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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-10-27

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] Enlargement and agriculture : Commission tables amendments to take account of CAP reform
  • [02] Marchés publics : la Commission lance une consultation sur les possibilités de recours des soumissionnaires non retenus
  • [03] Financial services : Commission sets up specialist groups to take stock of Action Plan and look to the future
  • [04] Des organismes de recherche européens prestigieux unissent leurs forces à celles de la Commission
  • [05] Afghanistan : Commission proposes €79.5 million for fourth reconstruction programme
  • [06] EU and Cape Verde extend fisheries protocol by a year
  • [07] L'UE et le Maroc conviennent d'intensifier leurs échanges de produits agricoles
  • [08] Making EU enlargement work for consumers
  • [09] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 27/10/2003 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 27/10/2003

  • [01] Enlargement and agriculture : Commission tables amendments to take account of CAP reform

    In September 2003 the Council adopted a fundamental reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This reform package makes significant changes to the EU acquis on which the accession negotiations were based. In their current form the CAP reform texts take no account of the results of those negotiations or indeed of enlargement itself. Consequently, the Commission has proposed today to adapt both the Act of Accession and the CAP reform texts to ensure that they can function in an enlarged EU. Today's proposals (1) adapt the CAP-related annexes of the Act of Accession so that the negotiation results fit with the new acquis (this is necessary where references in the Act of Accession will become obsolete or where the negotiation results are not immediately compatible with the reformed CAP) and (2) modify the legal CAP reform texts so that they can be applied to the new Member States and so that they incorporate any negotiation results that would otherwise be lost. The first proposal requires adoption by the Council by unanimity, after an opinion from the European Parliament. The second requires adoption by the Council by qualified majority, without an opinion from the European Parliament. In both cases the acceding countries will be fully consulted, thanks to the rights afforded to them under the information and consultation procedure.

    [02] Marchés publics : la Commission lance une consultation sur les possibilités de recours des soumissionnaires non retenus

    La Commission européenne a lancé une consultation Internet de huit semaines sur les problèmes pratiques et juridiques susceptibles de se poser aux entreprises et aux avocats lorsqu'ils utilisent les voies de recours nationales pour contester les décisions prises par les pouvoirs adjudicateurs. Cette consultation repose sur trois questionnaires en ligne distincts visant des groupes cibles différents. Elle a pour objectif d'évaluer comment les voies de recours nationales ont jusqu'à présent fonctionné et de déterminer les domaines dans lesquels des progrès sont encore nécessaires en vue de la révision des directives relatives aux procédures de recours en matière de passation de marchés publics en 2004. L'existence de procédures claires et efficaces permettant à des soumissionnaires d'obtenir réparation lorsqu'ils jugent déloyale l'attribution des marchés est primordiale pour garantir que les marchés sont effectivement attribués aux entreprises qui ont soumis la meilleure offre. C'est partant le seul moyen de consolider la confiance des entreprises et du public en l'impartialité des procédures de passation des marchés public. La législation européenne relative aux marchés publics vise à accroître la concurrence et la transparence afin d'offrir aux entreprises de nouvelles opportunités et aux contribuables des services d'excellente qualité et d'un meilleur rapport qualité-prix. Le secteur des marchés publics représente quelque 16% du PIB de l'UE.

    [03] Financial services : Commission sets up specialist groups to take stock of Action Plan and look to the future

    The European Commission, with the help of four new expert groups of market practitioners, is to launch an in-depth assessment of the state of integration of European financial markets. The assessment process begins as the five-year legislative phase of the Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP) draws to a close. The assessment will be wide-ranging, transparent and open. The formation of the expert groups, made up of high-calibre specialists in the fields of banking, insurance, asset management, and securities trading, is the first step in the process. The groups will help the Commission to map out key issues for discussion during the ensuing open consultation.

