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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-03-29
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 29/03/2001
[01] Structural Funds: Commission agrees €1900 million education and
initial vocational training programme for Greece
Anna Diamantopoulou, the Commissioner responsible for social policy, signed
today a decision approving a major programme in Greece for 2000-06, the
Operational Programme "Education and Initial Vocational Training". This
programme involves Community support for all the Greek regions (Objective
1: regions lagging behind in their development under the Structural Funds).
The Community assistance comes to EUR 1.9 billion approximately 8,6 % of
the total CSF1 assistance to Greece.
[02] European Social Fund: Commission approves the EQUAL programme aimed at
boosting equality in the Portuguese labour market
The Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou,
today signed a decision approving the new EQUAL Community Initiative
Programme for Portugal for the period 2001-2006. Under the programme, the
European Social Fund will provide €113,8 million to develop new ways of
tackling discrimination and inequality in the field of employment.
[03] European Social Fund: Commission approves the EQUAL programme for
Luxembourg to promote new ways to fight against labour market
discrimination
Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, signed
a decision approving the new EQUAL Community Initiative Programme (CIP) for
Luxembourg for the period 2001-2006. Under the programme, the European
Social Fund (ESF) will provide €4,4 million to develop new ways of fighting
discrimination and inequality in the field of employment.
[04] Fonds social européen : la Commission approuve le programme EQUAL pour
renforcer l'égalité sur le marché du travail en Italie
Anna Diamantopoulou, la Commissaire européenne chargée de l'emploi et des
affaires sociales, a signé aujourd'hui une décision approuvant le nouveau
programme d'initiative communautaire EQUAL en Italie pour la période 2001-
2006. Par ce programme, le Fond social européen (FSE) fournira 394,4
millions d'euros pour expérimenter de nouveaux moyens de lutte contre les
discriminations et les inégalités dans le domaine de l'emploi.
[05] Commission aims to boost equality in Finnish labour market
Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, today
approved the new EQUAL Community Initiative Programme for Finland for the
period 2001-2006. Under the programme, the European Social Fund (ESF) will
provide €72.3 million to develop new ways of fighting discrimination and
inequality in the field of employment. The overall budget for the Finnish
programme is €161.89 million, of which €(1)72.3 million will be contributed
by the Finnish public sector, €72.3 million by the EU and €17.29 million
from national private sources.
[06] FMD : SVC agrees to UK contingency plan
The Standing Veterinary Committee representing the Member States of the
European Union gave today a favourable opinion to the proposal of the
European Commission fixing the conditions applicable if the plan for
emergency vaccination of cattle in Devon and Cumbria (UK) is applied by the
UK authorities. While confirming their strong commitment to the policy
aimed at foot and mouth disease eradication the Committee acknowledged that
in Devon and Cumbria there is a specific epidemiological situation where
the disease is already widespread in sheep. The Committee confirmed that
there is no support for general preventive vaccination of animals in the EU
as a whole. The forthcoming Commission proposal for a revised Council
Directive on Community measures for the control of FMD will, however,
provide an opportunity for wide-ranging debate on all issues including in
particular the use of preventive vaccination. The Committee agreed that the
question of a possible preventive vaccination of zoo animals shall be
discussed in an expert working group next Friday and by the Chief
Veterinary Officers of all Member States who meet tomorrow in their meeting
of the Council.
[07] Commission earmarks €9 million in humanitarian aid for victims of the
war in Angola
The European Commission has adopted an intervention plan covering 2001 to
provide continuing humanitarian support for victims of the war in Angola.
€9 million will be channelled by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through
partner organisations operating in the country. The money will support
humanitarian programmes in fields of health, nutrition, water/sanitation,
emergency relief and air transport, working through various international
organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Key objectives are
to reduce mortality rates among the most vulnerable sections of the
civilian population and to provide shelter and non-food items to the
growing number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in need.
[08] Commission allocates €11 million in humanitarian aid for Sierra Leone
The European Commission has adopted an €1 million intervention plan to help
meet continuing humanitarian needs in Sierra Leone. The funds will be
channelled by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through partner
organisations working in the country. This decision will enable ECHO to
continue supporting victims of the ongoing crisis throughout 2001.
[09] Aide humanitaire en Géorgie et Arménie : La Commission octroie €1,95
millions
La Commission européenne a approuvé une décision de financement de €1,95
millions en faveur des populations de Géorgie et d'Arménie affectées par la
sécheresse. Les femmes au foyer, les personnes déplacées et les familles
qui dépendent de l'agriculture de subsistance constituent les groupes cible
de cette intervention.
[10] Packaging Waste: Commission refers Germany to Court
The European Commission has decided to refer Germany to the European Court
of Justice because it considers the German Packaging Regulation 1998
("Verpackungsverordnung 1998") does not comply with the Packaging Waste
Directive and Community rules on free trade. In the Commission's view, the
German re-use scheme for packaging waste imposes an unfair burden on
producers of natural mineral waters that import their products over long
distances. Commenting on the decision, Environment Commissioner Margot
Wallström said: "We consider that the German rules do not take proper
account of the environmental costs of sending containers of natural mineral
waters over long distances for re-use. They are a barrier to trade without
environmental justification, and I urge the German authorities to change
them in an environmentally appropriate way."
[11] 2 fusions approuvées par procédure simplifiée
Conforama Holding S.A. (FR)/Salzam Mercatone Holding (IT)
HSBC HOLDINGS plc (UK)-Crédit Commercial de France/Banque hervet (FR) Autre
matériel diffusé
[12] Food Safety: Commissioner Byrne meets US Administration
[13] Discours de Mme Viviane Reding
"Vers un espace universitaire européen"
[14] Discours de M. Marion Monti (Embargo 17.00 Brussels' time)
"The EU views on a global competition forum"
[15] Foreign owned enterprises - Few enterprises, but a large economic
impact (embargo 12.00)
A pilot study published today by Eurostat reports on foreign owned
enterprises in industrial and services activities of Denmark, Ireland,
Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and the UK. Some results are also
presented for Spain. This publication attempts to respond to the main
questions asked by statistical users about foreign owned enterprises. What
is their weight in national economies in terms of number of enterprises,
value added and employment? What are the countries of residence of the
foreign owners? Which activities attract foreign affiliates? What are the
characteristics of these enterprises, in terms of size, productivity and
performance compared to those of nationally owned enterprises?(1)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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