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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-05-12
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Chernobyl Shelter Fund : Commission announces additional €49 million
[02] Déclaration de la Vice-présidente de la Commission européenne
Margot Wallström sur la ratification de la Constitution européenne par
l'Autriche et la Slovaquie (11/05)
[03] Environment friendly lubricants promoted by EU Eco-label
[04] Environment : EU Eco-label extended to campsites
[05] Marchés publics : d'après les résultats d'une consultation, les
règles de l'UE en matière de partenariats public-privé devraient être
clarifiées
[06] Commission indicator forecasts euro area quarterly GDP growth of 0.2%
to 0.6% for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2005
[07] Flash estimates for the first quarter of 2005 : Euro-zone and EU25 GDP
up by 0.5% ; +1.4% and +1.7% respectively compared to the first quarter of
2004
[08] 140 Erasmus Mundus students gather in Brussels
[09] Joe Borg meets stakeholders in Ancona on action to ensure sustainable
fisheries in the Mediterranean
[10] Stavros Dimas visite la région Centre de la France
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-05-12
Reference: MEX/05/0512
Date: 12/05/2005
EXME05 / 12.5
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
12/05/05
[01] Chernobyl Shelter Fund : Commission announces additional €49 million
At a pledging meeting today in London the European Commission will announce
an additional €49 million to the international Chernobyl Shelter Fund
(CSF). The conference is organised by the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) and attended by representatives of the European
Commission, all G8 countries and Ukraine. Russia will contribute to the
fund for the first time. This additional contribution comes on top of more
than €600 million already pledged to the fund by 28 donor governments in
1997 and 2000. With today's pledge, the Commission has now committed a
total of €239.5 for the Fund since 1997, making it the main donor.
[02] Déclaration de la Vice-présidente de la Commission européenne
Margot Wallström sur la ratification de la Constitution européenne par
l'Autriche et la Slovaquie (11/05)
" Je salue le vote de la ratification de la Constitution en Autriche et en
République Slovaque. Ces votes signifient que sept Etats membres (la
Lituanie, la Hongrie, la Slovénie, l'Italie, la Grèce, l'Autriche et la
Slovaquie) ont déjà ratifié la Constitution (la ratification formelle de
l'Espagne, par le vote du Sénat, est attendue dans les prochaines
semaines). Ces deux approbations, qui sont les premières d'une série de
ratifications parlementaires en mai, et le fait que presque un tiers des
Etats membres aient conclu la ratification, rapprochent significativement
l'Union de l'entrée en vigueur de la Constitution."
[03] Environment friendly lubricants promoted by EU Eco-label
Companies selling lubricants in Europe can now apply for the EU Eco-label
if their product has a low impact on the environment. Hydraulic oils, chain
saw oils, two stroke oils and greases are among the lubricants which will
be able to carry the Eco-label scheme's "Flower" logo if they meet strict
environmental criteria. European consumers have long been able to rely on
the Flower to help them find greener products and services, such as
detergents, appliances, tourist accommodation, paints and varnishes,
textiles and garden products.
[04] Environment : EU Eco-label extended to campsites
Campers now have the opportunity to turn to the "Flower" logo of the EU Eco-
label to find an environmentally friendly camp site. Companies providing
campsite services in Europe can apply for the EU Eco-label to show that
they meet strict environmental performance criteria. European consumers
have long been able to rely on the Flower to help them find greener
products and services. They have already given a very enthusiastic welcome
to the Eco-label criteria for tourist accommodation services, which were
adopted in 2003 to promote environment friendly holidays.
[05] Marchés publics : d'après les résultats d'une consultation, les
règles de l'UE en matière de partenariats public-privé devraient être
clarifiées
La Commission européenne vient de publier un rapport sur les résultats
d'une consultation relative aux partenariats public-privé (PPP) lancée en
avril 2004 (IP/04/593). L'objectif de cette consultation était de
déterminer s'il est nécessaire d'améliorer la législation communautaire
dans ce domaine. Une majorité des parties intéressées s'est prononcée
pour une clarification des règles communautaires en matière de marchés
publics s'appliquant au choix des partenaires privés pour les PPP. Les
avis sont cependant partagés quant à la forme et au contenu précis des
initiatives que l'UE devrait prendre. Le rapport est disponible à l'adresse
suivante : <a
href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/ppp">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/ppp
[06] Commission indicator forecasts euro area quarterly GDP growth of 0.2%
to 0.6% for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2005
The indicator-based model for quarterly GDP growth for the euro area,
developed by the European Commission's Directorate General for Economic and
Financial Affairs, forecasts a range of 0.2% to 0.6% for GDP growth for the
second quarter of 2005, revised downwards by 0.1 percentage point compared
to the previous release. For the third quarter of 2005, the predicted range
for GDP growth is also 0.2% to 0.6%.
