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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-03-15

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] Statement by President Prodi and Commissioner Nielson on the eve of the UN Conference on Financing for Development
  • [02] Produits alimentaires de qualité : la Commission propose une meilleure protection des noms géographiques
  • [03] First estimates for the fourth quarter of 2001 - EU15 current account surplus €7.5 billion ; €1.0 billion surplus on trade in services
  • [04] La Commission se félicite des progrès significatifs enregistrés au Parlement en ce qui concerne son plan d'action pour les services financiers
  • [05] David Byrne and Health Ministers met in London to strengthen global health security
  • [06] La Commission encourage les progrès démocratiques en Côte d'Ivoire
  • [07] Aide humanitaire en Corée du Nord : la Commission octroie plus de €5 millions
  • [08] Commission provides €2.5 million in humanitarian aid for Somalia
  • [09] EU trade relations with the 12 Mediterranean Partner Countries - Meeting of EU and Mediterranean Trade Ministers in Toledo on 19 March 2002
  • [10] Conference on company taxation in the EU, Brussels, 29-30 April 2002
  • [11] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 15/03/2002 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 15/03/2002

  • [01] Statement by President Prodi and Commissioner Nielson on the eve of the UN Conference on Financing for Development

    The European Commission welcomes the agreement by Member States on a common EU position for the Monterrey International Conference on Financing for Development. In particular, we welcome the EU commitment to reach an average of 0.39% of Official Development Aid (ODA) of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2006 as a concrete first step forward to achieving the internationally recognised goal of 0.7%. This achievement, which builds on the conclusions of the Gothenburg and Laeken European Councils, shows that Europe is not complacent about being the world's number one aid donor. With the valuable assistance of the Spanish Presidency, Member States have rallied around a position giving the EU a strong platform for providing leadership based on global equity and solidarity in Monterrey. The conference provides an historic opportunity to make progress towards the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals for poverty reduction.

    [02] Produits alimentaires de qualité : la Commission propose une meilleure protection des noms géographiques

    Le "prosciutto di Parma", le "roquefort" et la "Bayerisches Bier" sont des produits de qualité uniques en raison de leur provenance et des méthodes de production traditionnelles suivant lesquelles ils sont élaborés. La Commission européenne a présenté une proposition visant à renforcer la protection des indications géographiques et des appellations d'origine de ces produits et denrées alimentaires agricoles. En donnant à tous les membres de l'OMC le droit de soulever des objections à l'encontre de l'enregistrement de ces noms géographiques, la proposition doit améliorer la reconnaissance desdits produits sur les marchés internationaux. La Commission propose également d'insérer le vinaigre de vin dans la liste des produits susceptibles d'être protégés et d'en retirer l'eau minérale. Saluant cette proposition, M. Franz Fischler, membre de la Commission responsable de l'agriculture, de la pêche et du développement rural, a déclaré : "L'UE élabore une grande variété de produits de qualité, notamment de denrées alimentaires. Mieux protéger les indications géographiques contre le piratage ou la concurrence déloyale contribuera non seulement à mieux informer les consommateurs dans le monde entier, mais encore à encourager les producteurs, qui seront assurés de voir leurs produits bénéficier d'une reconnaissance légitime dans le monde entier également."

    [03] First estimates for the fourth quarter of 2001 - EU15 current account surplus €7.5 billion ; €1.0 billion surplus on trade in services

    According to provisional data issued today from Eurostat, the EU15 external current account recorded a surplus of €7.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2001, as compared with a deficit of €20.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2000 and a deficit of €0.8 billion in the third quarter of 2001. In the fourth quarter of 2001 the EU15 external balance of trade in services recorded a surplus of €1.0 billion as compared with a deficit of €1.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2000 and a surplus of €1.9 billion in the third quarter of 2001.

    [04] La Commission se félicite des progrès significatifs enregistrés au Parlement en ce qui concerne son plan d'action pour les services financiers

    La Commission européenne a accueilli avec satisfaction les avis favorables adoptés, à la veille du Conseil européen de Barcelone, par le Parlement européen réuni en session plénière à Strasbourg, sur trois propositions concernant les abus de marché, les conglomérats financiers et les normes comptables internationales. Ces trois initiatives fondamentales s'inscrivent dans le cadre du plan d'action pour les services financiers (PASF - voir IP/00/1269), pièce maîtresse de la stratégie visant à faire de l'Union l'économie la plus concurrentielle au monde d'ici à 2010. Les avis rendus le 14 mars sur les propositions de directives concernant les abus de marché et les conglomérats financiers faciliteront grandement l'adoption rapide de ces deux textes. L'avis du 12 mars concernant la proposition de règlement sur l'application des normes comptables internationales ouvre la voie à une adoption "accélérée" de la proposition par le Conseil des ministres de l'Union européenne, ne nécessitant qu'une seule lecture.

