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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-03-01
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Electronic payments : Commission seeks views on single European
telephone number to report lost and stolen cards
[02] US Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC) : EU starts countermeasures on US
products
[03] EU-US sign Mutual Recognition Agreement on Marine Equipment
[04] October-December 2003 : quarterly note on the euro-denominated bond
markets
[05] January 2004 : monthly note on the euro-denominated bond markets
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 01/03/2004
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 01/03/2004
[01] Electronic payments : Commission seeks views on single European
telephone number to report lost and stolen cards
The European Commission has launched a public on-line consultation on the
possible establishment of an EU-wide system for cancelling lost and stolen
credit and payment cards ("Card Stop Europe"). Such a service would be
based on a single easy-to-remember phone number. Comments are invited until
30th April 2004.
[02] US Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC) : EU starts countermeasures on US
products
The EU countermeasures on a list of US products in the long-standing WTO
dispute on the US Foreign Sales Corporations enter into force today 1 March
2004. Countermeasures on the selected products consist of an additional
customs duty of 5% to be enforced as from today, followed by automatic,
monthly increases by 1% up to a ceiling of 17% to be reached on 1 March
2005, if compliance has not happened in-between.
[03] EU-US sign Mutual Recognition Agreement on Marine Equipment
On 27 February, European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, United States
Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and Ireland's Ambassador to the US
Noel Fahey have signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) on marine
equipment between the EU and the US. The agreement will facilitate trade in
this sector: equipment certified as acceptable for the market of one party
will circulate in the other without the need for additional testing or
certification. At the signing ceremony Pascal Lamy said : "This agreement
is a clear example of our pragmatic approach to tearing down barriers to
transatlantic trade. Through the MRA we will facilitate trade in a sector
which represents € 1 billion worth of EU-US trade. Regulatory cooperation
between us is the way forward to foster trade and investment. Now that that
agreement on this item has been reached we can focus on the remaining
issues under our common Positive Economic Agenda." US Trade Representative
Robert B. Zoellick added : "The US-EU Marine Equipment MRA represents an
important new mechanism to facilitate transatlantic trade and promote
closer US-EU regulatory cooperation. This agreement saves US manufacturers
the time and expense of redundant product testing for the EU market and
also promotes our efforts to improve the quality of international marine
safety regulations."
[04] October-December 2003 : quarterly note on the euro-denominated bond
markets
The prospect of an accelerating recovery in the global economy maintained
downward pressure on bond prices during Q4/2003. Gross issuance of euro
denominated bonds for the year 2003 reached a new record high of €1.768
billion, compared to about €1.45 billion in 2001 and 2002. Issuance volumes
were at record levels in almost all market segments, except among corporate
issuers, supranational issuers and issuers of pfandbriefe/covered bonds. In
line with the typical seasonal pattern, gross issuance of euro-denominated
bonds declined progressively over 2003, and was €365 billion in Q4/2003
compared to €515 billion Q1/2003. The composition of issuance in Q4/2003
was characterised by a below-average share of central government bonds
(38%) and an above-average share of bonds issued by financial institutions
(28%) as well as asset-backed securities (7.5%). Full document and
statistical annex available on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/bondmarkets_en.htm
[05] January 2004 : monthly note on the euro-denominated bond markets
Market expectations of a US-led economic recovery prevailed throughout
January. However, residual concerns about the pace of recovery in the euro
area amid the appreciation of the euro meant that the euro yield curve
shifted marginally downward. Total issuance of euro-denominated bonds
rebounded to €176 billion in January 2004, from €85 billion in December
2003. The composition of issuance was characterised by a high share (55%)
of central government bonds, which comprised issues from all euro-area
sovereigns except Finland and Luxembourg (topped by Italy with a total
borrowing of €31 billion) as well as from the acceding countries Poland and
Hungary. The other main characteristics of issuance in January were an
increased share of bonds with a size over €2 billion, with a maturity over
11 years and with fixed coupons, reflecting mainly the increased share of
central government issuance in total. Full document and statistical annex
available on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/bondmarkets_en.htm
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Prodi welcomes Libyan readiness to join Barcelona Process (28/02)
Speech by President Prodi at African Union Summit (27/02, Sirte - Libya)
FSC - questions and answers
Note sur la préparation du Conseil Environnement
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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