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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-06-23
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Sécurité aérienne : la Commission prend une décision concernant le
contrôle du personnel dans les zones de sûreté accès réglementé des
aéroports de l'UE
[02] Commission supports development of renewable energy and energy
efficiency through Internet
[03] La Commission approuve les programmes de développement économique et
social en faveur des nouveaux Etats membres
[04] Go ahead for €608 million rural development plan in Lithuania
[05] Go ahead for €188 million rural development plan for Estonia
[06] €34 million for Maltese rural development
[07] Green light for €410 million rural development plan for Latvia
[08] Commission extends probe Areva/Urenco venture
[09] Steel : EU concludes steel agreement with Ukraine
[10] Alternative testing methods : European research to replace and reduce
animal tests
[11] Conférence ministérielle de l'OMS sur l'environnement et la santé :
avant tout, garantir un avenir sain nos enfants
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-06-23
Reference: MEX/04/0623
Date: 23/06/2004
EXME04 / 23.6
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
23/06/04
[01] Sécurité aérienne : la Commission prend une décision concernant le
contrôle du personnel dans les zones de sûreté accès réglementé des
aéroports de l'UE
La Commission européenne a adopté une nouvelle législation établissant
une définition commune des parties critiques des zones de sûreté
accès réglementé dans les aéroports de l'UE. Le but en est d'obliger,
pour la première fois, le personnel aéroportuaire se soumettre des
contrôles de sécurité lorsqu'il pénètre dans les zones sensibles des
aéroports. "Il s'agit d'une autre mesure indispensable pour accroître la
sécurité des vols au départ des aéroports de l'UE. Cette mesure a non
seulement pour effet d'élever le niveau des normes applicables dans
l'ensemble de l'UE, mais elle préfigure aussi des normes élevées, au
niveau international, dans ce domaine. Il est normal et juste que le
personnel aéroportuaire soit au moins soumis aux mêmes contrôles de
sécurité que les passagers", a déclaré la vice-présidente, Loyola de
Palacio.
[02] Commission supports development of renewable energy and energy
efficiency through Internet
With its new Internet broadcast portal developed under the ManagEnergy
initiative, the European Commission is going a step further in enabling
awareness-raising and exchanges of good practice between energy actors and
citizens across Europe. A recent communication on "The share of renewable
energy in the EU" highlighted that targets set for 2010 in this sector will
not be reached if Member States do not raise their efforts. The Commission
is therefore giving direct support to local initiatives. The portal will
allow the dissemination, on an unprecedented scale, of innovative
technologies and management solutions found at local level.
[03] La Commission approuve les programmes de développement économique et
social en faveur des nouveaux Etats membres
(! embargo 15h30 !) Moins de deux mois après l'élargissement, la
Commission européenne a approuvé aujourd'hui dans le cadre des Fonds
structurels les programmes de développement économique et social en
faveur de chacun des dix nouveaux Etats membres. Les nouveaux programmes de
développement, crédits du Fonds de cohésion compris, prévoient une
contribution de l'Union d'un montant de plus de 24 milliards d'€ entre
2004 et 2006. Au cours d'une cérémonie organisée l'occasion de cet
événement majeur, Jacques Barrot, Franz Fischler et Stavros Dimas,
membres de la Commission responsables des Fonds structurels, ainsi que les
commissaires Péter Balázs et Sandra Kalniete, ont entériné les
décisions avec les représentants permanents de la République tchèque,
de Chypre, de l'Estonie, de la Hongrie, de la Lettonie, de la Lituanie, de
Malte, de la Pologne, de la Slovaquie et de la Slovénie.
[04] Go ahead for €608 million rural development plan in Lithuania
The European Union's Committee for Agricultural Structures (STAR) has
accepted the Lithuanian Horizontal Rural Development plan (RDP). The
programmes are worth €608 million, from which the EU contribution amounts
to €489.5 million for the period 2004-2006. The rest will be financed by
Lithuania. The rural development programmes will lead to positive changes
throughout Lithuanian rural areas. The plan aims to improve incomes for
farmers in designated disadvantaged areas, to provide further employment
opportunities, to support incomes and alleviate cash flow constraints for
semi-subsistence farms. Specific attention will be given to restructuring
dairy farming by improving agricultural structures in terms of farm size
and the age of farmers. Furthermore, the rural development programmes will
improve the environment and assist farmers to meet EU standards. The
Commission will formally adopt the plan in the coming weeks.
[05] Go ahead for €188 million rural development plan for Estonia
The European Union's Committee for Agriculture Structures (STAR) has given
its favourable opinion to the Estonian Horizontal Rural Development Plan
(HRDP). Worth €188 million. The EU contribution will amount to €150.5
million during the three-year period 2004-2006, and will be complemented
with Estonian public funding of €37.6 million. Agriculture is one of the
most important sectors in the Estonian economy. Dairy production and
forestry are important sub-sectors in Estonia, where the population density
is relatively low. With this rural development plan, the EU will support
Estonia to improve the profitability of farms in less favoured areas, to
set up a specific agri-environment scheme, to step up afforestation
activities, to convert small farms into viable farming units, to help
farmers meet environmental standards, and to offer technical assistance for
the implementation of the rural development policy. The Commission will
formally approve the plan in the coming weeks.
