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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-03-06

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 06/03/2001

  • [01] Romano Prodi welcomes outcome of football transfers talks "I am delighted that we have been able to find a satisfactory and workable outcome with FIFA on international player transfers in the European Union that not only respects the special needs of the sport but also Community law", commented European Commission President Romano Prodi. "Europe has risen to the occasion and won the match, ensuring a great victory both for football and for Europe. Club football represents much of what we are striving to achieve in Europe in terms of exchanges of players, fans and ideas. Together, European football is stronger, more dynamic and more entertaining than if each national league played in its own corner. We have managed to achieve an outcome that will preserve the legitimate rights of players to move from one country to another whilst ensuring European football will be able to go from strength to strength. I pay tribute to all those involved and in particular my colleagues Mario Monti, Anna Diamantopulou and Viviane Reding."
  • [02] Outcome of discussions between Commission and FIFA/UEFA on FIFA regulations on international football transfers In a meeting on 5 March 2001, European Commissioners Mario Monti (Competition), Viviane Reding (Education and Culture) and Anna Diamantopoulou (Employment and Social Affairs), and Presidents of FIFA Joseph Blatter and UEFA Lennart Johansson, finalised their discussions on revised FIFA regulations on international football transfers. This was formalised through an exchange of letters between President Blatter and Commissioner Monti. As far as the compatibility with Community law is concerned, it was concluded that the principles outlined meet the specific needs of the sport and could pave the way to a positive solution on the competition procedure that is open against FIFA provided that these principles are fully reflected in the FIFA Regulations to be amended. FIFA, in agreement with UEFA, undertook to proceed immediately to change its existing regulations on the status and transfers of players, in its version of 1997.
  • [03] Depleted uranium : Commission receives scientific experts' opinion The European Commission today received the opinion of the group of independent scientific experts, established according to Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty, on the possible radiological health effects of depleted uranium. On the basis of the information available to date, the experts have concluded that radiological exposure to depleted uranium could not result in a detectable effect on human health. Although the possibility of a combined effect of exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals and to radiation could not be excluded the experts concluded that there was no evidence to support this hypothesis. Receiving the opinion, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said : "I am grateful for the speedy work of the experts in producing this opinion. My Commission colleagues and I will take it into account when discussing the need for further action with regard to the health and environmental situation in the Balkans. I also look forward to seeing the results of work carried out by other bodies competent in this field, such as the United Nations Environment Programme whose report will soon be issued."
  • [04] David Byrne and Franz Fischler launch broad debate on food quality, safety and production At a high level round table with leading food producers, retailers, consumer experts and scientists on 5 March, European Commissioners for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, and for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Franz Fischler, launched a debate for a strategic re-thinking of food production and food policy in terms of quality, safety and cost. The Commissioners emphasised the need for shifts in attitudes of both consumers and producers if initiatives to improve the overall quality of the food on offer are to succeed. The challenge is to find ways to match consumer demands and expectations for good quality food with a corresponding food supply. Based on ideas emerging from yesterday's round table the Commissioners suggested concrete follow up-actions, such as similar round tables in the Member States and collect suggestions for common policies or a conference with the European Parliament to consider the role of public policy vis a vis food quality and production methods.
  • [05] La Commission autorise l'offre commune présentée par EDP-Cajastur- Cáser pour Hidrocantábrico La Commission européenne a autorisé le projet d'acquisition du contrôle en commun de la société d'électricité espagnole Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico (Hidrocantábrico) par la société d'électricité portugaise EDP-Electricidade de Portugal S.A. (EDP) et les sociétés espagnoles Caja de Ahorros de Asturias (Cajastur) et Caja de Seguros Reunidos, Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A. (Cáser). L'offre publique, qui a été autorisée par les autorités boursières espagnoles le 6 février 2001, ne suscite pas de préoccupations sur le plan de la concurrence, car EDP et Hidrocantábrico auront à soutenir une concurrence réelle ou potentielle sur leurs marchés nationaux.
  • [06] Commission adopts emergency measures to protect West of Scotland cod stock As the cod stock in the West of Scotland is in imminent danger of collapse, the European Commission has adopted a regulation for emergency protection measures. These measures involve the closure, until 30 April 2001, of two separate areas to all fisheries likely to catch cod. Technical and control measures have also been imposed on a number of fisheries which will continue in these two zones as they do not threaten cod. The Commission adopted similar measures on 7 February to protect North Sea cod. These two sets of measures represent the first part of a three-stage approach : emergency measures to allow as many cod as possible to spawn, additional technical and control measures in the spring to protect young cod and a proposal for a long-term recovery plan in June. "We have run down our assets, it's time to rebuild them. The Commission has taken these emergency measures after consultation with all the stakeholders concerned. I am glad that everyone recognises the need for emergency and long-term measures to help the recovery of the cod stocks", said Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Fisheries.
