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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-11-18
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
18/11/1996
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] The European Commission and the World Bank seek to strengthen their
partnership
[02] Une semaine "africaine" à Bruxelles
[03] Sir Leon Brittan calls for Chinese WTO Membership and for improved
Asian offers on telecommunications
[04] Padraig Flynn calls for an end to discrimination against the disabled.
[01] The European Commission and the World Bank seek to strengthen their
partnership
Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, and James Wolfensohn,
President of the World Bank will meet today in order to take stock of the
co-operation between their institutions. This co-operation is already well-
developed and effective in delivering tangible results on the ground in a
number of key areas around the globe. But there is scope to deepen this co-
operation even further. Mr. Santer and Mr Wolfensohn will examine
priorities for increased co-operation and the possibilities of
strengthening ongoing procedures with the aim of ensuring consistency in
priority-setting and the use of best-practice, and of enhancing the
effectiveness of their assistance. President Wolfensohn will also meet
European Commissioners whose work is closely linked to the World Bank (Vice
President Manuel Marin and Commissioners Hans Van den Broek, Joao de Deus
Pinheiro and Yves-Thibault de Silguy). (for more information, P. Child -
tel: 296.97.50 - fax: 296.30.03)
[02] Une semaine "africaine" à Bruxelles
L'Afrique sera à l'ordre du jour cette semaine à Bruxelles. Les Chefs
d'Etat et de Gouvernement de huit pays d'Afrique Occidentale participent à
une Conférence sur l'Union économique et monétaire de la région (UEMOA) et
sont reçus par João de Deus PINHEIRO, au lendemain de la probable adoption
par la Commission de son Livre Vert sur l'avenir des relations UE/ACP. Le
conseil Développement du jeudi 21 réunit les ministres sectoriels qui
doivent se pencher, entre autres sujets, sur la situation dans la Région
des Grands Lacs, thème également à traiter lors de la rencontre du
Commissaire avec le Premier Ministre du Burundi. (pour plus d'informations,
J. Vale de Almeida - tél: 296.56.64 - fax: 299.19.70)
[03] Sir Leon Brittan calls for Chinese WTO Membership and for improved
Asian offers on telecommunications
Speaking before the World Economic Forum in Hong Kong today, Sir Leon
Brittan said that there "must be early conclusion to the long overdue
negotiations for Chinese resumption of membership of the WTO." "WTO needs
China as a member as soon as the negotiations can be completed." "China
should move with determination to take its rightful place in the WTO, at a
time when many other prospective members are seeking to get their share
from the overburdened WTO excession machinery. With 1997 looming, it would
contribute I think to smooth Hong Kong SAR relations with Beijing if both
where members of the organisation." Sir Leon also stressed the importance
of ongoing negotiations on telecommunications services in the WTO and
called on Asian countries to improve their offer. "Europe has made a much
improved revised offer just last week in Geneva. I am sorry to say that
most Asian players have not yet made similar improvements from the much
less good offers that were left on the table when the process paused in
April. I call on all the Asian participants represented in this important
gathering to focus on telecommunications. Whether you are in government, a
provider of this service or a user of it, we all need a more dynamic
telecommunications network world-wide." (for more info, SPEECH96/295 - P.
Guilford - tel: 295.85.60 - fax: 296.79.12)
[04] Padraig Flynn calls for an end to discrimination against the disabled.
Speaking today at a conference in Cork organised by the EU Presidency,
Social Affairs Commissioner Padraig Flynn, avocated making discrimination
on the grounds of disability unlawful. The European Commission proposes to
encourage a policy of dialogue between the Member States by establishing a
High Level Group - a forum to enable a genuine exchange of views, aided by
an Observatory on Disability. It will also bring in the Social Partners to
the dialogue. The Structural funds - in particular the Social Fund - are
the main financial instruments at European level for improving the
situation of people with disabilities. From 1994 to 1999 a total of 513
MECU is being devoted to Employment-Horizon (aimed at addressing the root
causes of marginalisation and the resultant poor employment prospects of
people, including disabled people, who face specific obstacles to their
entry into and participation in the labour market). Furthermore, the
Commission will try and reflect the equal opportunities ideal in its own
internal recruitment and employment strategies. "The disability perspective
must be taken on board in all areas of policy-making", the Commissioner
stressed. (more information, SPEECH96/297 - B. Nolan - tel: 296.07.55 -
fax: 295.01.43)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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