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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-03-11
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Message de Romano Prodi sur la réouverture du tunnel du Mont Blanc
[02] Commission stands shoulder to shoulder with steel industry in face of
US protectionism
[03] Consumer Day 2002 : Most consumers not yet confident enough to shop
cross-border but consumer groups top of the pops finds new survey
[04] La Commission publie un projet de nouveau règlement concernant le
secteur des véhicules automobiles et invite toutes les parties concernées à
lui communiquer leurs observations
[05] Commission allocates €1 million to assist people of the Jaffna
peninsula (Sri Lanka) affected by civil war
[06] Commission provides €1 million in humanitarian aid to help tackle
meningitis in Ethiopia
Midday Express 11/03/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 11/03/2002
[01] Message de Romano Prodi sur la réouverture du tunnel du Mont Blanc
Le Président de la Commission européenne, Romano Prodi, a fait samedi 9
mars la déclaration suivante : "C'est avec une satisfaction particulière
que je peux enfin saluer la réouverture du tunnel du Mont Blanc après des
travaux aussi longs que nécessaires. Les tunnels alpins ont une importance
fondamentale pour la mobilité et la liberté de circulation des citoyens à
l'intérieur de l'Union et constituent le complément incontournable des
mécanismes du marché intérieur pour la libre circulation des biens.
J'accueille aussi avec soulagement l'annonce de la réouverture de cet axe
au trafic, qui élimine un goulet qui entravait gravement les échanges
intraeuropéens et dont les répercussions sur le système italien étaient
considérables. En même temps, je profite de l'occasion qui m'est donnée
pour réaffirmer la nécessité absolue d'accorder la plus grande attention
aux problèmes liés à la protection de l'environnement. Il convient donc
d'intensifier les efforts visant à promouvoir une intermodalité toujours
plus poussée des moyens de transport, que ce soit en renforçant
l'interchangeabilité route-rail ou en développant, là où c'est possible et
nécessaire, les réseaux ferroviaires est-ouest et nord-sud."
[02] Commission stands shoulder to shoulder with steel industry in face of
US protectionism
European Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society Erkki
Liikanen and Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy will meet reprentatives of EU
steel companies and steel workers to assess the impact of the recent United
States' decision to severely restrict imports of steel from the rest of the
world. Together with senior trade union representatives, company chiefs
will be briefed on the Commission's strategy to respond to the situation.
Business and trade union leaders are as one in demanding effective action
to combat the US measures and to minimise the consequences for enterprises
and jobs in Europe. Mr Liikanen said : "The European steel industry is now
fully competitive, it does not receive any state aid and the EU market is
completely open. This all is due to the heavy restructuring process that
the European industry has undergone. We therefore cannot accept that the US
unilateral protectionist measure targets the European industry. We will do
our utmost to protect our industry and its workers against this wholly
unfair decision by the United States." Mr Lamy added : "We cannot stand by
and allow an industry that has gone through hell and high water to become
among the most competitive in the world, suffer the consequences of illegal
measures by the US. We stand shoulder to shoulder on this."
[03] Consumer Day 2002 : Most consumers not yet confident enough to shop
cross-border but consumer groups top of the pops finds new survey
In preparation for Consumer Day on 15 March, a new survey of consumer
attitudes published by the Commission shows that a lack of confidence in
their protection across Europe means that consumers are still losing out on
the full benefits of the internal market. The survey also confirms the
vital role of consumer associations, who are a popular source of
information and who consumers see as the best means of protecting their
rights. These results underline the importance of consumer representation
the theme of events marking this year's Consumer Day organised by the
Spanish Presidency and the consumer movement.
[04] La Commission publie un projet de nouveau règlement concernant le
secteur des véhicules automobiles et invite toutes les parties concernées à
lui communiquer leurs observations
La Commission européenne a publié aujourd'hui son projet de nouveau régime
concernant la distribution, les services de vente et d'après-vente et les
réparations dans le secteur des véhicules automobiles et a invité toutes
les parties intéressées, entre autres le grand public, à lui envoyer leurs
observations. Ce projet de règlement annonce pour le secteur un avenir plus
favorable à la concurrence et au marché unique et pour le consommateur
européen un meilleur environnement à tous égards.
[05] Commission allocates €1 million to assist people of the Jaffna
peninsula (Sri Lanka) affected by civil war
The European Commission has allocated €1 million to assist the population
of the Jaffna population, particularly to improve the health and food
situation of some of the most vulnerable people of the peninsula. The
assistance provided includes the chartering of a ship for transport and
medical supplies to a population of 900,000 cut off from the rest of the
world. 2,000 seriously ill people will benefit from this support and will
be transported to other areas of Sri-Lanka where they will receive
appropriate medical care. Safe water, sanitation and health facilities will
also be provided to an estimated 15,000 people considered as particularly
vulnerable. The money is channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office
(ECHO) which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson.
[06] Commission provides €1 million in humanitarian aid to help tackle
meningitis in Ethiopia
The European Commission has allocated €1 million to help control a
meningitis epidemic in Ethiopia. The funds are being channelled through the
Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) to NGO partners involved in efforts to
tackle the current outbreak. They will be used to support mass vaccination
campaigns, for the purchase of vaccines and other medical supplies, and to
improve treatment capacity in the affected areas. Since the beginning of
the latest outbreak in September 2001, 1614 meningitis cases have been
recorded in the SNNPR (Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples' Region)
of Ethiopia and 83 deaths have been reported.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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