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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-02-15

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

Midday Express 15/02/2001

  • [01] Message of European Commission President Romano Prodi to the Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak and to the Prime Minister elect Ariel Sharon, sent on 14 February 2001 "I was shocked to hear of the tragic incident that occurred today in Israel, which claimed so many innocent victims. As you know, the European Union has already strongly condemned this terrorist act. On behalf of the European Commission and on my own behalf, allow me to express my condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured."
  • [02] Joint statement by Commissioners Monti, Reding and Diamantopoulou and Presidents of FIFA Blatter and of UEFA Johansson At a meeting yesterday, at the highest level, the European Commission, FIFA and UEFA firmly cemented an agreement on a significant number of issues related to the FIFA rules on the international transfers of footballers. The participants also discussed and clarified the two sides' positions with regard to the remaining issues and affirmed their political commitment to find a final compromise before the end of February. The meeting was attended by FIFA and UEFA presidents, respectively Joseph S. Blatter and Lennart Johansson, and Commissioners Mario Monti (Competition), Viviane Reding (Education and Culture) and Anna Diamantopoulou (Employment and Social Affairs).
  • [03] Le Comité scientifique directeur publie une évaluation du risque en cas de détection de l'ESB chez le mouton Le Comité scientifique directeur (CSD), que la Commission européenne consulte entre autres sur des questions relatives à l'ESB, a publié une évaluation préventive du risque pour la santé humaine en cas de détection de l'ESB chez les moutons dans les conditions de terrain. Les scientifiques estiment que l'on ne dispose pas, à ce stade, d'informations suffisantes pour arrêter des conclusions sûres sur le risque sanitaire potentiel. Ils élaborent donc trois scénarios sur ce risque potentiel et la manière de l'appréhender. Les scientifiques déclarent qu'il n'existe actuellement aucun élément confirmant la présence de l'ESB chez les ovins et les caprins. Ils ajoutent cependant que les connaissances dans ce domaine sont très limitées et que l'on ne dispose pas de méthodes de test ni de systèmes de contrôle appropriés pour confirmer un diagnostic. Il faut donc commencer à collecter les informations nécessaires pour évaluer la prévalence éventuelle de l'EST chez les moutons.
  • [04] Frits Bolkestein welcomes final report from Wise Men on Securities Markets Regulation European Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein has welcomed the Final Report from the Committee of Wise Men chaired by Alexandre Lamfalussy on the Regulation of European Securities Markets. Mr Bolkestein said : "This report constitutes an essential contribution to necessary reform of the regulatory framework for European financial markets. Community legislation must respond rapidly and flexibly to developments in financial markets in order to achieve greater market integration and improved competitiveness. I congratulate the Group of Wise Men chaired by Mr Lamfalussy on the quality of their work, and I am very grateful. Their report contains, while respecting the institutional balance, precise and innovative recommendations which EU institutions and industry should consider adopting as quickly as possible. These recommendations open the way to more open, secure and efficient European financial markets. The full text of the report will be available for downloading from the Europa Internet site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market (click on What's New).
  • [05] Les ministres de l'UE se réunissent pour s'attaquer à la pénurie croissante de qualifications (15-16/02, Luleå) La pénurie croissante de qualifications que connaît l'Europe - particulièrement dans le domaine des technologies de l'information - sera débattue en urgence lors du tout premier Conseil informel conjoint des ministres de l'emploi et des télécommunications, qui se tiendra à Luleå les 15 et 16 février prochains sous la présidence suédoise. Les ministres s'efforceront d'identifier les causes du problème et discuteront tant des solutions immédiates et à court terme que des politiques à long terme pour remédier à la pénurie de qualifications. L'inadéquation de l'apprentissage des compétences numériques, dans le système éducatif comme dans l'environnement de travail, est au coeur du problème. L'incapacité de trouver une solution au déficit de qualifications croissant en technologies de l'information pourrait mettre en péril l'objectif déclaré de l'Union européenne, qui est de faire de l'Europe une économie fondée sur la connaissance d'importance mondiale, compétitive, dynamique et sans exclusion sociale. La réunion conjointe des ministres de l'emploi et des télécommunications devrait envoyer un signal fort à l'intention du prochain sommet européen, qui se tiendra à Stockholm les 23 et 24 mars et qui accordera la priorité à l'emploi, aux qualifications et aux technologies de l'information. La réunion débattra vraisemblablement de la proposition de la Commission invitant le sommet de Stockholm à constituer d'urgence une task force de haut niveau sur les qualifications et la mobilité afin de résoudre ce problème.
  • [06] Frits Bolkestein welcomes European Parliament vote on copyright Directive "I am delighted that the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to endorse compromise amendments to the EU copyright Directive that reflect the delicate balance of interests catered for in the Council's Common Position", commented European Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein after the 14 February vote at the Parliament's Strasbourg plenary session. "The Parliament has been subjected to unprecedented lobbying onslaught on this Directive, and I regret that some of the parties concerned strived to obtain nothing less than total victory, using sometimes highly emotive arguments, rather than seeking a balanced compromise between the various legitimate interests involved. That is not the European way to move forward we all have to be prepared to accept compromise and I congratulate the Parliament for having done so. The Parliament's vote should help to ensure the rapid adoption of this important measure to bring European copyright rules into the digital age, as requested by the EU's Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon Summit. The rapid implementation of this Directive will facilitate the development of electronic commerce and so increase the competitiveness of the European economy."
