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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-17

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] Gestion des problèmes liés à l'asile : la Commission entend renforcer la coopération pratique entre les Etats membres
  • [02] European birth rate reduced by economic factors and concern about the future
  • [03] EU and UN cooperate in relief operation to flood-stricken Algeria
  • [04] Avian influenza : measures to be taken in the event of a highly pathogenic outbreak in a Member State
  • [05] Avian influenza : Standing Committee endorses draft Commission decision on Bulgaria
  • [06] "Cooperation across borders vital for a competitive Europe", Danuta Hübner tells forum in Stockholm
  • [07] Revised 2005 estimates : EU25 real agricultural income per worker down by 5.6%
  • [08] Décembre 2005 par rapport à novembre 2005 : hausse de 0,1% de la production industrielle dans la zone euro ; hausse de 0,3% dans l'UE25
  • [09] Environnement : Stavros Dimas présente les priorités pour 2006, dans le prolongement de l'impulsion donnée en 2005
  • [10] Louis Michel encourages all parties in Ethiopia to resume political dialogue on the democratic reforms package
  • [11] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2006-02-17 Reference: MEX/06/0217 Date: 17/02/2006 EXME06 / 17.2

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb

    Communication

    17/02/06


  • [01] Gestion des problèmes liés à l'asile : la Commission entend renforcer la coopération pratique entre les Etats membres

    Dans sa communication sur le renforcement de la coopération pratique adoptée aujourd'hui, la Commission européenne présente sa vision d'une coopération future des États membres en matière d'asile, dans la perspective de la mise en place d'un régime européen complètement harmonisé. La communication définit un programme de travail relatif à une coopération opérationnelle entre les Etats membres qui devrait permettre aux régimes d'asile nationaux de gagner en efficacité et en qualité.

    [02] European birth rate reduced by economic factors and concern about the future

    A fertility behaviour project funded by the European Commission shows that more than half the people questioned would on average like at least two children. However, a great number of couples actually have fewer, due to worries about the future and the cost of raising children. The DIALOG project collected data from 30,000 people in 14 European countries on their attitudes and opinions concerning family numbers, fertility behaviour and demographic change. Financed with €1.5 million from the Sixth Framework research programme, the project provides a useful snapshot of European fertility behaviour for policy-makers at national and European level.

    [03] EU and UN cooperate in relief operation to flood-stricken Algeria

    Following the heavy rain which fell recently on Tindouf, Algeria, some 12000 families living in refugee camps have lost their mud-brick homes. The European Commission's civil protection Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) received from the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR a request for assistance to transport 2000 tents from Jordan to Algeria. The Community Mechanism for Civil Protection was activated, which through the MIC aims to provide the best possible response and preparedness when a major emergency situation arises, both inside and outside the EU. Portugal, Italy and France have responded to this request making airlift facilities available. Other offers for assistance are expected shortly. This is the first time that military means have been explicitly requested through the Mechanism for a civilian relief operation, with the Commission and Council cooperating closely in the effective use of the military assets. It is also the first time that the UN requested specific assistance through the Mechanism, demonstrating the EU's commitment to supporting the UN in disaster relief assistance. This action follows a grant amounting to €900, 000 of emergency aid by the Commission.

    [04] Avian influenza : measures to be taken in the event of a highly pathogenic outbreak in a Member State

    Two European Commission decisions on measures to be taken by Member States in the case of an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in wild birds and in commercial poultry on their territory have received favourable opinions by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) on 16 February. The decisions, which will be adopted by the Commission in the coming days add to and reinforce the stringent provisions for an avian flu outbreak already set out in EU legislation. Public Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: "While we have to learn to live with periodic outbreaks of avian influenza in wild birds, the EU is making every effort to contain avian influenza in wild birds and seek to prevent it reaching commercial poultry. These two decisions build on the EU Directive on avian influenza and further strengthen the range of precautionary measures we have adopted in recent months, which include increased surveillance, confining poultry indoors in risk areas and banning imports of risk products. It is understandable that the public is concerned, but they need not be unduly alarmed as all the necessary measures are being, and will continue to be, taken."

    [05] Avian influenza : Standing Committee endorses draft Commission decision on Bulgaria

    On 16 February, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health gave a favourable opinion to a draft Commission decision imposing restrictions on imports of poultry and bird products from Bulgaria, following a confirmed outbreak of H5N1 in wild swans in the Bulgarian region of Vidin last week (see IP/06/156). EU imports of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game, and hatching eggs from these birds from the whole of Bulgaria are to be banned, while a regionalised ban will apply for imports of poultry meat, eggs and products from wild feathered game, untreated feathers and unprocessed manure from poultry and other birds. The counties to which this regionalised ban will apply are: Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Russe, Razgrad, Silistra, Dobrich and Varna.

