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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-11-18
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Court of Auditors annual report 2002 : Commission welcomes
acknowledgment of reform starting to take effect
[02] Rail : la Commission propose de conclure l'adhésion à l'Organisation
des Transports Internationaux Ferroviaires
[03] Commission probes Oracle's take over bid for PeopleSoft
[04] Octobre 2003 : le taux d'inflation annuel de la zone euro en baisse à
2,0% ; le taux de l'UE15 en baisse à 1,8%
[05] Quarterly note on the euro-denominated bond market (July-Sept. 2003)
[06] Customs : agreement initialled with United States on transport
security cooperation
[07] Statement of Poul Nielson in response to Council's decision to
allocate €250 million from the EDF to support African-led peace keeping
operations in Africa (17/11)
[08] Commission and United Nations join forces to launch humanitarian
appeals for 2004
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 18/11/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 18/11/2003
[01] Court of Auditors annual report 2002 : Commission welcomes
acknowledgment of reform starting to take effect
The European Court of Auditors presented on 17 November its annual report
for 2002 to the budget control committee of the European Parliament. In
this report the Court strongly supports the European Commission's reform
efforts, both in terms of financial management and accounting aspects. The
Court commends that the necessary legal provisions have now been taken, and
acknowledges that the implementation is well on its way but is an ongoing
process whereby longstanding practices have to be changed. This serves as
major encouragement for the Commission and will duly be taken into account
in ongoing efforts to improve. Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer
welcomed this report : "I am very pleased by the recognition of our reform
efforts. The Court is and has been one of our most important partners in
the improvement of the financial management, a major aspect of the Prodi
Commission's reform efforts."
[02] Rail : la Commission propose de conclure l'adhésion à l'Organisation
des Transports Internationaux Ferroviaires
La Commission européenne a proposé au Conseil de conclure l'adhésion de la
Communauté à la Convention relative aux Transports Internationaux
Ferroviaires (COTIF). Cette adhésion permettra à l'Union européenne de
faciliter le transport international par rail en participant au
développement de règles juridiques uniformes à l'échelle du continent
européen.
[03] Commission probes Oracle's take over bid for PeopleSoft
The European Commission has started a detailed investigation into the
proposed acquisition of US business software company PeopleSoft Inc by
Oracle Corp. During the investigation, the Commission will, in particular,
investigate the impact of the transaction on the markets for business
applications software used by large multinational companies to coordinate
and plan their financial and human resources and their relationship with
customers, among other things. The opening of an in-depth investigation
does not prejudge the final outcome.
[04] Octobre 2003 : le taux d'inflation annuel de la zone euro en baisse à
2,0% ; le taux de l'UE15 en baisse à 1,8%
Le taux d'inflation annuel de la zone euro a diminué de 2,2% en septembre à
2,0% en octobre 2003, indique aujourd'hui Eurostat. Un an auparavant, le
taux était de 2,3%. Le taux d'inflation annuel de l'UE15 a baissé de 2,0%
en septembre à 1,8% en octobre 2003. Un an auparavant, le taux était de 2,
1%. En octobre, les taux annuels les plus élevés ont été enregistrés en
Irlande (3,3%), en Italie et au Portugal (2,8% chacun) et en Espagne (2,
7%). Les taux les plus bas ont été observés en Finlande (0,9%), en Autriche
(1,0%), au Danemark et en Allemagne (1,1% chacun).
[05] Quarterly note on the euro-denominated bond market (July-Sept. 2003)
Government bond markets came under consolidation pressure in Q3/2003, amid
market expectations of a US-led recovery in the global economy. Total gross
issuance of euro-denominated bonds declined to €403 billion in Q3/2003 from
€484 billion in Q2/2003 and €515 billion in Q1/2003. This trend in issuance
conforms to the normal seasonal pattern, but at higher levels relative to
previous years. The composition of issuance in Q3/2003 was broadly
consistent with third quarters of previous years. Central government
issuance represented about 46.5% of total, with the share of overall public-
sector issuance slightly higher at about 53%. Full document and statistical
annexes available on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/bondmarkets_en.htm
[06] Customs : agreement initialled with United States on transport
security cooperation
An agreement with the United States to include transport security
cooperation within the scope of the EU/US customs agreement was initialled
by the European Commission's Director General for Taxation and Customs
Union, Robert Verrue and US Ambassador to the EU Rockwell Schnabel on 18
November 2003. The agreement shall improve security on a reciprocal basis
for both the EU and the US. It will furthermore guarantee the right balance
between trade facilitation and security by ensuring that general customs
control of legitimate trade takes due account of security concerns and by
creating equal levels and standards of controls for US and EU operators.
[07] Statement of Poul Nielson in response to Council's decision to
allocate €250 million from the EDF to support African-led peace keeping
operations in Africa (17/11)
"I warmly welcome Council's decision to allocate €250 million from the EDF
to a Peace Facility for Africa. In recent years African leaders have taken
decisive steps to prevent and solve conflicts on their continent. With this
decision we confirm that we support Africa in these efforts. This is also a
strong and timely response to the call made by African leaders at the
African Union summit in Maputo in July 2003. Without peace and stability
there can be no development in Africa. Today we are taking the only viable
action possible based on that lesson by adding a new dimension to our
development cooperation with Africa. The peace facility should provide the
African Union with the 'financial muscle' to give reality to their efforts
to secure the stability and peace without which there will be no
development."
[08] Commission and United Nations join forces to launch humanitarian
appeals for 2004
The United Nations (UN) and the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid
Office (ECHO) will join forces to launch an appeal for humanitarian aid on
19 November in Brussels as part of the UN's annual global appeal. The 2004
Humanitarian Appeal calls upon donor nations to provide more than €2.6
billion (US$ 3 billion) in assistance to sustain the lives of more than 45
million civilians affected by 21 of the world's worst crises. The appeal is
the result of a process of global needs assessments designed to make the
most efficient use of tax-payers' money, and to ensure that aid reaches the
people and regions that need it most.
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de M. Prodi : " L'Etat de l'Union: le programme législatif et de
travail de la Commission pour 2004" à la session plénière du Parlement
européen (Strasbourg)
Speech by Anna Diamantopoulou : "Employment and social policy: achievements
and prospects" at the University of Frankfurt (17/11)
Statement by Poul Nielson in response to Council's decision to resume aid
to Fiji without restrictions
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Agriculture / Pêche
Rapport de la Cour des comptes relatif à l'exercice 2002 - questions les
plus fréquentes
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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