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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-04-13
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
13/04/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] EU to seek additional textiles and clothing trade liberalisation
[02] L'UE prête un vaccin au Japon et à la Corée du Sud afin de contribuer
à la lutte contre l'épizootie de fièvre aphteuse
[03] Margot Wallström welcomes EP endorsement of stricter and more
transparent EU rules for GMOs
[04] Commission clears merger between Vodafone Airtouch and Mannesmann AG
with conditions
[05] Chris Patten's Reith Lecture on sustainable development and governance
[01] EU to seek additional textiles and clothing trade liberalisation
The European Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, is holding on 14 April a
round table with representatives of the European textiles and clothing
industry to map out a strategy to improve access to third countries'
markets. Research conducted by the Commission shows that, whilst the EU's
textiles and clothing market is being steadily opened to imports, very
significant trade barriers prevent EU industry from expanding abroad.
European industry has consistently argued for the need to achieve
reciprocity in market access. Mr Lamy and industry representatives, led by
Mr Jean de Jaegher, President of the EU textiles and clothing industry
federation Euratex, will be discussing possible initiatives and options to
improve access to third countries, through reductions of tariffs by other
countries and the elimination of non-tariff barriers that are compatible
with the WTO rules. Both sides will also be examining the impact that the
decision on the "third stage of integration" of textiles and clothing
products under normal WTO rules, to be taken by the end of this year and
affecting 18% of EU imports, will have on EU's market access strategy.
[02] L'UE prête un vaccin au Japon et à la Corée du Sud afin de contribuer
à la lutte contre l'épizootie de fièvre aphteuse
La Commission européenne a décidé de prêter au Japon et à la Corée du Sud
des vaccins provenant de la banque européenne d'antigènes, afin d'aider ces
pays à lutter contre une épizootie de fièvre aphteuse qui a touché leur
bétail. Cette décision fait suite à une demande présentée par les autorités
japonaises et sud-coréennes. Le Japon et la Corée du Sud remplaceront les
vaccins fournis par l'Union européenne dans un délai de six mois. L'UE
dispose de réserves importantes d'antigènes du virus en cause, à partir
desquels le vaccin est reproduit.
[03] Margot Wallström welcomes EP endorsement of stricter and more
transparent EU rules for GMOs
Commenting on yesterday's vote Margot Wallström, the European Commissioner
for Environment, stated : "The European Parliament has contributed to
ensuring that we get a much more balanced and effective framework for risk
assessment and approval of GMO products in the future. This vote is crucial
to realising the potential of biotechnology in Europe, while at the same
time managing and reducing risks related to this new technology. It
responds to the concerns of many European citizens."
[04] Commission clears merger between Vodafone Airtouch and Mannesmann AG
with conditions
The European Commission has approved Vodafone Airtouch's (United Kingdom)
acquisition of Mannesmann AG (Germany). The transaction has been approved
after the parties submitted commitments to de-merge Orange Plc and to give
other mobile operators access to their inter-operator roaming tariffs and
wholesale services.
[05] Chris Patten's Reith Lecture on sustainable development and governance
"To ensure that the debate on sustainable development is as constructive as
possible, and that it delivers results that can command majority consent
and attract minority acquiescence, the rich, pluralist developed
democracies need to understand that they have lessons of governance to
learn as well." In his Reith lecture Chris Patten, European Commissioner
for External Relations, examines the link between sustainable development
and good governance. Throughout the world, and not just in developing
countries, political repression, war, corruption and woeful economic
management have been the enemy of the environment and the well being of
present and future generations. Dictators are rarely friends of the earth.
Mr Patten argues that accountable government is by its nature more able to
secure the popular legitimacy necessary to take difficult decisions, and
less prone to corruption. This makes democracy better placed to incorporate
environmental costs into political and economic decisions. However, there
has been a decline in role and influence of elected governments whilst the
power and influence of both multi-national corporations and non-
governmental organisations, not self evidently democratic, have increased.
Faced with these developments in a globalised world Governments have pooled
national sovereignty in international organisations. In future both
Governments and international organisations must be more open.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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