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Friday, 19 April 2024
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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-05-29Midday 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
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[01] eEurope 2005 : dans l'UE, la société de l'information passe à la vitesse supérieureLa Commission européenne a adopté un nouveau plan d'action intitulé "eEurope 2005 : une société de l'information pour tous". Ce nouveau plan d'action vise à mettre en place un environnement favorable à l'investissement privé et à la création de nouveaux emplois, à stimuler la productivité, à moderniser les services publics et notamment l'enseignement et, enfin et surtout, à donner à chacun la possibilité de participer à la société mondiale de l'information. Tel est le message essentiel qui sous- tend le plan d'action.[02] Assurances dans le transport aérien après le 11 septembre : la Commission autorise la prolongation des aides d'Etat d'urgence pour un mois supplémentaireLa Commission européenne a décidé que les Etats membres pourraient continuer à assurer la couverture d'assurance d'état d'urgence aux entreprises du transport aérien pour un mois supplémentaire, jusqu'au 30 juin 2002. Cette période additionnelle permettra aux gouvernements et à l'industrie de finaliser une réponse durable, rentable et équitable aux difficultés rencontrées par l'industrie depuis les attentats du 11 septembre 2001.[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[03] EU announces formal recognition of Russia as "market economy" in major milestone on road to WTO membershipAt today's EU-Russia summit, European Commission President Romano Prodi took the unprecedented step of announcing that the EU would be granting Russia the formal status and treatment of a fully-fledged "market economy", in recognition of the major reforms it has successfully undertaken in recent years. The EU is the first trading power to bestow this recognition on Russia. Announcing the decision, President Prodi said at the opening of the summit, I am happy to announce that we will grant Russia the status of a full market economy. What we promise we will keep. As Russia's principal trading partner it is right and proper that we be the first to recognise and reward the considerable efforts undertaken by this country in recent years by treating her as a fully-fledged market economy. This is without doubt an important milestone on the road to Russia's WTO membership, a process where we are very much in the vanguard."[04] Bathing Water Report 2001 : high quality throughout EuropeEuropean Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström today presented the annual report on bathing water quality for 2001. This report is published every year in time for the bathing season so that the public can have the latest information prior to taking their holidays. The data presented in the report confirms the trend observed in previous years with overall compliance levels for coastal sites being 97% - and freshwater sites 93%. Due to substantial investment in waste water treatment made by all Member States, there has been a consistent trend towards improved quality of bathing water across Europe since the adoption of the relevant Directive in 1976. Commissioner Wallström said : "It is important for the public to have good and timely information on the state of European bathing waters. I am pleased that this year's report confirms the consistent trend towards reducing the risks of infection in our coastal waters. We need to keep up the pressure for improvement especially in fresh water sites so that citizens can enjoy the highest bathing standards". On the basis of experience with implementing the present Directive and following extensive consultation, Commissioner Wallström intends to present a proposal for amending the Directive within the next few weeks. This proposal will aim to reduce the chances of possible infection related to bathing even further, and to make the management and implementation of the directive simpler for the Member States.[05] Pour lutter contre les rejets polluants des avions, la Commission recherche des alternatives propres au carburant fossileL'utilisation de l'hydrogène liquide pour la propulsion des avions offre une alternative écologiquement défendable au carburant fossile. Le projet de recherche Cryoplane montre que l'emploi de l'hydrogène liquide est techniquement faisable et atténuerait grandement l'incidence de l'aviation sur l'environnement sans que la sécurité soit compromise. Financé par la Commission et d'une durée de 26 mois, ce projet dirigé par Airbus (le plus grand constructeur aéronautique européen) regroupe 35 partenaires des milieux industriels, des centres de recherche et des institutions universitaires de 11 Etats membres de l'UE, y compris le Centre commun de recherche de la Commission (CCR). Ses résultats ont été présentés les 27 et 28 mai à Ispra. Il illustre la nouvelle approche de l'UE en matière de recherche, telle que la conçoit le 6e programme-cadre de recherche (FP6) : l'UE concentrera ses efforts de recherche sur des percées technologiques majeures pour atteindre la masse critique et une véritable valeur ajoutée au niveau de l'Union.[06] Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou says immigration cannot correct the effects of Europe's ageing populationThe European Commission has published a report which makes it clear that immigration alone can never counterbalance the effects of an ageing population in Europe and cannot solve the EU's labour market problems. The 'Social Situation Report 2002', published annually by the Commission, presents an overview of social trends in Europe and interprets what they may mean for policymaking. This year, the report focuses on mobility trends within, into and out of the EU and what this implies for total population and for the old-age dependency ratio. It shows that even doubling immigration rates and simultaneously doubling fertility rates will not, on their own, make a significant contribution to securing sustainable labour markets and pensions systems. Net migration into the EU was just above 680, 000 in 2000. The present EU fertility rate is 1.4 children per female.