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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-03-17

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

[I] Résultats de la Commission du 16 mars 2005 -

  • [01] La population européenne vieillit. Comment cela va-t-il nous affecter ? Que faut-il faire ?
  • [02] Customs : Commission proposes strategy for simplified rules of origin
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [03] Un rapport de la Commission montre que la stratégie de Lisbonne peut apporter une contribution significative à la croissance
  • [04] ERTMS : un grand projet européen pour les réseaux ferroviaires
  • [05] Commission clears acquisition of Amadeus by BC Partners and Cinven
  • [06] Procédure pénale : une proposition pour la prise en compte des condamnations prononcées dans d'autres Etats membres
  • [07] January 2005 compared to December 2004 : industrial production up by 0.5% in euro-zone - EU25 up by 0.4%
  • [08] Commission receives advice from European Group of Ethics (EGE) on the ethical aspects of ICT implants in the human body
  • [09] Olli Rehn to visit Bulgaria
  • [10] OLAF finds "no conclusive evidence" to link EU funds and terrorism: Commission welcomes final report on assistance to the Palestinian Authority
  • [11] International workshop to coordinate assistance to democratisation and civil society in Belarus
  • [12] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2005-03-17 Reference: MEX/05/0317 Date: 17/03/2005 EXME05 / 17.3

    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

    17/03/05


  • [I] Résultats de la Commission du 16 mars 2005 -

    Outcome of Commission meeting of 16 March 2005

    (voir aussi - see also ME of 16/3)

    [01] La population européenne vieillit. Comment cela va-t-il nous affecter ? Que faut-il faire ?

    L'Union se trouve confrontée à des bouleversements démographiques sans précédent qui vont avoir des répercussions majeures sur la société toute entière. Les chiffres tirés du Livre vert sur les changements démographiques, lancé aujourd'hui par la Commission européenne, révèlent que d'ici 2030, il manquera à l'Union 20,8 millions (6,8%) de personnes en âge de travailler. En 2030, en gros deux personnes actives (15 à 65) devront s'occuper d'une personne inactive (65+). Et l'Europe comptera 18 millions d'enfants et de jeunes de moins qu'aujourd'hui.

    [02] Customs : Commission proposes strategy for simplified rules of origin

    The European Commission has adopted a strategy to establish new simplified rules of origin for the purposes of the EU's preferential trade arrangements with certain third countries. The rules of origin, which determine which goods can benefit from the lower rates of customs duty under the preferential trade arrangements, are currently too complicated, as well as being susceptible to abuse. The Commission suggests replacing the current rules with a single value-added method for determining origin which would make them clearer as well as more development-friendly. The Commission also envisages improving the management of the system and introducing a monitoring programme. The changes would be made via legislative measures. Work on the first measure will commence immediately.

    [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

    [03] Un rapport de la Commission montre que la stratégie de Lisbonne peut apporter une contribution significative à la croissance

    Une étude empirique montre que les mesures envisagées dans la stratégie de Lisbonne permettraient d'accroître le taux de croissance potentiel de l'Union européenne de 0,5-0,75 point, le rapprochant ainsi de l'objectif de 3%. Sur une période de dix ans, l'augmentation du niveau du PIB pourrait atteindre 7 à 8%.

    [04] ERTMS : un grand projet européen pour les réseaux ferroviaires

    La Commission européenne et le secteur ferroviaire (industriels, gestionnaires d'infrastructure et entreprises) ont signé aujourd'hui à Bruxelles un protocole d'accord visant à déployer le système européen de gestion du trafic ferroviaire (ERTMS, "European Rail Traffic Management System") sur une partie clef du réseau transeuropéen. "ERTMS est un grand projet industriel mené par l’Europe. Il permettra d'améliorer la compétitivité et la sécurité du transport ferroviaire. L'Europe du rail ne deviendra pas une réalité sans un outil européen pour lier les systèmes ferroviaires nationaux entre eux", a déclaré Jacques Barrot, Vice-Président de la Commission en charge des Transports. "L'accord de tous les acteurs pour installer ce système à grande échelle devrait générer plus de quatre milliards d'investissements dans les dix ans à venir, rien que sur les grands axes prioritaires du réseau transeuropéen. Cet effet levier du projet ERTMS démontre encore une fois que les 20,3 milliards d'€ proposés pour le réseau transeuropéen de transport dans le budget européen 2007-2013 sont pleinement justifiés."