  • [07] La Commission lance une nouvelle approche pour la libre circulation des produits électriques respectueux de l'environnement Un document de travail présenté par la Direction Générale Entreprises de la Commission européenne concernant la libre circulation des équipements électriques et électroniques respectueux de l'environnement (EEE), a été discuté aujourd'hui lors d'une réunion entre les Services de la Commission et les parties intéressées. Faisant suite aux recommandations du Conseil européen de Lisbonne de mars 2000 en faveur de la simplification de l'environment législatif, le document de travail est un exemple concret d'une façon alternative de légiférer. Le document de travail EEE, qui pourrait servir de base à une proposition de directive, reflète la détermination de l'UE d'intégrer le développement durable dans d'autres politiques, y compris la politique d'entreprise. Il devrait aussi compléter la proposition de Directive sur les déchets d'équipement électrique et électronique (WEEE) en améliorant la gestion des déchets EEE dès la conception des produits, en promouvant les objectifs de la politique européenne intégrée sur les produits, en montrant comment un outil législatif existant et performant tel que la nouvelle approche, peut être appliqué à un nouveau domaine, l'environnement.
  • [08] Trafficking in women : Anna Diamantopoulou and Antonio Vitorino speak about "Poverty to slavery : the misery behind the fantasy" to mark International Women's Day, 8 March European Commissioners for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou and Justice and Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino mark International Women's Day on 8 March with an open-door profile-raising event on trafficking in women to take place at the European Parliament. The two Commissioners supported by Swedish Minister Winberg and MEPs Theorin and Sörensen, will draw attention to the growing number of women trafficked into the EU for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has been estimated that between 50,000 and 120,000 women and children are trafficked into western Europe every year. The event will be held on Thursday 8 March in Brussels at the EP Spinelli Building, Room 3G3, between 12h00-13h00. The whole event will be open to the accredited media. An information pack will be provided to journalists. !!!For TV journalists : an EbS 'Infoclip' on trafficking in women is scheduled to be broadcast on Wednesday 7 March and Thursday 8 March!!!.
  • [09] Commission organises hearing on cybercrime The European Commission will hold a public hearing on cybersecurity and cybercrime on 7 March 2001 in Brussels. At this hearing, various interested parties from internet service providers, telecommunications operators and other industrial players, law enforcement, privacy protection authorities, and civil liberties organisations will issue comments on the development of EU policy in this area.
  • [10] December 2000 - Volume of retail trade up by 1.7% in euro-zone ; EU15 up by 2.5% (! embargo 12 am !) In December 2000, as compared to December 1999, the volume of retail trade gained 1.7% in the euro-zone and 2.5% in the EU15, Eurostat estimates today. Compared to November 2000, sales increased by 0.1% in the euro-zone and by 0.3% in the EU15. In December 2000, and compared to December 1999, the strongest growth rates were registered for "household goods" both in the euro-zone (3.7%) and the EU15 (5.5%). "Food, drinks, tobacco" increased by 1.6% in the euro-zone and 1.5% in the EU15. "Textiles, clothing and footwear" rose in the euro-zone by 0.4% and in the EU15 by 1.8%. Compared to November 2000, sales decreased in "Food, drinks and tobacco" by 0.2% in both areas. "Textiles, clothing and footwear" increased by 0.2% in the euro-zone and 0.9% in the EU15. "Household goods" fell in the euro-zone by 0.3% and rose by 0.4% in the EU15.
  • [11] Enveloppe de 10 millions d'euros au titre de l'aide humanitaire en faveur des victimes du tremblement de terre en Inde - priorité donnée au logement La Commission européenne a exposé les éléments de sa décision concernant l'octroi d'une aide humanitaire en faveur des victimes du séisme du Gujarat. Une première enveloppe de 3 millions d'euros avait été allouée dans les 36 heures suivant la catastrophe et une deuxième enveloppe de 10 millions d'euros a été annoncée quatre jours plus tard lorsque les autorités ont pris la pleine mesure de la tragédie. L'Office d'aide humanitaire (ECHO) se concentre sur la fourniture d'abris provisoires, qui constitue le besoin le plus urgent et le plus généralisé dans la zone touchée par le séisme.
  • [12] Chernobyl : euro 33.3 million contract for construction of radioactive waste management facility signed In the preparation for the decommissioning of the Chernobyl reactors facilities for solid waste retrieval, treatment and disposal are required and yesterday, in Kiev, a euro 33.3 million contract for the construction of a radioactive waste management facility near the Chernobyl power plant was signed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy (represented by Energoatom, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company) and the German contractor NUKEM Nuclear GmbH. The building of this complex is part of the European Union's efforts to ensure the shut down of the power plant and its replacement with more environment-friendly and safer power plants. The facility, to be established by this project, which will be known as the "Industrial Complex for Solid Radwaste Management" (ICSRM), will contain a solid waste retrieval facility, a solid waste processing plant and a repository for the disposal of short-lived waste.
  • [13] Eléments d'informations pratiques sur le déroulement de la manifestation d'ouverture du débat sur l'avenir de l'UE (07/03) La Présidence suédoise a choisi d'organiser la séance d'ouverture du débat sur l'avenir de l'Union européenne le mercredi 7 mars à 14h30 dans le cadre d'une rencontre débat avec les élèves des écoles européennes de Bruxelles.
  • [14] Autre matériel diffusé Résultats du G8 Environnement Discours de M. Bolkestein : "Working together to seize the moment" au Forum européen des Commissions des Valeurs (FESCO) (Paris)

    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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