[07] La Commission autorise le rachat des activités de fabrication de Hewlett-Packard à Lyon, en France, par Sanmina-SCILa Commission européenne a donné le feu vert à la société Sanmina-SCI Corporation, qui a son siège en Californie, aux Etats-Unis, pour acquérir le contrôle des activités de fabrication de Hewlett-Packard à l'Isle d'Abeau, près de Lyon, en France.[08] Don't bring back FMD from South Korea, David Byrne tells EU football fansFootball fans travelling to South Korea for the World Cup matches must not bring back any food and take care if staying in the countryside. South Korea has recently reported a number of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and the South Korean Government has put all necessary controls in place to contain the disease. Imports of animal and animal products from South Korea are not allowed into the EU. However, Commissioner David Byrne, responsible for Health and Consumer Protection, reminded football fans and national authorities to be vigilant : "We are just recovering from a most traumatic period last year when the European Union, especially the United Kingdom, suffered from a major FMD outbreak. We have to do everything possible to avoid the disease being brought back to Europe again. The damage caused by last year's outbreak was immense, not only in financial terms but also in the loss of prized herds and the damage to tourism in the affected areas". The Commissioner added : "I cannot overemphasise the need to observe the rules. They are simple and straightforward. We must be sure that the World Cup in South Korea is not remembered for the wrong reasons."[09] EU citizens support enlargement but want more information, according to a special Eurobarometer surveyA special Eurobarometer survey carried out in the fifteen Member States of the EU shows that a broad majority of citizens expect benefits from the enlargement process, but want information about it. Citizens also feel favourable towards the European Union and the euro is the most frequent example spontaneously quoted by the respondents when asked to mention positive aspects of the EU. Some 80% of the respondents consider the fight against illegal immigration as a priority for the EU, but only 45% of them consider EU action as effective in this field. Some 16,000 EU citizens aged 15 and over were interviewed between 22 January and 28 February. In addition to the standard report, a national report is published in each Member State.[10] Plan d'action doté de 125 millions d'€ pour soutenir le processus de paix en AngolaLa Commission européenne a élaboré un plan d'action dans le but de venir en aide au peuple angolais au lendemain de l'accord de paix qui a été signé, le 4 avril, entre le gouvernement et l'UNITA. Une enveloppe totale de 125 millions d'€ a été dégagée du budget de l'UE et du Fonds européen de développement pour toute une série de mesures axées sur les secours d'urgence, l'aide et la sécurité alimentaires, l'assistance aux personnes déplacées et à celles qui rentrent au pays, et les opérations de déminage. Lorsqu'il a présenté ce plan d'action, le Commissaire chargé du développement et de l'aide humanitaire, Poul Nielson, a souligné l'engagement de longue date de l'UE aux côtés des victimes de cette "crise souvent négligée". "On donne enfin aujourd'hui une chance à la paix. La Commission soutient sans réserve le processus de paix et accorde des moyens concrets et substantiels pour aider les populations qui continuent de souffrir et contribuer à l'immense tâche de la reconstruction", a-t-il déclaré.[11] Commission provides more than €4 million in humanitarian aid for South- East AsiaThe European Commission has recently taken three humanitarian aid decisions concerning Indonesia (€1.54 million), Cambodia (€0.7 million) and Burmese refugees living on the Thai-Myanmar border (€2 million). The assistance is channelled through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the authority of Commissioner Poul Nielson.[12] Réunion des ministres de l'Education et de la Jeunesse (30/05)Le Conseil "Education et Jeunesse" se réunit demain à Bruxelles à partir de 9h30. La matinée sera consacrée aux questions d'éducation et l'après-midi à celles de jeunesse. Parmi les points à l'ordre du jour, on peut noter un échange de vues sur la mise en oeuvre de certaines des conclusions du Conseil européen de Barcelone, un possible accord politique sur l'Année européenne de l'éducation par le sport 2004, une résolution du Conseil soutenant les orientations contenues dans la communication de la Commission sur l'éducation et la formation tout au long de la vie, Tempus-Meda, la mise au point d'un agenda de travail pour mettre en oeuvre les idées du Livre blanc sur la jeunesse et un échange de vues sur les moyens concrets d'améliorer la participation des jeunes.[13] Autre matériel diffuséNote sur la préparation du Conseil DéveloppementNote on conference 'Speaking out: indigenous views of development and implementation of the EU policy on indigenous peoples' Speech by Chris Patten : "EU-Russia relations" at the European Business Club Conference (28/05, Moscow) Speech by Loyola de Palacio : "Shaping Russian-European integration in the 21st Century" at the European Business Club Conference (28/05, Moscow) Speech by Romano Prodi : "What the 21st century holds for the EU-Russia relationship" at the European Business Club dinner (28/05, Moscow) Speech by Philippe Busquin : "Biotechnology, Research and Innovation in Europe" Speech by Franz Fischler : "Europe a hard sell ? Finding ways to better communicate Europe" at the Panel discussion Forum Alpbach (28/05) Speech by Frits Bolkestein : "The EU's policy on financial integration after Enron" to the International Centre for Monetary and Banking Studies (Washington, ! embargo 6 pm !) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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