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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-12-05
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
05/12/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Romano Prodi leads Commission's delegation to Nice
[02] BSE : Commission evaluating five new tests
[03] Commission clears merger of Outokumpu Steel and Avesta Sheffield
[04] Commission clears purchase by Stinnes of Holland Chemical
International
[05] Le chômage dans la zone euro en octobre 2000 en baisse à 8,9% ; l'UE15
en baisse à 8,2%
[06] Business and Consumer Surveys first results November 2000
[07] La Commission prend des mesures visant à répondre à ses craintes au
sujet des coûts et des délais dans la rénovation du Berlaymont
[08] Pascal Lamy opens door to reformulating EU position on new WTO round
[09] La Commission décerne le prix Lorenzo Natali du journalisme dans les
domaines du développement, des droits de l'homme et de l'environnement
[10] La Commission remet les "European Awards for the Environment" 2000
[11] Commission approves emergency aid worth euro 600,000 for young
children in North Korea
[12] Commission grants euro 2 million in humanitarian assistance for
Congolese and Angolan refugees in Zambia
[13] Anna Diamantopoulou represents Commission in Troïka meeting chaired by
President Jacques Chirac in Paris
[14] Frits Bolkestein underlines role of fundamental micro-economic reform
[15] Fusion approuvée selon la procédure simplifiée
[16] Autre matériel diffusé
[01] Romano Prodi leads Commission's delegation to Nice
The Heads of State and Government of the European Union will meet in the
European Council in Nice, France - starting from Thursday 7th December. The
delegation of the European Commission will be lead by the President of the
Commission, Romano Prodi. Members of the Commission Michel Barnier, Chris
Patten and Gunter Verheugen will accompany him. A special web site has been
created to assist media in its work. Please note that this service is meant
for journalists only and it operates in English and in French. The site
will be updated daily both before and during the meeting. It can be found
at http://europa.eu.int/comm/nice_council/index_en.htm and/or
http://europa.eu.int/comm/nice_council/index_fr.htm Journalists following
the meeting can also send questions and other requests for information to
the Commission to press.commission@cec.eu.int All messages will be answered
as soon as possible.
[02] BSE : Commission evaluating five new tests
In a continuation of its work on tests for BSE and other transmissable
spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the European Commission is evaluating
five new tests. The tests were identified following a world-wide call for
expressions of interest which closed on 30 September. Commissioner David
Byrne, responsible for Health and Consumer Protection, said : "The
introduction of testing for BSE in the EU has already had rapid beneficial
results for the consumer. We now have improved knowledge of the incidence
of BSE and as a result additional measures have been taken. Consumers and
industry must be informed of the real situation throughout the EU and the
widespread implementation of the testing programme is the best way to
achieve this." Commissioner Philippe Busquin, responsible for Research,
added : "I am glad to announce that more tests are being evaluated in the
Commission's Research Centre since only reliable testing will lay the
scientific foundation on which we can base serious and efficient political
measures."
[03] Commission clears merger of Outokumpu Steel and Avesta Sheffield
The European Commission has cleared the merger of stainless steel producers
Outokumpu Steel Oyj of Finland and Anglo-Swedish firm Avesta Sheffield
after a careful analysis which showed that there would remain sufficient
competition in the sector despite the high degree of concentration.
[04] Commission clears purchase by Stinnes of Holland Chemical
International
The European Commission has cleared the acquisition by German chemical
distribution company Stinnes AG, a subsidiary of E.ON AG, of Dutch company
Holland Chemical International (HCI). Both companies are active in the
distribution of chemicals but their activities do not significantly overlap
in the different Member States so the operation poses no competition
problems.
[05] Le chômage dans la zone euro en octobre 2000 en baisse à 8,9% ; l'UE15
en baisse à 8,2%
(! embargo 12h00 !) Selon Eurostat, le taux de chômage de la zone euro,
corrigé des variations saisonnières, était de 8,9% en octobre 2000, en
baisse par rapport à septembre (9,0%). Ce taux est tombé en-dessous de 9%
pour la première fois depuis mai 1992. En octobre 1999, le taux était de 9,
7%. Le taux de chômage de l'UE15 était de 8,2% en octobre 2000, en baisse
par rapport à septembre (8,3%). Il s'élevait à 9,0% en octobre 1999.
