a une semaine par l'adoption des orientations politiques à suivre dans les futurs accords entre l'Union européenne et ces pays. Les Chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement des pays ACP adopteront une "déclaration de Libreville" dans laquelle ils se prononceront sur l'avenir institutionnel et politique du groupe ACP ainsi que sur la dette et les échanges commerciaux Sud/Sud et Sud/Nord.

    [03] Business and consumer surveys - The economic sentiment at record level in October 1997

    According to the latest business and consumer surveys published by the European Commission's Directorate General for economic and financial affairs, economic sentiment in the European Union was at its highest level for seven years in October 1997. The capacity utilisation in manufacturing industry continues to rise according to the industry survey, reaching 83.0% in October. This is a marked increase compared with July (82.1%). Also, both new orders and export volume expectations show the highest levels for two years. This confirms the encouraging results from the industrial confidence indicator, which rose to its highest level in two years in October. The optimism is apparent also from the increase in consumer and construction confidence. The consumer confidence indicator reached record levels in October remaining above its average over the last ten years.

    [04] L'inflation annuelle de l'UE est restée stable à 1,8% en septembre 1997

    En septembre, l'inflation annuelle de l'Union européenne est restée stable à 1,8%, taux identique à celui du mois d'août, selon les chiffres publiés aujourd'hui par Eurostat, l'Office statistique des Communautés européennes à Luxembourg. En septembre 1996, elle avait atteint 2,2%. Ce taux représente l'Indice européen des prix à la consommation (IPCE), calculé comme une moyenne des Indices des prix à la consommation harmonisé (IPCH) des Etats membres. Neuf Etat membres ont relevé des taux inférieurs à la moyenne communautaire, six d'entre eux se situant entre 1,5% et 1,6%. L'Irlande avec 0,6% et l'Autriche avec 1,1% peuvent se prévaloir des taux les plus bas. Les taux les plus élevés ont été constatés en Grèce (4,9%), en Suède (2,7%) et aux Pays-Bas (2,6%). L'inflation est restée stable aux Etats-Unis (2,2%) et a augmenté au Japon (2,4%). En Suisse, le taux est descendu à 0,4%. Ces taux ne sont toutefois pas strictement comparables aux IPCH.

    [05] Droit de séjour: la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de justice à l'encontre de l'Espagne et du Portugal

    La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de justice au titre de l'article 169 du Traité CE contre l'Espagne et le Portugal pour transposition incorrecte des directives sur le droit de séjour des retraités et inactifs. Dans le cas de l'Espagne, la saisine concerne aussi la transposition incorrecte de la directive sur le droit de séjour des étudiants. "Les citoyens doivent avoir confiance que leurs droits dans le Marché Unique soient toujours respectés" a insisté Mario Monti, Commissaire pour le Marché Unique. "C'est une priorité que j'entends poursuivre avec détermination. Nous veillerons à ce que chaque violation de ces droits soit sanctionnée".

    [06] Quality and training are the keys to competitiveness: Commission adopts communication on the European construction industry

    The European Commission has adopted a communication on the competitiveness of the European construction industry. The communication identifies four strategic objectives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the sector: to develop a coherent quality policy, the Commission recommends the widespread adoption of quality schemes. To improve the regulatory environment, the Commission will act to consolidate and simplify legislation related to the Single Market and public procurement. The conditions necessary for sustained growth in provision of education and training at all levels should be created. The Commission announces its intention to reorient the resources for research and development towards the continually changing needs of the sector, and the better dissemination of research findings. The communication proposes more than 60 specific actions aimed at fulfilling these strategic objectives.

    [07] GMO Maïze in Austria and Luxembourg

    The European Commission takes note of the fact that the Member States yesterday decided to postpone a decision on the Commission's proposal to repeal the Austrian and Luxembourg ban on Genetically Modified Maïze (cfr. IP/97/784). The Commission recalls that the Directive 90/220 - as adopted by the Council - sets out a specific procedure for approval of GMO products and notes that the Member States found themselves unable to participate fully in the practical application of this procedure. The Commission notes that in the absence of a decision, the Austrian and Luxembourg ban of maïze remains in place. The Commission takes this opportunity to underline once again the need to change the comitology applied in the Directive in order to secure a more full and effective participation of Member States. A proposal to this effect will be included in the foreseen revision of Directive 90/220 which the Commission intends to discuss within a couple of weeks.

    [08] Christos Papoutsis: "The combat against child sex tourism and paedophilia is a high political priority for the Commission"

    The Community intervention to combat child sex tourism "is necessary and must become more intense and efficient in the future" said European Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, responsible for Tourism, during yesterday's debate of the European Parliament. The Commissioner said that the combat against paedophilia and sexual exploitation of children "is on the top of the political priorities" of the Commission which "is determined to contribute with all its forces to the efforts undertaken". "The Commission, he said, has already undertaken some action, such as a call of tender for initiatives aiming at strengthening coordination on European level of information and sensibilisation campaigns and an intervention of the European tourism industry with as result many European and international organisations to issue resolutions, rules and codes of conduct". Mr Papoutsis stressed that the Commission will continue its efforts to combat this "tourism of shame".

    [09] Ritt Bjerregaard: "In Kyoto we will have to move from talking to action"

    Speaking at the conference in Brussels on climate change organised by European Voice, Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard presented the European Union's (EU) approach to the coming climate conference in Kyoto. The Commissioner gave concrete examples of how the EU can reach its goals for a 15% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 without loosing out on competitivity or economic growth. The Commission also expressed her disappointment with the position of the USA, by far the world largest emittor of greenhouse gases. On her ambitions for Kyoto, the Commissioner said: "If we are to achieve an ambitious result in Kyoto it will be the EU, that once again will have to take the lead. It is clear that we cannot depend on leadership by the US and Japan. But we cannot do it on our own. We need the commitment of the other industrialised countries and the support of the developing countries if we are to secure the globe's future. "I am going to Kyoto to get results. The EU will fight every inch of the way. In Rio we said we must act, in Berlin we said we must act. In Kyoto I hope we will."

    [10] Christos Papoutsis: "The energy sector faces a major challenge in the climate change debate"

    In a speech at a Conference organised today by "European Voice" on climate change, Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis emphasised the critical role of energy production, distribution and use for the emission level of the different greenhouse gases and said that "a dynamic energy sector has an important implication for achieving substantial and radical improvements in local, regional and global environmental conditions". The Commissioner said that the four specific initiatives which will make a major contribution are: greater penetration of renewable energy sources, promotion of combined head and power, energy saving measures, enhanced efficiency improvements for industrial products and processes. Mr Papoutsis also said that the Kyoto Conference "will hopefully be a new milestone in international cooperation in global issues" and underlined that "it is very important that an agreement is reached between all the industrialised countries; we cannot act alone without our trading partners".

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


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


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