    [06] "Cooperation across borders vital for a competitive Europe", Danuta Hübner tells forum in Stockholm

    European regions across national borders need to pool their resources, ideas and experience to help the European economy grow, become more competitive and to create quality jobs for their citizens, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner said today in Sweden. Addressing the Interreg Forum in Stockholm, Commissioner Hübner highlighted the benefits territorial cooperation brings to border regions, in particular those lagging behind in economic development. The Commissioner asked participating authorities to make all necessary preparations for the new Cohesion Policy to be ready to start on time, at the beginning of 2007.

    [07] Revised 2005 estimates : EU25 real agricultural income per worker down by 5.6%

    According to revised estimates the average real agricultural income per worker in the EU25 fell by 5.6% in 2005, following an increase of 6.3% in 2004. This decrease resulted from a reduction in real agricultural income (- 7.9%), partially compensated by a reduction in agricultural labour input (- 2.4%). These revised estimates issued by Eurostat, are based on updated data supplied by the Member States in January 2006.

    [08] Décembre 2005 par rapport à novembre 2005 : hausse de 0,1% de la production industrielle dans la zone euro ; hausse de 0,3% dans l'UE25

    La production industrielle corrigée des variations saisonnières a augmenté de 0,1% dans la zone euro en décembre 2005 par rapport à novembre. La production avait progressé de 1,4% en novembre, mais avait baissé de 0,7% en octobre. Dans l'UE25, la production a crû de 0,3% en décembre 2005, après une hausse de 1,1% en novembre3 et une baisse de 0, 6% en octobre. En décembre 2005, par rapport à décembre 2004, la production industrielle a augmenté de 2,5% tant dans la zone euro que dans l'UE25. Par rapport à 2004, l'indice moyen de la production pour l'année 2005 a progressé de 1,2% dans la zone euro et de 1,0% dans l'UE25. Ces estimations sont publiées par Eurostat.

    [09] Environnement : Stavros Dimas présente les priorités pour 2006, dans le prolongement de l'impulsion donnée en 2005

    M. Stavros Dimas, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de l'environnement, a présenté ses grandes priorités pour cette année, à l'occasion de la publication par la Commission de l'examen annuel de la politique de l'environnement pour 2005. Cet examen souligne que, l'an dernier, la politique communautaire et mondiale sur le changement climatique a connu des avancées importantes. Celles-ci ont permis de jeter les bases de la future politique environnementale de l'UE à travers quatre premières stratégies thématiques. Les nouvelles politiques démontrent que la protection de l'environnement et la croissance économique peuvent aller de pair. Au cours de 2006, M. Dimas a l'intention de tirer parti de ces avancées en lançant une série d'autres initiatives sur le changement climatique et en poursuivant les actions qui stimulent en même temps la protection de l’environnement et la croissance économique grâce à l'innovation technologique et à une meilleure réglementation. La préservation de la diversité biologique constituera également un défi important pour cette année, et les mesures garantissant que les Etats membres appliquent correctement et dans les délais la législation communautaire sur l'environnement seront renforcées.

    [10] Louis Michel encourages all parties in Ethiopia to resume political dialogue on the democratic reforms package

    (! embargo 12h30 !) The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, met Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, and representatives of the opposition, including those imprisoned at the Kalte detention centre, during a two day visit to Addis Ababa. He urged both parties to resume political dialogue, aiming at fostering the process of democratization.

    [11] Autre matériel diffusé

    Common European asylum system

    Note on preparation of Agriculture/Fisheries Council of February 2006

    Questions and answers: measures in event of avian influenza in poultry in the EU

    Speech by Danuta Hübner : "The benefits of territorial cooperation – now and in the future" at Interreg Forum (Stockholm)

    Speech by Joe Borg : "The goals and state of progress of the green paper on an EU maritime policy" at seminar on Europe of the Sea organised by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (Brest, ! embargo 14h00 !)

    Statement by Charlie McCreevy on the vote in the European Parliament on the Services Directive (16/02)

    Speech by President Barroso : "Leading by example: Croatia's road to EU membership" at the Croatian Parliament (16/02, Zagreb)

    Speech by President Barroso : "The Tesla generation: facing the future in partnership with the EU" at the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro" (16/02, Belgrade)

    Speech by Stavros Dimas : "Why are competitive electricity and gas markets good for environment?" at Conference on Preliminary Findings of the Energy Sector Inquiry (16/02)

    Calendrier du 20 au 24 février 2006 From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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