[06] Business and Consumer Surveys first results November 2000
(! embargo 12 am !) The economic sentiment indicator decreased slightly by
0.1 in the euro area and by 0.2 in the EU according to the business and
consumer survey results in November 2000 published today by the European
Commission (Directorate General Economic & Financial Affairs). Among the
components, the industrial confidence indicator decreased by 1 point in the
euro area and by 2 points in the EU. In the construction confidence
indicator, there was a 3 point decline in the euro area and a 2 point
decrease in the EU. Consumer confidence, on the other hand, remained steady
in both the euro area and the EU.
[07] La Commission prend des mesures visant à répondre à ses craintes au
sujet des coûts et des délais dans la rénovation du Berlaymont
Des informations actualisées de consultants externes engagés par la
Commission européenne ont récemment confirmé les craintes de celle-ci
concernant des délais et des dépassements substantiels de coûts dans la
mise en œuvre du projet de rénovation du Berlaymont. En conséquence, la
Commission a porté ces différents sujets à la connaissance des autorités
belges, afin que celles-ci soient parfaitement informées et capables
d'entreprendre les analyses qui s'imposent. Par ailleurs, les
interrogations liées à une demande de paiement d'un contractant dans le
cadre de la rénovation du Berlaymont ont amené le Vice-Président Neil
Kinnock à transmettre à l'OLAF les résultats de l'étude du consultant. Il a
aussi engagé les démarches nécessaires à une analyse approfondie des
engagements de la Commission dans ce projet de rénovation, tant en termes
techniques que de procédures.
[08] Pascal Lamy opens door to reformulating EU position on new WTO round
European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy yesterday said he thought the time
had come for the European Union to consider reformulating its position if a
new round of multilateral trade negotiations is to be launched. "I believe
the time has come to think about a new formulation for our position", he
told a press conference in Brussels. "We must get ready to go further
towards a position acceptable to less developed countries, as it is clear
that these countries are not yet convinced [about the benefits of a new
round]."
[09] La Commission décerne le prix Lorenzo Natali du journalisme dans les
domaines du développement, des droits de l'homme et de l'environnement
La Commission européenne a décerné le prix du journalisme Lorenzo Natali
2000 ex aequo à quatre journalistes de pays européens et de pays en
développement pour des articles relatifs au développement et aux droits de
l'homme qui mettent l'accent sur la pauvreté, le statut des femmes et
l'environnement. Dans la catégorie des journalistes de pays en
développement, les lauréats sont Atiya Achak Ulwisut, du journal
thaïlandais The Nation, et Fariah Razak Haroon, journaliste indépendante
pour le magazine pakistanais Dawn. Le premier prix attribué dans la
catégorie des journalistes de l'Union européenne est décerné à Marco Bello
et Paolo Moiola, pour le Mondo e Missione italien, et Astrid Prange,
journaliste indépendante auprès du Deutsches Allgemeines Sonntagsblatt. Le
Commissaire chargé de la coopération au développement et de l'aide
humanitaire, Poul Nielson, a confirmé le choix du jury et félicité les
lauréats. "Les articles distingués montrent clairement que le respect des
droits de l'homme et l'amélioration des conditions sociales fondamentales
doivent constituer le fondement du développement dans le monde", a-t-il
déclaré.
[10] La Commission remet les "European Awards for the Environment" 2000
La Commissaire à l'Environnement, Mme Margot Wallström, a remis aujourd'hui
les "European Awards for the Environment" à quatre entreprises
particulièrement innovantes dans le domaine du développement durable.
Chacune dans leur catégorie (gestion, produit, technologie, partenariat
international), ces entreprises se sont distinguées par leur capacité à
intégrer la dimension environnementale et sociale dans leurs activités.
Margot Wallström a déclaré : "En instaurant des mesures d'économies de
ressources, tant lors des processus de fabrication que dans l'utilisation
des produits, ces entreprises ont démontré que développement durable et
accroissement de la compétitivité allaient de pair. La mise en œuvre
d'outils visant à économiser les ressources naturelles, dont l'énergie,
l'eau et les matières premières, se traduit en effet forcément par des
gains en terme de compétitivité."
