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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-06-04
From: News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
04 / 06 / 1996
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Ecofin Council 3 June 1996 - "On the spot checks" to combat fraud
[02] Payment systems: Commission proposes directive to reduce risks
[03] La Commission européenne appuie le renouveau urbain dans quinze
quartiers de Lyon-Est
[04] The Commission authorizes the creation of a joint venture between
Emerson and Caterpillar in the diesel genset sector
[05] Europe sets sail to monitor the European drift-net and Albacore fleet
[06] Economic and financial situation in Ireland
[07] Neil Kinnock urges greater action in preparation for enlargement
[01] Ecofin Council 3 June 1996 - "On the spot checks" to combat fraud
The Ecofin Council yesterday agreed in principle on a Regulation reinforcing
controls and on the spot checks to combat fraud on the European Union budget
in the entire Union. This Regulation for the first time lays down the specific
conditions under which the Commission may perform control and how it should
cooperate with Member States. It also sets out clearly how the investigative
reports may be used as proof in legal proceedings in Member States. "This is
very important instrument in our continued fight against fraud with the European
tax payers money", said Commissioner Anita Gradin, responsible for the fight
against fraud.
[02] Payment systems: Commission proposes directive to reduce risks
A proposal for a Directive aimed at reducing 'systemic risk' in payment systems
has been put forward by the European Commission. Systemic risk in this context
means the risk that the bankruptcy or failure of one participant in a payment
system will have 'knock-on' effects leading to the bankruptcy of other participants.
The proposal sets out rules for both domestic and cross-border payment systems
as regards settlement finality (definition of when a payment order becomes final)
and collateral security (the guarantees lodged by payment system participants in
case they are unable to meet their obligations), thus providing a minimum legal
framework for payment systems in the EU.
[03] La Commission européenne appuie le renouveau urbain dans quinze
quartiers de Lyon-Est
La Commission européenne a accordé une aide de 7 millions d'Ecus dont 6,4
millions d'Ecus du Fonds Européen de Développement Régional (FEDER) et 0,6
million d'Ecus du Fonds Social Européen (FSE) pour la revitalisation économique
des quartiers périphériques en difficulté de Lyon-Est. Cette aide s'inscrit dans
le cadre de l'Initiative Communautaire URBAN et s'ajoute aux financements
publics nationaux (17 millions d'Ecus) et aux financements privés (2,6 millions
d'Ecus). Il s'agit d'engager une revitalisation de l'activité commerciale, de
stimuler la création d'entreprises et de rétablir un climat de sécurité : près de 200
commerces devraient être maintenus ou créés, 400 projets par an suivis et
renforcés, 300 emplois pourraient être créés en liaison avec les entreprises
locales.
[04] The Commission authorizes the creation of a joint venture between
Emerson and Caterpillar in the diesel genset sector
The Commission has approved an operation by which Caterpillar Inc. will acquire
joint control of the undertaking F.G. Wilson (engineering) Limited (FGW) which
was prior to the notified operation a wholly owned subsidiary of Emerson Electric
Co. Both parents, Emerson and Caterpillar are large US corporation which
manufacture a wide range of electrical and mechanical products and components
marketed worldwide.
[05] Europe sets sail to monitor the European drift-net and Albacore fleet
The European Commission chartered the fishing patrol vessel "Northern Desire"
for a period of four and a half months, starting mid-May and finishing at the end
of September, in order to serve as an inspection platform for monitoring the drift-net fishery in the Mediterranean as well as albacore campaign in international
waters of the North East Atlantic. This is the second time the Commission has
chartered a vessel for this purpose. On 16th May 1996, the "Northern Desire" left
the port of Cagliari (Italy), patrolled the international waters around Sardinia and
the Balearic Islands and is currently sailing in international waters in the Aegean
sea.
[06] Economic and financial situation in Ireland
The Commission's Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs has
just released a study on "The Economic and Financial Situation in the Ireland"
which was recently discussed in the Economic Policy Committee of the European
Community. The discussion by the EPC of country studies prepared by the
Commission services is part of the overall process of the multilateral surveillance
in the European Union.
[07] Neil Kinnock urges greater action in preparation for enlargement
Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock told the European Parliament today: "The
Commission will do all in its power to convince Member States of the urgent need
to begin wide-ranging negotiations with the countries of Central and Eastern
Europe on market liberalisation in all transport modes. At present, "my real
enthusiasm for the objective of enlargement must be tempered by some concern
that we are not yet sufficiently far advanced in preparing the process to ensure
that it is a success."
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://www.cec.lu/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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