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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-07-23
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Autre matériel diffusé MEMO154 - Kyoto Protocol
MEMO155 - Communicable diseases
Midday Express 23/07/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 23/07/2003POINTS COMMISSION Strengthening
Europe's defences against health threats: Commission proposes European
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control The European Commission today
adopted a proposal to create a European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control. Communicable diseases can pose a significant threat to citizens'
health. And they do not respect national frontiers. A disease outbreak in
one country can spread across the globe in a matter of hours. The Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a recent example of the downside of an
increasingly interconnected 'global village'. In controlling a disease
outbreak, time is of the essence. Lost time can mean the difference between
a small outbreak and a serious epidemic. That is why the Commission wants
to substantially reinforce the means to control communicable diseases
effectively in Europe. The structure of the existing EU network on
communicable diseases, managed by the Commission and based on ad hoc
cooperation between Member States since 1991, is simply not efficient
enough to protect the EU's citizens sufficiently against threats to their
health posed by communicable diseases, including the possibility of the
deliberate release of infectious agents ("bio-terrorism"). On 6 May this
year, Health Ministers recognised the need to strengthen the EU's
preparedness to deal with disease outbreaks. The new Centre will mobilise
and significantly reinforce the synergies between the existing national
centres for disease control. The ECDC will also enable better planning. It
will have a small core staff and an extended network of contacts in Member
States' public health institutes and academia. By pooling expertise around
Europe it will be able to provide authoritative scientific advice on
serious health threats, recommend control measures, allow quick
mobilisation of intervention teams and thus enable a rapid and effective EU-
wide response. After approval by the European Parliament and the Council,
the ECDC could be operational as an independent European agency in 2005.
German toll system: Commission examines compensation measures for road
hauliers The Commission decided today to open the formal investigation of
aid measures envisaged by German authorities to compensate the effect of
the planned increase of toll rates for road hauliers. This increase would
take effect some time after a first introduction of the toll as from 31st
August. Aides en faveur d' «ABX Logistics» : la Commission ouvre la
procédure d'enquête La Commission a décidé d'ouvrir la procédure d'enquête
formelle à l'égard des aides d'Etat accordées au groupe ABX Logistics,
groupe qui appartient à la Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges «
SNCB ». Au sein de la SNCB, 'ABX Logistics group' effectue du transport
routier, aérien et maritime et propose aussi des services logistiques. Les
autorités belges ont notifié des mesures de restructuration du groupe
constitué par une série d'acquisitions depuis 1998, et qui compte
aujourd'hui 107 filiales au niveau mondial, dont les principales sont
situées en Europe. Commission proposes to add transparency to the control
of investments in nuclear installations The Commission proposed today to
reinforce the transparency of planned investments in nuclear installations
with a view to enhance safety and security while ensuring the smooth
functioning of the internal energy market. "The Commission recently
proposed measures which will comfort nuclear safety and security levels in
the Union, already the strictest in the world. Our goal is now to reinforce
procedures so that as from the planning stage, any new investment in
nuclear installations comply with safety and security rules. The new
proposed transparent procedures will also ensure that arrangements for the
final decommissioning and for the treatment of nuclear waste from the
installation are the safest possible. In addition, to protect the level
playing field in the energy internal market in the run-up to enlargement,
nuclear undertakings would now be required to notify whether public support
is contemplated for the project.", declared Loyola de Palacio, Vice-
President in charge of Energy and Transport Commission approves proposed
aid in favour of VW Mechatronic in Stollberg (Germany) The European
Commission has no objections that Germany grants aid amounting to € 84
million to the company VW Mechatronic GmbH & Co KG. This aid is destined to
finance the construction of a new plant for the production of injection
systems for diesel engines. The project will be located in the East German
region of Saxony. The project is expected to create some 705 jobs. The
amount authorised amounts to an aid intensity of 31.5%. Commission launches
formal investigation procedure into restructuring aid in favour of British
Energy plc The European Commission today launched an in-depth probe in
order to examine the restructuring aid that the UK Government envisages for
British Energy plc. The proposed restructuring plan will be analysed under
the Community Guidelines on rescue and restructuring aid while fully
recognising that issues covered by the Euratom Treaty will be assessed
taking into account the latter Treaty's provisions. Initiation of the
formal investigation procedure opens the way for an in-depth examination,
but does not prejudge its final outcome. The decision to initiate the
procedure will be published in the Official Journal. Competitors and other
interested parties are invited to submit their observations. Commission
approves aid for Graphischer Maschinenbau GmbH, Germany The European
Commission today approved aid totalling € 4.77 million. The aid was awarded
to Graphischer Maschinenbau GmbH in 1998. Today's decision follows the
judgment of the Court of First Instance of 14 May 2002 in Case T-126/99.
