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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-11-20

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] La Commission demande la dénonciation des accords bilatéraux de ciel ouvert
  • [02] Investment services : proposed new Directive would protect investors and help investment firms operate EU-wide
  • [03] La Commission recommande au Conseil d'avertir la France sur la situation de ses finances publiques
  • [04] Commission adopts report on government finances in Germany as a first step of the Excessive Deficit Procedure
  • [05] Fabrizio Barbaso et Dirk Ahner nommés directeurs généraux adjoints à la DG Agriculture
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [06] Prestige oil spill : EU stands by affected fishermen and fish and shellfish farmers
  • [07] La Commission propose cinq critères de référence européens pour les systèmes d'éducation et de formation
  • [08] Commission clears creation of joint venture between ACEA Distribuzione, BTicino and Siemens Metering SpA
  • [09] Guide prices for fisheries products in 2003 : proposed increases for almost all species
  • [10] Pan-European interchange of data between administrations : nine candidate countries soon to follow the example of Slovenia and Poland
  • [11] EU annual report on US trade barriers highlights need for enhanced cooperation
  • [12] Green light for the import of more products of animal origin from China
  • [13] Leonardo da Vinci projects shown at the employment week 2002
  • [14] Anna Diamantopoulou and Etienne Davignon to receive 'Corporate Social Responsibility' (CSR) prize
  • [15] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 20/11/2002 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 20/11/2002[I] Résultats de la Commission du 19 novembre 2002 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 19 November

  • [01] La Commission demande la dénonciation des accords bilatéraux de ciel ouvert

    La Commission européenne a décidé de demander aux Etats membres qui ont signé avec les Etats-Unis des accords bilatéraux dans le domaine du transport aérien de faire jouer leurs clauses de dénonciation pour assurer, dans les meilleurs délais, le respect de l'arrêt de la Cour de justice. Dans une déclaration adoptée hier, la Commission a précisé son analyse et sa réaction suite à l'arrêt de la Cour du 5 novembre. La Cour a déclaré que les accords bilatéraux de ciel ouvert actuels étaient illégaux à plusieurs égards. En particulier, les clauses de nationalité strictes privent les compagnies aériennes de l'UE des droits que leur confère le traité et sont contraires au droit communautaire. D'autres dispositions concernent des sujets qui relèvent de la compétence externe exclusive de l'UE et ne devraient pas être négociés par les Etats membres. En vertu du traité, les Etats membres doivent prendre toutes mesures propres à assurer l'exécution de leurs obligations et il incombe à la Commission de demander le respect des arrêts. En outre, la Commission considère que l'arrêt a des conséquences non seulement pour les accords spécifiques concernés mais pour tous les accords bilatéraux existants dans le domaine des services aériens et pour la négociation de nouveaux accords. Par conséquent, la Commission a également invité les Etats membres à s'abstenir de prendre tout engagement international sous quelque forme que ce soit dans le domaine de l'aviation avant que la compatibilité de tels engagements avec le droit communautaire ait été vérifiée et elle a exhorté les Etats membres à autoriser l'UE à ouvrir des négociations avec les Etats-Unis pour le remplacement des accords existants. Cela permettra une transition contenue sans perturbations vers un marché aérien transatlantique ouvert.

    [02] Investment services : proposed new Directive would protect investors and help investment firms operate EU-wide

    The European Commission has presented a proposal for a new Directive on investment services and regulated markets. The proposal aims to overhaul existing legislation in response to the far-reaching structural changes in EU financial markets over the last decade. It would increase harmonisation of national rules and meet two key prerequisites for the completion of the Internal Market in financial services. First it would give investment firms an effective "single passport", which would allow them to operate across the EU. Second, it would make sure investors enjoyed a high level of protection when employing investment firms, wherever in Europe they were located. It seeks to establish, for the first time, a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the organised execution of investor transactions by exchanges, other trading systems and investment firms. Once adopted, the proposed Directive will uphold the integrity and transparency of EU markets and foster competition between traditional exchanges and other trading systems, with the effect of encouraging innovation, reducing trading costs and releasing more funds for investment, ultimately boosting economic growth. The new proposal follows extensive consultations.