[06] €34 million for Maltese rural development
The European Union's Committee for Agricultural Structures (STAR) has given
its favourable opinion to the Maltese Horizontal Rural Development plan
(RDP). The programmes are worth €33.6 million, from which the EU finances
€26.9 million for the period 2004-2006. The remaining contribution will
come from Malta. The plan aims to tackle specific handicaps Maltese
agriculture is facing due to its geophysical status and to ensure that the
agriculture sector does not only provide fresh and quality produce, but
also enhances conservation of Malta's unique rural landscape. By specific
appropriate measures the plan should ensure a smooth transition from
protected agriculture (based on high import levies), to a modern
agriculture which will be able to compete and trade within an integrated
European market. The Commission will formally adopt the plan in the coming
weeks.
[07] Green light for €410 million rural development plan for Latvia
The European Union's Committee for Agriculture Structures (STAR) has given
its favourable opinion to the Latvian Rural Development Plan (RDP). Worth
€410 million, the EU contribution to this plan will amount to €328.1
million during the period 2004-2006, the rest will be financed by Latvia.
Latvia has a long-standing tradition of farming, and a traditional
symbiosis between farming and forestry. The plan was tailor-made for the
specific needs of the Latvian countryside. It intends to preserve farming
in the less-favoured areas, and to improve the income of farmers, in
particular in these areas. The plan also aims to maintain and protect the
environment, with an emphasis on the water component and cultural
landscape. In addition, it intends to improve the structure of the
agricultural workforce. The plan encourages semi-subsistence farms to
become more economically viable and supports the setting up producer groups
for the marketing of their products. The Commission will formally adopt the
plan in the coming weeks.
[08] Commission extends probe Areva/Urenco venture
The European Commission has launched a detailed investigation into
Areva’s proposed acquisition of a 50% stake in Enrichment Technology
Company, which is specialised in uranium enrichment technology and
equipment currently solely-owned by Urenco, a German, Dutch and British
nuclear group. At this stage, the Commission is concerned that the joint
venture may result in less R&D with regards to centrifugation technology
and lead to higher prices for enriched uranium used for fuel in nuclear
power plants. The venture did not automatically qualify for review under
the European Union’s Merger Regulation, but the Commission was asked to
examine its impact on competition by France, Sweden and Germany. The
decision to start an in-depth review does not prejudge the final outcome of
the investigation.
[09] Steel : EU concludes steel agreement with Ukraine
Late last night the European Commission initialled a steel agreement with
Ukraine which will ensure a supply of the EU market with 606,824 tons of
steel in 2004. The agreement will now be examined by authorities on both
sides with a view to its signature and entry into force. This agreement
follows the recent increase in the quotas currently applied on imports of
steel from Russia and Ukraine to take account of enlargement.
[10] Alternative testing methods : European research to replace and reduce
animal tests
In the presence of H.R.H. Prince Laurent of Belgium, President of the
Prince Laurent Foundation for Animal Welfare, European Research
Commissioner Philippe Busquin will today present in Brussels ongoing
European research to replace, reduce and refine animal tests. The research
is funded through the European Union's Sixth Research Framework Programme
(FP6, 2002-2006). In particular, two new EU research projects, ReProTect
and A-Cute-Tox, will be on display. Advances in bio-medical research for
new treatments and drugs, the European Union’s new chemicals policy
(REACH) and the testing requirements of the amended cosmetics directive
will be discussed at the briefing.
[11] Conférence ministérielle de l'OMS sur l'environnement et la santé :
avant tout, garantir un avenir sain nos enfants
Les enfants sont souvent les premiers touchés par les maladies dues la
dégradation de l'environnement. Quelles mesures faut-il prendre pour
garantir un environnement et un avenir sains nos enfants ? Tel sera le
thème des discussions qui se dérouleront Budapest, du 23 au 25 juin
2004, entre les ministres de l'Environnement des 52 Etats membres de la
région européenne de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé pour l'Europe.
Un plan d'action sera adopté : le plan d'action pour l'environnement et la
santé des enfants en Europe (CEHAPE) qui fixe des objectifs en rapport
avec des questions importantes pour la santé des enfants, notamment
l'accès l’eau salubre et aux installations d'assainissement, la
prévention des accidents et des blessures et la lutte contre les maladies
respiratoires dues la pollution atmosphérique. Il sera également
question de la lutte contre les maladies résultant d'une exposition
d'autres facteurs de stress environnementaux comme les produits chimiques.
Le plan d'action en faveur de l'environnement et de la santé récemment
adopté constituera la contribution de la Commission la conférence de
Budapest. Ce plan préconise 13 actions dont l'objectif ultime est de
réduire le nombre de maladies dues aux facteurs environnementaux dans
l'UE. Mme Margot Wallström, Commissaire européenne chargée de
l'Environnement, et M. Pavel Telička, Membre de la Commission européenne,
participeront la conférence.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Structural Funds Strategies for the new Member States : €24 billion to
ensure growth and cohesion between 2004-2006 (! embargo 15h30 !)
The WTO agreement on the Tade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPs)
Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "Deepening EU-China Regulatory Cooperation" at
Seminar on Regulatory Policy Launch of Horizontal Dialogue with AQSIQ
(22/06, Beijing)
Speech by David Byrne : "Enabling health – Empowering citizens" at
Conference of the European Health Management Association (Potsdam, !
embargo 18h00 !)
Speech by David Byrne : "Europe's place in the world : the consumer
perspective" at Housing Finance World Congress
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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