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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-04-24

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>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Romano Prodi welcomes agreement on new cabinet of Palestinian Authority
  • [02] Nouvelles exigences en matière d'hygiène des aliments pour animaux : le chaînon qui manquait pour garantir la sécurité des denrées alimentaires
  • [03] February first estimates, January revised figures : Euro-zone external trade surplus €5.2 billion in February 2003 ; €2.9 billion deficit for EU15
  • [04] Commission and Danish competition authorities jointly open up Danish gas market
  • [05] Update on avian influenza in the Netherlands and Belgium
  • [06] Newcastle disease in the USA : existing export restrictions extended to more States
  • [07] Commission imposes a 33% tax on imports of DRAMS produced by Korean Hynix Semiconductor
  • [08] Pan-European interchange of data between administrations : six accession countries join the programme
  • [09] Un rapport confirme l'efficacité de la notion de "notification préalable" par les Etats de leurs projets de réglementations, pour le développement du marché intérieur et des entreprises
  • [10] Margot Wallström at the G8 Environment Ministers meeting in Paris
  • [11] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 24/04/2003 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 24/04/2003

  • [01] Romano Prodi welcomes agreement on new cabinet of Palestinian Authority

    On 23 April, the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, gave the following reaction to the announcement of a breakthrough in talks on a new cabinet of the Palestinian Authority (PA) : "I very much welcome the news concerning the agreement on the composition of the new PA cabinet. We now look forward to its early presentation to the Palestinian Legislative Council in the hope that it can gain parliamentary confirmation and take up its duties as soon as possible. This marks a major step forward for the PA as it pursues the reforms necessary to build an administration that will provide the foundations of a viable Palestinian State. The Commission now expects the Road Map to peace, as agreed last December by the Quartet of the EU, the US, the UN and Russia, to be presented to partners in Israel and the PA so that they start implementing it without delay. The people of Israel and the Palestinian Territories have already waited too long for peace : there is no more time to lose."

    [02] Nouvelles exigences en matière d'hygiène des aliments pour animaux : le chaînon qui manquait pour garantir la sécurité des denrées alimentaires

    La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition de nouveau règlement établissant des exigences en matière d'hygiène des aliments pour animaux. Certains aspects touchant aux aliments pour animaux, comme les additifs utilisés dans ces aliments, les contrôles dont ils font l'objet et leur étiquetage, sont déjà régis par des règles communautaires. En revanche, les règles proposées aujourd'hui, qui concernent la production, le transport, l'entreposage et la manipulation des aliments pour animaux, faisaient défaut. La Commission a également étudié l'opportunité et la possibilité de dresser une liste exhaustive (dite "liste positive") des matières premières d'aliments pour animaux autorisées dans l'Union. La proposition de règlement va à présent être soumise au Parlement européen et au Conseil aux fins d'adoption par la procédure de codécision. Le rapport concernant la liste positive sera présenté au Parlement européen et au Conseil.

    [03] February first estimates, January revised figures : Euro-zone external trade surplus €5.2 billion in February 2003 ; €2.9 billion deficit for EU15

    According to Eurostat, the first estimate for euro-zone trade with the rest of the world in February 2003 was a €5.2 billion surplus, against a surplus of 7.0 billion in February 2002. The revised January 2003 balance was -0.9 billion, compared with a surplus of 1.0 billion in January 2002. In February 2003, exports and imports, seasonally adjusted, increased by 0.7% and 0.3% respectively compared to January 2003.

    [04] Commission and Danish competition authorities jointly open up Danish gas market

    The European Commission's competition department and the Danish Competition authority have settled an antitrust investigation involving the incumbent Danish gas supplier DONG and the country's main gas producers Shell, A.P Møller and ChevronTexaco after the latter committed themselves to market their production individually. DONG also agreed to release the producers, grouped in a cooperation called DUC, from the obligation to offer all their gas first to DONG. The successful outcome follows the settlement reached in 2002 with the Norwegian gas producers and is another step towards the creation of a European single market for gas, which will lead to improved services and lower prices for businesses and consumers alike. The investigation also provides a good example of how the Commission and the national competition authorities can work together to foster a more competitive business environment.

