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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-06-08
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Green Week 2007 : Past lessons, future challenges
[02] World Oceans Day : healthy oceans are key to Europe's future, say
Commissioners Dimas and Borg
[03] Northern Ireland : Danuta Hübner gives shape to European Commission
task force to support peace process
[04] Rapprocher les citoyens européens à grande vitesse : l'ouverture aux
usagers de la Ligne à Grande Vitesse Est Européenne
[05] Commission clears acquisition of GDM by PD and GETF
[06] Somalie : la Commission accorde une aide humanitaire d'urgence de
€4 millions
[07] Commission contributes extra €25 million to fight malnutrition in
the Sahel and calls for proactive plans to prevent food crises
[08] Roaming : Commission welcomes political agreement in EU Telecom
Council (07/06)
[09] Early delivery of ICES scientific advice on fish stocks will allow for
in-depth consultation on 2008 fishing quotas
[10] Première visite du Dr Margaret Chan, directeur général de l'OMS, Ã
la Commission pour discuter d'une collaboration renforcée en matière de
santé
[11] Commission sets date for next round of SAA negotiations with Serbia
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-06-08
Reference: MEX/07/0608
Date: 08/06/2007
EXME07 / 8.6
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
08/06/07
[01] Green Week 2007 : Past lessons, future challenges
Learning from past successes and failures to ensure that current and future
environmental challenges are addressed most effectively is the goal of this
year's Green Week, the European Commission's annual conference and
exhibition event dedicated to the environment. Tying in with the 50th
anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, Green Week 2007 will take place at the
Charlemagne building from 12-15 June under the slogan Past lessons, future
challenges. Up to 4,000 participants are expected. Commission President
José Manuel Barroso and Vice-President Margot Wallström will both speak
at the opening session on 12 June and regional affairs Commissioner Danuta
Hübner will speak at a session on regions and environmental
sustainability.
[02] World Oceans Day : healthy oceans are key to Europe's future, say
Commissioners Dimas and Borg
On World Oceans Day, the European Commission recalls the vital role seas
and oceans are playing for Europe and reaffirms its commitment to wise
stewardship of the marine environment as essential to the planet's health
and as a source of wealth, social well-being and pleasure to European Union
citizens. The Commission is working for the rapid adoption of the Marine
Strategy Directive, which will guarantee the environmental good health of
Europe's oceans. In the autumn the Commission will also present the
conclusions of its year-long consultation on the need for an integrated
European Maritime Policy.
[03] Northern Ireland : Danuta Hübner gives shape to European Commission
task force to support peace process
Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, was in Belfast
today to start to shape the work of a new task force at the European
Commission to support Northern Ireland's peace process. She met Peter
Robinson, Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel, to discuss
how the European Commission can help Northern Ireland to boost its
involvement in Community policies and programmes as part of its efforts to
modernise the economy. The future work of the task force, announced
recently by Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and
chaired by Commissioner Hübner, was top of the agenda.
[04] Rapprocher les citoyens européens à grande vitesse : l'ouverture aux
usagers de la Ligne à Grande Vitesse Est Européenne
Le 10 juin 2007, les passagers européens pourront emprunter pour la
première fois les 300 kilomètres de la ligne à grande vitesse est
européenne, qui les conduira de Paris et Baudrecourt, en Lorraine, à la
vitesse de 320 km/heure.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of GDM by PD and GETF
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of a newly created company
GDM Shipping GmbH & Co KG (GDM), constituting a joint venture by Peter
Döhle Schiffahrts-KG (PD) of Germany and GE Transportation Finance, Inc.
belonging to the General Electric group (GETF) of the US. PD owns and
operates vessels and related services to the shipping industry. GETF is a
financial services company. GDM will operate container vessels and related
services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[06] Somalie : la Commission accorde une aide humanitaire d'urgence de
€4 millions
La Commission européenne a octroyé une aide d'urgence pour un montant de
€4 millions à la Somalie, afin de venir en aide aux 350.000 personnes
déplacées à l'intérieur du pays et aux communautés d'accueil. L'aide
humanitaire de la Commission consiste à fournir des abris, une aide
alimentaire, de l'eau et des soins de santé, ceux-ci étant
particulièrement destinés à faire face à une importante épidémie de
choléra dans le sud de la Somalie portant sur un nombre de cas estimé Ã
17.000 jusqu'ici. L'aide de la Commission couvre également l'appui
logistique aux organisations humanitaires pour la livraison et le transport
de l'aide en Somalie. Tous les fonds sont acheminés par l'intermédiaire
de l'Office d'aide humanitaire de la Commission européenne (ECHO). Depuis
2004, la Commission a accordé une aide humanitaire d'un montant de €32,5
millions, y compris l'allocation de ce jour, aux populations vulnérables
de la Somalie. Une aide humanitaire supplémentaire s'élevant à €2
millions est fournie aux réfugiés somaliens au Kenya (voir IP/06/1887).
