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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-03-06
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
Midday Express 06/03/2001
[01] Romano Prodi welcomes outcome of football transfers talks
"I am delighted that we have been able to find a satisfactory and workable
outcome with FIFA on international player transfers in the European Union
that not only respects the special needs of the sport but also Community
law", commented European Commission President Romano Prodi. "Europe has
risen to the occasion and won the match, ensuring a great victory both for
football and for Europe. Club football represents much of what we are
striving to achieve in Europe in terms of exchanges of players, fans and
ideas. Together, European football is stronger, more dynamic and more
entertaining than if each national league played in its own corner. We have
managed to achieve an outcome that will preserve the legitimate rights of
players to move from one country to another whilst ensuring European
football will be able to go from strength to strength. I pay tribute to all
those involved and in particular my colleagues Mario Monti, Anna
Diamantopulou and Viviane Reding."
[02] Outcome of discussions between Commission and FIFA/UEFA on FIFA
regulations on international football transfers
In a meeting on 5 March 2001, European Commissioners Mario Monti
(Competition), Viviane Reding (Education and Culture) and Anna
Diamantopoulou (Employment and Social Affairs), and Presidents of FIFA
Joseph Blatter and UEFA Lennart Johansson, finalised their discussions on
revised FIFA regulations on international football transfers. This was
formalised through an exchange of letters between President Blatter and
Commissioner Monti. As far as the compatibility with Community law is
concerned, it was concluded that the principles outlined meet the specific
needs of the sport and could pave the way to a positive solution on the
competition procedure that is open against FIFA provided that these
principles are fully reflected in the FIFA Regulations to be amended. FIFA,
in agreement with UEFA, undertook to proceed immediately to change its
existing regulations on the status and transfers of players, in its version
of 1997.
[03] Depleted uranium : Commission receives scientific experts' opinion
The European Commission today received the opinion of the group of
independent scientific experts, established according to Article 31 of the
Euratom Treaty, on the possible radiological health effects of depleted
uranium. On the basis of the information available to date, the experts
have concluded that radiological exposure to depleted uranium could not
result in a detectable effect on human health. Although the possibility of
a combined effect of exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals and to
radiation could not be excluded the experts concluded that there was no
evidence to support this hypothesis. Receiving the opinion, Environment
Commissioner Margot Wallström said : "I am grateful for the speedy work of
the experts in producing this opinion. My Commission colleagues and I will
take it into account when discussing the need for further action with
regard to the health and environmental situation in the Balkans. I also
look forward to seeing the results of work carried out by other bodies
competent in this field, such as the United Nations Environment Programme
whose report will soon be issued."
[04] David Byrne and Franz Fischler launch broad debate on food quality,
safety and production
At a high level round table with leading food producers, retailers,
consumer experts and scientists on 5 March, European Commissioners for
Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, and for Agriculture, Rural
Development and Fisheries, Franz Fischler, launched a debate for a
strategic re-thinking of food production and food policy in terms of
quality, safety and cost. The Commissioners emphasised the need for shifts
in attitudes of both consumers and producers if initiatives to improve the
overall quality of the food on offer are to succeed. The challenge is to
find ways to match consumer demands and expectations for good quality food
with a corresponding food supply. Based on ideas emerging from yesterday's
round table the Commissioners suggested concrete follow up-actions, such as
similar round tables in the Member States and collect suggestions for
common policies or a conference with the European Parliament to consider
the role of public policy vis a vis food quality and production methods.
[05] La Commission autorise l'offre commune présentée par EDP-Cajastur-
Cáser pour Hidrocantábrico
La Commission européenne a autorisé le projet d'acquisition du contrôle en
commun de la société d'électricité espagnole Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico
(Hidrocantábrico) par la société d'électricité portugaise EDP-Electricidade
de Portugal S.A. (EDP) et les sociétés espagnoles Caja de Ahorros de
Asturias (Cajastur) et Caja de Seguros Reunidos, Compañía de Seguros y
Reaseguros S.A. (Cáser). L'offre publique, qui a été autorisée par les
autorités boursières espagnoles le 6 février 2001, ne suscite pas de
préoccupations sur le plan de la concurrence, car EDP et Hidrocantábrico
auront à soutenir une concurrence réelle ou potentielle sur leurs marchés
nationaux.
[06] Commission adopts emergency measures to protect West of Scotland cod
stock
As the cod stock in the West of Scotland is in imminent danger of collapse,
the European Commission has adopted a regulation for emergency protection
measures. These measures involve the closure, until 30 April 2001, of two
separate areas to all fisheries likely to catch cod. Technical and control
measures have also been imposed on a number of fisheries which will
continue in these two zones as they do not threaten cod. The Commission
adopted similar measures on 7 February to protect North Sea cod. These two
sets of measures represent the first part of a three-stage approach :
emergency measures to allow as many cod as possible to spawn, additional
technical and control measures in the spring to protect young cod and a
proposal for a long-term recovery plan in June. "We have run down our
assets, it's time to rebuild them. The Commission has taken these emergency
measures after consultation with all the stakeholders concerned. I am glad
that everyone recognises the need for emergency and long-term measures to
help the recovery of the cod stocks", said Franz Fischler, Commissioner for
Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Fisheries.