    [05] Update on avian influenza in the Netherlands and Belgium

    The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health met on 23 April to discuss again the avian influenza situation in the Netherlands and Belgium. In general the existing restrictive measures adopted to prevent the spreading of the disease and to eradicate it have been extended until 12 May. The Committee also had an exchange of information with regard to the public health aspects of the current epidemic.

    [06] Newcastle disease in the USA : existing export restrictions extended to more States

    An outbreak of Newcastle disease, a contagious disease in poultry that causes major losses in the sector if spread but has no impact on human health, has been confirmed on 11 April 2003 in the State of Texas, close to the border with the State of New Mexico. Emergency measures have been taken by the veterinary authorities in several Counties of those two States. As a result of this new situation, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on a European Commission proposal to extend the existing restrictions, applying to the States of California, Nevada and Arizona since 28 January 2003 (see Midday Express of 29.01.2003) to the Counties of El Paso and Hudspeth in Texas and the Counties of Dona Ana, Luna and Otero in New Mexico. Imports of live poultry including hatching eggs, fresh poultry meat and poultry products from these areas are not authorised. The Decision will apply until 1 August 2003 and will be reviewed in the light of the evolution of the disease situation in the USA.

    [07] Commission imposes a 33% tax on imports of DRAMS produced by Korean Hynix Semiconductor

    Today the European Commission has imposed a provisional countervailing duty of 33% on imports of DRAMS (dynamic random access memories) produced by the Korean producer Hynix Semiconductor. This decision follows an investigation where Hynix has been found to benefit from subsidies in the form of financing provided by government owned or controlled Korean banks to the detriment of the European chip industry, which suffered severe losses. The subsidies for the other Korean chip producer, Samsung Electronics, have been found to be within the limits allowed by the law ("de minimis") and therefore they are not subject to the provisional countervailing duty. The duty is provisional and will apply for four months, period during which the EU will have to take a definitive decision.

    [08] Pan-European interchange of data between administrations : six accession countries join the programme

    Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Malta, Estonia, and Cyprus have signed Memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the European Commission, formalising their participation in the IDA Programme. The MoUs allow the six EU Accession Countries to join the pan-European electronic infrastructure that the EU institutions and Member States use to exchange data for the purposes of applying EU law, enforcing single market rules, and supplying e- government services across borders to citizens and businesses.

    [09] Un rapport confirme l'efficacité de la notion de "notification préalable" par les Etats de leurs projets de réglementations, pour le développement du marché intérieur et des entreprises

    Un rapport de la Commission européenne dresse un bilan positif de la procédure obligatoire de notification préalable, par les Etats membres, des projets de réglementations nationales dans le domaine des produits et des services en ligne. Ce système, qui repose actuellement sur la Directive 98/34/CE, est appliqué depuis près de vingt ans aux réglementations nationales sur les produits. Il a été récemment étendu aux services de la société de l'information par la Directive 98/48/CE et ce système confirme aujourd'hui son efficacité au bénéfice du Marché intérieur et des entreprises présentes sur la scène européenne. Le rapport de la Commission met en lumière le rôle fondamental qu'a joué la procédure de notification entre 1999 et 2001 afin d'éviter la création d'entraves à la libre circulation des produits et des services.

    [10] Margot Wallström at the G8 Environment Ministers meeting in Paris

    The European Commissioner for the Environment, Margot Wallström, will participate in the meeting of G8 Environment Ministers this weekend (25-27 April) in Paris. At the meeting, ministers will discuss Africa, notably support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and follow- up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) ; sustainable production and consumption ; and finally governance in the environment field.

    [11] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Franz Fischler at the roundtable on research results relating to the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops

    Propos liminaires de M. Busquin à la conférence de presse à l'occasion du séminaire interinstitutionnel sur la Bioéthique

    Discours d'ouverture de M. Busquin : "La recherche sur les cellules souches embryonnaires dans le 6ème Programme-Cadre" au Séminaire interinstitutionnel sur la Bioéthique

    Discours de M. Busquin à la table ronde sur les résultats de la recherche applicables à la coexistence des cultures génétiquement modifiées et non modifiées


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


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