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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-03-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission stands by Argentina : Franz Fischler proposes import quota
for high quality beef
[02] February 2002 : the economic sentiment indicator continues on a
positive path
[03] February 2002 : Business Climate Indicator
[04] January 2002 : Industrial producer prices up by 0.2% in euro-zone ;
+0.2% in EU15
[05] Common press statement on the understanding on Anstaltslast and
Gewährträgerhaftung for special credit institutions
[06] Commission issues statements of objections to Carlsberg and Heineken
[07] EU / North Korean relations : Trade Minister leads visit to Brussels
[08] North Korea : Commission approves Cooperation Strategy (Country
Strategy Paper 2001-2004)
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 04/03/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 04/03/2002
[01] Commission stands by Argentina : Franz Fischler proposes import quota
for high quality beef
Following a meeting with Argentina's agriculture minister Miguel Angel
Paulón in Barcelona, Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture,
Rural Development and Fisheries, announced that he intends to propose a
special autonomous import quota for high quality beef. "Extraordinary
situations call for extraordinary responses. Argentina is suffering a major
economic and social crisis and Europe has promised to help. In light of
these unique circumstances, I will propose to the Commission the opening of
an autonomous import quota of 10,000t for quality beef ("Hilton beef"), in
addition to the annual quota for Argentine beef of 28,000t for the period
July 2002 to June 2003. Again, the EU is showing that it is a good customer
and a good friend to Argentina. The EU is the first country to have
reopened its markets for Argentine meat imports after the outbreak of Food
and Mouth Disease. Now we are the first to take trade expanding measure to
assist the recovery of the Argentine economy. I truly hope that other
countries will join the EU in its move."
[02] February 2002 : the economic sentiment indicator continues on a
positive path
The economic sentiment indicator went up again in February, although at a
slower pace than in the previous month. The increase recorded was of 0.1
percentage points in both the EU and the euro area. As a result, the
indicator is approaching the levels observed before September 2001. The
change in the economic sentiment indicator between January and February was
positive in Denmark (0.2), Spain (0.2), Ireland (0.1), Portugal (0.1) and,
especially, in Italy (0.6), the Netherlands (0.5), Austria (0.5) and Sweden
(0.5). The indicator remained stable in Finland, but fell in Germany (-0.3),
Greece (-0.3), France (-0.2) and, to a much lesser extent, in Belgium and
the UK (-0.1). Full document on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/indicators/businessandconsumersurveys_en.htm
[03] February 2002 : Business Climate Indicator
The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area increased by almost
0.2 points in February compared with January, reaching the value of -0.86.
Such favourable developments were mainly driven by increasing order books,
especially export orders. Full document on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/indicators/businessclimate_en.htm
[04] January 2002 : Industrial producer prices up by 0.2% in euro-zone ;
+0.2% in EU15
The euro-zone industrial producer price index increased by 0.2% in January
2002 compared with the previous month, Eurostat estimates today. EU15
prices also increased by 0.2%. In December the index had decreased by 0.3%
in the euro-zone and by 0.2% in the EU15. In January 2002 compared to
January 2001 industrial producer prices fell by 0.9% in both areas. In
January compared to the previous month, the evolution of the different
sectors was similar in the euro-zone and the EU15. After three months of
consecutive drops in both zones, energy prices rose in January 2002 by 2.8%
in the euro-zone and by 2.3% in the EU15. These were the highest increases
registered since October 2000. In both areas, the indices for intermediate
goods increased by 0.3%. There were the first rises observed in the euro-
zone and in the EU15 after respectively ten and seven months of consecutive
decreases. Capital goods rose by 0.2% and remained unchanged for durable
goods. Non-durable consumer goods fell by 0.2% in the euro-zone and by 0.1%
in the EU15.
[05] Common press statement on the understanding on Anstaltslast and
Gewährträgerhaftung for special credit institutions
Member of the European Commission, Mario Monti, responsible for competition,
State-Secretary in the German Federal Ministry of Finance, Caio Koch-Weser,
Chairman of the Managing Board of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW),
Hans Reich, as well as the German Federal Association of Public Banks (VÖB)
have reached, on 1st March in Brussels, an agreement on the treatment under
the state aid rules of state guarantees Anstaltslast, Gewährträgerhaftung
and refinancing guarantees for German special credit institutions.
[06] Commission issues statements of objections to Carlsberg and Heineken
The European Commission has today issued statements of objections to
Carlsberg and Heineken relating to alleged cartel behaviour in breach of EC
Competition Rules. A statement of objections is a legal step in proceedings
under Article 81 of the EC Treaty, which bans cartels and other damaging
concerted business practices. It does not prejudge the outcome of the
investigation as the parties will have the right to answer the Commission's
objections, to have access to the file and to request a formal hearing.
[07] EU / North Korean relations : Trade Minister leads visit to Brussels
A delegation of senior economic officials from the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea, led by Foreign Trade Minister Ri Gwang Gun, will be
arriving in Brussels on March 4 on the first leg of a European two week
study tour which will also include Belgium, Italy, Sweden and the UK.
[08] North Korea : Commission approves Cooperation Strategy (Country
Strategy Paper 2001-2004)
The European Commission has approved the Country Strategy Paper for the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) which sets out the framework
for EU technical cooperation with DPRK until 2004. It is designed to
support the implementation of a policy of measured opening to the DPRK in
support of the inter-Korean reconciliation process and in response to
progress by North Korea in addressing EU concerns as regards human rights,
non-proliferation and economic structural reform. In addition to existing
assistance programmes, a further indicative budget of €15 million is
planned for the period 2002-2004.
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de M. Lamy : "Face au défi de la mondialisation: intégration
régionale ou règles multilatérales ?" au CARI (01/03, Buenos Aires)
Discours de Mme Reding au Colloque 'Des images pour l'Europe : pour quel
public ?' (Paris)
Note on results of Internal Market Council
Note on preparation of Eurogroup and Council of Economics and Finance
Ministers
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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