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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-07-10

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 Service Presse et Communicationb

10/07/2000


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Operating brain cancer without a knife
  • [02] La Commission autorise l'achat par Invensys de l'entreprise de logiciels néerlandaise Baan
  • [03] Microsoft gives up joint control over Telewest as Commission objects to deal
  • [04] Pascal Lamy paraphe trois accords destinés à faciliter le commerce avec des pays candidats à l'adhésion
  • [05] ECHO Flight service in Africa : Commission clears euro 8.8 million to fund lifeline
  • [06] International Conference on the Role of Risk Analysis in the EU - 18/19 July in Brussels
  • [07] Frits Bolkestein calls for closer international cooperation on copyright

  • [01] Operating brain cancer without a knife

    Research co-funded by the European Commission has helped produce a radical breakthrough that now enables brain surgery to be carried out without the use of a knife. Cancer and other brain tumours can now be treated using a combination of an instrument called Gamma Knife and an imaging technique called PET, which is unique in the world. Patients at the Brussels Erasme hospital are now being operated on without the skull being opened. Tumours up to 3 cm in size are removed under local anaesthetic, the patient can leave hospital the next day and work the day after. Furthermore it does not lead to loss of hair. Normally this type of surgery involves a stay in hospital of 6-8 weeks. The crucial imaging technique guiding the surgeon while he is removing the tumour has been the object of several research projects co-funded by the Commission.

    [02] La Commission autorise l'achat par Invensys de l'entreprise de logiciels néerlandaise Baan

    La Commission européenne a approuvé l'acquisition de la société néerlandaise Baan Company N.V par la société britannique Invensys Plc. L'opération présente de grandes complémentarités et les seuls domaines de produits où les activités des deux sociétés se recoupent sont les logiciels de gestion et d'entreprise et certains services informatiques (IT), dans lesquels elles détiennent des parts de marché limitées.

    [03] Microsoft gives up joint control over Telewest as Commission objects to deal

    Microsoft Corp has informed the European Commission that it has agreed to limit its investment in Telewest Communications Plc to a minority interest, without the possibility of exercising decisive influence over the British broadband cable company. This means that Microsoft no longer has joint control over Telewest, leading it to withdraw its notification of the original deal, under which it was acquiring control with Liberty Media Corp. Consequently, the Commission will not take any further action with regard to this operation.

    [04] Pascal Lamy paraphe trois accords destinés à faciliter le commerce avec des pays candidats à l'adhésion

    (! embargo 15h !) Le Commissaire européen responsible du Commerce, Pascal Lamy, a paraphé aujourd'hui trois accords de destinés à faciliter le commerce avec la Hongrie, la République Tchèque et la Lettonie. Pour la première fois, ces accords étendent les bénéfices du marché unique, pour certains produits industriels, à des pays candidats à l'adhésion.

    [05] ECHO Flight service in Africa : Commission clears euro 8.8 million to fund lifeline

    The European Commission has approved aid worth euro 8.8 million to enable ECHO Flight to continue servicing Somalia, South Sudan and the Horn of Africa. ECHO Flight is an essential lifeline for the humanitarian community in a region where road links are dangerous or non-existent, and air links unreliable, where they exist. This funding will enable Nairobi-based operations to go on until end-April, 2000. ECHO Flight, first launched in May 1994, enables ECHO partners and other humanitarian agencies to benefit from safe, scheduled air transport for staff and goods. It also responds to emergency calls for security and medical evacuation at short notice. Since the service started, ECHO Flight aircraft have safely carried over 160,000 passengers and moved more than 4.4 million kg of cargo to more than 200 destinations. Previous funding for ECHO Flight amounts to euro 49.325 million.

    [06] International Conference on the Role of Risk Analysis in the EU - 18/19 July in Brussels

    The European Commission is organising on 18 and 19 July 2000 an international conference in Brussels covering the different aspects of risk analysis : risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. Risk analysis is recommended or mandated by an increasing number of Community legislation. The objective of the conference is to take stock of current knowledge in this area and to further develop ideas about how to use the different risk analysis instruments in the EU. Distinguished international experts will introduce the different facets of risk analysis and comment its increasing significance and application world-wide in the evaluation of substances, products and processes. Speakers and participants include scientists, national and European regulators, stakeholder groups and journalists. Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne will deliver the opening speech on July 18. Andreas Oldag of the Süddeutsche Zeitung will address the responsibility of the media in risk communication. The conference takes place in the Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170. Participation is open, including for press, but conditional on registration on the spot. Programme, registration form and other information are available at: http://europe.eu.int/comm/dg24/events/event30_en.html

    [07] Frits Bolkestein calls for closer international cooperation on copyright

    European Commissioner for Internal Market Frits Bolkestein told an international audience in Strasbourg on 10 July that the challenge for Europe's copyright policy in the future was to ensure fair rules, transparency and a proper balance between the adequate protection of copyright holders and easy access to protected works on reasonable terms in a time of technological change. "We will only be able to guarantee continued creativity and investment by effectively protecting artists' rights and continuing to fight piracy", he said to a Commission conference on "The Management and Legitimate Use of Intellectual Property". Mr Bolkestein urged the gathering to advance discussion on domestic and international copyright issues. With respect to international cooperation in this field, he said "it would be unrealistic to suggest that we can reach a consensus on all issues, but I am sure we can work to harmonise our priorities and match our goals. Closer coordination is clearly in our own interest", referring in particular to an upcoming conference that will discuss the drawing up of an international "Audiovisual Protocol" to protect the rights of performing artists. In the European Union, he said, "creativity and cultural diversity are our assets and are based on the protection of intellectual property rights. We must work to anchor those rights in modern international foundations, to update them to new technology and to ensure their operation in practice reflecting our legal and cultural traditions".

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


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


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