    [03] La Commission recommande au Conseil d'avertir la France sur la situation de ses finances publiques

    La Commission européenne recommande au Conseil d'adresser un avertissement à la France afin d'éviter que celle-ci ne dépasse la valeur de référence de 3,0% du PIB fixée en matière de déficit. Elle propose également au Conseil de rendre sa décision publique, de même que le texte intégral de la recommandation qu'elle lui a adressée. Pour cette recommandation, la Commission s'est fondée sur ses propres prévisions d'automne, publiées la semaine dernière (IP/02/1659), qui indiquent que le déficit des administrations publiques françaises pourrait atteindre 2,7% du PIB en 2002 et 2,9% en 2003. La procédure "d'alerte rapide" applicable en l'espèce est définie par le règlement n° 1466/97, qui fait partie du pacte de stabilité et de croissance (PSC), conformément à l'article 99, paragraphe 4, du traité. En engageant cette procédure, la Commission, comme ce fut le cas en début d'année pour l'Allemagne et le Portugal, honore les engagements pris dans le cadre de la résolution du Conseil européen sur le pacte de stabilité et de croissance en vue d'une application rigoureuse, rapide et efficace de celui-ci.

    [04] Commission adopts report on government finances in Germany as a first step of the Excessive Deficit Procedure

    The European Commission has adopted a report on the government finance situation in Germany. This report constitutes the first step of the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) provided for by Art. 104.3 of the Treaty. The Commission has initiated the EDP for Germany, as the Commission's autumn forecast shows a general government deficit of 3.8% of GDP for 2002. This deficit forecast clearly indicates the risk of an excessive deficit, as it exceeds by a large margin the Treaty reference value of 3% of GDP. Moreover, general government gross debt is projected to move from 59.5% of GDP in 2001 to 60.9% of GDP in 2002, also rising above the Treaty reference value of 60%. On the basis of available information it is yet uncertain whether the deficit will actually decline below 3.0% of GDP in 2003. In this first step the Commission report is analysing the government finance situation in Germany without making specific recommendations. As a second step, the Commission will make a recommendation to the Council of economic and finance Ministers for a decision. By following the Article 104 procedure, the Commission is, like in the case of Portugal, honouring its commitments laid down in the European Council Resolution on the Stability and Growth Pact for a strict, timely and effective functioning of the Pact.

    [05] Fabrizio Barbaso et Dirk Ahner nommés directeurs généraux adjoints à la DG Agriculture

    La Commission européenne a décidé de nommer MM. Fabrizio Barbaso et Dirk Ahner directeurs généraux adjoints à la DG Agriculture. M. Barbaso sera chargé des relations institutionnelles, de la communication et de la qualité, des marchés des produits végétaux et animaux, ainsi que des cultures spécialisées et des produits vitivinicoles. M. Ahner sera responsable des programmes de développement rural, des aspects horizontaux du développement rural et des programmes Sapard, ainsi que des analyses économiques et de l'évaluation.

    [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

    [06] Prestige oil spill : EU stands by affected fishermen and fish and shellfish farmers

    European Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler declared today that the Commission would do everything it can to help fishermen affected by the oil spill. "I feel for the fishermen on the Spanish coast. Through no fault of their own, they now are part of this disastrous oil spill, and their livelihoods are threatened. The EU won't let them down. Fishermen who have to stop their fisheries activities because of this ecological disaster can count on EU aid to compensate them for the temporary cessation of their activities. Spain has earmarked €117.7 million under the FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) for this purpose. FIFG can also provide financial support to affected fish and shellfish farmers for the cleaning or replacement of damaged equipment. It is now up to the Spanish authorities to make use of this money. If it turns out that these sums are not enough they can disburse additional FIFG money following a re- programming."

    [07] La Commission propose cinq critères de référence européens pour les systèmes d'éducation et de formation

    Afin de relever le défi lancé par le Conseil européen de Lisbonne, à savoir faire de l'Europe, d'ici 2010, l'économie de la connaissance la plus compétitive et la plus dynamique du monde, la Commission européenne et les Etats membres axent leurs efforts sur la définition et la réalisation d'objectifs communs pour les systèmes d'éducation et de formation. Dans la communication qui vient d'être adoptée par la Commission, nous proposons cinq critères de référence européens pour l'éducation et la formation, notamment pour les taux d'abandon scolaire ou le nombre de diplômés en mathématiques, en sciences et en technologie. Ces critères participeront à la réalisation des objectifs communs pour les systèmes d'éducation et de formation.

