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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-10-19
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 19/10/2001
[01] IATA agrees to end the joint setting of cargo rates within the EEA
Following European Commission objections in May this year, the
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has agreed to rescind all
resolutions involving the joint setting of rates for the air transport of
freight within the European Economic Area. The Commission welcomes this
decision which will translate into greater competition in the setting of
air cargo shipment rates to the benefit of European exporters and the
European economy as a whole.
[02] Commission clears takeover of German industrial bearings maker FAG
Kugelfischer by rival INA
The European Commission has authorised the acquisition of German industrial
bearings manufacturer FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schäfer AG by rival INA
Holding Schaeffler KG, also of Germany. The merger will create the world's
second biggest industrial bearings company behind SKF AB of Sweden. But the
companies' activities are largely complementary and they will be faced with
sufficient competition and significant purchasing power from the automotive
and other industries.
[03] Franz Fischler sees "convergence and conflict" with US position on
farm policy
(! embargo 2.30 pm !) Speaking at the North American/EU Agricultural
Conference in Salzburg/Austria today, European Commissioner for Agriculture
Franz Fischler underlined that he did not see much difference between the
EU's and the US administration's objectives for the future of agricultural
policy. "We have seen promising developments in the US", he said. "Both US
agriculture secretary Ann Veneman and I want to go for a competitive farm
policy, which takes environmental concerns duly into account and which
recognises the importance of our rural areas. We also agree that counter-
cyclical and hence trade-distorting farm aid runs counter sustainable
farming. And we do not disagree that we should support agriculture."
However, Mr Fischler regretted that so many influential voices in the
American Congress seem to think differently. "The new House of
Representatives US Farm Bill is designed to push-up price-sensitive support
and to strengthen counter-cyclical policies. This is the very opposite of
the movement towards a more market-oriented policy that is the objective of
the WTO agricultural negotiations", he said.
[04] Commission moves to give greater protection to cod stocks
The European Commission has adopted a new set of measures designed to
prevent catches of immature cod in the North Sea and off the west of
Scotland. These measures set out the technical requirements for fishing
nets used to catch cod to ensure that they allow as many young fish as
possible to escape before the nets are hauled back on board. They also
regulate the composition of catches retained on board in order to ensure
that fishing gear is used for the appropriate fisheries. "These measures
are essential to protect cod stocks while we prepare proposals for longer
term recovery plans. The measures have been established through sustained
cooperation between the Commission, national administrations and fishermen.
This cooperation must continue when it comes to the implementation of the
measures and will be crucial to their success", Franz Fischler,
Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, said. The
new rules will be applicable from 1 January 2002.
[05] L'UE promeut eGovernment à une conférence présentant des applications
interactives qui marchent dans la pratique
Pour la première fois, 60 expériences d'administration en ligne viennent
d'être sélectionnées par un comité d'experts indépendants, pour la qualité
de leur interactivité avec leurs utilisateurs. Ces expériences, choisies
parmi 282 propositions venues du monde entier, recevront le label "e-
gouvernement". Elles seront présentées lors de la conférence "e-
gouvernement, de la politique à la pratique", organisée conjointement par
la Commission européenne et la Présidence belge les 29 et 30 novembre 2001
à Bruxelles. 45 d'entre elles feront l'objet d'une exposition sur place.
Erkki Liikanen, membre de la Commission chargé des entreprises et de la
société de l'information, ainsi que Luc Van den Bossche et Rik Daems,
ministres belges responsables respectivement de la fonction publique et des
télécommunications, participeront à cet événement, aux côtés d'un grand
nombre de ministres des pays engagés dans ces expériences. Les Etats
membres de l'UE, les pays AELE et les pays candidats à l'adhésion ont
concouru pour recevoir ce prix à l'excellence dans le domaine de la
technologie mise au service des usagers et clients de l'administration, que
ce soit au niveau local, régional, ou national.
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de Mme de Palacio : "La seguridad: une obligación en las políticas
europeas de transporte y energia" primera conferencia annual enrgía y
transportes (18/10, Barcelone)
Discours de Mme Reding à la 'Kultusministerkonferenz' (Stuttgart)
Speech by Franz Fischler : "Agricultural policy for the future: changing
concerns, changing objectives" at the 29th North American/European Union
Agricultural Conference (Salzbourg, ! embargo 2.30 pm !)
Discours de M. Fischler : "Feeling the pulse of the CAP" au Forum de
Coldiretti (Cernobbio, ! embargo 17h30 !)
Live interview of Chris Patten on Arab News Network (18/10) Calendrier du
22 au 26/10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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