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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-03-15
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
15/03/99
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Rapport du Comité des Sages
[02] La Commission engage une procédure pour abus présumé de position
dominante à l'encontre d'Air France
[03] Commission proposes that the EU be a Member of the European
Audiovisual Observatory
[04] Sir Leon Brittan : "Green issues must be at the heart of the WTO"
[05] Emma Bonino on European Consumer Day : "no surprise on the plate" and
"minimum protection for consumers in Information Society"
[01] Rapport du Comité des Sages
Le rapport du Comité du Comité des Sages sera disponible, à partir de 18h45
à la salle de presse du Parlement européen (LEO 0A23). Il sera également
accessible sur Internet aux adresses suivantes : http://www.europarl.eu.int/press
ou http://www.europarl.eu.int/experts.
[02] La Commission engage une procédure pour abus présumé de position
dominante à l'encontre d'Air France
La Commission européenne a décidé d'ouvrir la procédure formelle à
l'encontre d'Air France pour abus présumé de position dominante. Sur la
base des premiers résultats de son enquête, la Commission considère, en
effet, que la compagnie aérienne française a défavorisé Sabre, système
informatisé de réservation (SIR) appartenant à American Airlines, de
manière à privilégier le système de réservation Amadeus, dont elle est
copropriétaire.
[03] Commission proposes that the EU be a Member of the European
Audiovisual Observatory
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Decision
enabling the European Union (EU) to become a Member of the European
Audiovisual Observatory and establishing a multi-annual framework for its
financial contribution. The European Audiovisual Observatory was
established in Strasbourg under the aegis of the Council of Europe on 15
December 1992. The Commission has been a Member of the Observatory since
its foundation an has contributed 200,000 euro annually.
[04] Sir Leon Brittan : "Green issues must be at the heart of the WTO"
Trade and environment can no longer be seen as two separate issues by the
World Trade Organisation (WTO), according to European Commission Vice-
President Sir Leon Brittan. Speaking at a high level WTO meeting on trade
and environment in Geneva today, Sir Leon said sustainable development must
be placed at the heart of WTO decision making - including within the
Millennium round. Sir Leon said : "We need to reconcile the competing
demands of economic growth, environmental protection and social
development. Pursuing any of these three at the expense of the other two
will inevitably lead to an unbalanced approach. If we get the balance
wrong in one direction or another, we will end up either with inadequate
recognition in trade policy terms of legitimate environmental concerns, or
with 'green protectionism'."
[05] Emma Bonino on European Consumer Day : "no surprise on the plate" and
"minimum protection for consumers in Information Society"
"No surprise on the plate, consumers' health interests should be protected
unconditionally". With this key message Emma Bonino, European Commissioner
for Consumer Policy, celebrates today in Brussels the first European
Consumer Day at a European Economic and Social Committee conference.
Commissioner Bonino also stressed that consumer questions should become a
driving force in the further development of the Information Society : the
Information Society should not develop to a "new platform without law", but
a minimum of legislation should be guaranteed in order to protect
consumers' interests. Besides consumers protection, questions of access to
the new services and participation of consumers should also be taken into
account. The satisfaction of consumers should be a decisive criteria for
measuring the success of the European Union's liberalisation policy. Mrs
Bonino announced that she would be available for an interactive Internet
chat with consumers on Wednesday, 24 of march between 6 pm and 8 pm. The
chatline is reachable under : http://europa.eu.int/chatbonino. Questions
can also be sent there in advance.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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