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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-11-10

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

10/11/97


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] La Commission soutient la reconversion industrielle de Navarre
  • [02] Mario Monti insists financial market turbulence best tackled by WTO agreement
  • [03] Commission signs a Memorandum of Understanding on Customs Assistance with Albania
  • [04] Forum "Les consommateurs et l'euro" (Luxembourg 1-2 décembre 1997): comment réduire les craintes des citoyens face à l'introduction de l'euro
  • [05] Franz Fischler: "Networks of rural, national and transnational cooperation are an opportunity to consider a new European Union initiative"
  • [06] A Live internet chat with Padraig Flynn on November 13 1997: A sneak preview of the European Jobs Summit

  • [01] La Commission soutient la reconversion industrielle de Navarre

    La région de Navarre en Espagne recevra une aide communautaire de 25,4 millions d'Ecus au titre de l'Objectif 2 des Fonds structurels (reconversion des zones industrielles en déclin) pour la période 1997-1999. Une bonne partie des actions prévues visent à favoriser l'emploi, la compétitivité et l'internationalisation de l'activité économique de la région. La protection de l'environnement ainsi que le soutien à la recherche, à la technologie et à l'innovation font également partie des priorités inscrites dans le programme. Au total, les dépenses publiques prévues, y inclus l'assistance technique, dans le cadre du programme totalisent 53,1 millions d'Ecus dont 25,4 millions d'Ecus de l'Union européenne (20,4 du Fonds européen de développement régional (FEDER) et 5 du Fonds social européen (FSE)). La mise en oeuvre des mesures approuvées devrait encore générer une dépense additionnelle de 83,2 millions d'Ecus de la part du secteur privé.

    [02] Mario Monti insists financial market turbulence best tackled by WTO agreement

    "Attracting foreign capital through improved market access is essential to tackling financial turbulence in emerging market countries", Financial Services Commissioner Mario Monti has told Ambassadors to the European Union (EU) from a number of leading participants in current World Trade Organisation (WTO) financial services negotiations. "And the best way to improve access is by ensuring the WTO negotiations succeed." On the eve of crucial negotiations on a WTO agreement to open up world trade in financial services, which must be concluded by 12 December, Mr Monti repeated his call for all countries to table offers that match the EU's offer (see IP/97/587). Mr Monti called for binding commitments from WTO members which allow for effective market access underpinned by a rules-based system, non- discriminatory treatment of foreign companies, and the right of financial services providers not only to establish new operations, but also to retain their current shareholdings in existing overseas operations. Foreign companies should also be able to establish operations abroad in whatever commercial form they choose - provided of course that all sensible prudential considerations are met. "If the high expectations of the EU are not met, the EU will not repeat its "white knight" role of 1995 and save an agreement that is not satisfactory to all WTO members", Mr Monti warned.

    [03] Commission signs a Memorandum of Understanding on Customs Assistance with Albania

    Customs Commissionner Mario Monti and Arben Malaj, Minister of Finance of Albania, will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Brussels. It will establish a legal framework for the activities of the Albania Customs Assistance Mission in Albania whose headquarters were established in Tirana in June 1997. The Customs Assistance Mission was established as a part of the Commission's response to the request for support that the Government of Albania addressed to the international community following the unrest in the country in early 1997. One of the pre-conditions for international donor assistance to Albania was that the Government should take control of the border crossings and ensure correct collection of State budgetary revenue as soon as possible. During the Donors Conference on Albania that was held in Brussels on 22 October 1997, the participants noted that this pre-condition had been substantially met.

    [04] Forum "Les consommateurs et l'euro" (Luxembourg 1-2 décembre 1997): comment réduire les craintes des citoyens face à l'introduction de l'euro

    Les 1er et 2 décembre prochains, environ 300 représentants d'organisations de consommateurs, psychologues, représentants de l'industrie, politiciens et fonctionnaires se réuniront à Luxembourg autour du thème "Les consommateurs et l'Euro". Pendant deux jours, ils débattront des problèmes pratiques qui pourraient se poser aux citoyens lors du passage à la monnaie unique. Sept ateliers traiteront de thèmes tels que la double indication des prix, l'échange de billets et pièces, timbres et cartes téléphone, les coûts de conversion et autres questions pratiques. Lors de chacun de ces ateliers, les consommateurs prendront la parole et des représentants des administrations, des banques et du commerce leur répondront. Des exposés sur l'expérience acquise lors de l'introduction du système décimal au Royaume-Uni et sur l'histoire de la monnaie unique clôtureront les débats. La conférence est une initiative de la présidence du Conseil luxembourgeoise, de la Commission européenne et du Parlement européen. Pour les représentants de la presse, les formulaires d'inscription peuvent être obtenus auprès de Nyens Michel - Ministère de la Famille - 12-14, avenue Emile Reuter - L-2919 Luxembourg - Tel: 00352/4786515 - Fax: 00352/241889.

    [05] Franz Fischler: "Networks of rural, national and transnational cooperation are an opportunity to consider a new European Union initiative"

    At the opening speech of the LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Economie Rurale) European symposium on rural development in Brussels today, Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Franz Fischler commented on the current success of the initiative. Its main features are: an active participation of the local population; giving priority to innovative schemes and supporting small and medium-sized businesses as well as craft enterprises. The LEADER-initiative since its launch in 1991 had evolved "from a project-oriented to a rather program-oriented approach". Between 1991 and 1994, the European Union (EU) allocated ECU 442 million to the LEADER I initiative, reaching 11 million people in 217 LEADER areas. LEADER II, the follow-up initiative based on the same successful formula currently integrates 775 local action groups and 46 other collective bodies benefiting until 1999 from ECU 1,700 million of EU funding.

    [06] A Live internet chat with Padraig Flynn on November 13 1997: A sneak preview of the European Jobs Summit

    In preparation for the European Jobs Summit, the European Commission is organising an on-line debate on employment policy with Padraig Flynn, the Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs. The themes for the chat are as follows: How to foster entrepreneurship in the European Union (EU)? How to reduce the skills gap and improve employability? And which concrete employment measures are working, and which are not? The Heads of State and Government will discuss these and other issues at the special European Jobs Summit, scheduled for November 20-21, 1997. The chat, which will take place on November 13, from 18:00 - 20:00 (GMT + 1), will be conducted in the 11 EU languages. Participants can, therefore, communicate in their own language or follow the whole chat in English. In the run-up to the chat, a mailbox will be opened <jobsummit@dg5.cec.be> to allow people to ask questions in advance. Mr Flynn will open the chat by responding to the more fundamental of these questions, while the technical ones will be dealt with by specialists within his services. Three documents on employment form the backbone of the Commission's contribution to the Jobs Summit, and are therefore of interest for the chat as well. They can be consulted at <http://europa.eu.int/jobsummit/>. The address of the chat is: http://europa.eu.int/chatflynn.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


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


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