|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-03-20
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 20/03/2001
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Re-thinking the Common Fisheries Policy
The European Commission has adopted a Green Paper on the future of the
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Commission has seized the opportunity of
a review of some elements of the CFP, by the end of 2002, to launch a wide-
ranging debate about its future shape, on the basis of the first-ever Green
Paper on the management of Community fisheries. "The CFP needs urgent
change : many of the most important fish stocks are on the verge of
collapse. We are catching too many fish too young, which is seriously
hindering the renewal of fish stocks. Decisive action is required to ensure
the sustainability of the fisheries sector. The Green Paper puts forward
new objectives and presents options on how to achieve them. I invite
fishermen as well as all those who feel concerned by the future of European
fisheries to take an active part in the debate launched today",
Commissioner Fischler, in charge of Agriculture, Rural Development and
Fisheries declared. Following this debate and a public hearing on 5 to 7
June, the Commission will bring forward its proposals for a revised CFP
which should enter into force on 1 January 2003.
[02] BSE : Commission adopts exemption for some third countries to remove
specified risk materials
The European Commission has agreed to put forward to the Standing
Veterinary Committee (SVC) tomorrow a Commission proposal to exempt 10
third countries from a ban on imports of specified risk materials (SRMs)
and of meat and certain meat products containing SRMs. The ban will apply
to all other third countries and will enter into force on 1 May 2001. It
will ensure that there is an equivalent level of protection in relation to
imports as applies to meat and meat products produced within the EU.
Further derogations could be granted following evaluation of outstanding
dossiers by several countries. The basis of the proposal was the opinion of
the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) on its assessment of
the geographical risk of BSE in these and other countries. Following the
opinion of the SVC, the Commission in the next several days will formally
adopt the decision
[03] Antitrust proceedings in postal sector result in Deutsche Post
separating competitive parcel services from letter monopoly
The European Commission has concluded its antitrust investigation into
Deutsche Post AG (DPAG) with a decision finding that the German postal
operator has abused its dominant position by granting fidelity rebates and
engaging in predatory pricing in the market for business parcel services.
As a result of the investigation, DPAG will create a separate legal entity
for business parcel services. The system of transparent and market-based
pricing between DPAG and the new entity for products and services they
might provide to one another is a suitable safeguard for DPAG's competitors
in business parcel deliveries that revenues from the monopoly in the letter
market will not be used to finance such services. Furthermore, in light of
the foreclosure that resulted from a long-standing scheme of fidelity
rebates granted by DPAG to all major customers in the mail-order business,
the Commission has imposed a fine of euro 24 million. This is the first
formal Commission decision in the postal sector under Article 82 of the EC
Treaty which prohibits abuses of a dominant position.
[04] New impulse for EU-US relations
The European Commission has adopted a Communication setting out its ideas
for reinforcing the transatlantic relationship. The document provides an
assessment of achievements to date under the New Transatlantic Agenda of
1995 and offers ideas on how to develop the full potential of the
transatlantic relationship by focusing on a few strategic themes. The aim
of this initiative of External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten with
Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy is to streamline EU-US cooperation to render
it more efficient and action-oriented at all levels. The Communication is a
contribution to a wider debate on the future direction of this most
important strategic relationship.
[05] Barry McSweeney nommé Directeur général du Centre Commun de Recherche
La Commission européenne a nommé Barry McSweeney (irlandais, 50 ans) comme
nouveau Directeur Général du Centre Commun de Recherche, sur proposition du
Vice-Président Neil Kinnock, en accord avec le Président Romano Prodi et
Philippe Busquin, Commissaire responsable de la Recherche.
[06] Heinz Karl Zourek appointed Deputy Director General of DG Enterprise
The European Commission has appointed Austrian Commission official Heinz
Karl Zourek (50) Deputy Director General of DG Enterprise following a
proposal by Vice-President Neil Kinnock, in agreement with President Romano
Prodi and Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society Erkki
Liikanen.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par RWE du contrôle de
Hidrocantábrico
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en application des règles de l'Union
européenne sur le contrôle des opérations de concentration, le projet par
lequel RWE AG entend acquérir le contrôle de la société espagnole de
services publics Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico (Hidrocantábrico).
L'acquisition ne soulèverait pas de problèmes de concurrence en Espagne le
seul marché où les activités des parties se chevauchent, RWE n'ayant
actuellement qu'une présence très limitée sur le marché local de
l'électricité.
[08] Commission earmarks euro 8 million in humanitarian aid for Cuba
The European Commission has adopted an intervention plan, providing €8
million of funding for vulnerable people in Cuba. The funds will be
channelled by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through partner
organisations working in the country. The decision focuses on elderly and
disabled people who have no family support or resources, living both in the
community and in social institutions.
[09] Pascal Lamy to put intellectual property rights in perspective at
Oxfam Seminar
European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy will today aim to put into
perspective non-governmental organizations' concerns over the way in which
the protection of intellectual property rights in the WTO affects the
developing world. Later today, Mr Lamy will attend a Brussels conference
organised by Oxfam on the theme 'What future for the WTO agreement on trade-
related aspects of intellectual property rights ?'
[10] Fusions approuvées selon la procédure simplifiée
- Deutsche Bank / Banque Worms (France) - Siemens Business services / Janet
Gesellschaft für interaktive Medien mbH / JV
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Agriculture
Internal market strategy review : Frits Bolkestein outlines main themes to
Parliament Committee
Discours de M. Bolkestein : "Postal Services - Let's do what we preach" au
'Bundesverband der Deutschen Postdienstleister' (! embargo 19h15 !)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