Inquiry into aid planned for the car maker De Tomaso in Calabria (Italy)
The European Commission has decided to initiate the formal investigation
proceedings concerning aid amounting to € 178 million for a € 219 million
investment planned by car maker De Tomaso in Cutro (Calabria, Southern
Italy). At this stage, the Commission has not been able to establish that
the planned aid meets the criteria of the Community framework for state aid
to the motor vehicle industry. The formal investigation proceedings allow
Italy and interested parties to submit their observations. Commission
approves aid for extension of Otto Versand mail order logistics centre in
Eastern Germany The European Commission has authorised Germany to grant a
proposed € 27.4 million in aid to help Otto Versand to extend an existing
logistics centre for the distribution of mail order goods in Haldensleben,
Sachsen-Anhalt. The aid will help create jobs, has limited impact on
competition and its intensity of 23.625 % remains below the ceiling of aid
allowable under the applicable rules for this project. La Commission décide
de se réserver l'examen du projet d'acquisition de VUP par Lagardère La
Commission européenne a décidé de mener elle-même l'examen du projet
d'acquisition de Vivendi Universal Publishing (VUP) par le groupe français
Lagardère ; en conséquence ce dossier ne sera pas renvoyé aux autorités
françaises de la concurrence. La Commission devra arrêter sa position
finale sur cette opération, qui concerne les deux principaux pôles de
l'édition de livres en France, le 3 décembre 2003 au plus tard. Commission
clears DSM's acquisition of the vitamins and fine chemicals division of
Roche The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of the
Vitamins and Fine Chemicals division of Swiss company Roche by Dutch-based
company DSM after a detailed investigation. The Commission had identified
competition concerns in one market for feed enzymes, which are animal feed
additives. DSM submitted a package of undertakings aimed at terminating its
alliance with German fine chemicals company, BASF, for the production and
distribution of feed enzymes and transferring its activities in the
production of feed enzymes to a purchaser to be approved by the Commission.
After careful evaluation of the commitments package, the Commission
concluded that the remedies removed its competition concerns and to restore
effective competition. La Commission autorise sous conditions une aide à la
société GAMESA Après une enquête approfondie, la Commission a autorisé sous
conditions un prêt du Gouvernement Basque à la société GAMESA pour sa
participation au développement de deux avions régionaux de l'avionneur
EMBRAER. Commission approves € 24 million in aid to newsprint producer
Shotton in North Wales The European Commission has approved today € 24
million (£ 17 million) in favour of Shotton, a newsprint producer owned by
UPM-Kymmene and located in North Wales. The aid will be granted under the
Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which was established to
promote sustainable waste management. The aid is intended to adapt
Shotton's facilities to produce newsprint from waste paper rather than
virgin pulp. The Commission approved € 11 million under the rules for
regional aid. Further aid amounting to € 13 million was approved on account
of the environmental benefits of a new sludge combustor that will recover
the calorific value from the increased quantity of de-inking sludge Shotton
expects to produce as part of its increased reliance on recycled paper. La
Commission approuve une injection de capital de €297.5 millions en faveur
de la Poste belge La Commission européenne a décidé aujourd'hui de ne pas
soulever d'objections à une injection de capital de €297.5 millions par
l'Etat belge dans le capital de La Poste. Au cours de l'examen de la mesure
notifiée, il est apparu que la valeur actuelle des sous-compensations par
rapport au coût net additionnel du service public se chiffrait à une sous-
compensation globale supérieure au montant de l'augmentation de capital.
