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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-04-06
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
06/04/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 5 avril 2000 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 5 April 2000
[01] La Commission propose d'interdire l'expérimentation animale dans le
secteur des cosmétiques
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] Commission and Hungary sign joint assessment of medium-term economic
policy priorities
[03] Economic confidence continues to escalate in Europe - economic
sentiment indicator to new all time highs
[04] Industrial producer prices rose by 0.5% in euro-zone and by 0.4% in
EU15 In February 2000
[05] Technical measures to protect young cod in the Irish Sea
[06] Famine in Ethiopia
[07] Chris Patten signs euro 129 million MEDA financing agreements
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 5 avril 2000 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 5 April 2000
[01] La Commission propose d'interdire l'expérimentation animale dans le
secteur des cosmétiques
La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition de directive modifiant la
directive 76/768/CEE du Conseil des ministres concernant le rapprochement
des législations des Etats membres relatives aux produits cosmétiques. La
modification proposée consiste à transformer l'interdiction de
commercialiser des produits contenant des substances testées sur les
animaux après le 1er juillet 2000 en une interdiction absolue de
l'expérimentation animale dans l'Union européenne. Un double objectif
serait ainsi atteint: garantir la compatibilité du système de l'UE avec les
règles de l'OMC et fournir un outil plus efficace pour assurer le bien-être
des animaux.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] Commission and Hungary sign joint assessment of medium-term economic
policy priorities
Mr Zsigmond Jarai, Minister of Finance of Hungary, and Mr Pedro Solbes,
European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, today signed the
second "Joint Assessment of medium-term economic policy priorities of the
Republic of Hungary" for the period up to 2004 as part of the pre-accession
process.
[03] Economic confidence continues to escalate in Europe - economic
sentiment indicator to new all time highs
(! embargo 12 am !) The economic confidence indicator rose to new all time
highs for both the euro-zone and the EU15 in March 2000 according to the
Business and Consumer Survey results of the European Commission. On the
basis of strong rises of confidence in the industrial, construction and
retail trade sectors, as well as strong consumer confidence, the economic
confidence indicator rose by 0.2 point in both the euro area and the EU.
All Member States except the United Kingdom and Finland registered
increases, Sweden with 1.2 point displayed the largest rise.
[04] Industrial producer prices rose by 0.5% in euro-zone and by 0.4% in
EU15 In February 2000
(! embargo 12 am !) Euro-zone industrial producer prices rose by 0.5% in
February 2000 compared with the previous month, Eurostat - Statistical
Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg - estimates today. Prices
in the EU15 increased by 0.4%. In January 2000 the index had increased by
0.6% for the euro-zone and 0.5% for the EU15. Compared to February 1999
producer prices increased by 5.7% in the euro-zone and 5.1% in the EU15.
The intermediate goods sector was the main contributor to this growth with
a rise of 9.2% in the euro-zone and 8.5% in the EU15. The indices increased
by less than 1% in the other sectors.
[05] Technical measures to protect young cod in the Irish Sea
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for technical measures to
allow for the escape of young cod from towed nets in the Irish Sea. These
measures are part of the recovery plan which was set up last February in
response to grave scientific concern about the state of the cod stock in
this area (IP/00/143). This proposal was drafted following discussions
between the Commission and stakeholders. Mr Franz Fischler, Commissioner
for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, said : "These measures
will complement those already taken to protect spawning cod in the Irish
Sea by allowing young cod to grow and reproduce. I am delighted by the
level of cooperation between the interested parties which has characterised
this process".
[06] Famine in Ethiopia
The European Commission is very concerned about the threat of famine in the
Horn of Africa, in particular in Ethiopia. The chronic shortage of food has
been aggravated by lack of rain. As in the past, the Commission will
continue to provide necessary assistance to those in need of food. Since
the beginning of the year the Commission has allocated 225,000 tons of food
aid to Ethiopia of which shipments of 32,000 tons have been brought forward
to April/May. At present, further food shipments are programmed and
additional commitments are being made.
[07] Chris Patten signs euro 129 million MEDA financing agreements
In Jordan, European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, has
signed financing agreements on four major initiatives totalling euro 129
million under the MEDA assistance programme. The MEDA assistance programme
is the principal financial instrument of the European Union for the
implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The main objectives
of MEDA funded initiatives are to achieve economic transition and a better
socio-economic balance. The agreements signed in Jordan by Mr Patten will
thus help bolster stability and assist the economic transition ushered in
by the country's commitment to trade liberalisation.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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