[07] La Commission lance une nouvelle approche pour la libre circulation
des produits électriques respectueux de l'environnement
Un document de travail présenté par la Direction Générale Entreprises de la
Commission européenne concernant la libre circulation des équipements
électriques et électroniques respectueux de l'environnement (EEE), a été
discuté aujourd'hui lors d'une réunion entre les Services de la Commission
et les parties intéressées. Faisant suite aux recommandations du Conseil
européen de Lisbonne de mars 2000 en faveur de la simplification de
l'environment législatif, le document de travail est un exemple concret
d'une façon alternative de légiférer. Le document de travail EEE, qui
pourrait servir de base à une proposition de directive, reflète la
détermination de l'UE d'intégrer le développement durable dans d'autres
politiques, y compris la politique d'entreprise. Il devrait aussi compléter
la proposition de Directive sur les déchets d'équipement électrique et
électronique (WEEE) en améliorant la gestion des déchets EEE dès la
conception des produits, en promouvant les objectifs de la politique
européenne intégrée sur les produits, en montrant comment un outil
législatif existant et performant tel que la nouvelle approche, peut être
appliqué à un nouveau domaine, l'environnement.
[08] Trafficking in women : Anna Diamantopoulou and Antonio Vitorino speak
about "Poverty to slavery : the misery behind the fantasy" to mark
International Women's Day, 8 March
European Commissioners for Employment and Social Affairs Anna
Diamantopoulou and Justice and Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino mark
International Women's Day on 8 March with an open-door profile-raising
event on trafficking in women to take place at the European Parliament. The
two Commissioners supported by Swedish Minister Winberg and MEPs Theorin
and Sörensen, will draw attention to the growing number of women trafficked
into the EU for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has been estimated
that between 50,000 and 120,000 women and children are trafficked into
western Europe every year. The event will be held on Thursday 8 March in
Brussels at the EP Spinelli Building, Room 3G3, between 12h00-13h00. The
whole event will be open to the accredited media. An information pack will
be provided to journalists. !!!For TV journalists : an EbS 'Infoclip' on
trafficking in women is scheduled to be broadcast on Wednesday 7 March and
Thursday 8 March!!!.
[09] Commission organises hearing on cybercrime
The European Commission will hold a public hearing on cybersecurity and
cybercrime on 7 March 2001 in Brussels. At this hearing, various interested
parties from internet service providers, telecommunications operators and
other industrial players, law enforcement, privacy protection authorities,
and civil liberties organisations will issue comments on the development of
EU policy in this area.
[10] December 2000 - Volume of retail trade up by 1.7% in euro-zone ; EU15
up by 2.5%
(! embargo 12 am !) In December 2000, as compared to December 1999, the
volume of retail trade gained 1.7% in the euro-zone and 2.5% in the EU15,
Eurostat estimates today. Compared to November 2000, sales increased by
0.1% in the euro-zone and by 0.3% in the EU15. In December 2000, and
compared to December 1999, the strongest growth rates were registered for
"household goods" both in the euro-zone (3.7%) and the EU15 (5.5%). "Food,
drinks, tobacco" increased by 1.6% in the euro-zone and 1.5% in the EU15.
"Textiles, clothing and footwear" rose in the euro-zone by 0.4% and in the
EU15 by 1.8%. Compared to November 2000, sales decreased in "Food, drinks
and tobacco" by 0.2% in both areas. "Textiles, clothing and footwear"
increased by 0.2% in the euro-zone and 0.9% in the EU15. "Household goods"
fell in the euro-zone by 0.3% and rose by 0.4% in the EU15.
[11] Enveloppe de 10 millions d'euros au titre de l'aide humanitaire en
faveur des victimes du tremblement de terre en Inde - priorité donnée au
logement
La Commission européenne a exposé les éléments de sa décision concernant
l'octroi d'une aide humanitaire en faveur des victimes du séisme du
Gujarat. Une première enveloppe de 3 millions d'euros avait été allouée
dans les 36 heures suivant la catastrophe et une deuxième enveloppe de 10
millions d'euros a été annoncée quatre jours plus tard lorsque les
autorités ont pris la pleine mesure de la tragédie. L'Office d'aide
humanitaire (ECHO) se concentre sur la fourniture d'abris provisoires, qui
constitue le besoin le plus urgent et le plus généralisé dans la zone
touchée par le séisme.
[12] Chernobyl : euro 33.3 million contract for construction of radioactive
waste management facility signed
In the preparation for the decommissioning of the Chernobyl reactors
facilities for solid waste retrieval, treatment and disposal are required
and yesterday, in Kiev, a euro 33.3 million contract for the construction
of a radioactive waste management facility near the Chernobyl power plant
was signed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy (represented by Energoatom,
the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company) and the German contractor
NUKEM Nuclear GmbH. The building of this complex is part of the European
Union's efforts to ensure the shut down of the power plant and its
replacement with more environment-friendly and safer power plants. The
facility, to be established by this project, which will be known as the
"Industrial Complex for Solid Radwaste Management" (ICSRM), will contain a
solid waste retrieval facility, a solid waste processing plant and a
repository for the disposal of short-lived waste.
[13] Eléments d'informations pratiques sur le déroulement de la
manifestation d'ouverture du débat sur l'avenir de l'UE (07/03)
La Présidence suédoise a choisi d'organiser la séance d'ouverture du débat
sur l'avenir de l'Union européenne le mercredi 7 mars à 14h30 dans le cadre
d'une rencontre débat avec les élèves des écoles européennes de Bruxelles.
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Résultats du G8 Environnement Discours de M. Bolkestein : "Working together
to seize the moment" au Forum européen des Commissions des Valeurs (FESCO)
(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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