Aucun avantage ne saurait donc être conféré à La Poste par la mesure
notifiée, qui est dès lors compatible avec le marché commun. Electronic
Communications: Commission gets ready for implementing new legislation to
ensure level playing field As Commissioners Liikanen and Monti announced at
the open workshop, held on 15 July 2003 in Brussels, the Commission is
preparing to exercise its new tasks under Article 7 of the Framework
Directive for electronic communications networks and services. One
important step of its preparations concerns the adoption of the
Recommendation on notifications, time limits and consultations regarding
the procedures to be followed for notifications of draft measures by
national regulatorspursuantt to Article 7. The adopted Recommendation was
discussed extensively with national regulators, the European Regulators
Group (ERG) and Member States. Commission adopts new measures to combat
climate change globally The European Commission today adopted a new
initiative to combat climate change globally. The proposal for a new
Directive will allow European companies to carry out emissions-curbing
projects around the world and convert the credits earned into emissions
allowances under the European Union emissions trading scheme. The proposal
builds on the so-called market-based flexible mechanisms "Joint
Implementation" and the "Clean Development Mechanism" envisaged by the
Kyoto Protocol. Their aim is to reach the global emissions reduction
targets in a cost-effective way while transfering advanced technology to
other industrialised and developing countries. Administrative Reform:
Commission proposes improved system of financial responsibility for
officials The European Commission today adopted draft guidelines defining
the personal financial responsibility of officials who are proved to have
caused financial damage to the EU budget through serious misconduct. The
proposals were outlined in the White Paper of March 2000 and, in the wake
of the new Financial Regulation in force since January 1st 2003, today's
decision provides for implementation of the reforming change. The draft
guidelines, when implemented, will improve arrangements for good financial
management and promote the sense of personal financial responsibility among
officials. The draft guidelines set out in detail the circumstances in
which officials can be held liable for financial losses to the EU budget
and define the extent and limits of their financial liability. They provide
for the recovery of money when an official has caused financial loss
through deliberate fault or as a result of gross negligence, but make it
clear that staff will not be held responsible for genuine errors that have
modest consequences. The draft guidelines will now be discussed with staff
representatives whose views will be taken fully into account before
finalised guidelines are adopted. Fight against fraud: Annual Report 2002
shows progress in building the framework for the protection of the
Communities' financial interests The Commission's regular Report on the
Protection of the Communities' Financial Interests and the Fight against
Fraud in 2002 shows the wide-ranging measures taken in legislative and
operational terms by the Commission and the Member States and the wide area
of competence and activity of the European anti-fraud office OLAF. The
report highlights activities undertaken by the Commission to involve the
candidate countries more closely in fraud prevention. On the legislative
and institutional front 2002 was a very dynamic year. Overall, the number
and volume of irregularities discovered rose last year. Commissioner
Michaele Schreyer commented: "Over the past year Member States made efforts
to complete legislative measures to protect the EU financial interests and
increased declarations of irregularities to Brussels. OLAF achieved some
spectacular successes to protect EU monies. The report shows again that the
decision to pool all powers to fight against fraud affecting the
Communities' financial interests was right." AUTRE POINTS Un agenda
stratégique de la recherche sidérurgique pour relancer le secteur en Europe
Commission européenne, industrie sidérurgique, syndicats et opérateurs du
secteur acier vont travailler ensemble pour créer une plate-forme
technologique, définir un agenda stratégique et un plan d'action pour
relancer la recherche sidérurgique en Europe et rendre plus compétitif le
secteur au niveau mondial. Philippe Busquin, Commissaire européen chargé de
la Recherche, a rencontré aujourd'hui à Bruxelles les principaux
représentants de l'industrie sidérurgique européenne (Arcelor, ThyssenKrupp
Steel, Corus, Riva, AvestaPolarit) réunis au sein d'Eurofer. Les syndicats
européens de la métallurgie européenne étaient également associés. Ce
dialogue sera élargi à d'autres acteurs (industries partenaires,
universités, instituts de recherche publics et privés, utilisateurs), aux
autres institutions européennes et aux représentants des Etats membres
d'ici la fin de l'année 2003. Le lancement officiel de la plate-forme
technologique de l'acier est prévu pour le printemps 2004 Droit de vote aux
élections municipales: la Commission poursuit la procédure d'infraction
contre la Belgique La Commission européenne a décidé de poursuivre la
procédure d'infraction engagée contre la Belgique, qui n'a pas fait en
sorte que plus d'une centaine de ressortissants européens non belges
résidant dans la commune d'Honnelles soient régulièrement inscrits sur les
listes électorales pour les élections locales de 2000. Ces citoyens
européens n'ont donc pas pu voter lors des élections, ce qui constitue une
atteinte à leur droit fondamental de vote aux élections municipales. EU
Cohesion Policy in Hungary: Negotiations on the Community Support Framework
start today in Budapest The European Commission launched the first round of
negotiations with Hungary on future Structural Funds assistance today in
Budapest. Negotiations will be dedicated to the Community Support Framework
(CSF) and related Operational Programmes (OP) for the period 2004-2006. In
a letter of 16 July addressed to Endre Juhász, Minister without Portfolio
for the Co-ordination of EU Affairs, Michel Barnier, Commissioner
responsible for regional policy, set out the Commission's position on how
Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund should be used in Hungary.
[01] Autre matériel diffusé MEMO154 - Kyoto Protocol
MEMO155 - Communicable diseases
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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