    [08] Commission clears creation of joint venture between ACEA Distribuzione, BTicino and Siemens Metering SpA

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the creation of a joint venture between the Italian undertakings ACEA Distribuzione SpA, an electricity producer and distributor, BTicino SpA and Siemens Metering SpA, two manufacturers of low voltage electrical products. The joint venture will study, develop, manufacture and sell a new advanced systems for the management and control of low voltage electric distribution networks. (The operation, notified on 16 October 2002, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)

    [09] Guide prices for fisheries products in 2003 : proposed increases for almost all species

    The European Commission has issued its annual proposal on EU guide prices for fresh and frozen fisheries products as well as for tuna for processing for 2003. The prices of fisheries products have generally been increasing since 1999. This continues to be due to the overall scarcity of resources and increasing consumer demand, particularly in the case of white fish species.

    [10] Pan-European interchange of data between administrations : nine candidate countries soon to follow the example of Slovenia and Poland

    The European Commission decided today that from next year administrations in 11 candidate countries will be able to exchange data with EU Member States' administrations as regards application of EU law, enforcement of Internal Market rules, and supply of e-Government services across borders to citizens and enterprises. The system that allows Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA) was first extended to Slovenia and Poland (see IP/02/902), and will be open to Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia on 1 January 2003. Stepping up data exchange will accelerate the candidates' take-up of EU legislation before they formally join the Union, thereby safeguarding security and freedom of movement in the enlarged Europe.

    [11] EU annual report on US trade barriers highlights need for enhanced cooperation

    Today the European Commission released its eighteenth annual report on barriers to trade and investment in the US, providing an overview of the obstacles that EU exporters and investors face in the US. A number of impediments, ranging from tariff and non-tariff barriers to differences in legal and regulatory systems need to be tackled. European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said : "Tackling bilateral trade obstacles is essential to transatlantic confidence-building. It is therefore important to advance in the Positive Economic Agenda adopted at the EU-US summit in May 2002."

    [12] Green light for the import of more products of animal origin from China

    The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to allow the resumption of imports of certain fishery products (crayfish and surimi), subject to testing. The import of some other fish products, gelatine and sausage casings was already authorised by earlier decisions. The proposal will now be formally adopted by the Commission and will enter into force shortly.

    [13] Leonardo da Vinci projects shown at the employment week 2002

    Job training is a key factor in employment. The European Commission's Directorate-General for Education and Culture, responsible for EU vocational training policy, is again participating this year in "Employment Week 2002" at the Heysel exhibition centre in Brussels from 19-21 November. The agenda includes the valorisation of vocational training products. Many of the featured products are from the EU's Leonardo da Vinci vocational training programme. Five Leonardo da Vinci projects will also be exhibited for three days at the new "Training Zone/Espace Formation".

    [14] Anna Diamantopoulou and Etienne Davignon to receive 'Corporate Social Responsibility' (CSR) prize

    Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, and Viscount Etienne Davignon, prominent Belgian businessman, politician and former Commissioner will tomorrow 21 November receive the Special CSR prize from the Danish "National Network of Business Leaders" in Copenhagen. The objective of the award, given each year to one public and one private figure, is to recognise innovativion in promoting CSR and stimulating CSR awareness in business at large, including in small businesses (see www.netvaerksprisen.dk, website in English). EU leaders have recognised the importance of CSR in furthering the Lisbon strategy for sustainable growth and jobs. The Commission recently issued a policy paper on CSR and has set up a Multistakeholder Forum to try to coordinate EU CSR efforts and agree ways to monitor and report on them. The forum will produce final conclusions by mid 2004 (see IP/02/985).

    [15] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Romano Prodi : "The Commission's legislative and work programme for 2003" at the plenary session of the European Parliament (Strasbourg)

    Letter from President Prodi to Heads of State and Governement on "Spring Report"


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


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