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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-05-28
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement by Commission President Romano Prodi on fisheries reform
[02] EU Fisheries Policy : Commission outlines reform to give the EU
fisheries sector a future
[03] Commission adopts new initiatives to increase its internal efficiency
and reallocate resources to core tasks
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] March 2002 compared to March 2001 - Volume of retail trade up by 2.0%
in euro-zone ; EU15 up by 2.6%
[05] EU will sign a new international treaty on agricultural biodiversity
[06] David Byrne congratulates BEUC on its 40th anniversary
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 28/05/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 28/05/2002[I] Résultats de la Commission
de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting
[01] Statement by Commission President Romano Prodi on fisheries reform
"This is a far-reaching package that will pave the way for much-needed
reform. It is time to act to secure a sustainable future for the fisheries
sector. During past few weeks I've been following the debate surrounding
this issue in the media with growing amazement. The proposals we've adopted
today once again demonstrate that the Commission acts in common European
interest. We will now take part in discussions in the same spirit,
listening carefully to all points of view."
[02] EU Fisheries Policy : Commission outlines reform to give the EU
fisheries sector a future
Dwindling fish stocks, diminishing catches, too many vessels chasing too
few fish, steady job losses and a lack of effective control and sanctions…,
the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) needs fundamental change. Following
intense consultations with stakeholders, the European Commission today
unveiled an ambitious reform package. The Commission proposes to do away
with the annual ritual of setting fishing quotas at too high levels. In
future, TACs would be fixed within a multi-annual management plan, on the
basis of the most recent scientific advice to ensure that enough fish stay
in the sea to replenish the stocks. The Commission intends to tackle excess
fleet capacity by ending public aid for introducing new fishing vessels.
More EU money would be available to help fishermen to find alternative work
and for the restructuring of the sector. The Commission also advocates
uniform and tougher sanctions across the EU. Controls would be reinforced
by setting up a Joint EU Inspection Structure. To bring the CFP closer to
fishermen, the industry, NGOs, regions and other stakeholders, the
Commission is proposing the creation of Regional Advisory Councils. To
achieve sustainable fisheries beyond EU waters on the basis of stronger
international cooperation, the reform package includes an action plan
against illegal fishing and a strategy for EU fisheries development
partnerships with third countries.
[03] Commission adopts new initiatives to increase its internal efficiency
and reallocate resources to core tasks
The European Commission has adopted a set of proposals for rationalising
the day-to-day management of administrative and support services,
particularly those that are currently carried out by the Directorate
General for Personnel and Administration. In transferring part of the tasks
to three Offices, one for the payment of all Commission staff entitlement,
the other two for the management of Commission infrastructures in Brussels
and Luxembourg, the Commission is seeking to increase the effectiveness of
the delivery of these services to the benefit of staff. The new Offices
would lead to annual savings on overall operating costs of up to €16
million annually, roughly 18% of the current cost of providing these
services. These efficiency gains could increase further if the other EU
institutions agreed to pool their responsibilities in these fields. The
proposals adopted today will now be discussed with the Commission staff
unions before a detailed decision is presented to the Commission for final
adoption this autumn.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] March 2002 compared to March 2001 - Volume of retail trade up by 2.0%
in euro-zone ; EU15 up by 2.6%
In March 2002, as compared to March 2001, the volume of retail trade
increased by 2.0% in the euro-zone and by 2.6% in the EU15, Eurostat
estimates today. Compared to February 2002, sales rose by 0.3% in the euro-
zone and by 0.2% in the EU15. In March 2002, as compared to March 2001,
retail trade of "food, drinks and tobacco" rose by 2.6% in the euro-zone
and by 2.4% in the EU15.
[05] EU will sign a new international treaty on agricultural biodiversity
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne has
welcomed the decision of the EU's Council of Ministers yesterday that the
European Union will sign the International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Treaty aims to protect the world's
most important agricultural plant species in order to safeguard global food
security. The Treaty provides for free access to plant genetic resources
for research and breeding. Recipients marketing products arising from that
access will have to pay back into the system an equitable share of the
monetary and other benefits.
[06] David Byrne congratulates BEUC on its 40th anniversary
David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, has
congratulated BEUC, the "Bureau Européen des Consommateurs" on the occasion
of their 40th anniversary tomorrow, 29 May 2002. The Commissioner has said
that he looks forward to attending the organisation's General Assembly on
Thursday 30 May, and presenting his best wishes in person.
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Agriculture
Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "Exploiting the Broadband Potential" at the ECCA
Conference, European Broadband Communications 2002 (27/05)
Discours de M. Barnier : "Priorités de l'Union pour la politique régionale"
(27/05)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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