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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-05-14
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Blood and organ donations : Commission approves EU technical
specifications for safety testing equipment
[02] EU notifies lists of potential countermeasures to WTO in order to
protect its rights in steel dispute with US
[03] Commission welcomes changes in Latvian legislation
[04] Commission to support peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa
[05] Vietnam : Commission adopts framework for cooperation (Country
Strategy Paper)
[06] Conférence de presse de Viviane Reding sur le dopage dans le sport
amateur demain
[07] "eEurope: SMEs GoDigital" conference : SMEs at the heart of EU's
agenda
Midday Express 14/05/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 14/05/2002
[01] Blood and organ donations : Commission approves EU technical
specifications for safety testing equipment
EU-wide technical specifications for products used to test the safety of
blood and organ donations have been approved by the European Commission.
These common technical specifications (CTS) replace existing national rules
for products used to ascertain blood groups and test for infectious agents
such as HIV and Hepatitis. Products made to these specifications are
presumed to conform to the Directive's essential safety requirements.
Manufacturers are expected to work to these specifications unless they have
duly justified reasons for doing otherwise, and can offer a solution that
is at least equally safe.
[02] EU notifies lists of potential countermeasures to WTO in order to
protect its rights in steel dispute with US
Following the approval of the European Commission's strategy to respond to
the illegal safeguard measures taken by the USA on steel in late March and
the two lists of potential suspensions of concessions by the 15 EU Member
States on 7 May (see IP/02/704), the Commission today formally notified
these lists to the WTO in Geneva, within the 17 May deadline, in order to
protect its rights under the WTO. This is a necessary procedural step
required by the WTO if the EU wishes to exercise its right to
countermeasures in the future. The EU's priority remains to secure a
satisfactory package of compensation for and exemptions from the US
measures. The value of the definitive lists is as follows : for the so-
called "long list" applicable after the WTO Panel rules the US measures
illegal (in 2003) the amount is €606 million ($583 million) ; for the short-
list applicable as early as 18 June 2002, the amount is €378 million
($364million). The transmitted lists can be found on the Website of the
Directorate General for Trade of the Commission at the following address :
http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/pdf/steel_wtolist.pdf
[03] Commission welcomes changes in Latvian legislation
The European Commission welcomes the amendments passed by the Latvian
Parliament which removes language requirements for candidates running in
parliamentary, regional and local elections. This decision that was taken
by the overwhelming majority of the Latvian Seimas brings Latvian
legislation further in line with international standards and represents an
important step in promoting the integration of minorities into Latvian
society. "It clearly reaffirms Latvia's committment to the values and high
democratic standards that are shared within the European Union", declared
Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen.
[04] Commission to support peace initiatives in the Horn of Africa
The European Commission has adopted a decision to support peace initiatives
in Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea/Ethiopia under its Rapid Reaction Mechanism.
The main objective of this programme, for which the budget is €2.6 million,
is to provide rapid support to the negotiations on the future of Somalia,
to assist in the demarcation of the Eritrean/Ethiopian border and to
finance emergency mine-clearing operations to support the cease-fire in the
Nuba Mountains in Sudan. This programme under the Rapid Reaction Mechanism
is additional to and supportive of other EU programmes under the European
Development Fund.
[05] Vietnam : Commission adopts framework for cooperation (Country
Strategy Paper)
The European Commission has adopted the Country Strategy Paper for Vietnam,
which sets out a five-year strategy for its financial assistance to Vietnam
for the period 2002-2006. At the same time, it announced that over the next
three years (2002-2004), an indicative sum of €101 million has been
earmarked to finance this strategy. The paper has been prepared in
consultation with the Government of Vietnam and EU Member States.
[06] Conférence de presse de Viviane Reding sur le dopage dans le sport
amateur demain
La Commissaire européenne en charge des Sports, Viviane Reding, présentera
demain une étude réalisée par le ministère de l'Intérieur de Basse-Saxe
(Allemagne) avec le soutien de la Commission sur l'ampleur du dopage dans
le sport amateur en Europe, à partir d'enquêtes effectuées en Belgique,
Allemagne, Italie et Portugal. L'étude porte sur le dopage dans les centres
de fitness, sur l'importance du trafic de produits dopants, notamment par
Internet, et sur la consommation de compléments alimentaires chez les
sportifs amateurs. Elle fait plusieurs recommandations sur les moyens de
combattre la "culture du dopage" qui se répand dans le sport amateur en
Europe.
[07] "eEurope: SMEs GoDigital" conference : SMEs at the heart of EU's
agenda
On 16 May 2002, the "eEurope: SMEs GoDigital" Conference in Brussels will
address achievements and needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
in the digital business environment. European Enterprise Commissioner Erkki
Liikanen aims to share the results and experiences of the GoDigital
initiative, which was launched one year ago as part of the eEurope Action
Plan. The conference will also outline potential actions in view of the
planned eEurope 2005 action plan. The conference has been fully booked
since the beginning of May, with nearly five hundred registered
participants. Speakers include Olivetti Tecnost Chairman Bruno Lamborghini,
high level officials from European ministries and several SME
representatives. The event also features video material and exhibition
stands to demonstrate the results of e-business take-up in SMEs.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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