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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-11-05
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Dioxin contamination : EU traceability and alert notifications systems
work well
[02] Commission clears the Sportfive/HSG venture that will run the new
Frankfurt stadium
[03] September 2004 compared to September 2003 : volume of retail trade
stable in euro-zone ; EU25 up by 2.0%
[04] EU-India Summit : towards a strategic partnership
[05] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-11-05
Reference: MEX/04/1105
Date: 05/11/2004
EXME04 / 5.11
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
05/11/04
[01] Dioxin contamination : EU traceability and alert notifications systems
work well
After the discovery of dioxin contaminated potato by-products in the
Netherlands, the European Commission has been actively co-ordinating the
tracing of the chain of deliveries through the European Rapid Alert System
for Food and Feed. Potato by-products, such as potato peels, were found
contaminated by high levels of dioxins at a Dutch potato processing
company. The by-products are used for animal feeding. As a result, all
movement of animals from 162 farms in the Netherlands, 8 in Belgium and 3
in Germany, which received the animal feed, has been blocked by the
competent authorities. The national authorities of the Member States
concerned are currently tracing the food chain, Consumer health and safety
is not called into question at present.
[02] Commission clears the Sportfive/HSG venture that will run the new
Frankfurt stadium
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to plans by sports rights agency Sportfive GmbH and HSG Technischer Service
GmbH, which provides technical services for buildings and belongs to German
construction group Bilfinger und Berger, to create a joint venture which
will operate and market the new Frankfurt stadium ("Neues Waldstadion").
The joint venture will be called Stadion Frankfurt Management GmbH. (The
operation, which was notified on 6 October 2004, was examined under a
simplified procedure given the absence of overlaps between the companies'
activities).
[03] September 2004 compared to September 2003 : volume of retail trade
stable in euro-zone ; EU25 up by 2.0%
In September 2004, compared to September 2003, the volume of retail trade
remained unchanged in the euro-zone and increased by 2.0% in the EU25,
according to the first estimates out today from Eurostat. Compared to
August 2004, the retail sales index grew by 0.1% in the euro-zone and by
0.2% in the EU25. In September 2004, compared to September 2003, retail
trade of "food, drinks and tobacco" increased by 0.2% in the euro-zone and
by 1.3% in the EU25. The non food sector fell by 0.2% in the euro-zone but
rose by 2.6% in the EU25. Among the Member States for which data are
available, total retail trade increased in Denmark (+8.9%), the United
Kingdom (+6.7%), Poland (+5.7%), Sweden (+5.3%), Portugal (+3.6%) and Spain
(+0.2%). Decreases were observed in Luxembourg (-8.2%) and Germany (-1.8%).
[04] EU-India Summit : towards a strategic partnership
The European Union and India will hold their annual Summit on 8 November in
The Hague. The Summit will be hosted by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende,
as current President of the European Council, accompanied by Foreign
Minister Bernard Bot. The Commission will be represented by President
Romano Prodi. The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security
Policy, Javier Solana, and the Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, will
also participate. India will be represented by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, accompanied by the Minister for External Affairs Natwar Singh and
the Commerce Minister Kamal Nath. Leaders are expected to endorse the
launching of an EU-India Strategic Partnership and to propose an Action
Plan for its implementation.
[05] Autre matériel diffusé
Calendrier du 8 au 12 novembre
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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