    [04] Des organismes de recherche européens prestigieux unissent leurs forces à celles de la Commission

    La Commission européenne et sept des organismes de recherche scientifiques européens les plus en vue, qui constituent l'EIROforum, signeront aujourd'hui une déclaration d'intention visant à développer l'espace européen de la recherche. Déterminés à explorer ensemble des synergies et à exercer des activités communes, l'EIROforum et la Commission ont promis d'engager des consultations mutuelles, d'organiser des échanges et des détachements d'experts et de renforcer cette collaboration en concluant d'autres accords bilatéraux. Cette déclaration d'intention sera signée par M. Philippe Busquin, commissaire à la recherche, et par les directeurs généraux des organismes membres d'EIROforum: M. Jérôme Paméla (European Fusion Development Agreement), actuel président d'EIROforum, Mme Catherine Cesarsky (Observatoire austral européen), M. Colin Carlile (Institut Laue- Langevin), M. Jean-Jacques Dordain (Agence spatiale européenne), M. Fotis Kafatos (Laboratoire européen de biologie moléculaire), M. Luciano Maiani (Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire) et M. Bill Stirling (Installation européenne de rayonnement synchrotron).

    [05] Afghanistan : Commission proposes €79.5 million for fourth reconstruction programme

    As part of its €400 million package to Afghanistan for 2003-04, the European Commission has adopted a proposal to finance a fourth reconstruction programme with a total budget of €79.5 million. The purpose of this programme is to enhance the living conditions of the ordinary Afghan population, including returnees, by providing a more secure environment and economic recovery. The programme aims to restore political stability coupled with a fully operational public administration, to promote respect for the rule of law and human rights, especially those of women, and to alleviate poverty by improving levels of economic activity. These objectives support the roadmap set out in the 2001 Bonn Agreement for the creation of a stable and democratic Afghanistan. The programme underlines the Commission's continuing commitment to the socio-political and economic rebuilding of Afghanistan.

    [06] EU and Cape Verde extend fisheries protocol by a year

    The European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, and Cape Verde have agreed to extend the current three-year protocol to their fisheries agreement by a year. This protocol, due to end on 30 June 2004, will cover the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. The conditions will remain exactly the same as they are now. However, in line with the partnership approach, a number of innovations have been agreed including measures to strengthen control activities and a joint study on the fisheries sector to prepare the negotiations over the next protocol. Fishing possibilities under the current protocol concern essentially tuna but there also some possibilities on demersal (close to the sea floor) species. Vessels operating under this protocol come from Spain, France and Portugal

    [07] L'UE et le Maroc conviennent d'intensifier leurs échanges de produits agricoles

    Les négociateurs de la Commission européenne et du Maroc ont trouvé le 24 octobre un accord concernant une libéralisation mutuelle des échanges agricoles. De manière générale, les parties sont convenues de s'octroyer mutuellement un meilleur accès à leurs marchés respectifs. Cet accord est conforme à l'esprit du processus de Barcelone qui prévoit la libéralisation progressive des échanges de produits agricoles. Selon les termes de l'accord passé aujourd'hui, la quasi-totalité (96%) des exportations agricoles traditionnelles du Maroc bénéficieront d'un accès préférentiel au marché de l'UE. Quant à la part des exportations agricoles traditionnelles de l'UE vers le Maroc qui bénéficient d'un traitement préférentiel, elle augmentera pour atteindre 62%. Avant d'entrer en vigueur, cet accord devra être approuvé formellement par la Commission et le Conseil.

    [08] Making EU enlargement work for consumers

    Tomorrow and Wednesday (28-29/10) consumer representatives from across Europe will gather in Brussels to attend an EU backed General Assembly of Consumer Associations. Some 300 delegates from both national and European level consumer associations are expected to attend. Top of their agenda will be how to ensure next year's enlargement of the EU brings real benefits to consumers especially those in the ten new Member States. Speaking ahead of the General Assembly David Byrne, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection said : "Governments in the accession countries have already taken on board most of what we call the consumer policy 'acquis' into their legislation. A truly impressive amount of work has been done. But we all know that legislation and rules are only the first step towards the successful application of consumer policy. Reality demands much more in particular, appropriate enforcement and appropriate involvement of consumers in their own affairs." Commissioner Byrne is due to give the keynote address at the opening session of the General Assembly. For a full programme of speakers and debates see : http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_org/assembly/assembly_program_en.pdf

    [09] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Mario Monti : "EU competition policy after May 2004" at Fordham Annual Conference on International Antitrust Law and Policy (24/10, New York)

    Speech by Franz Fischler : "Making the CAP work for the Mediterranean" at the International Forum on Agriculture and Food (25/10, Cernobbio)

    Evaluation du plan d'action pour les services financiers: questions fréquemment posées


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


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