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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-09-29

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] September 2008: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area continues to decline in September
  • [02] September 2008: Economic sentiment continues to decline in both the EU and the euro area
  • [03] Commission consults on how to put Europe into the lead of the transition to Web 3.0
  • [04] Impressive Turnout for the European Job Days in the Commission headquarters
  • [05] Summit puts equality at heart of EU social agenda
  • [06] Commission adopts multi-annual planning of financial assistance to the Western Balkans and Turkey
  • [07] La recherche dans le domaine de la sécurité pour un monde plus sûr
  • [08] Signature d'un accord sur l'aviation civile au sommet UE-Inde
  • [09] La Commission approuve un nouveau programme pour supprimer les obstacles électroniques
  • [10] EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez POTOÄŒNIK hails the European Research Establishments in Aeronautics signature of the European Charter for Researchers
  • [11] Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou tackles obesity through football and healthy food
  • [12] Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou expresses full support of the objectives of the World Heart Federation
  • [13] Commission clears acquisition of Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden Hotel by MSREF
  • [14] Commission clears acquisition of DeTe Immobilien by Strabag
  • [15] Joe Borg welcomes continued progress in NAFO to protect the marine environment
  • [16] Member States endorse Commission proposals to reduce electricity consumption
  • [17] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2008-09-29 Reference: MEX/08/0929 Date: 29/09/2008 EXME08 / 29.09

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    29/09/08


  • [01] September 2008: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area continues to decline in September

    The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area decreased significantly to values last observed in 2003. The low level of the indicator suggests that industrial activity remains subdued. Four out of five underlying components of the BCI declined. The decline was fairly sharp for managers' assessment of production trend observed in recent months, total order books and export order books; while their assessment of stocks of finished products worsened only slightly and production expectations remained unchanged.

    [02] September 2008: Economic sentiment continues to decline in both the EU and the euro area

    In September, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) fell by 1.5 points in the EU and by 0.8 points in the euro area, to 85.2 and 87.7 respectively. In the EU, the ESI reached its lowest level since December 1993, while for the euro area it approached its 2001 trough.

    [03] Commission consults on how to put Europe into the lead of the transition to Web 3.0

    Europe could take the lead in the next generation of the Internet. The European Commission today outlined the main steps that Europe has to take to respond to the next wave of the Information Revolution that will intensify in the coming years due to trends such as social networking, the decisive shift to on-line business services, nomadic services based on GPS and mobile TV and the growth of smart tags. The report shows that Europe is well placed to exploit these trends because of its policies to support open and pro-competitive telecom networks as well as privacy and security. A public consultation has been launched today by the Commission on the policy and private sector responses to these opportunities. The Commission report also unveils a new Broadband Performance Index (BPI) that compares national performance on key measures such as broadband speed, price, competition and coverage. Sweden and the Netherlands top this European broadband league, which complements the more traditional broadband penetration index used so far by telecoms regulators.

    [04] Impressive Turnout for the European Job Days in the Commission headquarters

    The European Job Days are taking place simultaneously in September and in October all over Europe. Jobseekers and employers have the possibility to visit over 500 diverse events, ranging from recruitment fairs to seminars and lectures on job mobility. The flagship event in Brussels, which took place at the European Commission headquarters on Saturday 27th September attracted close to 10,000 jobseekers and 60 employers.

    [05] Summit puts equality at heart of EU social agenda

    400 high-ranking delegates will today discuss the next steps in the EU's strategy to tackle discrimination at the second annual European Equality Summit in Paris. A key element of the discussions will be the European Commission's proposal from July 2008 to extend existing EU protection from discrimination to areas like access to goods and services, education and healthcare. Equality ministers and stakeholders – NGOs, social partners, companies and independent equality bodies from around Europe – will be able to give their views on the proposal, and also follow up on the commitments made by EU countries as part of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All in 2007.

    [06] Commission adopts multi-annual planning of financial assistance to the Western Balkans and Turkey

    The Commission has completed today the strategic planning of EU financial support for 2008-2010 to the candidate countries and potential candidates: Croatia, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo. This financial assistance aims to enhance political and economic reform and development to realise their European perspective. For 2008-2010, the overall indicative amount of EU financial assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is €4.471 billion.

    [07] La recherche dans le domaine de la sécurité pour un monde plus sûr

    Rendre l’Europe plus sûre pour ses citoyens tout en préservant les droits civiques et les libertés, tel est l’objectif de la recherche européenne sur la sécurité. Grâce à la coopération et à la coordination des efforts au niveau européen, l’Union est mieux à même de comprendre les risques présents dans un monde en constante évolution et d’y répondre tout en améliorant sa compétitivité. Des solutions technologiques novatrices telles que les systèmes avancés de vidéosurveillance dans les stades publics facilitent la tâche des autorités de sécurité. Il s’agit d’un nouveau projet de recherche mené en commun par les administrations en charge de la sécurité de 23 pays européens et une agence des Nations unies. Ce projet vise à tirer parti de l’expérience de chacun, à éviter les activités redondantes et à obtenir une masse critique de ressources. Le réseau de recherche, baptisé EU-SEC II, est financé par la Commission européenne au titre du 7e programme-cadre pour la recherche. Cette action concrète parmi beaucoup d’autres est présentée aujourd’hui à la troisième conférence européenne de recherche en sécurité.

    [08] Signature d'un accord sur l'aviation civile au sommet UE-Inde

    Au sommet UE-Inde organisé aujourd'hui à Marseille, il a été signé un accord horizontal dans le domaine de l'aviation, qui rétablira la sécurité juridique des accords bilatéraux sur les services aériens conclus entre l'Inde et des États membres de l'UE et développera les relations UE-Inde en la matière.

