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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-09-08
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Sûreté nucléaire et gestion des déchets radioactifs : la
Commission confirme la nécessité d'un cadre réglementaire au niveau
communautaire
[02] Inscription of MON 810 GM maize varieties in the Common EU Catalogue
of Varieties
[03] Commission proposal on GM maize GT73 to be sent to Council
[04] Sucre : ouverture d'une enquête sur une aide la sucrerie de
Villasor (Italie - Sardaigne)
[05] La Commission autorise un régime d'aides français pour la promotion
du transport fluvial
[06] Commission approves Austrian aid scheme for combined transport
[07] La Commission autorise le cofinancement par l'Etat d'un projet de parc
d'attraction en Alsace
[08] Centres de coordination en Belgique : la Commission approuve une
version modifiée du régime fiscal
[09] John Bruton chosen to be Head of European Commission Delegation in
Washington DC
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[10] HIV/AIDS - a resurgent epidemic in Europe and its neighbourhood :
Commission calls for political leadership
[11] Commission clears Goldman Sachs acquisition of Queen Moat Houses hotel
group
[12] Commission publishes analysis of the common market organisation in
fruit and vegetables
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-09-08
Reference: MEX/04/0908
Date: 08/09/2004
EXME04 / 8.9
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
08/09/04
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Sûreté nucléaire et gestion des déchets radioactifs : la
Commission confirme la nécessité d'un cadre réglementaire au niveau
communautaire
La Commission européenne a proposé une version révisée de deux textes
législatifs visant créer une nouvelle législation communautaire dans
le domaine de la sûreté des installations nucléaires et de la gestion
des déchets radioactifs. Dans cette nouvelle version, la Commission a tenu
compte des remarques du Parlement européen et du Conseil tout en
conservant l'objet initial des deux textes. Loyola de Palacio, Vice-
Présidente en charge de l'énergie et des transports, a déclaré : "La
Commission entend désormais que ces deux propositions, qui sont
essentielles pour la sûreté de l'énergie nucléaire au sein de l'UE
élargie, soient discutées sans tarder par le Conseil afin de permettre
une adoption rapide de cette nouvelle législation. Il s'agit de deux
instruments clefs pour garantir plus de transparence, rationaliser le
débat, et dissiper les craintes des citoyens européens envers cette
source d'énergie".
[02] Inscription of MON 810 GM maize varieties in the Common EU Catalogue
of Varieties
The European Commission has approved the inscription of 17 varieties
derived from MON 810 maize in the Common EU Catalogue of Varieties of
Agricultural Plant Species. This maize has been authorised under the EU GM
legislation since 1998. The Common Catalogue is compiled on the basis of
the national catalogues of the Member States. It compiles around 30,000
varieties. Once a variety of seed is properly inscribed in a national
catalogue, the Commission is informed and is required to inscribe the
variety in the Common Catalogue by publication in the Official Journal.
Seed of varieties in the Common Catalogue can be marketed in the entire EU,
seed of varieties in the national catalogues only on the market of the
country concerned.
[03] Commission proposal on GM maize GT73 to be sent to Council
The European Commission has adopted a proposal to be sent to the Council of
Ministers to authorise the import and processing of the genetically
modified oilseed rape known as GT73. The oilseed rape has been modified for
increased tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate. The Council can either
adopt or reject the proposal with a qualified majority. If no decision is
taken after three months, the file returns to the Commission which can then
adopt it. The Regulatory Committee on the release of genetically modified
organisms into the environment, representing the Member States, did not
deliver an opinion on the Commission's proposal, and the file must
therefore be sent to the Council. Refined oil from the GT73 oilseed rape is
authorised for human consumption in the EU since 1997 under the Novel Foods
Regulation (Reg. 258-97).
[04] Sucre : ouverture d'une enquête sur une aide la sucrerie de
Villasor (Italie - Sardaigne)
La Commission européenne a décidé d'ouvrir une procédure d'examen
l'égard d'une aide de 3,5 millions d'€ en faveur de la sucrerie de
Villasor (groupe Sadam ISZ) en Sardaigne. L'aide est destinée compenser
des pertes encourues par cette entreprise cause de la sécheresse qui a
frappé l’le dans les années 2001 et 2002 et qui a réduit l'apport en
betteraves sucre.
[05] La Commission autorise un régime d'aides français pour la promotion
du transport fluvial
La Commission européenne a donné son accord un régime français
d'aides au transport par voies navigables. Ce régime sera en vigueur
pendant la période 2004-2007 avec un budget compris entre 14,5 et 15
millions d'€ par an. L'objectif de ce nouveau régime d'aides est
d'encourager le développement du transport fluvial en France au moyen de
la modernisation de la flotte et de la promotion de la profession de
transporteur fluvial. Les bénéficiaires potentiels de ces aides sont
toute personne physique ou morale relevant du secteur du transport de
marchandises par voies navigables et opérant en France.
[06] Commission approves Austrian aid scheme for combined transport
The European Commission has authorised an Austrian scheme which intends to
encourage the development of combined transport in order to achieve a
traffic shift of freight from road to other modes of transport. The planned
measures will help to achieve the national and EU Kyoto targets.
