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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-01-12Midday 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[I] Résultats de la Commission du 11 janvier 2005 -
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etbCommunication12/01/05[I] Résultats de la Commission du 11 janvier 2005 -Outcome of Commission meeting of 11 January[01] José Manuel Barroso pledges swift delivery of EU Tsunami aidSpeaking as governments and aid agencies from around the world meet at the UN donor conference to plan the use of aid, European Commission President Barroso pledged that the EU would deliver its promised aid (up to €450 million and an EIB lending facility of up to €1 billion) on time. The Commission met in Strasbourg this afternoon to review the EU response to the tsunami disaster and examine possible further actions - on food aid, trade, fisheries, civil protection, research and health - which might be taken to assist the relief effort.[02] La Commission lance un débat public sur les migrations économiquesLa Commission européenne a adopté un livre vert sur une "approche communautaire de la gestion des migrations économiques", présenté par le Vice-Président Franco Frattini, responsable de la Justice, Liberté et Sécurité, en accord avec le Commissaire Vladimir Spidla, responsable de l'Emploi, des Affaires sociales et de l'Egalité des chances. Le but du livre vert est de susciter un débat public sur la nécessité de développer une stratégie communautaire globale pour la gestion des migrations dues à des facteurs économiques. Depuis le Conseil européen de Tampere d'octobre 1999, la Commission s'est employée à engager un débat approfondi sur cette question. Le livre vert, qui a été transmis à toutes les institutions européennes concernées, notamment au Comité économique et social, servira de base à un débat approfondi, ouvert et transparent sur la forme que devraient prendre des règles communautaires pour l'admission des migrants économiques sans pour autant empiéter sur la responsabilité des Etats membres de décider du nombre d'immigrés à admettre. A ce débat participeront les institutions susmentionnées, ainsi que la société civile, et notamment les partenaires sociaux. La Commission organisera une audition publique sur cette question en juillet 2005, et intégrera les conclusions de ce large débat dans un programme d'action relatif à l'immigration légale, comme exigé dans le cadre du programme de La Haye, avant la fin de 2005.[03] Commission assesses the updated stability programme of Austria (2004- 2008)The European Commission has recommended to the Council to encourage Austria to aim at an early budgetary consolidation and to outline the measures envisaged to meet the government's target of a balanced budget by 2008. This follows the assessment of the updated stability programme of Austria for the period 2004-2008 in accordance with EU budgetary surveillance rules.[04] Commission assesses the updated convergence programme of the Czech Republic (2004-2007)The European Commission has asked the Council to recommend to the Czech Republic to allocate higher-than-budgeted revenues to reduce its deficit and to adhere strictly to the medium-term expenditure ceilings. The Czech Republic is also invited to step up its pension reform and to begin reforming its healthcare system to improve the long-term sustainability of the public finances. This follows the assessment of the updated convergence programme of the Czech Republic for the period 2004-2007 in accordance with EU budgetary surveillance rules.[05] Commission assesses the updated convergence programme of Sweden (2004- 2007)The European Commission has recommended to the Council to agree that Swedish public finances meet the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact. This follows the assessment of the updated convergence programme of Sweden for the period 2004-2007 in accordance with EU budgetary surveillance rules.[06] La Commission évalue le programme de stabilité actualisé du Luxembourg pour la période 2004-2007La Commission européenne a émis l'avis selon lequel les finances publiques luxembourgeoises sont fondamentalement saines, même s'il serait prudent de limiter quelque peu les dépenses. Cette recommandation fait suite à l'évaluation du programme de stabilité actualisé du Luxembourg pour la période 2004-2007, conformément aux règles de surveillance budgétaire de l'UE.[07] Commission assesses the updated stability programme of the Netherlands (2004-2007)The European Commission has recommended to the Council to encourage the Netherlands to pursue its efforts with a view to keeping its budget deficit below 3% in 2005 and to achieve a budgetary position close to balance thereafter. This follows the assessment of the updated stability programme of the Netherlands for the period 2004-2007 in accordance with EU budgetary surveillance rules.[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[08] La Commission engage des poursuites judiciaires contre la France, qui n'a pas réagi à plusieurs arrêts de la Cour de justiceLa Commission européenne a décidé d'engager des poursuites judiciaires contre la France, qui n'a pas donné suite à plusieurs arrêts de la Cour européenne de justice relatifs à six affaires séparées concernant la législation de l'UE sur la préservation de la nature, l'accès du public aux informations sur l'environnement, la protection de l'eau, les déchets et les micro-organismes génétiquement modifiés. La France risque de se voir infliger des amendes si elle ne met pas sa législation et ses pratiques en conformité. En n'appliquant pas correctement la législation européenne sur l'environnement, la France nuit aux efforts déployés pour préserver la faune et la flore d'Europe et sape les actions en faveur d'une meilleure gestion des risques pour l'environnement et la santé humaine.[09] Urban waste water treatment : Commission sends final warning to UK over inadequate implementationThe European Commission is sending a final written warning to the United Kingdom asking it to comply with the 1991 Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Under this Directive, sewage and other wastewater from all agglomerations with populations of over 15,000 is required to undergo secondary-level (ie biological) treatment before being discharged into rivers and other water bodies. The necessary treatment plants to achieve this should have been operational by 31 December 2000, but in the UK this has not yet been done for 14 agglomerations.