European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-04-27

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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

[01] Statement on behalf of Chris Patten on press reports regarding alleged EU funding for text books used by the Palestinian Authority "Yesterday's European Voice (26 April 2001) contained sensationalist allegations that the Commission has backed an 'anti-Jewish hate campaign' through its financial support for Palestinian school books. These allegations are totally unfounded. They have been answered by Commissioner Patten in several written replies to Members of European Parliament as well as in two Plenary debates in the European Parliament on 13 December 2000 and 31 January 2001. The facts are as follows : the Commission has never allocated funds for the development of new school curricula, nor for the printing and distribution of school textbooks."

[02] Commission proposes more protection for cod and Northern hake stocks The European Commission has adopted a proposal to strengthen the existing EU Regulation on the control of fishing activities. This amendment requires Member States to prohibit the use and the keeping on board of fishing gear likely to catch stocks subject to a recovery plan when the fisheries relating to these stocks have been closed because the quotas have been caught. "Given that in EU fisheries several species are caught together, we need to ensure that when the quotas of stocks subject to a recovery plan have been exhausted, no fish from these stocks are caught afterwards by accident but stay in the sea to replenish depleted stocks. I realise that this measure will create some hardship for fishermen, but we must do all we can to rebuild these commercially valuable stocks", Franz Fischler, Commissioner in charge of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries said.

[03] Semaine verte : la Commission décerne le prix de l'environnement à 12 jeunes citoyens de l'UE Le Commissaire européen pour l'Environnement, Margot Wallström, récompensera aujourd'hui 12 jeunes citoyens de l'UE pour leur participation à un concours organisé dans le cadre de l'initiative "Semaine verte" (voir IP/01/582). Le concours, qui comprenait cinq catégories (peinture, rédaction de récits, rédaction d'exposés, photographie et vidéo), était destiné à faire appel aux qualités créatives des jeunes. Les douze travaux récompensés, qui sont exposés tout au long de la Semaine verte dans le bâtiment Charlemagne à Bruxelles, ont été choisis parmi des milliers d'autres qui ont été envoyés de tous les coins de l'Union européenne. Les gagnants ont été invités à Bruxelles pour recevoir leur prix des mains du Commissaire lors d'une cérémonie organisée ce soir. Mme Wallström a déclaré : "Les concours de la Semaine verte ont montré que les jeunes citoyens de l'UE sont sensibles aux problèmes qui touchent actuellement notre environnement. Leur engagement à le protéger et le préserver pour les générations futures est évident."

[04] Commission authorises BP's acquisition of sole control over Erdölchemie The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of sole control over German petrochemicals company Erdölchemie GmbH by Deutsche BP AG, the German subsidiary of UK-based BP Amoco. Erdölchemie was previously a 50/50 joint venture between BP and Bayer AG.

[05] New euro 3 million Phare project on migration, visa and external border control management in the Candidate Countries On 3-4 May 2001, the French Ministry of the Interior will host a conference in Paris launching a new euro 3 million Phare project to support the Central European Candidate Countries in adopting and implementing the body of the European Union law in the field of migration, visa and external border control management. Cooperation in this area is an important part of the EU's agenda for the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice.

[06] Commission welcomes UNSG AIDS-appeal launched in Abuja The European Commission has welcomed the call for action to address the global developmental, economic and social crises caused by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria launched by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan on April 26, in Abuja (Nigeria) on the occasion of the African Summit on HIV/AIDS. Mr Annan highlighted the need for massive and sustained resource mobilisation and called for the creation of a global health fund. The focus today is on HIV/AIDS and Africa ; the issues are common to all major communicable diseases in all needy countries.

[07] Autre matériel diffusé Discours de Mme de Palacio : "The importance of Galileo for Europe" au Internationaler Kongress Kommerzielle Anwendung der Satelliten-Navigation (26/04, Munich) Discours de Mme de Palacio : "Quelles solutions à la dépendance énergétique europénne ?" à la Conférence sur l'organisation des marchés pétroliers (Institut Universitaire de Florence) (! embargo 20h00 !) Note sur le séminaire ministériel Marché intérieur/Consommateurs (27-28, Lund) Calendrier du 30 avril au 6 mai

MIDDAY EXPRESS

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