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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-04-27
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] President Barroso proposes a new framework to "lock-in" a culture of
fundamental rights in EU legislation
[02] Budget proposal gears EU towards economic leadership
[03] More aid on the way for Tsunami victims
[04] Recruitment from the 10 new Member States : state of play and way
forward
[05] Public procurement : Commission takes further action on Greek
legislation excluding certain companies from public contracts
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Décollage de l'Airbus A380 - déclaration du Vice-Président de la
Commission européenne responsable de l'Industrie, Günter Verheugen
[07] La Commission renforce son soutien à la lutte contre le VIH/SIDA, le
paludisme et la tuberculose à l'extérieur de l'UE
[08] Des entreprises françaises et suédoises remportent le prix européen
2005 des technologies de la société de l'information
[09] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Slovenske Elektrarne par Enel
[10] Commission approves acquisition of WMC Resources by BHP Billiton
[11] Commission approves acquisition by The Dow Chemical Company of parts
of Dupont Dow Elastomers
[12] Commission sends proposals on GM maize to Council
[13] UN High Commissioner on First Official Visit to Brussels
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-04-27
Reference: MEX/05/0427
Date: 27/04/2005
EXME05 / 27.4
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
27/04/05
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] President Barroso proposes a new framework to "lock-in" a culture of
fundamental rights in EU legislation
The European Commission has today adopted a new mechanism to ensure that
all Commission legislative proposals are systematically and rigorously
checked for compatibility with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The new
mechanism is based on a process of systematic screening of legislation from
the earliest preparatory work through to inter-service consultation. The
other key instruments consist of : impact assessments on the effect of
legislation on individual rights ; and an examination of the legal
reasoning for legislation - with an assessment of its effects on
fundamental human rights. The new Commissioners Group on Fundamental Rights,
Anti-discrimination and Equal Opportunities will ensure that the results of
these examinations are taken into account throughout the legislative
process.
[02] Budget proposal gears EU towards economic leadership
The first EU budget proposal of the new European Commission clearly
reflects the new priorities of President Barroso and his team. The draft
budget 2006 that was adopted today provides a record increase for European
research and equally ensures increased investment in economic growth and
more jobs, solidarity within the enlarged Union, improved security for its
citizens, the future enlargement and a stronger role for the Union on the
global scene. To manage the expenditures for next year the Commission
proposes an amount of €112.6 billion. This corresponds to 1.02% of the
Union's Gross National Income (GNI) and is an increase of 6% on the 2005
budget. The proposed commitments amount to €121.3 billion, or 1.09% of EU
GNI and represent an increase of 4%. More than one third of the budget will
be devoted to stimulating economic growth and creating more and better
jobs.
[03] More aid on the way for Tsunami victims
The European Commission keeps its promises. In January 2005 the President
of the Commission Mr José Manuel Barroso assured €473 million for 2005
and 2006 to help countries affected by the Tsunami. In order to deliver on
this commitment the Commission today proposed €98 million in an amending
budget and €180 million in the proposed budget for 2006. The €278
million is meant to help the reconstruction of Asian Tsunami affected
regions.
[04] Recruitment from the 10 new Member States : state of play and way
forward
The European Commission today publishes results of recruitments from the
new Member States one year after enlargement. Figures show that the
Commission has largely met the ambitious targets set in 2004 and the
procedure has reached its cruising speed. This achievement compares well
with enlargement in 1995, both with regard to the much higher volume and
the actual recruitments in the initial stage. However progress is uneven
and some specific steps will have to be taken to address the imbalances.
[05] Public procurement : Commission takes further action on Greek
legislation excluding certain companies from public contracts
Following a letter of formal notice sent to Greece on 23 March 2005 and the
reply from the Greek national authorities received on 7 April, the European
Commission has decided to formally request Greece to change its law
3310/2005 which prevents companies "interconnected" with Greek mass media
businesses from participating in procedures for the award of public
contracts. The Commission considers that this law breaches the Community
directives on public procurement and the principal of equal treatment of
the participants, as well as the exercise of almost all the fundamental
freedoms acknowledged by the EC Treaty. The Commission's request takes the
form of a 'reasoned opinion', the second stage of the infringement
procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence of a
satisfactory response within three weeks, the Commission may refer Greece
to the European Court of Justice.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Décollage de l'Airbus A380 - déclaration du Vice-Président de la
Commission européenne responsable de l'Industrie, Günter Verheugen
"Le décollage du nouvel Airbus A380 est une « success story »
européenne. Le développement de l'A380 montre ce que peut faire l'Europe
en coopérant et en investissant dans les compétences, la recherche et les
technologies. Ce « Super-Airbus » apporte la preuve que la coopération
au sein de l'UE est payante. Il montre en outre qu'avec un cadre politique
bien conçu, l'industrie de l'UE peut réussir même dans les branches de
haute technologie."