    [09] La Commission approuve un nouveau programme pour supprimer les obstacles électroniques

    La Commission a approuvé aujourd’hui une proposition de décision du Parlement européen et du Conseil relative à un nouveau programme concernant des solutions d’interopérabilité pour les administrations publiques européennes (ISA), qui couvrira la période 2010-2015.

    [10] EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez POTOÄŒNIK hails the European Research Establishments in Aeronautics signature of the European Charter for Researchers

    In the presence of Commissioner POTOÄŒNIK, the 12 members and associate members of the EREA signed today a statement of support to the European Charter and Code of Conduct for Researchers. EREA gave their backing to the European Commission's Recommendation, which aims to create an internationally competitive labour market where motivated, highly skilled researchers can work in a supportive research environment. The European Charter for Researchers addresses the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers and their employers. It aims to ensure that the relationship between these parties contributes to successful performance in the generation, transfer and sharing of knowledge, and to the career development of researchers. As for the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, its aim is to improve recruitment, to make selection procedures fairer and more transparent. Link to the Charter and Code: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index_en.cfm?l1=0&l2=3">http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index_en.cfm?l1=0&l2=3 For more information, click on the following link to the "News alert" of our Research website: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2008&na=na- 290908">http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2008&na=na- 290908

    [11] Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou tackles obesity through football and healthy food

    The European Commission joins forces with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the World heart Federation today to publish a cookbook with recipes by 12 famous football players. The aim of the 'Eat for Goals' cookbook is to raise awareness about healthy eating and encourage children and their families to adopt active lifestyles. This UEFA activity builds on previous cooperation with the Commission on nutrition and physical activity, including TV spots promoting physical activity which were shown during last year's UEFA championship. For more information: <a href="http://www.uefa.com/uefa/e4g.html">http://www.uefa.com/uefa/e4g.html <a href="http://www.mueva.eu/projects/eatingforgoals/9-24/cover3Dbig- E.jpg">http://www.mueva.eu/projects/eatingforgoals/9-24/cover3Dbig-E.jpg

    [12] Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou expresses full support of the objectives of the World Heart Federation

    European Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou expressed her full support of the objectives of the World Heart Federation's World Heart Day. It is important to stress that the majority of cases are preventable through healthier lifestyles. Reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe is therefore possible. A major step forward would be increased awareness of factors associated with cardiovascular health such as avoiding the use of tobacco, taking adequate physical exercise, choosing healthy food, and not getting overweight. Commissioner Vassiliou said "it is very important to stress that the majority of these cases could be prevented if people followed better and healthier lifestyles". And that is why the European Commission has invested a great deal of effort in addressing the problem over the past years, through actions, including awareness raising, focused on major determinants of CVD, such as tobacco, nutrition and physical activity, alcohol, and psychosocial stress. Indeed, a very high proportion of CVD is potentially preventable through action on these areas which are common determinants not only for cardiovascular disease but for many other chronic diseases. Cardiovascular diseases represent the single most important cause of death in the EU (over 2 million deaths per year, 42% of all deaths in the EU). The main forms of CVD are coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Cardiovascular diseases are also associated with social conditions, and differences in cardiovascular disease rates are the biggest single cause of health inequalities both between and within countries.

    [13] Commission clears acquisition of Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden Hotel by MSREF

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of seven InterContinental- branded hotels located in the European Union (Portfolio Hotels) by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund VI International-GP LLC (MSREF) of the USA, controlled by Morgan Stanley of the USA and InterContinental Hotels Group, plc (IHG) of the United Kingdom. MSREF acquires the whole of one Crowne Plaza branded hotel business (Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden Hotel) of Germany. MSREF is active in real estate investment and management. IHG provides ownership, management and franchising of hotels on a world-wide basis. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [14] Commission clears acquisition of DeTe Immobilien by Strabag

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of DeTe Immobilien Deutsche Telekom Immobilien und Service GmbH DeTe Immobilien) of Germany by Strabag SE of Austria. Strabag is globally active in all sectors of the building and construction industry, especially structural and civil engineering and road construction. DeTe Immobilien is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG and provides different services in connection with real estate management. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    Rediffusion

    [15] Joe Borg welcomes continued progress in NAFO to protect the marine environment

    European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg has welcomed the continued progress made by the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) on the conservation of the marine environment at its 30th Annual Meeting held in Vigo, Spain, this week. The Commissioner underlined the advances that NAFO's decisions will make to meeting the ambitious targets set by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006 regarding the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.

    [16] Member States endorse Commission proposals to reduce electricity consumption

    Today at the meeting of the Ecodesign Regulatory Committee EU Member States endorsed the European Commission's proposals for two regulations aimed at reducing the electricity consumption in Europe. The first one targets office, industrial and street lighting products while the second affects the devices that convert digital TV signals to analogue signals, known as simple set-top boxes for televisions. "These measures are concrete contributions to reach the EU's energy efficiency targets. Once they are in place they will significantly reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions and foreign dependency in a cost effective manner", said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

    [17] Autre matériel diffusé

    • Memo 'McCreevy announces major initiatives on accounting rules for small businesses'

    • Speech by Commissioner Mandelson 'The challenge of raw materials', Brussels

    • Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner 'International Conflict Resolution: Why it matters for Business How the EU deals with Global Challenges?', New-York

    • Speech by Commissioner Hübner 'Equity and Efficiency: two missions and one policy', Porto From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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