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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-11-08
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] EU-US : EU requests WTO to confirm that there is no justification for
US/Canada to continue to apply sanctions
[02] Commission clears Conoco stake in Russian oil company
[03] Commission clears Cinven's acquisition of German clothing company CBR
[04] Safety first in feed additive authorisations
[05] Consumer groups assemble in Brussels to discuss future consumer policy
in the new enlarged Europe
[06] 2004 EU Marie Curie Awards announced : European Excellence in Research
rewarded
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-11-08
Reference: MEX/04/1108
Date: 08/11/2004
EXME04 / 8.11
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
08/11/04
[01] EU-US : EU requests WTO to confirm that there is no justification for
US/Canada to continue to apply sanctions
Today, the EU has initiated a dispute against Canada and the United States
in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The EU challenges Canada's and the
United States' continued imposition of sanctions against EU exports because
of the EU's ban on hormone beef. The EU believes these sanctions are
illegal since the EU has removed the measures found to be WTO-inconsistent
in the WTO dispute on hormone beef dating from 1998. Canada and the United
States have maintained their sanctions in place, while refusing to
challenge the Directive adopted by the EU to comply with the WTO ruling.
[02] Commission clears Conoco stake in Russian oil company
The European Commission has cleared, under the Merger Regulation, a deal
whereby US oil company Conoco Philips and Russian oil company OAO Lukoil
will have joint control over Naryanmarneftegaz (NMN), a Russian company
active in the exploration and production of oil. NMN is presently an
indirect subsidiary of Lukoil. (The deal, notified on 29 September 2004,
was examined under a simplified procedure).
[03] Commission clears Cinven's acquisition of German clothing company CBR
The European Commission has cleared, under the Merger Regulation, a deal
whereby private equity firm Cinven Ltd acquires control of Germany's CBR
Group, which designs and distributes women's clothing. (The deal, notified
on 4 October 2004, was examined under a simplified procedure)
[04] Safety first in feed additive authorisations
On 9 November, the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for the
authorisation of feed additives will be inaugurated in Geel, Belgium. Feed
additives are used in animal feed to improve the productivity or health of
the animals. Before being authorised, all feed additives must undergo a
safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the CRL
will evaluate the analytical methods proposed to detect the presence of
feed additives. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has
been nominated as the CRL for Feed Additives, which is established at the
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) in Geel.
[05] Consumer groups assemble in Brussels to discuss future consumer policy
in the new enlarged Europe
Tomorrow and Wednesday (9-10 November 2004) consumer representatives from
across Europe will gather in Brussels to attend the EU 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 to address the challenges facing consumers in an enlarged EU and
the future priorities of EU consumer policy - for which consumer input is
crucial. European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David
Byrne is due to give the keynote address at the opening session of the
general assembly. Karien van Gennip, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade with
the responsibility for consumer protection, and Phillip Whitehead MEP,
Chair of the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee, will also address the meeting. Speaking ahead of the general
assembly David Byrne said : "Progress in the field of consumer policy over
the last years was only possible thanks to the help and support of consumer
organisations across Europe, and the constructive and fruitful cooperation
the Commission developed with the European Parliament and the Member States,
both "old" and "new". Consumer organisations are not only instrumental in
making EU policy better, they are crucial to empowering consumers in the
internal market. This is why we have increased our support to networking
and capacity building activities. In order to have a real impact on
consumer policy, consumer organisations should also pool expertise and
financial resources and cooperate effectively, at national and
international level. Such cooperation is essential to deliver real benefits
for European consumers." The opening session of the meeting (10h to 13h
tomorrow), and the plenary session on Wednesday afternoon are open to the
press.
For a full programme of speakers and debates see:
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_org/assembly/assembly_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/consumers/cons_org/assembly/assembly_en.htm
[06] 2004 EU Marie Curie Awards announced : European Excellence in Research
rewarded
The European Commission announced on 7 November in Warsaw the winners of
the 2004 Marie Curie Awards, with grants of up to €50,000 going to five
outstanding European researchers. The Marie Curie Awards are given in
recognition of the excellence achieved by researchers who have benefited
from EU support schemes and to boost their careers by contributing to their
international exposure. This year's graduates include two Germans, two
Italians and an Israeli. They made scientific breakthroughs on issues such
as the creation of galaxies, the roots of human empathy, quantum physics,
new catalysts and the science of materials.
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
2004 EU Marie Curie Awards - The winners and their research
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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