Browse through our Interesting Nodes about Foreign Delegations in Greece Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Monday, 18 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-10-18

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>

MIDDAY EXPRESS

News from the Spokesman's midday briefing

Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Service Presse et Communicationb

Midday Express 18/10/2001

  • [01] Afghan crisis to be discussed at Humanitarian Aid Committee meeting today European Commission and Member States experts are meeting today in the Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) to discuss latest developments in the Afghanistan crisis. Whilst no new decisions are expected to be taken today, the meeting provides a forum for an exchange of information and analysis on the EU (Commission and Member States) humanitarian operational strategies and funding. In view of the seriousness of the humanitarian situation, the discussion will also deal with how to better support the operational coordination needed in order to ensure the best possible response to the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. The General Affairs Council of 8th October 2001 and the informal Development Council of 10th October 2001 decided that all available information on humanitarian interventions by the European Union has to be collected as soon as possible. For 2001, the EU has so far contributed over euro 310 million to the crisis, 100 million of which is managed directly by the Commission.
  • [02] Commission refers to Bundeskartellamt review of Haniel/Fels deal in German building materials sector, deepens probe into Dutch market The European Commission has referred to the German Competition Authority, the Bundeskartellamt, the examination of the impact of the proposed acquisition by Haniel Baustoff-Industrie Zuschlagstoffe GmbH of Fels-Werke GmbH in the German wall building materials markets. At the same time, the Commission decided that the deal's effect in the Dutch wall building materials sector requires further review and started an in-depth investigation.
  • [03] La Commission autorise Philips à acquérir Marconi Medical Systems La Commission européenne a approuvé le projet de reprise de la division d'équipements d'imagerie médicale de Marconi (MMS) par Philips Electronics NV. L'opération ne soulève pas de préoccupations graves au regard des règles de concurrence, car il reste plusieurs concurrents puissants sur les marchés concernés, qui sont en grande partie stimulés par l'innovation technique.
  • [04] Money laundering : Commission welcomes conciliation agreement on new Directive The European Commission has welcomed the approval of a compromise text on the proposal to upgrade the EU's money laundering Directive by the European Parliament's delegation in the conciliation procedure with the EU's Council of Ministers. At its October 17th meeting in Brussels, the delegation voted by 12 votes in favour of the compromise text, with one abstention. As this compromise has already been endorsed by the Member States, the conciliation procedure can be formally closed by an exchange of letters between the Parliament and the Council without the need for a meeting of the Conciliation Committee.
  • [05] Interreg Programme : European Union contributes euro 17.5 million for Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein The European Commission has approved a cross-border support programme for Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which is financed by the Community initiative Interreg III. It covers the region "Alpenrhein- Bodensee-Hochrhein" and a period until 2006. The programme focuses on better cross-border cooperation in the field of spatial development, environmental issues and coordination of activities as regards the regional economy. The total budget available is euro 42.4 million to which the European Union will contribute euro 17.5 million. Another euro 20.6 million comes from national and regional budgets and euro 4.3 million from private funding.
  • [06] Interreg programme : European Union contributes euro 35 million for Germany (Lower Saxony) and the Netherlands (Ems-Dollart region) The European Commission has adopted a cross-border cooperation programme between Germany and the Netherlands, which will be financed by the Community initiative Interreg III. The programme involves parts of the German federal state of Lower Saxony, and the Netherlands' regions of Zuidoost Drenthe, Oost-Groningen, Delfzijl and Overig Groningen. A population of 2.6 million inhabitants live in the supported area. The programme's main objectives are better cross-border cooperation, the improvement of infrastructure and the funding of social integration and environmental protection projects. The total amount available until 2006 is euro 87 million of which the EU finances euro 35.5 million while euro 46 million come from national and regional budgets. In addition, the private sector contribution amounts to euro 5.6 million.
  • [07] Interreg programme : European Union contributes euro 96 million for cross-border cooperation between Germany (Brandenburg) and Poland (Voidvodship Lubuskie) The European Commission today adopted one of three cross-border cooperation programmes between Germany and Poland, which will be financed by the Community initiative Interreg III. The programme involves the German regions of Brandenburg and the Polish border region Voivodship Lubuskie, representing a population of about 1.62 million. Its main objectives are the development of the economy and infrastructure on both sides of the border and better cross-border cooperation. The total amount available until 2006 is euro 131.79 million of which the EU finances euro 96.21 million while euro 31.71 million come from national and regional budgets and euro 3.86 million from private financing.