[07] La Commission autorise le cofinancement par l'Etat d'un projet de parc
d'attraction en Alsace
La Commission européenne a décidé d'approuver le financement du parc
Bioscope en Alsace, qui doit ouvrir ses portes en juin 2006 Ungersheim
dans le Haut-Rhin. Le projet de parc d'attractions BIOSCOPE a été lancé
en 1994 par la région Alsace. Il s'agit de la réalisation d'un parc
d'attractions de nature tout la fois scientifique, éducative et ludique,
autour des thèmes de la santé, de la vie et de l'environnement. Le parc
doit permettre aux visiteurs de s'instruire tout en s'amusant.
[08] Centres de coordination en Belgique : la Commission approuve une
version modifiée du régime fiscal
La Commission européenne a décidé d'approuver le nouveau régime des
centres de coordination moyennant certaines modifications promises par la
Belgique. En avril 2003, la Commission avait déj approuvé une partie de
ce nouveau régime concernant le recours aux décisions fiscales
anticipées (ou "rulings") et la méthode forfaitaire dite "cost plus"
pour calculer la base imposable des centres. La Commission avait en
revanche décidé d'ouvrir une enquête approfondie (IP/03/558)
l'égard de diverses mesures d'exonérations fiscales qui existaient dans
l'ancien régime - jugé incompatible avec le marché commun le 17 février
2003 (IP/03/242) - et que la Belgique avait maintenues.
[09] John Bruton chosen to be Head of European Commission Delegation in
Washington DC
The European Commission has chosen former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of
Ireland, John Bruton, to be the next Head of the Commission's Delegation in
Washington DC. This decision reflects the joint wish of the Commission and
Member States to raise the profile of the European Union in the United
States. As is the custom with such appointments, Members States will be
consulted on the choice of Mr Bruton and his confirmation subject to
standard diplomatic procedures of accreditation with the United States. Mr
Bruton is expected to join the Commission in November and he will take up
his full responsibilities as soon as his accreditation is approved. The
Commission looks forward to welcoming Mr Bruton and hopes his appointment
will lead to a further strengthening of EU-US ties, and to deeper mutual
understanding in this indispensable partnership. The Commission's
Delegation in the US is one of the Commission's largest representations to
third countries, with a total staff of 80 people. The scope of the
Transatlantic relationship has grown enormously in recent years, and the
Delegation's activities cover all major policy areas including trade,
political, economic, financial, development, agricultural, consumer policy,
transport, energy, environment, science and technology issues, press and
media, communications and public affairs.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[10] HIV/AIDS - a resurgent epidemic in Europe and its neighbourhood :
Commission calls for political leadership
A paper adopted by the European Commission today calls for the EU to show
political leadership in averting an HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe and its
neighbouring countries. The proportion of newly reported HIV cases has
doubled in Western Europe since 1995. In certain of the countries that
joined the EU on 1 May and in the EU's eastern neighbours the rates of new
infections are the highest in the world. The paper calls for greater
efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, measures to ensure people in
poorer European countries have access to affordable treatment, better
coordination of national HIV/AIDS strategies and action to develop new
medicines and vaccines. The Commission's paper is due to be debated by
Health ministers and AIDS experts from across the EU and its eastern
neighbours at an international conference in Vilnius on 16-17 September (<a
href="http://www.aids.lt/iac/">http://www.aids.lt/iac/). The aim of the
Vilnius conference is to build a consensus on Europe-wide actions to combat
HIV/AIDS with all involved working together in partnership. It will be
opened by the Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and
Commissioner Pavel Telička.
[11] Commission clears Goldman Sachs acquisition of Queen Moat Houses hotel
group
The European Commission has cleared, under the Merger Regulation, the
proposed acquisition of the UK hotel group Queens Moat Houses plc by W2001
Britannia L.L.C, a company controlled by US investment bank Goldman Sachs
Group Inc. (The deal, which was notified on August 10, was examined under a
simplified procedure).
[12] Commission publishes analysis of the common market organisation in
fruit and vegetables
In August 2004 the European Commission presented its report on the
simplification of the common market organisation (CMO) in fruit and
vegetables (<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/fruitvegsimpl/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/fruitvegsimpl/index_en.htm).
This report aimed preliminary to describe how the Commission simplified the
CMO in the years 2002 to 2004, acting on certain areas of shortcomings on
the basis of Council requests ; it was also intended to stimulate a debate
in the institutions and within the sector by the means of a series of
strategic open questions on the future developments of the CMO. With a view
to providing a solid background for this debate the Commission has now
published a working document presenting an analysis of the principal
figures of the sector, of budgetary issues in the recent years and of the
implementation of one of the CMO's pillars, the producer organisations
(POs) and the related Operational Funds.
The working document is available on the internet at :
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/fruitvegsimpl/workdoc_en.pdf">http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/fruitvegsimpl/workdoc_en.pdf
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Commission President Romano Prodi urges release of NGO staff (7/9)
Poul Nielson "deeply concerned" about kidnap of aid workers in Baghdad
(7/9)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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