[07] La Commission renforce son soutien à la lutte contre le VIH/SIDA, le
paludisme et la tuberculose à l'extérieur de l'UE
La Commission européenne a adopté ce jour un Programme d'action en vue de
renforcer le soutien apporté par l'Union européenne à la lutte contre le
VIH/SIDA, le paludisme et la tuberculose à l'extérieur de ses frontières.
Il propose une série d'actions concrètes permettant de faire face à une
situation dramatique (décès chaque année de plus de 6 millions de
personnes). Cette initiative fait suite à la promesse faite par le
commissaire Louis Michel, chargé du développement et de l'aide
humanitaire, d'agir de façon plus efficace, plus active et plus rapide,
afin de concrétiser les objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement
(OMD).
[08] Des entreprises françaises et suédoises remportent le prix européen
2005 des technologies de la société de l'information
Deux sociétés françaises et une entreprise suédoise reçoivent cette
année le prix européen des technologies de la société de l'information.
Ce prix, d'une valeur de €200.000 pour chaque lauréat, est organisé par
la Commission européenne conjointement avec le Conseil européen des
sciences appliquées, des technologies et de l'ingénierie. Il est ouvert
chaque année aux entreprises ou organismes qui présentent dans le domaine
des technologies de l'information un produit innovant et offrant de bonnes
perspectives commerciales. Les lauréats du prix 2005 ont été
sélectionnés par un jury indépendant sur un total de 430 candidats dans
toute l'Europe. La plupart des candidats, ainsi que les trois lauréats,
sont des petites et moyennes entreprises innovantes.
[09] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Slovenske Elektrarne par Enel
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en application du règlement sur les
concentrations de l'UE, le projet d'acquisition de Slovenske Elektrarne
(SE), le principal producteur et fournisseur d'électricité slovaque, par
Enel, une entreprise italienne du secteur de l'énergie. Elle est parvenue
à la conclusion que les activités des parties à l'opération ne se
chevauchaient pas et que l'acquisition, en tant que telle, n'entraverait
pas sensiblement l'exercice d'une concurrence effective dans l'EEE ou dans
une partie substantielle de celui-ci.
[10] Commission approves acquisition of WMC Resources by BHP Billiton
The European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation, the
public bid by the Australian international resources company BHP Billiton
(BHP) for all the shares in the Australian company WMC Resources (WMC), a
company active in the nickel, copper-uranium and fertiliser sectors. The
Commission concluded that there were minimal overlaps of activities and as
such the acquisition would not significantly impede effective competition
in the EEA or any substantial part of it.
[11] Commission approves acquisition by The Dow Chemical Company of parts
of Dupont Dow Elastomers
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed transaction whereby the US company The Dow Chemical Company (Dow)
acquires sole control of parts of the US joint venture Dupont Dow
Elastomers L.L.C. (DDE), which Dow formed in 1996 together with the US
company E.I. du Pont de Nemours and company (Dupont). After examining the
operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area
(EEA) or any substantial part of it and has therefore approved the
concentration.
[12] Commission sends proposals on GM maize to Council
The European Commission has adopted a proposal to be sent to the Council of
Ministers on the autorisation of the GM maize MON863. The autorisation
would cover the import and use as animal feed of MON863 but not use as
human food or cultivation. The maize has been genetically modified for
resistance to corn rootworm. It has been deemed as safe as any conventional
maize by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). If authorised, the
maize would be clearly labelled as containing GM maize. The Regulatory
Committee, which is set up under Directive 2001/18/EC and representing the
Member States, did not reach the qualified majority necessary to support
the Commission proposal to authorise MON863. Thus, according to EU
comitology procedures, the file must now be passed on to the Council, who
can either adopt or reject the proposal with a qualified majority. If no
decision is taken after three months, the file returns to the Commission
who may then decide to adopt it.
[13] UN High Commissioner on First Official Visit to Brussels
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, will make her
first official visit to the European Commission on 28th April 2005. She
will meet the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, the
Vice President of the Commission, Franco Frattini, Commissioner for Freedom,
Security and Justice, and Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Key topics likely to be
addressed include UN reform, the international rule of law and advancement
of international justice and the recent session of the UN Commission on
Human Rights. The Commission will underline that continued support will be
extended under the EIDHR (European Initiative for Democracy and Human
Rights) to the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the
Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone and that the EC intends to make a €1
million contribution to the Khmer Rouge Special Tribunals. The developing
relationship between the Commission and the OHCHR (Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights) will also be discussed, including the robust
level of funding extended through the EIDHR. Last year the EC was the
second-highest voluntary donor to the OHCHR and support is expected to be
sustained in 2005, with EIDHR projects totalling approximately €4
million.
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : " The EU and Ukraine – what lies
beyond the horizon?" at Mardi de l'Europe luncheon (Madariaga European
Foundation and EastWest Institute) (26/04)
Speech by Viviane Reding : "The European IST Prize – Awarding Innovation
for Europe" at European IST Prize Awards Ceremony 2005 (26/04)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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