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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-02-17
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Romano Prodi congratulates Tassos Papadopoulos
[02] Commission clears acquisition of VM motori by Penske and
DaimlerChrysler
[03] Commission clears acquisition of Premiere by Schroders Ventures
[04] Les exploitations agricoles dans l'UE en 2000 : un exploitant agricole
de l'UE sur deux a 55 ans ou plus ; leurs exploitations ont une superficie
deux fois moins grande que la moyenne
[05] Commission pushes for international advertising ban as WHO tobacco
negotiations enter final round
[06] Commission adopts €8 million humanitarian aid package for Angola
[07] "Leave No Child Out" : EU - UNICEF Partnership on children's rights
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 17/02/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 17/02/2003
[01] Romano Prodi congratulates Tassos Papadopoulos
The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has sent the
following message to the elected President of the Republic of Cyprus,
Tassos Papadopoulos : "On behalf of the European Commission and on my own
behalf, I warmly congratulate you on your election as President of the
Republic of Cyprus. I am sure that under your leadership Cyprus will
continue to prepare successfully for membership of the European Union by 1
May 2004. Your broad knowledge on EU matters obtained as President of the
European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives will guarantee
such an achievement. I expect also that your election will lead to the
solution of the Cyprus issue based on the comprehensive settlement as
proposed by the United Nations. Please accept the assurance of my highest
consideration."
[02] Commission clears acquisition of VM motori by Penske and
DaimlerChrysler
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the acquisition of joint control of the Italian undertaking VM Motori
S.p.A., a subsidiary of the US-based Detroit Diesel Corporation, by the US-
based Penske Group and DaimlerChrysler AG. (The operation, notified on 13
January 2003, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)
[03] Commission clears acquisition of Premiere by Schroders Ventures
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the acquisition of sole control of the German undertaking Premiere
Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG, active in the operation of a digital Pay TV
platform, by the Channel Islands undertaking Permira Europe II Managers LP,
controlled by Schroders Ventures Ltd. (The operation, notified on 13
Januray 2003, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)
[04] Les exploitations agricoles dans l'UE en 2000 : un exploitant agricole
de l'UE sur deux a 55 ans ou plus ; leurs exploitations ont une superficie
deux fois moins grande que la moyenne
Selon une étude publiée aujourd'hui par Eurostat, en 2000, 52% des
exploitants agricoles individuels de l'UE avaient 55 ans ou plus et 29%
avaient 65 ans ou plus. Les jeunes exploitants âgés de moins de 35 ans, ne
constituaient que 8% des agriculteurs. La part la plus élevée des
exploitants de 55 ans ou plus, est enregistrée au Portugal (65%), en Italie
(62%), en Grèce (56%) et en Espagne (53%). Dans l'UE, la proportion la plus
faible d'exploitants de 55 ans ou plus était enregistrée en Finlande (25%),
suivie par l'Allemagne (28%) et l'Autriche (29%). C'était également en
Allemagne et en Autriche que la plus forte proportion d'exploitants de
moins de 35 ans était observée (16% chacun).
[05] Commission pushes for international advertising ban as WHO tobacco
negotiations enter final round
Commenting ahead of the final round of negotiations on the WHO's Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) European Health and Consumer
Protection Commissioner David Byrne said : "The health community of the
entire world will be following these negotiations. Europe can show them
leadership by delivering an effective tool for fighting the tobacco
epidemic. With an estimated 4.9 million deaths a year world-wide caused by
tobacco the stakes could not be higher". The negotiations take place from
17-28 February at the WHO in Geneva. Health officials from around the world
will be attempting to agree a treaty - the FCTC - establishing a set of
world-wide tobacco control rules. The Commission is negotiating alongside
the Member States to ensure a common EU position. The EU already has a
comprehensive set of anti-tobacco rules in place and wishes to see a robust
and progressive FCTC. Since December 2002 the EU's rules have included a
ban on tobacco advertising in print media, radio and internet (see
IP/02/1788). The EU wants to see this advertising ban extended world-wide
by the FCTC. It also wants an international ban on misleading descriptors
such as "light" and "mild", international rules on labelling and health
warnings, improved protection against passive smoking and curbing illicit
trade in tobacco products. The outcome of this months' negotiations will be
presented for adoption by health ministers at the WHO's World Health
Assembly in May. For more details about the FCTC negotiations, see :
http://www.who.int/gb/fctc/
[06] Commission adopts €8 million humanitarian aid package for Angola
The European Commission has adopted a new aid package to provide continuing
humanitarian support for vulnerable populations in Angola. €8 million will
be channelled by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through partner
organisations and international agencies operating in the country.
Commenting on the decision, Poul Nielson, the Commissioner responsible for
Development and Humanitarian Aid, said : "As I saw for myself on my recent
visit, the peace process in Angola has opened a window of opportunity for
reconstruction and reconciliation. Although the fighting has ended, it is
clear that the Commission will continue to have a humanitarian role in
Angola for some time to come. In 2003, ECHO will focus its efforts on
meeting the needs of people in newly accessible areas, and of returning
internally displaced populations and refugees."
[07] "Leave No Child Out" : EU - UNICEF Partnership on children's rights
Tomorrow will see the launch of an initiative aimed at strengthening the
rights of children in Central and Eastern Europe Countries (CEECs) and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The project, which is co-financed
by the European Commission, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and
its partners, representatives of networks of non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), aims to put children's rights at the forefront of policy and
practice in CEECs and the CIS. Entitled "Leave No Child Out", the two-year
project has received a grant of €400,000 through the "European Initiative
for Democracy and Human Rights" (EIDHR), the Commission's worldwide
programme to support and promote Human Rights and Democracy.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Note sur la préparation du Conseil Ecofin
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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