|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-05-25
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
25/05/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 24 mai 2000 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 24 May 2000
[01] Commission recommends negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement with Croatia
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] Commission clears Ford's acquisition of full control of Autonova
[03] Traveller's allowances : Commission proposes to increase limits for
alcohol and tobacco imported into Sweden from other Member States
[04] March 2000 industrial production up 0.6% in euro-zone and up 0.5% in
EU15
[05] Les pièces en euro - de leur création jusqu'à aujourd'hui
[06] Commission successfully completes Energy for Democracy project in
Serbia
[07] Commission launches consultation with stakeholders on sulphur in
petrol and diesel fuels
[08] Inauguration d'"Europe Direct", le service rapide et facile
d'informations sur l'Europe offert aux citoyens
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 24 mai 2000 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 24 May 2000
(voir aussi see also ME of 24.5)
[01] Commission recommends negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement with Croatia
Further enhancement of bilateral relations between the EU and Croatia is
expected following the positive assessment of the Commission feasibility
report on Croatia adopted yesterday. The positive conclusions of the report
are the first step towards the possible establishment of contractual
relations between the EU and the Republic of Croatia in the form of a
Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] Commission clears Ford's acquisition of full control of Autonova
The European Commission has authorised the acquisition by Ford Motor
Company of the full control of Swedish company Autonova, a car assembler
currently jointly owned by Ford's subsidiary Volvo Car Corp and British car
manufacturer TWR.
[03] Traveller's allowances : Commission proposes to increase limits for
alcohol and tobacco imported into Sweden from other Member States
The European Commission has put forward a proposal to authorise Sweden to
substantially increase in several steps the quantities of alcoholic drinks
and tobacco products that can be brought into Sweden by private persons
coming from other Member States without having to pay excise duties in
Sweden. Under the proposal, Sweden also has to abolish the restrictions by
1 January 2004.
[04] March 2000 industrial production up 0.6% in euro-zone and up 0.5% in
EU15
(! embargo 12 am !) Seasonally adjusted industrial production advanced by
0.6% in the euro-zone in March, when compared to February, Eurostat
estimates today. This follows a gain of 0.1% in January and 0.8% in
February. Production in the EU15 increased 0.5%, after a slight fall of
0.3% in January and an increase of 1.1% in February. The overall gain in
the production index was led by capital goods. Compared with March 1999
industrial production increased by 5.0% in the euro-zone and 4.5% in the
EU15. Durable consumer goods and capital goods led the increase with 9.8%
and 8.0% respectively in the euro-zone and with 9.4% and 7.2% respectively
in the EU15.
[05] Les pièces en euro - de leur création jusqu'à aujourd'hui
Deux ans après le démarrage de la production des pièces en euro, la
Commission européenne publie la première étude générale sur les pièces en
euro. Le document lève le voile sur les négociations ayant conduit au choix
des dénominations et des spécifications techniques actuelles, expose
l'ensemble des règles applicables aux pièces euro et les principes
permettant de déterminer les quantités à produire. Du choix du nom à la
protection des pièces contre la contrefaçon, il réunit les informations à
connaître quant aux arrangements de l'introduction des pièces en euro.
[06] Commission successfully completes Energy for Democracy project in
Serbia
The European Commission completed one of its most difficult projects, the
Energy for Democracy scheme in favour of Serb opposition controlled
municipalities. The Council of Ministers agreed in October 1999, in
response to a proposal made by Serb opposition forces, to supply heating
fuel to Serbian towns, which are run by democratic forces in order to
alleviate harsh winter conditions. The Commission launched extremely
rapidly the pilot project "Energy for Democracy", with oil trucks arriving
at the Serbian border some five weeks after the decision of the Commission
of 26 October 1999. In the following five months a total quantity of 17,513
tons was delivered by trucks and trains from FYROM and Bosnia. All
quantities requested by the Municipalities were delivered.
[07] Commission launches consultation with stakeholders on sulphur in
petrol and diesel fuels
The European Commission has today launched a consultation exercise with all
relevant stakeholders regarding the appropriate level of sulphur in petrol
and diesel marketed in the EU. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström
said : "The future level of sulphur in petrol and diesel is an extremely
important issue, which requires a thorough and objective analysis. I urge
all stakeholders, therefore, to participate fully in this consultation
exercise." Sulphur in petrol and diesel influences the levels of tailpipe
emissions from road vehicles. These emissions contribute significantly to
air pollution in towns and cities and to problems such as acid rain and
summertime smog. Lower levels of sulphur in fuel can contribute to improve
the fuel efficiency of new cars and reduce emissions that contribute to
climate change. Automotive engines and emissions control equipment have
undergone and continue to experience rapid technological development. This
has raised the question of what the appropriate sulphur level should be. If
sulphur levels are to be reduced further, cost implications for producers
of petrol and diesel also need to be considered. In keeping with the highly
participatory approach of the two Auto-Oil Programmes the Commission is
inviting all potential stakeholders to express their views and to present
any relevant findings on this very important issue before 31st July this
year. The technical details about this consultation can be found on the
Commission's internet site (http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/whatsnew.htm)
Responses should be sent to ENV-SULPHUR-REVIEW@cec.eu.int by no later than
31st July 2000.
[08] Inauguration d'"Europe Direct", le service rapide et facile
d'informations sur l'Europe offert aux citoyens
Viviane Reding, Commissaire européenne en charge de la Citoyenneté, a
inauguré le service "Europe Direct", qui offre dans chaque Etat membre une
ligne téléphonique gratuite de réponse à toute demande d'information et de
conseil, aux niveaux national, régional et local. Une campagne
d'information d'"Europe Direct" débutera ce 29 mai.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
