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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-10-29
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-Parole 29/10/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission takes safeguard measure because of West Nile Fever (WNF)
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Case Corporation (US) by New Holland
(the Netherlands) with substantial conditions
[03] Commission again takes action against Italy, Ireland and France for
failure to respond to Commission queries on environmental complaints
[04] Directive sur les nitrates : la Commission poursuit son action
juridique contre la France
[05] La Commission assigne la Grèce devant la Cour de justice pour
manquement à l'obligation de protéger la tortue de Méditerranée
[06] Chris Patten first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
[07] Chris Patten and the EU Troika visit Algeria
[01] Commission takes safeguard measure because of West Nile Fever (WNF)
David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection,
today announced restrictions on the import of horses from the United States
in order to avoid that West Nile Fever (WNF) from infected regions is
imported into Community territory. WNF is a virus which is transmitted
mainly by mosquitoes and birds. Humans and horses are dead-end hosts. After
incubation period of 5 and 15 days symptoms from mild flu-like illness up
to severer encephalitis can occur. Five deaths in humans have been reported
in the US where the disease gave rise to major public concern earlier this
summer before its identification. The way of introduction and the evolution
of the disease are uncertain. Imports of horses are only permitted on
certification that they have not been resident in New York City and the
States of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey (where the virus was found)
during the last 15 days or have not been in contact with horses which have
been resident on infected holdings during the last 15 days. The decision
shall apply until 31 January 2000 and will be referred to the Standing
Veterinary Committee within the next days. Mr Byrne emphasises that the
measure is purely precautionary and that the prospect of infection is
extremely remote.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Case Corporation (US) by New Holland
(the Netherlands) with substantial conditions
The European Commission has approved the transaction whereby New Holland
will acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Case Corporation.
This approval follows far-reaching commitments to divest ranges of
agricultural machinery products and backhoe loaders and to open up access
to the parties' dealer networks.
[03] Commission again takes action against Italy, Ireland and France for
failure to respond to Commission queries on environmental complaints
The European Commission has decided to send a warning to Italy, Ireland and
France for failing to respond to a series of Commission letters requesting
environmental information. The complaints include Ireland's failure to
clarify Dublin Bay as a special protection area, Italy's failure to assess
adequately the impact of a landfill site in Trapani, and threats to
wildlife at Mont Saint-Michel in France. Member States are required to co-
operate with the Commission in dealing with such complaints. The decision
reflects the Commission's concern that, in the cases concerned, it is not
receiving the usual degree of cooperation it expects from Member States.
[04] Directive sur les nitrates : la Commission poursuit son action
juridique contre la France
La Commission européenne a décidé de s'adresser à la Cour européenne de
justice contre la France, pour non-respect de la Directive de l'Union
européenne sur les nitrates. La Commission considère que la France n'a pas
effectué le recensement des eaux qui sont polluées ou menacées par les
nitrates et des eaux qui subissent une eutrophisation (utilisées comme base
pour désigner les zones vulnérables), conformément aux critères fixés dans
la Directive. La France a notamment négligé de tenir suffisamment compte
des eaux dans lesquelles la quantité de rejets d'origine agricole, sans
être prépondérante, est tout de même considérable. On constate par
conséquent de graves lacunes en ce qui concerne la France métropolitaine
(principalement dans le nord, le sud-ouest, la Normandie et l'île de
France), tandis qu'aucune évaluation n'a été achevée en ce qui concerne les
départements d'outre-mer.
[05] La Commission assigne la Grèce devant la Cour de justice pour
manquement à l'obligation de protéger la tortue de Méditerranée
La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour européenne de justice
d'un recours contre la Grèce, à laquelle elle reproche de ne pas protéger
de façon satisfaisante la tortue marine Caretta caretta, espèce rare vivant
en Méditerranée, conformément à la directive "Habitats". La Commission
doute, en effet, de l'efficacité des mesures de protection prises dans
l'île grecque de Zakynthos, dont certaines plages constituent des lieux de
ponte importants pour cette espèce.
[06] Chris Patten first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
On Monday afternoon November 1st, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for
External Relations, will arrive in Sarajevo at the start of his first visit
to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main purpose of his visit is to gain first-
hand insights on the current political, security and economic situation. On
his arrival Mr Patten will meet Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic. That
afternoon he will hold meetings with General Robert Adams, Commander SFOR,
Ambassador Robert Barry, UNHCR and the EU High Representative Wolfgang
Petritsch. During his stay the Commissioner also plans to meet with the
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Ministers. He will
visit projects financed by the EU at Dobrinja and Vogosca. At 13h30 on
Tuesday 2nd November a short press conference will be held at the Coalition
Press and Information Centre, Marshal Tito Barracks.
[07] Chris Patten and the EU Troika visit Algeria
On Wednesday 3 November 1999, Chris Patten, European Commissioner
responsible for External Relations, together with the other members of the
EU-Troika, composed of the actual and the incoming presidencies (Finland
and Portugal) and the High Representative for the CFSP of the EU, Javier
Solana, will go on a one-day mission to Algeria. The main purpose of the
visit is to gain first-hand insight about the political, security and
economic situation in Algeria after the Referendum on the "concorde civile"
held on 16 September 1999. They plan to meet Algerian president Bouteflika
and Foreign minister Attaf. A particular interest for the EU Troika will be
the resumption of the formal negotiations of an Association agreement with
the EU, interrupted since May 1997. Other areas of interest and discussion
cover the development of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), Western Sahara, the
Barcelona process, financial cooperation with Algeria under the MEDA
programme and the Middle East Peace process.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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