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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-11-10

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

10/11/2000


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Commission tightens net to protect financial interests
  • [02] EU oil arrives in Serbia this weekend
  • [03] Pascal Lamy travels to Gabon to underline EU Support for African Countries in the World Trading System
  • [04] Payment systems : Commission pledges to use full powers to create a Single Payment Area
  • [05] Poursuite des discussions entre l'UE et le Maroc dans le domaine des pêches maritimes
  • [06] Anna Diamantopoulou at G8 Meeting of Labour Ministers

  • [01] Commission tightens net to protect financial interests

    The European Commission is tightening its net to protect EU taxpayers. The 1999 Annual Report on "The Protection of the Communities' Financial Interests and the Fight against Fraud" takes stock of considerable progress to build anti-fraud safeguards into the Commission's work. 1999 marks an important milestone with the establishment of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the development of a comprehensive anti-fraud strategy. Examples include new measures to tackle fraud in agriculture, structural funds and public tenders, as well as new legislative proposals to combat money laundering and counterfeiting of the euro. Anti-fraud cooperation agreements with candidate countries and third countries such as Switzerland have been concluded, ensuring that the fight against fraud does not stop at the EU's borders. "The creation of OLAF and our new comprehensive approach in the fight against fraud and irregularities represents a a major step forward in preventing damage to the Communities interests. We must continue to work hand-in-hand with Member States to protect the European taxpayer", said Michaele Schreyer, Commissioner responsible for Budget and the Fight against Fraud. The full report can be found in various language versions under the following homepage: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/anti_fraud/index_en.htm

    [02] EU oil arrives in Serbia this weekend

    The EU's emergency assistance programme to Serbia - approved by the European Commission on 8 November - will swing into action tomorrow, Saturday 11 November, with the arrival of a first convoy of 20 trucks carrying heating fuel for Nis, Pirot, Sombor, Subotica and Novi Sad. The convoy is due to arrive Sremska Racka border crossing into Serbia at around noon Saturday 11 November, where it will be met by FRY Energy Minister Antic and the Charge d'affaires of the European Commission Delegation in Belgrade, Mr Michael Graham.

    [03] Pascal Lamy travels to Gabon to underline EU Support for African Countries in the World Trading System

    European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy will be in Libreville on 13-14 November to participate in the meeting of African Trade Ministers, organised by the Government of Gabon under the aegis of the WTO. In advance of his trip, Mr Lamy said : "In going to Libreville to meet with my African counterparts, I intend to underline the EU's firm commitment to integrating developing countries fully into the world trading system." Mr Lamy will also emphasise the need to launch a New WTO Round of trade talks precisely to ensure that the system takes fuller account of developing countries' concerns.

    [04] Payment systems : Commission pledges to use full powers to create a Single Payment Area

    The European Commission pledged to use its full powers to ensure that banks take the necessary action to create a single payments area at a Round Table on "Establishing a Single Payment Area: State of Play and Next Steps" in Brussels on 9 November. Representatives of the banking and payments industry discussed with the Commission, the European Parliament, European Central Bank, consumers and retailers technical innovations to improve the speed of automatic cross-border credit transfers and how best to direct future developments in credit card, internet, mobile phone and online banking. In terms of traditional payment systems, the costs of cross-border transfers are still too high, though the situation is improving. The Commission nonetheless warned the banking industry that it was monitoring progress closely and would publish a study next year on the implementation of the Cross- Border Credit Transfer Directive (97/5/EC). This will be the basis for considering a series of new proposals in the autumn of 2001 to improve traditional payments systems. In conjunction with the Round Table, the Commission has opened a website designed as an information point and a forum for public concerns with payment systems. Commission policymakers are increasingly concerned to ensure that legislation keeps up with developments in the field of electronic payments. A study is in progress and as of 2001, the Commission will start analysing its findings with a view to further proposals in this area. The Commission is already committed to the publication shortly of a Green Paper on E-Commerce and Financial Services, which will inter alia pay particular attention to Internet payments.

    [05] Poursuite des discussions entre l'UE et le Maroc dans le domaine des pêches maritimes

    Comme convenu lors de la réunion tenue à Bruxelles le 30 octobre dernier, les Délégations du Maroc et de la Commission Européenne ont poursuivi les discussions sur les possibilités de coopération dans le domaine des pêches maritimes les 8 et 9 novembre 2000 à Rabat. A cette occasion, les deux parties ont continué l'examen des composantes de leur future coopération halieutique et ont fixé la date de leur prochaine réunion, qui aura lieu à Bruxelles, à partir du 21 novembre 2000. Commentant la session de négociations pour une coopération entre l'Union européenne et le Maroc dans le secteur de la pêche qui s'est tenue à Rabat le 9 novembre, Gregor Kreuzhuber, Porte-Parole pour l'Agriculture, le Développement rural et la Pêche, a déclaré : "Nos entretiens ont été constructifs et des progrès ont été réalisés. La Commission a présenté sa position relative à l'exercice d'une pêche durable par la flotte européenne dans les eaux marocaines, aux débarquements dans les ports marocains, à l'aide au développement pour le secteur marocain de la pêche ainsi qu'à la durée de la coopération dans le secteur de la pêche. Cette réunion constitue un nouveau pas en avant vers un accord de coopération équilibré et ménageant les intérêts des deux parties. Mais nous avons encore du chemin à faire. Nous ferons le maximum pour finaliser ces négociations aussi vite que possible. Nos pêcheurs peuvent avoir l'assurance que la Commission déploie tous ses efforts pour parvenir à un accord équitable pour toutes les parties. Etant donné que la CICTA (Commission internationale pour la conservation de thonidés de l'Atlantique) se réunit la semaine prochaine au Maroc, il a été convenu de tenir la prochaine réunion technique le 21 novembre, à Bruxelles."

    [06] Anna Diamantopoulou at G8 Meeting of Labour Ministers

    European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou will tell G8 labour ministers in Turin that Europe's labour markets are in deep change and becoming more dynamic - and that there is vigour in the modern European social model, as long as we skill and re-skill. She will also stress that the EU is concerned with the cost of poverty and exclusion in the new knowledge society both in Europe and in the developing world. Labour ministers from the G8 countries meet in Turin, Italy, on 10-11 November 2000, together with the Commission and representatives of the ILO and OECD and labour and business leaders, to discuss the themes of employment policies, macroeconomic environment and the challenges of the digital revolution. They will also focus on active ageing.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


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