    [05] David Byrne and Health Ministers met in London to strengthen global health security

    G7+ Health Ministers and the European Commissioner for Health David Byrne met in London yesterday to advance their preparations for tackling potential threats of biological, chemical and radio-nuclear terrorism. The meeting continued the international partnership between Commissioner Byrne and Ministers from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, the US, Japan, Mexico arising from their first meeting in Ottawa on November 7, 2001 (see IP/01/1553). Mr Byrne, speaking after the meeting, welcomed the conclusions of the session : "Our plan for improving health security and the progress made since November last year demonstrates the commitment and willingness of the international community to reinforce cooperation to upgrade emergency preparedness and effectively to improve common response and alert mechanisms."

    [06] La Commission encourage les progrès démocratiques en Côte d'Ivoire

    Lors de sa rencontre avec le Premier Ministre de Côte d'Ivoire, M. Affi N'Guessan, aujourd'hui à Bruxelles, le Commissaire au développement et à l'aide humanitaire, Poul Nielson, a encouragé le gouvernement ivoirien à maintenir sa politique de réconciliation nationale et de promotion de la démocratie, condition préalable d'une stabilisation durable du pays et donc de la sous-région. M. Nielson a ajouté que les questions de la place des étrangers en Côte d'Ivoire et de la lutte contre l'impunité devraient rester dans la ligne de mire du gouvernement. Il a informé le Premier Ministre de la disponibilité de la Commission d'appuyer l'organisation et l'observation des élections locales prévues pour juillet 2002.

    [07] Aide humanitaire en Corée du Nord : la Commission octroie plus de €5 millions

    La Commission européenne a adopté une décision de €5,55 millions en faveur du peuple de la République Populaire Démocratique de Corée (RPDC). Les fonds seront alloués via ECHO, l'Office d'Aide Humanitaire de la Commission, aux Organisations Non Gouvernementales (ONG) partenaires. Cette décision, qui bénéficiera à près de 250.000 personnes, permettra la mise en œuvre au cours des prochains mois des actions de réhabilitation et d'assainissement dans les domaines de l'eau et du système sanitaire. En 2001, ECHO a déjà alloué un montant de €3,36 millions en faveur des populations vulnérables de la RPDC.

    [08] Commission provides €2.5 million in humanitarian aid for Somalia

    The European Commission has allocated €2.5 million to help victims of drought and civil strife in Somalia. The aid is focused on central and southern regions of the country where, after a decade of violence and instability, most key infrastructures have been destroyed. Significant humanitarian needs have been identified in these areas, particularly in the health/nutrition, livestock, and water/sanitation sectors. Regular outbreaks of fighting between warring factions hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Recurrent droughts and the absence of effective government structures aggravate the situation. The key objective of the new funding, allocated in two separate decisions, is to meet the pressing health and nutritional needs of the most vulnerable sections of the population. Actions envisaged include supplementary and therapeutic feeding, the distribution of emergency seeds and tools, veterinary support and health interventions including cholera treatment. A range of partners operating in Somalia including NGOs and Red Cross organisations will implement the projects. ECHO, the EU Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

    [09] EU trade relations with the 12 Mediterranean Partner Countries - Meeting of EU and Mediterranean Trade Ministers in Toledo on 19 March 2002

    In 1995 the 15 Member States of the European Union and 12 Mediterranean Partner Countries signed the Barcelona Declaration designed to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean relations. One of the aims of the Declaration is to establish by 2010 a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area. So, how does the European Union figure in the trade of the Mediterranean Partner Countries and how has trade in goods and services developed between the two regions ? Which countries are most involved in this trade ? What kind of goods are traded ? How has direct investment by the EU in the Mediterranean Partner Countries developed, and how is it spread ? This statistical report published today by Eurostat endeavours to provide answers to these questions to mark the meeting of Euro-Mediterranean trade ministers in Toledo on 19 March 2002.

    [10] Conference on company taxation in the EU, Brussels, 29-30 April 2002

    The European Commission will host a high-level conference on how to remove tax obstacles to business activity in the Internal Market in Brussels on 29- 30 April. The conference is due to focus in particular on possible ways of achieving a single tax base for EU companies to use when calculating their EU-wide taxable profits. This would aim to avoid the current costly inefficiencies resulting from the operation of fifteen different sets of tax rules. The conference is a follow-up to the Commission's company taxation Communication of 23 October 2001 (see IP/01/1468). To prepare for the conference, the Commission has launched a web-site on company taxation in the EU which includes an online discussion forum to allow the public to contribute their views on this subject. The web-site also includes the agenda, list of speakers and application material for the conference, as well as information on recent EU developments in the area of company taxation. Members of the public may attend the conference free of charge subject to space restrictions and advance registration. Journalists are also welcome to participate. The "European Union Corporate Tax" Web-site is located at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/taxation/company_tax/index_en.htm

    [11] Autre matériel diffusé

    Discours de M. Vitorino : "La construcción de un Espacio de Libertad, de Seguridad y de Justicia en el contexto del futuro de la Unión Europea" à la Real Academia de Sciencias Morales y Políticas (14/03, Madrid)

    Note sur la préparation du Conseil Agriculture

    Calendrier du 18 au 22 mars


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


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