La Commission prépare également un plan global d'aide humanitaire en
faveur de la Somalie et prévoit des fonds supplémentaires au titre de
l'aide alimentaire, qui devraient être adoptés dans le courant de
l'année
[07] Commission contributes extra €25 million to fight malnutrition in
the Sahel and calls for proactive plans to prevent food crises
The European Commission has adopted a global humanitarian aid plan worth
€15 million for vulnerable people affected by longer-lasting crises in
the Sahel region. This is in addition to €10 million already made
available this year under the food aid budget to respond to short-term
nutritional needs in the Sahel. This aid will reduce acute malnutrition and
mortality among those who are most vulnerable – in particular the
estimated 1.3 million acutely malnourished children under the age of five,
as well as five million pregnant and breast-feeding women. Child mortality
in the Sahel is one of the highest in the world and malnutrition is
associated with nearly 60% of all child deaths. The aid covers five
countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Responding to
the immediate consequences and humanitarian needs, this humanitarian aid
plan complements longer-term development aid provided by the Commission to
tackle the root causes of malnutrition. All relief funds are channelled
through the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO).
[08] Roaming : Commission welcomes political agreement in EU Telecom
Council (07/06)
On 7 June, the Council adopted politically the European Commission's
proposal for an EU Roaming Regulation to bring down mobile roaming charges
by up to 70%. "This decision paves the ways for cheaper roaming rates
throughout the EU, a landmark for Europe as it clearly responds to the
wishes of consumers", commented Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding. "I
call on the Council now to publish the EU Regulation in the days to come.
Millions of EU citizens and business travellers are waiting for lower
roaming charges."
[09] Early delivery of ICES scientific advice on fish stocks will allow for
in-depth consultation on 2008 fishing quotas
The European Commission welcomes the publication today by the International
Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) of a report on the state and
perspectives of certain fish stocks. It looks forward to studying this
report in detail with a view to making the necessary proposals for action
over the coming months. The news is rather bad regarding the state of a
number of important commercial European fish stocks, in particular for
herring in the Celtic Sea and Northwest of Ireland, for both Baltic cod
stocks, for herring and whiting in the North Sea and Norway pout. ICES has
again advised the closure of fishing for cod in the North Sea and in the
Kattegat. It has also called for the establishment of fishing possibilities
at levels closer to scientific advice and for improved effectiveness of the
days-at-sea scheme for fishing vessels to help bring more stocks to
sustainable levels.
[10] Première visite du Dr Margaret Chan, directeur général de l'OMS, Ã
la Commission pour discuter d'une collaboration renforcée en matière de
santé
Le Dr Margaret Chan, directeur général de l'Organisation mondiale de la
santé, se rendra à la Commission européenne mardi prochain 12 juin.
Accompagnée du Dr Marc Danzon, directeur régional de l'OMS pour l'Europe,
le Dr Chan rencontrera le président Barroso, les commissaires Kyprianou et
Potocnik, ainsi que les directeurs généraux de la santé, des relations
extérieures, du développement et de l'aide humanitaire. Les thèmes
prioritaires à l'ordre du jour de cette rencontre incluent les
conséquences du changement climatique sur la santé, la sécurité
sanitaire dans le monde et l'amélioration du niveau de santé en Afrique.
[11] Commission sets date for next round of SAA negotiations with Serbia
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso yesterday invited Serbia
to resume talks on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) on 13
June 2007. On this occasion, President Barroso stated: "I welcome the
progress Serbia has made since the establishment of the new government in
its cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY). Achieving full cooperation with the ICTY is not only an
international obligation, but also a key condition on Serbia's road towards
the EU. I encourage Serbia to continue improving its cooperation with the
Tribunal in The Hague, to ensure that all remaining indictees are brought
to justice, thus achieving lasting reconciliation in the Western Balkans."
On 1 June, Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn confirmed that following
an extensive and careful assessment, the Commission can resume negotiations
on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia. On 7 June Mr Rehn
said: "I have consulted Ms Del Ponte on the findings of her visit to
Belgrade. I am glad that she confirms that Serbia has now demonstrated
clear commitment to full cooperation with the ICTY and that, in recent
weeks, concrete actions have matched this commitment. Next Wednesday we
will hold the next round of talks on this important agreement, which will
bring concrete trade and economic benefits for Serbia. Implementation of
the Stabilisation and Association Agreement will be Serbia's gateway to
candidacy for EU accession." Yesterday's decision is based on the
conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers in February, when they welcomed the
Commission's readiness to resume negotiations on a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with a new government in Belgrade, provided it shows
clear commitment and takes concrete and effective action for full
cooperation with the ICTY.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Preparation Agriculture/Fisheries Council of June 2007
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Commission Policies of Relevance to the
Pensions Sector" at AEIP Conference (Dublin)
Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Presentation of 4th Cohesion Report" at
Committee of Regions (07/06)
Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Presentation of 4th Cohesion Report" at
European Parliament's Regional Policy committee (07/06)
Calendrier du 11 au 17 juin 2007
Top News from the European Commission (11 June – 08 July 2007)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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