[11] Commission approves emergency aid worth euro 600,000 for young
children in North Korea
The European Commission has approved euro 600,000 in emergency humanitarian
aid for North Korea. The aid, which is being channelled though the EU's
Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), will finance winter clothing to 36,000
children of kindergarten age (4-7 years) in the mountainous North Pyongan
province. 9,000 blankets are also being supplied for distribution to flood
victims. This aid is being delivered by two of its partners operating in
North Korea : German Agro Action (children's winter clothes) and the
International Federation of the Red Cross (blankets). This is the third
humanitarian aid decision taken by the Commission in respect of North Korea
this year, bringing the total to euro 7.3 million. Since 1995, euro 37.6
million in humanitarian assistance to the country has been mobilised by
ECHO.
[12] Commission grants euro 2 million in humanitarian assistance for
Congolese and Angolan refugees in Zambia
The European Commission has approved emergency humanitarian aid worth euro
2 million to help refugees from Congo and Angola who have fled to Zambia to
escape conflict in their home countries. The assistance, directed through
its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), is supporting the relief efforts of
four partners (The World Food Programme, MSF Netherlands, the International
Red Cross Federation and Dan Church Aid). The focus of support for
Congolese refugees is the new Kala camp. This has been established to deal
with a continuing influx of people. The funds are being used for various
measures relating to the setting up and management of the camp, and to help
provide health facilities there. More than 8,500 recently-arrived refugees
from Angola are receiving help with temporary shelters, water and hygiene
facilities, domestic equipment and transport. Support is also being
provided to boost health provision for some 10,000 Angolans living in the
Nangweshi refugee camp. Food aid, organised through the World Food
Programme, is also being supplied for both Angolan and Congolese refugees.
[13] Anna Diamantopoulou represents Commission in Troïka meeting chaired by
President Jacques Chirac in Paris
European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Anna
Diamantopoulou, will today represent the Commission at a Troïka meeting
chaired by French President Jacques Chirac on the social dialogue at the
Elysée Palace in Paris. The Troïka, which is a meeting of past, present and
future presidencies of the Council together with the Commission, will meet
the social partners at the highest level and are expected to discuss the
new European social agenda and social aspects of the upcoming IGC,
including the European charter of fundamental rights. Mrs Diamantopoulou
said : "Thanks to the agreement reached last week in Council on the
European social agenda, we expect a strong endorsement from Nice that good
social policy means full involvement of the social partners in formulating
and implementing social policy."
[14] Frits Bolkestein underlines role of fundamental micro-economic reform
(! embargo 6.30 pm !) "The Lisbon Agenda marks an important change in the
way Europe approaches the goals of sustainable economic growth with high
levels of employment and a strong sense of social cohesion", said European
Commissioner for Internal Market Frits Bolkestein in his speech on 'The
future of the Social Market Economy'. "It leaves behind the era of macro-
economic policies, which generated high levels of state expenditure.
Instead it puts the economy on the track of fundamental micro-economic
reform. The Summit called for an accelerated liberalisation of key economic
sectors such as transport, gas, electricity and postal services. The
Commission has put forward proposals in all these fields and looks for
majorities in both the European Parliament and the Council. We must stick
closely to the timetable produced in Lisbon if we want to achieve the goals
set out in this ambitious agenda. It would be devastating for the
legitimacy of European cooperation and the strength of our common currency
if the European Union were to be strong on declarations of ambitious goals
but weak on achieving them. As the American saying goes : if you talk the
talk, you must walk the walk. Failure to do so would create the impression
that Europe is not capable of concerted reform."
[15] Fusion approuvée selon la procédure simplifiée
International Sports Programming LLC (News Corporation) / ESPN
International Inc (Walt Disney Company) / Globosat Programadora Ltda
(Brazil)
[16] Autre matériel diffusé
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Agriculture extraordinaire
Discours de M. Liikanen : "Going digital : meeting the e-business challenge
for Europe in the new economy" à la European Days of Commerce Conference
(04/12)
Discours de M. Vitorino devant la commission des Libertés publiques du PE
Discours de M. Patten : "East Timor: preparing the future" à la Conférence
des Donateurs pour le Timor oriental (! embargo 2.30 pm !)
Intervention de M. Fischler à une conférence de presse au 'Centre d'Accueil
de la Presse Etrangère' (Paris)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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