  • [08] Interreg programme : European Union contributes euro 83 million for Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommen and Brandenburg) and Poland (Voidvoship Zachodniopomorskie) The European Commission today adopted the last of three cross-border cooperation programmes between Germany and Poland, which will be financed by the Community initiative Interreg III. The programme involves the German regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg as well as the Polish border region of the Voivodship Zachodniopomorskie, representing a population of about 2.4 million. Its main objectives are the development of the economy and infrastructure on both sides of the border and to support better cross-border cooperation. The total amount available until 2006 is euro 110.78 million of which the EU finances euro 83.09 million while euro 27.69 million come from national and regional budgets or from private financing.
  • [09] Urban II programmes : Commission contributes euro 114,1 million for urban regeneration in Germany The European Commission has approved nine programmes for urban regeneration in Germany. These programmes concern the regions of Dessau in Sachsen- Anhalt (see IP/01/1446), Kassel (see IP/01/1447), Mannheim/ Ludwigshafen (see IP/01/1448), Neubrandenburg Nordt Stadt (see IP/01/1449), Dudweiler in Saarbrücken (see IP/01/1450), Kiel "Ostufer Stadtgebiet" (see IP/01/1451), Lichtenberg and Friedrichshain in Berlin (see IP/01/1452), Gera (see IP/01/1453) and Leipzig (see IP/01/1454). Priorities will include the improvement of the environment and transport, support of the local economy and job creation as well as projects in the field of social affairs, youth and education.
  • [10] La Commission propose de déclarer 2004 Année européenne de l'éducation par le sport Sur proposition de Viviane Reding, membre de la Commission européenne en charge de l'Education, de la Culture et du Sport, la Commission propose de proclamer 2004 "Année européenne de l'éducation par le sport". Cette année, qui sera aussi celle des Jeux olympiques d'été à Athènes, verra la mise en oeuvre d'actions communautaires et nationales qui viseront notamment à encourager une coopération durable entre institutions éducatives et organisations sportives et à mieux intégrer la pratique du sport et la transmission de ses valeurs dans les enseignements. La Commission propose de doter l'Année européenne de l'éducation par le sport d'un budget de 11,5 millions d'euros.
  • [11] Frits Bolkestein highlights tax obstacles for companies within Internal Market (! embargo 4 pm !) "It is astonishing that some 8 years after establishing the Internal Market so many tax obstacles still exist for companies", said European Taxation Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, speaking at a conference in Rotterdam on 18th October. These obstacles include double taxation arising from distribution of dividends, mergers and transfer pricing and difficulties in offsetting losses in one Member State against profits in another. Mr Bolkestein was outlining some of the findings of a study on company taxation that the Commission will publish shortly. The study, carried out at the request of Member States, will report also on effective company tax rates in Member States. Mr Bolkestein indicated that the Commission will adopt very shortly a Company Taxation Communication that will review possible targeted solutions to combat tax obstacles for companies wishing to operate in more than one Member States and a range of "comprehensive approaches" to overcome the additional obstacle of the current costly inefficiencies of having to deal with up to 15 separate sets of national tax rules. Mr Bolkestein indicated that the Commission plans to work in partnership with the Member States' tax administrations to create the necessary framework for companies to exploit all the possibilities the Internal Market creates.
  • [12] Commissioner Wallström on official visit in Slovenia The European Commissioner for Environment, Margot Wallström, is visiting Slovenia today and tomorrow. This is Mrs Wallström's first official visit to Slovenia, and she is also the first Environment Commissioner to visit the country. Mrs Wallström will discuss the environmental aspects of enlargement with Slovene politicians, environmental organisations and university students. She will also meet with the pupils of a school in Ljubljana that has developed an "eco-programme" for the pupils. The programme is designed to help the children act in a more environmentally responsible way. Mrs Wallström will be congratulating Slovenia for the achievements made in the environmental area during the accession negotiations, and urge her Slovenian counterparts to maintain the current momentum. Before her departure, Mrs Wallström said : "Slovenia has come a long way. I am very encouraged by the Slovene efforts to take on board EU environmental legislation. Special attention must now focus on improving the administrative capacity of the country to implement and enforce environmental regulation."
  • [13] Fusion approuvée selon la procédure simplifiée Bertelsmann AG (D) / Group France Loisirs SA (F)
  • [14] Autre matériel diffusé Speech by Anna Diamantopoulou at the Conference of the Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006) Speech by Günter Verheugen at the launch of EU-Turkish Foundation

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
  • Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    midex2html v1.04 run on Thursday, 18 October 2001 - 11:30:10 UTC