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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-03-04Midday 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 Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb04/03/08[01] Ferrero-Waldner hosts major international conference - Women: Stabilising an Insecure WorldOn the eve of the International Women's Day, more than 50 international women leaders will meet in Brussels. The Conference, hosted by Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero- Waldner, will bring together female heads of states, ministers, heads of international organisations, business leaders, and civil society activists from all continents to discuss the twin themes of security and women's empowerment. The President of the Republic of Finland, Prime Minister of Ukraine, First Lady of Egypt, the US Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Commissioners Wallström, Hübner and Kroes are among the participants.[02] Aide alimentaire: la Commission alloue 160 millions € à la lutte contre la faim dans le mondeLa Commission européenne a adopté une décision d'aide alimentaire, assortie d'une enveloppe de 160 millions €, en faveur de bénéficiaires vivant dans des régions telles que l'Afrique subsaharienne, l'Asie, le Caucase, le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique du Nord, dont le nombre est estimé à quelque 18,7 millions. Cette décision de financement, la plus importante jamais annoncée par le service d'aide humanitaire de la Commission, a pour but de répondre aux besoins des populations les plus vulnérables victimes de pénuries alimentaires à la suite de catastrophes naturelles, de crises économiques et politiques et de conflits armés. Il s'agit de la première décision d'aide alimentaire pour 2008. Des fonds supplémentaires seront dégagés plus tard dans le courant de l'année.[03] Commissioner Figel' welcomes the launch of the European Quality Assurance Register in Higher Education (EQAR)The quality of teaching at European universities is periodically assessed by quality assurance agencies, but who checks the quality of these agencies? The answer to this question is the European Quality Assurance Register in Higher Education (EQAR), which is officially launched in Brussels on 4 March 2008. The Register will be operational by summer 2008, and is governed and co-funded by a non-profit association of stakeholders, social partners and governments.[04] Environment: Commissioner Dimas to visit Washington for High-Level Dialogue with U.S.European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will participate in the EU- U.S. High-Level Dialogue on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development in Washington on 7 March. Slovenian Environment Minister Janez Podobnik will represent the EU presidency. While in the US capital Commissioner Dimas will also give a speech at the World Environment Center and hold other high-level meetings.[05] Commission proposes simpler, clearer and more modern rules for the marketing of feed and pet foodThe European Commission adopted today a proposal for a Regulation which considerably simplifies the existing procedures for labelling and marketing animal feed and pet food, while making the overall system more efficient and maintaining the same high level of protection of animal health, animal welfare and public health. The EU livestock sector, which contributes to almost half of all EU agricultural output, will benefit from modernised rules that will help promote its competitiveness. The freedom of the feed industry to innovate will also be boosted by these changes - the compound feed and pet food industry represents a turnover of roughly €50 billion in the EU. Finally, the 62 million households in the EU that own pets will be in a better position to evaluate the real content of the pet food they buy.[06] Environment: nature's uninvited guests under scrutinyEurope's biodiversity is under threat from species from abroad such as muskrats and giant hogweed, but little is known about the extent of the problem. These invasive alien species (IAS) can disrupt local flora and fauna and cause considerable damage to nature and the economy. On March 3 the Commission is launching a web-based survey to gather suggestions about how to address this issue most effectively at EU level. The results of the survey will inform a Commission communication on an EU framework for Invasive Alien Species to be adopted by the end of the year.[07] The European Forum for the rights of the child: a commitment for our futureThe Forum renewed the commitment of all parties to fight against child poverty and to ensure that the rights of Roma children as individuals are taken into account, as well as to combat violence against all children.