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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-10-11Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etbCommunication11/10/05[01] Statement of President Barroso on the choice of Angela Merkel as Chancellor of Germany (10/10)The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso congratulates both main German parties for having achieved an agreement which provides a strong and stable solution for the future German government. Pending the formal taking of office of the new Government, President Barroso is looking forward to working very closely with Ms Angela Merkel, whom he knows well. Germany is an essential European partner and President Barroso looks forward to a constructive, forward looking German government, ready and willing to tackle today's problems and offering real and tangible solutions to Europe's citizens.[02] Commission proposes an EU Strategy for AfricaThe European Commission will adopt tomorrow a proposal for a new EU Strategy for Africa. The adoption will be followed by an extraordinary joint meeting between the European Commission and the Commission of the African Union (AU). The "EU Strategy for Africa" proposes a strategic partnership for security and development between the European Union and Africa for the coming decade. It focuses on key requirements for sustainable development such as peace and security, good and effective governance, trade, interconnectivity, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. Both Commissions, African and European, will adopt a Joint Declaration to boost their partnership. The European Commission firmly believes that the problem of immigration, the dramatic consequences of which we are witnessing, can only be adressed effectively in the long term through an ambitious and coordinated Development cooperation to fight its root causes.[03] José Manuel Barroso meets President Toledo of Peru (12/10)The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, will meet with President Toledo of Peru on Wednesday 12 October. President Barroso and President Toledo will discuss relations between the Commission and Peru in general. They will meet again later this week at the Ibero-America summit meeting in Salamanca, Spain, where they will discuss, among other things, the Presidential elections in Peru in 2006 and the relations between the European Union and the Andean Community. Discussions will also serve to prepare the EU – Latin America Summit, scheduled to be held in May 2006 in Vienna, Austria. During his visit to Brussels, President Toledo will also meet on Thursday evening Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. A VIP corner press meeting is foreseen at 14h35 on 12 October.[04] Jose Manuel Barroso meets Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand (12/10)The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, welcomes Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand on Wednesday 12 October. Talks between the two will focus on the excellent relations between the Commission and Thailand based on common values and mutual interest. The Commission also wishes to recognise the important regional role Thailand plays in the context of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Process. President Barroso and Prime Minister Thaksin will furthermore discuss the EU-Thailand Agreement which will provide a solid foundation for the expansion of dialogue and co- operation activities between the EU and Thailand. A VIP corner press meeting is foreseen at 9h45 on 12 October.[05] Earthquake : Benita Ferrero-Waldner calls Pakistan Foreign MinisterThe European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has spoken this morning by phone with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Kursheed Kasuri, to underline the Commission's readiness to help not only in the immediate aftermath the current catastrophe and terrible loss of life, but also to offer longer term support for reconstruction of the affected areas. The EC makes a substantial contribution to the development of Pakistan with an allocation of €150 million to the country for the years 2002-2006. The Commission already considering options to adjust the prioirites for this spending in the light of the countries new and urgent requirements. Decisions will be taken in the light of professional needs assessments, and in agreement with the Pakistan government. The Commission is consistently one of the biggest donors in crisis situations and stands ready to provide substantial support to help Pakistan meet the challenges ahead.[06] Customs : Commission launches Action Plan to combat counterfeiting and piracyThe European Commission has presented a package of measures to strengthen protection for the EU and its citizens against counterfeiting and piracy. The measures proposed for action in 2005 and 2006 would increase Community level protection through improved legislation and operational controls, strengthen the customs/business partnership and reinforce international cooperation in this area. Statistics showing the amount of counterfeit and pirated articles seized at the EU's external borders in 2004 demonstrate that counterfeiting is a growing and increasingly dangerous phenomenon. The 103 million counterfeited and pirated goods seized in 2004 represent an increase of more than 12% compared to 2003 and 1000% compared to 1998. Fake foodstuffs, medicines, household items and car parts, that can damage the health and safety of consumers, are continuing to grow in number and the higher quality of fakes is making detection more difficult.[07] Saving travellers' lives : Commission urges Member States to improve their responses to 112 emergency callsThe European Commission has today called on Member States to improve their ability to respond to 112 calls. The single European emergency phone number can now be called from any phone, fixed or mobile, across the EU 25, but in practice, the 112 number is not working as well as it should. Some countries have not put in place the resources to handle the number of languages required, in others the right technology is not in place to locate cell phone callers geographically, and in many countries people are just not aware that the service exists. Member States urgently need to invest additional resources to resolve logistic and linguistic problems and then inform citizens better about the number.[08] Public procurement : Commission promotes online advertising of public contracts EU-wideThe European Commission has moved to make it easier to advertise large public contracts on the Internet. It has adopted new standard forms for such notices mainly for use online. This is part of a wider EU strategy on computerising public procurement procedures in the EU. The forms will be available in all EU languages by the end of October at the SIMAP website at www.simap.eu.int[09] Avian flu in Turkey : EU bans imports of live birds and certain poultry products (10/10)The European Commission has adopted an EU ban on all imports of Turkish live birds and untreated feathers, following the confirmed presence of avian influenza (AI) virus in Turkey over the weekend. Imports of live poultry, eggs and fresh poultry meat from Turkey are already not allowed in the EU, and therefore no ban is necessary for these products. Member States shall implement the import ban immediately, and the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health will review the decision on 12 October.