    [05] Commission clears acquisition of Amadeus by BC Partners and Cinven

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Amadeus Global Travel Distribution S.A. (Amadeus) of Spain by CIE Management II Limited (CIEM) of Guernsey, the Channel Islands, controlled by BC Partners Holdings Limited (BC Partners) also of Guernsey, and Cinven Limited of the UK. Cinven is a private equity business engaged in providing investment management advice and services to a number of investment funds. CIEM is the general partner and manager of BC Funds, financial investors with a controlling interest over various trading companies. Amadeus is the parent company of the Amadeus Group. Amadeus operates information technology solutions for the global travel and tourism industry and in particular runs Global Distribution System (GDS), a computerised reservations system. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [06] Procédure pénale : une proposition pour la prise en compte des condamnations prononcées dans d'autres Etats membres

    La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition de décision-cadre du Conseil relative à la prise en compte des décisions de condamnation entre les Etats membres de l'Union européenne à l'occasion d'une nouvelle procédure pénale. Cette proposition fait suite au livre blanc relatif à l'échange d'informations sur les condamnations pénales et à l'effet de celles-ci dans l'Union européenne, que la Commission a adopté le 25 janvier 2005

    [07] January 2005 compared to December 2004 : industrial production up by 0.5% in euro-zone - EU25 up by 0.4%

    Seasonally adjusted industrial production rose by 0.5% in the euro-zone in January 2005 compared to December 2004, estimates Eurostat. Production increased by 0.5% in December after a decrease of 0.4% in November. Output in the EU25 increased by 0.4% in January 2005, after a rise of 0.2% in December and a fall of 0.1% in November. In January 2005 compared to January 2004, industrial production rose by 2.2% in the euro-zone and by 1.7% in the EU25.

    [08] Commission receives advice from European Group of Ethics (EGE) on the ethical aspects of ICT implants in the human body

    Today the European Commission received an Opinion on the ethical aspects of information and communication technologies (ICT) implants in the human body from the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), chaired by the Swedish philosopher, Göran Hermerén. The EGE advocates a precautionary approach to this issue, and a broad public debate on the various applications. It also recommends that the Commission should launch legislative initiatives on ICT applications. The EGE is an independent, multidisciplinary and pluralist advisory group, which is composed of twelve members. Its role is to advise the Commission on how ethical values should be taken into consideration in the regulation of scientific and technological developments. The basis for the EGE's Opinion is the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights and the dignity principle.

    [09] Olli Rehn to visit Bulgaria

    The European Commissioner for Enlargement will visit Sofia on 18 March 2005. Olli Rehn's first official visit to the country comes at an important moment in the relations between the EU and Bulgaria following the conclusion of the accession negotiations and prior to the signature of the Accession Treaty on 25 April 2005. He will be having discussions with the Bulgarian authorities concerning the commitments made during the accession negotiations and their fulfilment between now and the day of Accession, scheduled for 1st January 2007.

    [10] OLAF finds "no conclusive evidence" to link EU funds and terrorism: Commission welcomes final report on assistance to the Palestinian Authority

    The European Union's independent anti-fraud office OLAF has finalised its investigation into EU direct budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority. It has concluded that "there is no conclusive evidence of support of armed attacks or unlawful activities financed by the European Commission's financial contributions to the (Palestinian Authority) budget". These findings are in line with the assessments of the European Commission, which has examined closely all allegations made about the use of EC funding. They are also in line with the conclusions of the European Parliament Working Group on Budgetary Assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

    [11] International workshop to coordinate assistance to democratisation and civil society in Belarus

    European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will open and address a workshop on coordination of international donors' support to the population and civil society of Belarus on 18 March in Vilnius (Lithuania). The workshop, organised by the Commission and hosted by the Lithuanian government, will be attended by 130 participants, representing EU Member States, the European Commission, European Parliament, other donors, international organisations and NGO’s and Belarus civil society. During her stay in Vilnius, she will also have meetings with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, the speaker of the Parliament Arturas Palauskas, and Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis.

    [12] Autre matériel diffusé

    Douane : stratégie de simplification des règles d'origine - foire aux questions

    Europe's changing population structure and its impact on relations between the generations

    La Commission adopte une proposition destinée à permettre la prise en compte des condamnations pénales prononcées dans d'autres Etats membres

    Discours du Président Barroso : "Emploi et croissance: une stratégie de Lisbonne au service du citoyen" au Forum sur la Stratégie de Lisbonne au Parlement européen

    Statement by Peter Mandelson to the Development Committee of the European Parliament

    Speech by Siim Kallas : "The need for a European transparency initiative" at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (Berlin)

    Discours de M. Barrot : "Erika, Prestige, Baltic carrier – Un partenariat européen pour la sécurité maritime" à la Conférence au Comité des Régions (16/03) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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