[08] Commissioner Piebalgs outlines EU renewable energy policy at International Renewable Energy ConferenceEuropean Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs took part in the international conference on renewable energy in Washington DC today. The Commissioner co- chaired the Ministerial session on the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy, with over 90 Ministers from around the world participating. During his visit, the Commissioner will also undertake a Strategic Energy Review on EU-US cooperation with senior US officials. - EMBARGO 18h30 -[09] Energy Commissioner Piebalgs Signs Accession Protocol of Methane to Markets PartnershipEnergy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, on a visit to Washington DC, today signed the terms of reference document formalising the participation of the European Commission in the Methane to Markets ("M2M") Partnership.[10] Danuta Hübner welcomes Slovenia's plan to invest in innovation for jobs and growthDanuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, will today make a keynote speech at the Conference on Territorial Dialogue in 2008 at Brdo pri Kranju, near Ljubljana. This high-level meeting, co-organised with the EU Committee of the Regions and Slovenian Presidency of the European Union, has been convened to promote EU regions' involvement in the Lisbon process for jobs and growth. She will then have a meeting at the National Assembly in Ljubljana with the Parliament Committee on EU affairs and the Committee of Local Self-Government and Regional Policy. Tomorrow she will make a keynote speech at the Conference on Research Infrastructure and their Structuring Dimension within the European Research Area.[11] Industrial producer prices up by 0.8% in euro areaIn January 2008 compared with December 2007, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.8% in the euro area (EA15) and by 1.0% in the EU27. In December prices increased by 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. In January 2008 compared with January 2007, industrial producer prices gained 4.9% in the euro area and 5.8% in the EU27. These figures come from Eurostat.[12] Le PIB de la zone euro en hausse de 0,4% et celui de l’UE27 en hausse de 0,5%Au cours du quatrième trimestre 2007, le PIB de la zone euro (ZE13) a augmenté de 0,4% et celui de l’UE27 de 0,5% par rapport au trimestre précédent, selon les premières estimations publiées par Eurostat. Au cours du troisième trimestre 2007, les taux de croissance avaient été de +0,7% dans la zone euro et de +0,8% dans l'UE27. En comparaison avec le quatrième trimestre 2006, le PIB corrigé des variations saisonnières de la zone euro a enregistré une croissance de 2,2% et celui de l’UE27 de 2, 6%, contre respectivement +2,6% et +2,9% au trimestre précédent.[13] Commission clears acquisition of Paul Hartmann by SchwenkThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Paul Hartmann AG of Germany by Schwenk Gruppe (Schwenk), also of Germany. Schwenk produces building materials. Paul Hartmann produces medical and care products. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.Rediffusion [14] Alert mechanism for missing children and child poverty at the heart of the European Forum for the Rights of the ChildThe second meeting of the European Forum for the Rights of the Child will take place in Brussels tomorrow. It will address the issue of alert mechanism for missing children and child poverty, with special attention to the situation of Roma children.[15] Statement of Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on riots in Yerevan, Armenia, on March 1, 2008"I am concerned about the serious clashes between the police and opposition protesters in Yerevan, Armenia, on March 1. I deplore the tragic loss of human lives. I urge the Armenian government to lift the state of emergency declared on March 1. I call on all parties to refrain from using force and to engage in dialogue in order to overcome political differences. I also call on the Armenian authorities to lift any restrictions on free movement for former presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian and to release any citizens detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly."Autre matériel diffusé • Memo on Placing children at the centre of decision making • Memo on Questions and Answers on Feed Marketing • Speech by President Barroso 'ICT Industry has a Major Role to Play in the European Economy of the 21st Century' at the the CeBIT Trade Fair • Speech by Commissioner Rehn 'An open and self-confident society: fundamental freedoms, constitutional reform and democratisation in Turkey' at the European Parliament • Speech by Vice-President Wallström 'The Lisbon Treaty: giving more power to the people', Dublin • Speech du Commissaire Špidla sur L'impact de la globalisation sur l'emploi • Speech by Vice-President Frattini "Europe as the guardian angel of all children" A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Bosch/Mahle/JV ABF/GBI Business AXA/Klépierre/Annecy Courier
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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