  • [07] Margot Wallström welcomes adoption of new rules for Eco-Management and Audit European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström today announced that the EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) has been revised, enlarged and strengthened. "All economic actors and public authorities willing to manifest their genuine commitment to improving our environment will now have EMAS at their disposal", noted the Commissioner welcoming the adoption of the revised EMAS by the Council and the European Parliament. The changes to the 1993 Regulation will create a new era for EMAS. An extended scope to all activities, a solid environmental management system using the relevant part of the European standard EN ISO 14001, a more transparent system strengthening stakeholder's participation and an enhanced credibility are some of the changes introduced to EMAS. The opportunity given to organisations to address the concerns of stakeholders through a more flexible environmental statement, as well as the possibility to follow-up yearly improvements within organisations, will lead to greater transparency. The new requirements placed on environmental verifiers will contribute to enhancing the credibility of EMAS. "Companies who wish to integrate environment into their activities, and at the same time enhance their economic viability, while being trusted and recognised for their environmental achievements, are invited to join the EMAS 'club', which already have more than 3000 members", Commissioner Wallström added. More information on the new scheme can be found at : http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/emas
  • [08] Euro 100 million support programme for Kosovo The European Commission approved yesterday the commitment of euro 100 million to finance a support programme for Kosovo in 2001 which focuses on housing, water and solid waste management, agriculture, local government and civil society and health. The programme, which will be implemented by the European Agency for Reconstruction, is the result of close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and other international donors. The projects identified complement the on-going work of ECHO (Humanitarian Aid Office), other humanitarian agencies and NGO's, as well as reconstruction programmes already underway. The assistance package, which forms part of an overall support in 2001 to Kosovo of euro 350 million, builds on past programmes but reinforces the society development, democratisation and institution building which are key accompanying measures to physical reconstruction being provided to date.
  • [09] Southern Serbia : Commission supports Presevo Valley peace plan and announces aid Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebosja Covic pay a visit today to the European Commission to discuss the peace plan for the Presevo Valley recently produced by the Serbian Government. External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, currently in Moscow, said : "The European Commission is determined to contribute to efforts to prevent further conflict in southern Serbia. The time for conflict is past. We intend to work with people of goodwill to promote dialogue and to safeguard peace in this area. I welcome the thrust of the plan drawn up by Belgrade. My officials are examining it closely. We very much share the desire of the Yugoslav and Serbian authorities to tackle the problems in the Presevo Valley, and in particular to address some of their long term causes. It is vital to establish a normal life for people of the region and to foster economic activity. The Commission is ready to contribute significantly to this task. We are currently considering what long-term contribution we can make under our euro 240 million programme for Serbia in 2001. In the meantime, we have decided to double immediately the scale of our effort in the Presevo Valley area. I am happy to announce an additional euro 900,000 contribution under the Commission's emergency programme for Serbia."
  • [10] Commission to approve between euro 5 million and euro 8 million for El Salvador following new earthquake Responding to the second devastating earthquake to strike El Salvador in a month, the European Commission has reacted speedily with new proposals to aid the victims. Poul Nielson, the Commissioner for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, has announced an immediate EU commitment of between euro 5 million and euro 8 million for emergency relief operations in the stricken country. The aid will be channelled by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) to the victims, through partner NGOs and other international agencies. Commenting on the catastrophe, Mr Nielson said : "It is tragic that, so soon after last month's earthquake, El Salvador has once again been hit in this way. We are doing our utmost to ensure that those who are suffering quickly get the help they need." ECHO was already heavily committed to delivering support to the victims of the earlier earthquake, and had allocated euro 2 million as an immediate response. A further decision was being prepared when the second earthquake struck and the new resources will be used to respond to humanitarian needs created by both of these catastrophes. The latest events have resulted in significant new needs which the Humanitarian Aid Office is now urgently addressing with its partners in El Salvador.
  • [11] Poul Nielson rencontre Affi N'Guessan, Premier Ministre de Côte d'Ivoire Le Commissaire européen chargé du développement et de l'aide humanitaire, M. Poul Nielson, reçoit le vendredi 16 février une délégation du gouvernement ivoirien mené par le Premier Ministre M. Affi N'Guessan, accompagné notamment de MM. Bouabre, Ministre des Finances, et Oulai, Ministre de la Justice. La réunion aura lieu dans le contexte des consultations menées avec la Côte d'Ivoire au titre de l'article 96 de l'Accord de Cotonou qui se tiennent le jeudi 15 février au Conseil de l'Union européenne. Cette réunion fournira l'occasion d'évoquer la situation politique en Côte d'Ivoire, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le processus démocratique, le respect des droits de l'homme et de l'état de droit.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


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


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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