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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-02-21

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 21/02/2001

[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting

  • [01] Commission proposes a new framework programme for research and innovation in Europe Proposals for a new research and innovation framework programme for the European Union have been presented by the European Commission, on the initiative of Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "Europe has set out to become the most successful and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world. Research and innovation are the keys to success in achieving this goal", said Commissioner Busquin. Reflecting the increased priority given to research and innovation, the Commission is proposing a budget of euro 17.5 billion for the new programme. This budget, covering the four- year period 2003-2006, represents an increase of 17% over the budget of the current research framework programme. The research and innovation programme is part of a wider political initiative aiming at creating a European Research Area, as endorsed by the Lisbon Summit in March 2000. The new programme is one of the major actions in the strategy paper the Commission has put forward for the Stockholm Summit on 23-24 March (see IP/01/170).
  • [02] Commission approves programme of action to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis The European Commission has approved a new Communication setting out a programme for an accelerated European Union response to the pandemic caused by HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The programme sets out an ambitious agenda with potentially massive developmental returns. Presenting this Communication along with Commissioners Philippe Busquin (Research), Erkki Liikanen (Enterprise), David Byrne (Health), Pascal Lamy (Trade) and Chris Patten (External Relations), Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson stated : "HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria are diseases that thrive in conditions of poverty. At the same time, they fatally handicap poor countries in their efforts to lift themselves out of poverty. Successful delivery of the selected strategies will make a major contribution to global efforts to address the communicable disease burden, improve the health of the poorest and reduce global poverty. Addressing the problems will take more than development cooperation tools. This is why I am pleased to note that this Plan draws on all relevant resources available to the EU, particularly research and trade". In the 2000 budget, the EU is committing euro 800 million for health, Aids and population programmes. Representing 8% of the total development cooperation budget, this will steadily increase as delivery capacity improves.
  • [03] La Commission définit ses priorités stratégiques et pose les premiers jalons de ses propositions budgétaires pour 2002 La Commission européenne a adopté sa décision de stratégie politique annuelle. Ce nouvel instrument - élément clé du processus de réforme de la Commission - établit pour la première fois un lien entre les priorités politiques et l'allocation des ressources. La première décision de stratégie politique annuelle identifie six priorités pour 2002 qui contribueront à formuler le programme de travail de la Commission pour 2002. Dans le même temps, la Commission a également approuvé les orientations pour l'avant-projet de budget (APB) qui sera présenté au printemps. Pour l'agriculture, les fonds structurels et la pré-accession, il est envisagé d'aller jusqu'aux plafonds de Berlin. Pour les politiques internes et externes, les programmes pluriannuels et les contraintes font que l'augmentation par rapport à l'année précédente est faible et que des réserves pour faire face aux situations imprévues sont maintenues. Pour les dépenses administratives, la marge de manœuvre est proportionnellement la plus importante, notamment parce que les besoins des autres institutions ne sont pas encore connus.
  • [04] La Commission propose une organisation commune "légère" des marchés de l'alcool agricole La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition visant à établir une organisation commune du marché de l'alcool éthylique d'origine agricole. Une proposition de règlement du Conseil définit un cadre de règles communes, sous forme d'une organisation commune "légère" des marchés de l'alcool agricole. Pour l'essentiel, cette proposition introduit la possibilité d'un système de surveillance des échanges d'alcool agricole par le biais de certificats, et elle place cet alcool sous la responsabilité du comité de gestion des vins. Il s'agit notamment d'améliorer l'information sur le marché, de contrôler les flux commerciaux et de créer un forum de discussion et de prise de décisions. Franz Fischler, membre de la Commission en charge de l'Agriculture, du Développement rural et de la Pêche, a déclaré : "Ces mesures constitueront un cadre simple et transparent pour aborder les questions spécifiques du secteur de l'alcool agricole et elles seront donc bénéfiques à l'ensemble du secteur".
  • [05] Small business : Commission streamlines its business support networks As part of an ongoing programme for improving the environment for European enterprises, the European Commission is tackling the visibility and the effectiveness of a number of its business support services. Having analysed a variety of networks offering services to businesses which have grown up from different policy initiatives over the past ten years, the Commission has decided to streamline these networks into one more coherent and simple system.
  • [06] Allan Rosas is appointed Deputy Director General of the Legal Service On a proposal by Vice President Neil Kinnock, in agreement with President Romano Prodi, the European Commission has decided to appoint Allan Rosas (Finnish, 52) as Deputy Director General of the Legal Service.
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [07] Young people and alcohol : enforcement of laws would reduce death toll Alcohol consumption amongst young people is growing within the European Union. Regular heavy drinking and binge drinking has serious effects on young people's physical and mental health. In the short term alcohol drinking by youngsters is associated with a wide range of social problems, such as anti-social behaviour, violences and drink driving. 55,000 people aged 15-29 died from alcohol-related causes in Europe in 1999, according to WHO figures released yesterday. For young men, alcohol is the biggest single killer, accounting for one in four deaths. The European Commission has recently presented a proposal for a Council Recommendation on the "Drinking of Alcohol by Children and Adolescents" which is focusing on voluntary codes of conducts for industry and advocates the involvement of local communities, civil society and politicians in training and information.

    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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