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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-09-15
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission statement on the Swedish referendum (14/09)
[02] "Welcome and congratulations Estonia !"
[03] La Commission presse les partenaires sociaux de protéger les droits à
pension des personnes qui changent d'emploi
[04] Sécurité routière : les conducteurs professionnels de l'UE doivent
finalement suivre une formation professionnelle
[05] Second notification of deficit and debt data for 2002 : Euro-zone
government deficit at 2.2% of GDP and public debt at 69.0% of GDP
[06] EU Cohesion Policy in Cyprus : negotiations of the Single Programming
Documents will start on 16 September in Nicosia
[07] EU/Japan : Commission welcomes new law allowing Japanese and EU
lawyers to work in partnership
[08] Chris Patten to visit Syria (15-16/09)
[09] Trade in Cotton : constructive proposals to solve African problem
(13/09)
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 15/09/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 15/09/2003
[01] Commission statement on the Swedish referendum (14/09)
"The European Commission takes note of the decision of the Swedish people.
We firmly believe that the euro, our currency, has brought and will
continue to bring advantages to the euro area economy. The euro has
provided much needed stability in the individual Member States' economies
and has created an appropriate springboard for the Lisbon agenda to make
Europe the most competitive and socially cohesive area in the world. It has
also contributed to international financial stability. The euro is the
world's second most important currency but it is still a young currency.
Its full impact has still to work its way through to the euro area economy
and that is what we are in the process of achieving together. Sweden could
have influenced this effort by deciding to join the euro. We are confident
that the Swedish Government will choose the way forward to keep the euro
project alive in Sweden."
[02] "Welcome and congratulations Estonia !"
The European Commission warmly congratulates Estonia on the success of the
referendum on EU accession. Yesterday's decision clearly marks Estonia's
return to its rightful place in Europe, and sets the seal on a process of
change that has been both difficult and hard-won. "In the dark days of its
history, Estonia experienced first-hand what the Iron Curtain did to
Europe. Now it can harvest the fruits of a united Europe. The Commission is
convinced that Estonia's unique experience, qualities and talents will be a
strong asset in this process", stressed Commission President Romano Prodi.
The outcome of the referendum confirms the wisdom of Estonia's leaders and
its people in pursuing accession - the key foreign policy objective over
the last ten years. It is also a tribute to the enormous efforts of all
people in Estonia to rebuild a home in which they have the freedom to
determine their own destiny. "The yes-vote pays tribute to all those who
have put so much energy into Estonia's remarkable transition", underlined
Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen. "But this is just the beginning.
The result demonstrates that Estonia is ready to play its full and active
role in building the new enlarged Europe."
[03] La Commission presse les partenaires sociaux de protéger les droits à
pension des personnes qui changent d'emploi
La Commission européenne demande aux partenaires sociaux d'assumer leur
rôle en s'attaquant aux problèmes rencontrés par les travailleurs pour
lesquels un changement de travail, en particulier vers un autre Etat membre,
entraîne une réduction de leurs droits à pension professionnelle. Dans un
document de consultation publié aujourd'hui, la Commission demande aux
syndicats et au patronat d'adapter les régimes de pension professionnelle
sous leur responsabilité de façon à ce que les personnes qui changent
d'emploi ou interrompent leur carrière ne perdent pas trop de droits à
pension professionnelle. La Commission invite les partenaires sociaux à
négocier une convention collective à l'échelle européenne prévoyant des
régimes de pension professionnelle plus favorables à la mobilité.
[04] Sécurité routière : les conducteurs professionnels de l'UE doivent
finalement suivre une formation professionnelle
Il sera désormais obligatoire pour les conducteurs professionnels au sein
de l'UE d'avoir suivi une formation professionnelle. La directive relative
à la qualification initiale et à la formation continue des conducteurs de
certains véhicules routiers affectés aux transports de marchandises ou de
voyageurs est entrée en vigueur le 10 septembre 2003. Cette étape
importante dans l'harmonisation des aspects sociaux de la politique en
matière de transport routier devrait permettre d'améliorer la sécurité sur
les routes européennes.
[05] Second notification of deficit and debt data for 2002 : Euro-zone
government deficit at 2.2% of GDP and public debt at 69.0% of GDP
For the second time in 2003, the EU Member States have notified to the
European Commission their data on government deficit and debt for 2002.
They have been verified by Eurostat and are consistent with Eurostat
decisions, notably on capital injections into public corporations,
treatment of non-returned banknotes and coins, securitisation operations
undertaken by general government units and allocation of mobile phone
licences (UMTS). The revised data confirm the trends observed in the
notification of March 2003. The government balance of the euro-zone and
EU15 moved into a higher deficit in 2002, compared to 2001. Meanwhile
government debt continued to fall slightly in both zones in 2002.
[06] EU Cohesion Policy in Cyprus : negotiations of the Single Programming
Documents will start on 16 September in Nicosia
The European Commission today announced the launch of the first round of
negotiations with Cyprus on future Structural Funds assistance.
Negotiations will start tomorrow in Nicosia. They will aim at finding an
agreement on the Single Programming Documents (SPDs) on Objective 2,
Objective 3 and Fisheries sector of the Structural Funds for the years 2004
to 2006. These documents contain the strategy and priorities for actions in
the field of economic and social conversion of rural and urban areas facing
structural difficulties ; labour market and human resources policies and
the fisheries sector. The Commission's position on how Structural Funds
should be used in Cyprus is set out in letters addressed from Mr Barnier,
Ms Diamantopoulou and Mr Fischler to the Cypriot authorities.
[07] EU/Japan : Commission welcomes new law allowing Japanese and EU
lawyers to work in partnership
The European Commission has welcomed a new Japanese law which will allow
Japanese and registered foreign lawyers freely to form partnerships. This
law deregulates Japan's market for international legal services by removing
the current, restrictive "designated joint enterprise" system, which has
held back both foreign and Japanese lawyers. Japanese companies and their
foreign counterparts have long been emphasising that the ability to meet
the high level of demand for such services is an essential element in
attracting foreign direct investment to Japan. Competitiveness and future
structural reform, including merger and acquisition activity, will also
benefit.
[08] Chris Patten to visit Syria (15-16/09)
European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten will visit
Damascus on 15-16 September and meet with President Bashar Al-Assad. As the
Syrian Government resigned on 10 September, the Commissioner will meet
members of the outgoing cabinet. He will also meet with members of the
business community. The main goal of the visit is to boost negotiations on
an EU-Syria Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement as well as to discuss
regional issues including the Middle East Peace Process and Iraq.
[09] Trade in Cotton : constructive proposals to solve African problem
(13/09)
In the context of the on-going Doha Development Agenda negotiations, a
number of African countries have requested the WTO to take measures to
address the depression in world market prices for cotton. In response to
this request, the European Commission is proposing a constructive solution
to address the trade aspects linked to the depressed prices in the current
world cotton market.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Franz Fischler : "State of play of agriculture negotiations" at
WTO ministerial meeting (12/09, Cancun)
Speech by Franz Fischler : "Reaction to the chair's draft" at WTO
ministerial meeting's press conference (13/09, Cancun)
Speech by Franz Fischler : "The breakdown of the Cancun Ministerial
Meeting" at the closing press conference of the WTO ministerial meeting
(14/09, Cancun)
Speech by Pascal Lamy at the closing press conference of the WTO
ministerial meeting (14/09, Cancun)
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Ecofin informel (13/09, Stresa)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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