[10] Commission indicator forecasts euro area quarterly GDP growth of 0.2% to 0.6% for the 4th quarter of 2004 and growth of 0.3% to 0.7% for the 1st quarter of 2005The indicator-based model for quarterly GDP growth for the euro area, developed by the European Commission's Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, forecasts a range of 0.2% to 0.6% for GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2004. The range for the first quarter of 2005 is 0.3- 0.7%. Compared to the previous release of the GDP indicator, this is an upward revision of 0.1 of a percentage point for the first quarter of 2005.[11] Deuxième estimation pour le troisième trimestre 2004 : le PIB de la zone euro et celui de l'UE25 en hausse de 0,3% ; +1,8% et +2,1% respectivement par rapport au troisième trimestre 2003Au cours du troisième trimestre 2004, le Produit Intérieur Brut (PIB) de la zone euro et celui de l'UE25 ont augmenté de 0,3% par rapport au trimestre précédent, selon les estimations publiées aujourd'hui par Eurostat. Au cours du deuxième trimestre 2004, les taux de croissance avaient été de +0,5% dans les deux zones.[12] Foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina : restrictions liftedAfter an outbreak of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease in the Argentinean province of Salta in September 2003, the importation into the EU of de- boned and maturated bovine meat from the provinces of Formosa, Salta, Chaco and Jujuy was suspended (see MEX/03/1010). No new outbreaks have been reported in Argentina in the meantime (i.e. for more than 12 months) and inspection missions carried out in 2004 have shown that the situation has been normalised in the area. Therefore the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on a Commission proposal to resume the importation of de-boned and maturated bovine meat from those four provinces. In order to avoid the risk of introduction of FMD from Bolivia and Paraguay into Argentina, a buffer zone of 25 kilometres along the border with these two countries has been created by the Argentinean authorities. Imports from this buffer zone remain suspended. For more information on foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease, see :<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/fmd_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/fmd_en.htm [13] Review of the avian influenza situation in AsiaThe Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health had an exchange of views on the situation and the measures applicable with regard to avian influenza (AI) in ten Asian countries. Japan and South Korea have submitted their final report on the AI situation in their territory and on the measures taken to control the disease to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). These countries can now be considered free from avian influenza. The Committee therefore agreed to a Commission proposal to lift the restrictions applicable to the two countries. As we did not import poultry or poultry meat from those two countries, the lifting only applies to pet birds. For the eight other Asian countries - Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, China, Vietnam, Pakistan and Malaysia - the suspension of the imports of all poultry products and pet birds, now applicable until 31 March 2005 (see MEX/04/1509), have been extended until 30 September 2005 as avian influenza is either still present in these countries or they cannot be certified as disease-free. This proposal will be formally adopted by the Commission in the next weeks. For more information on avian influenza, see:<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/index_en.htm [14] "Mental illness is Europe's unseen killer" says Markos KyprianouMarkos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, has called for mental health to be given a higher political priority in Europe. Speaking ahead of the WHO Ministerial Conference on Mental Health, which opens in Helsinki today, Mr Kyprianou called mental illness "Europe's unseen killer" and emphasised his determination that the EU should do more to promote good mental health. Mr Kyprianou will address the closing session of the conference on 14 January and attend the signing of the Mental Health Declaration for Europe. The Commission's key role in the Helsinki conference is the culmination of several years of cooperation with WHO Europe. The Commission is preparing an EU strategy on promoting good mental health.[15] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on official visit to WashingtonThe European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Washington on 12 and 13 January 2004 to meet key American political figures. On this visit the Commissioner intends to cement good working relations with her American counterparts and to discuss with them main areas for future cooperation. The visit will also serve to prepare the ground for the forthcoming visit to Brussels of President Bush, on 22ndFebruary. Ms Ferrero-Waldner will meet, among others, with American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Designate, Condoleezza Rice, and National Security Adviser Designate, Steven Hadley. This early visit highlights the importance given by the Commission to the transatlantic relations and its readiness to play a key role in the revitalisation of the EU-US relations. For further information, please consult : <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/us/intro/index.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/us/intro/index.htm[16] Autre matériel diffuséDiscours de M. Barroso à l'occasion de l'inauguration de la Président luxembourgeoise (Parlement européen, Strasbourg)Speech by President Barroso : "Aftermath of earthquake and Tsunami" (European Parliament, Strasbourg) Discours de M. Louis Michel : "Réponse de la Commission au Flash Appeal Nations-unies - Tsunami" à la conférence des Nations-unies sur l'assistance humanitaire et l'appel de fonds en faveur des pays et populations affectées par le Tsunami dans l'Océan indien (11/01, Genève) La Commission débloque €14 millions en faveur des victimes du tsunami dans le cadre de l'appel de fonds du PAM Peter Mandelson seeks trade measures to relieve tsunami victims Commission's satellite analysis supporting international Tsunami information gathering efforts EU Civil Protection Assistance in South East Asia EU/US agreement on terms for negotiation to end subsidies for large civil
aircraft
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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