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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-10-12
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Textiles : Commission takes seven actions to help EU textiles industry
ahead of 1 January 2005
[02] 2005 budget : additional proposals for pre-accession aid to Croatia,
support to the Turkish-Cypriot community, and the Northern Ireland Peace
Process
[03] Services financiers : un forum d'experts représentant les
utilisateurs rend son premier avis sur les rapports d'inventaire post-PASF
[04] Avian influenza situation in South Africa
[05] Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC) : US to repeal illegal export
subsidies as from 2007
[06] Responsabilité sociale des entreprises : la Commission lance une
campagne de sensibilisation des PME
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-10-12
Reference: MEX/04/1012
Date: 12/10/2004
EXME04 / 12.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
12/10/04
[01] Textiles : Commission takes seven actions to help EU textiles industry
ahead of 1 January 2005
Building on the work carried out by the High Level Group for textiles and
clothing, the European Commission proposes seven actions to enhance the
competitiveness of the European textiles industry ahead of the
disappearance of the remaining WTO textiles quotas on 1 January 2005.
[02] 2005 budget : additional proposals for pre-accession aid to Croatia,
support to the Turkish-Cypriot community, and the Northern Ireland Peace
Process
In the months since May, when the European Commission launched the draft
budget for 2005, the Council has taken several decisions requiring
additional expenditure for 2005. The Commission will tomorrow adopt the
necessary amendments to the budget proposals for 2005 : €114 million to
encourage the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot Community ;
€105 million pre-accession aid to Croatia ; €60 million to extend the
Peace programme for Northern Ireland and the border areas in Ireland.
Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer said : "The EU will make further
significant contributions to a more stable and peaceful Europe with these
proposed increases to the budget, which follow Council requests."
[03] Services financiers : un forum d'experts représentant les
utilisateurs rend son premier avis sur les rapports d'inventaire post-PASF
FIN-USE, panel d'experts constitué par la Commission européenne et
chargé par elle de rendre des avis sur les services financiers du point de
vue de "l'utilisateur", vient de rendre son premier avis, qui porte sur les
quatre rapports d'inventaire publiés par des groupes d'experts en mai 2004,
alors que la phase législative du plan d'action pour les services
financiers (PASF) touchait à sa fin (voir IP/04/600 et MEMO/04/106). Ces
rapports d'inventaire évaluaient l'état d'avancement de l'intégration
financière dans l'Union européenne. Dans son avis, qui reflète le
consensus dégagé par ses membres, et pas nécessairement l'opinion de la
Commission, FIN-USE se prononce sur leur contenu et émet dix grandes
recommandations. La Commission tiendra compte de ces recommandations, de
même que des résultats de la consultation publique récemment organisée
sur les rapports d'inventaire, tant pour achever la mise en Å“uvre du PASF
que pour l'élaboration de sa future politique sur les services financiers.
[04] Avian influenza situation in South Africa
The Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on a
European Commission proposal to extend the suspension of import of live
ratites (ostriches) and their eggs, meat and products as well as pet birds
from South Africa until 31 March 2005. The ban was introduced in August,
after the confirmation of avian influenza outbreaks in ratite farms (see
IP/04/1024). It was applicable until 1 January 2005. Although it appears
that the disease situation has improved, no official confirmation has been
received which would allow the modification of the current restrictions.
Because at least six months should pass after destruction of the ratites
and disinfection of the infected holdings before the imports of meat of
ostriches and their eggs from South Africa can be allowed again, the
suspension has now been prolonged until 31 March 2005.
[05] Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC) : US to repeal illegal export
subsidies as from 2007
On 11 October 2004, nearly four years after the expiry of the deadline
established by the WTO, the US Congress has adopted a Bill repealing the
FSC/ETI legislation. The WTO has repeatedly condemned the FSC/ ETI which
provides WTO-illegal subsidies to US exporters to the tune of $US 4 billion
per year. The Bill, however, provides that FSC/ETI benefits will still be
available to US exporters up to the end of 2006. Following its adoption by
Congress, the Bill will enter into force once the US President has signed
it. European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said : "I am pleased that
Congress has finally taken this step towards US compliance with the WTO
ruling. It vindicates the EU's patient but firm approach. Our objective
throughout has been to obtain the withdrawal of these illegal subsidies by
introducing progressively rising countermeasures. We will now carefully
study the details in the final compromise between both chambers, in
particular regarding transition periods, grandfathering clauses, as well as
all other relevant fiscal provisions."
[06] Responsabilité sociale des entreprises : la Commission lance une
campagne de sensibilisation des PME
En inauguration d'une campagne paneuropéenne visant à sensibiliser les PME
à la responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE), la Commission
européenne organise aujourd'hui une manifestation de lancement Ã
Bruxelles. Au nombre des orateurs figurent le Commissaire Olli Rehn, Philip
Bushill-Matthews (député britannique au Parlement européen), des
représentants du secteur privé et des syndicats ainsi que des experts en
RSE.
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Siim Kallas : "The Euro's contribution to the financial system
and global stability" at the Euro Conference (Amsterdam)
Speech by Franz Fischler : "Österreichische Nahrung wird europäisch" at
the Jubiläumsfeier '10 Jahre AMA-Gütesiegel' (11/10, Vienna)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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