[10] Ouverture de la distillation de crise en HongrieLe Comité de gestion des Vins s'est prononcé aujourd'hui en faveur d'une proposition de règlement de la Commission européenne ouvrant la distillation de crise en Hongrie. Suite à une production abondante, des excédents importants ont été constatés sur le marché du vin en Hongrie qui se reflète par une baisse de prix et une augmentation inquiétante des stocks. La proposition prévoit une distillation de crise de maximum 400.000 hl de vins de table et le prix d'achat du vin est de €1,914 par % vol et par hl ainsi que de maximum 100.000 hl de vin de qualité au prix d'achat de €2,30 par % vol et par hl. L'alcool issu de cette distillation ne pourra pas être utilisé pour produire de l'alcool de bouche mais devra plutôt être utilisé pour des besoins industriels ou comme biocarburant. Le règlement doit encore être approuvé par la Commission et sera applicable à partir du 31 octobre 2005. Cette année, des distillations de crise ont déjà été ouvertes en France (1,5 millions d'hl de vin de qualité), en Espagne (4 millions d'hl de vins de table), en Grèce (340.000 hl de vins de table et 40.000 hl de vins de qualité) et en Italie (2 millions d'hl de vin de table).[11] Un nouveau prix européen des entreprises : à la recherche des lieux les plus entreprenants d'EuropeUn nouveau prix destiné aux autorités locales et régionales, le "European Enterprise Awards" (prix européen des entreprises), viendra récompenser les initiatives visant à encourager l'esprit d'entreprise. Le système de prix a été présenté aujourd'hui à Luxembourg par le Vice-président de la Commission, Günter Verheugen, le ministre britannique du commerce et de l'industrie, Alan Johnson, et le ministre britannique des finances, Gordon Brown. Le prix sera lancé publiquement par la Commission européenne le 14 novembre 2005 à Londres. S'inspirant du concours britannique de l'année dernière, le prix vise à sensibiliser davantage aux activités des entreprises et à mettre en valeur les succès obtenus dans ce domaine. Les candidats devront montrer comment ils ont favorisé l'esprit d'entreprise aux cours des deux années précédant l'année du concours.[12] Commission presents two new initiatives for cohesion policyEuropean Commissioner Danuta Hübner meets today in Brussels ministers responsible for regional policy in Member States and candidate countries, as well as representatives of the EIB Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to discuss two major new initiatives for cohesion policy. The two initiatives are designed to help the national and regional authorities respectively to prepare large infrastructure projects and to improve access to finance for micro to medium-sized enterprises. The initiatives involve closer cooperation among the Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Investment Fund, the EBRD and other international financial institutions. The meeting was organised with the support of the Presidency of the Union represented by Ian Pearson, Minister of State for Trade, UK.[13] Andris Piebalgs at first Euro-American Energy Congress "Global Access to energy"On 11 October Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Energy will participate in the first Euro-American Energy Congress "Global Access to energy" organised by the Spanish Energy Club, the Spanish Electricity Industry, the Argentine Institute of Petroleum and Gas and the Argentine Committee of Regional Energy Integration Commission in Madrid. During the conference, European and Latin American authorities, regulators, companies and stakeholders will discuss policy approaches towards various challenges in the the energy sector. The Commissioner will explain the EU's energy policy priorities as well as the opportunities for EU-Latin America cooperation in the energy field.[14] Benita Ferrero-Waldner se rendra à TunisBenita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissaire européenne aux Relations Extérieures et à la Politique Européenne de Voisinage, se rendra en Tunisie les 12 et 13 octobre 2005 afin de baliser les prochaines étapes pour renforcer les relations avec la Tunisie à la lumière de la Politique de Voisinage. Dans ses entretiens, notamment avec le Ministre des Affaires étrangères, Abdelwaheb Abdallah, elle discutera des pas concrets à faire pour tirer tout le potentiel de ce nouveau cadre politique bilatéral, y compris la création d'un sous-comité sur les droits de l'homme. A la veille du Sommet Mondial de la Société de l'Information à Tunis, la Commissaire en profitera également pour encourager la Tunisie, en tant que pays hôte, à donner l'exemple dans l'application des principes de Genève, notamment le respect de la liberté d'opinion et d'expression.[15] Employment in hotels and restaurants : 4% of total employment in the EU25 in 2004 ; large share of young people and womenIn the EU25, 7.8 million individuals were employed in the hotels, restaurants and catering sector (HORECA) in 2004. Employment in HORECA accounted for 4.0% of total employment in the EU25. The structure of employment in HORECA has certain particularities: there are significant proportions of young people, women and part timers employed in this sector. This information comes from a report released by Eurostat. This report presents details of employment in HORECA for the EU25 Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.[16] Autre matériel diffuséCounterfeiting & piracy : frequently asked questions112, the single European emergency number - frequently asked questions Speech by Viviane Reding : "112, the Single European Emergency Number : the need for action" (introduction to press conference) Speech by Danuta Hübner at Ministerial seminar "Reforming Cohesion Policy" Speech by Olli Rehn : "The next steps towards Europe" at Novi Sad University (! embargo 14h00 !) Speech by Olli Rehn : "Building bridges across Europe" to the Vojvodina Assembly (Novi Sad) Speech by Joe Borg : "A Maritime Policy : National and Regional Experiences, Prospects and Emerging Practices" at International Conference on Integrated Ocean Policy (Lisbon) Statement by Peter Mandelson of EU conditional negotiating proposals at WTO Doha Round Informal Ministerial (10/10, Zurich) Statement of EU conditional negotiating proposals - with explanatory annotations Speech by Viviane Reding : "New EU rules for a convergent multi-media
world: the need for a Light Touch" at IIC and Chatham House 36th annual
conference (10/10, London)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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