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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-01-26

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

26/01/99


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Crash test programme drives car makers to higher safety standards
  • [02] Colombia : Commission makes available emergency aid worth 1 million euro for earthquake victims
  • [03] Ritt Bjerregaard : "We must put focus on the development of cleaner and recycable products"
  • [04] Franz Fischler : "Globalisation provides advantages for European farmers"

  • [01] Crash test programme drives car makers to higher safety standards

    The European Commission, together with its partners in the European New Car Assessment programme (EuroNCAP), today announced the results of the latest phase of crash testing covering the best-selling small family cars. Of the models tested (Ford Focus, Mercedes A Class, Opel Astra, Renault Megane, Ford Escort and the Nissan Almera), the first four scored the maximum four- star rating in terms of the protection that they offer in accidents involving front and side impact. The results complement earlier tests on other models of small family cars as well as executive and family cars and they show that, through its support of EuroNCAP, the Commission has helped to create a market for safety and, consequently, encouraged a quantum change in the car manufacturing industry's attitude to designing for vehicle occupant safety. EuroNCAP is backed by the Commission, the Dutch, Swedish and British governments and motoring and consumer organisations across Europe.

    [02] Colombia : Commission makes available emergency aid worth 1 million euro for earthquake victims

    The European Commission is making available humanitarian aid worth 1 million euro for Colombia struck by an earthquake measured six on the Richter scale. The aid, managed by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), is for victims of the earthquake in the provinces of Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima. At least 500 people were killed and another 650 injured in the province of Quindío. Armenia, the capital of Quindío high in the Andes mountains, was worst hit in a disaster zone that spanned five provinces and wrecked some 20 cities and towns. More than 60 people were reported to have died in Pereira, capital of Risaralda. The funding will cover food aid, essential relief items, temporary shelter and medical inputs. The aid will enable members of the Red Cross family already on the spot to carry out emergency actions. Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, has sent a message of condolence to Andres Pastrana, President of the Republic of Colombia.

    [03] Ritt Bjerregaard : "We must put focus on the development of cleaner and recycable products"

    Speaking today in Brussels at the first meeting of the Recycling Forum, European Commissioner for the Environment, Ritt Bjerregaard, said : "In 1990 the total amount of municipal waste in Europe amounted to 81 million tons. In 1995 this amount has risen to 104 million tons. The amount of waste which was landfilled was, in both 1990 and 1995, 65% of the total waste. Recycling grew from 4% in 1990 to 10% in 1995. But even though this share has risen, the need for action is bigger than ever." She underlined that "recycling in the form of material recovery is a key priority in the European Union waste strategy". "The increased use of advanced combinations of materials and substances have made environmentally sound waste management more difficult, more demanding and more expensive." She stressed it was "essential to develop a sound market for recycled products". "This will allow for the production of environmentally sound products, made from recycled waste." "But most important is to put focus on the development of cleaner and recyclable products. We must aim to reduce the generation of hazardous waste, by limiting or banning certain heavy metals and other dangerous substances in both processes and products."

    [04] Franz Fischler : "Globalisation provides advantages for European farmers"

    (! embargo 3.30 pm !) "The idea of a European training programme for young farmers is excellent, particulary as the programme's main elements reflect the agro-political challenges of the next years", said Mr Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, in his speech at the occasion of the 40th anniversary - celebration of the CEJA (Conseil Européen des Jeunes Agriculteurs) in Brussels. Focussing on the main tasks of the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP), Mr Fischler pointed to the need for improving the competitiveness of European agriculture on both the domestic and international levels and promoting and improving the degree of familiarity of European agricultural products to raise the sales. "For the agricultural sector liberalisation and globalisation provide enormous advantages for the agricultural sector which we must make use of. Orientation towards markets provides more entrepreneurial freedom and less dependance on political price-decisions in the Council of Ministers for European farmers and their families. Accordingly farmers will have to face a higher entrepreneurial risk. However, it is up to policy to correct undesirable trends in the general development", said Mr Fischler. Even in future ensuring farmers' income will be the central task of agricultural policy based on agricultural and rural development policy, in accordance with the multifunctional aspect of the European agriculture-model. Commissioner Fischler stressed that the proposal for the CAP-reform aims to pay farmers for their social functions and to compensate them for additional environmental measures.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


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


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