[07] Flash estimates for the first quarter of 2005 : Euro-zone and EU25 GDP
up by 0.5% ; +1.4% and +1.7% respectively compared to the first quarter of
2004
GDP grew by 0.5% in both the euro-zone and the EU25 during the first
quarter of 2005, compared to the previous quarter, according to flash
estimates published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European
Communities. In the fourth quarter of 2004, growth rates were +0.2% in the
euro-zone and +0.3% in the EU25. In the first quarter of 2005, compared to
the same quarter of the previous year, GDP grew by 1.4% in the euro-zone
and by 1.7% in the EU25, after +1.6% and +1.9% respectively in the previous
quarter. During the first quarter of 2005, US GDP increased by 0.8%
compared to the previous quarter, after +0.9% in the fourth quarter of
2004. Compared to the first quarter of 2004, GDP grew by 3.6%, after +3.9%
in the previous quarter.
[08] 140 Erasmus Mundus students gather in Brussels
Tomorrow, European Commissioner in charge of Education & Training, Ján
Figel’, will welcome in Brussels, in the Charlemagne building, 140
students from 52 third countries who are currently taking part in the first
Erasmus Mundus promotion. The Erasmus Mundus programme was launched last
autumn, with 14 Masters Courses being selected for the academic year 2004-
2005. Next autumn some 36Â Masters Courses are expected to be operational
and about 800 students will take part in the programme (more than 100
Master Courses are targeted for the final year of the 1st phase of the
programme in 2008). The seminar which will start tomorrow will give these
students the opportunity to exchange views on their first months in EU
universities. They will also launch the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Association.
On Saturday, a summary of students' and coordinators' feedback on the
programme will be presented, as well as proposals to improve the programme.
For more information on Erasmus Mundus, see :
<a href="http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html">http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html
[09] Joe Borg meets stakeholders in Ancona on action to ensure sustainable
fisheries in the Mediterranean
Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has
just started on a two-day visit to Ancona (Italy). Earlier today,
Commissioner Borg, accompanied by Mr Scarpa Bonazza, Fisheries Secretary,
opened the 65th international fishing fair (12-15 May 2005). After a
meeting with Mr Scarpa Bonazza in the afternoon, Mr Borg will attend a
meeting on "EU policy for Mediterranean fisheries". Further meetings will
be held with stakeholders on Friday, including with representatives of
Medisamak, the umbrella association of Mediterranean fishermen's
organisations. The meetings will cover, among other things, the proposed
technical measures tabled by the Commission as part of a series of actions
to achieve sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Commission
proposal for a European Fisheries Fund, in particular with regard to small-
scale fisheries.
[10] Stavros Dimas visite la région Centre de la France
M. Stavros Dimas, Commissaire européen chargé de l'Environnement, se
rendra le vendredi 13 mai 2005 dans la région Centre de la France Ã
l'invitation de M. Serge Lepeltier, ministre francais de l'Ecologie et du
Développement durable. Le but de la visite est d'évaluer sur le terrain
l'état d'avancement de programmes européens ou co-financés par l'EuropeÂ
: NATURA 2000, le programme LIFE Nature, et "le Plan Loire Grandeur
Nature". L'objectif de LIFE Nature (L'Instrument Financier pour
l'Environnement - LIFE - Volet Nature) est de contribuer à la mise en
œuvre des directives européennes sur la protection des oiseaux et des
habitats naturels, et en particulier du réseau européen Natura 2000. "Le
Plan Loire Grandeur Nature" est un plan global d'aménagement de la Loire
qui vise à concilier la sécurité des personnes, la protection de
l'environnement et le développement économique, avec les priorités
suivantes : la sécurité des populations face au risque d'inondation ; la
satisfaction des besoins quantitatifs et qualitatifs en eau ; la
restauration de la diversité écologique du milieu. Au cours de ce
déplacement, sont prévues les visites des marais de Bourges, du site du
Méandre de Guilly dans le Loiret et du déversoir de crues de Jargeau.
Deux rencontres avec la presse sont prévues : à la mairie de Bourges de
12h00 à 12h30, et à la Préfecture d’Orléans de 16h15 Ã
16h45.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by President Barroso : "The transformation of Europe" at the
European Parliament (11/05, Strasbourg)
Speech by Neelie Kroes : "Competition in the European Union - the case for
Romania" at the European Institute of Romania (Bucharest)
Statement by Charlie McCreevy on recognition of professional qualifications
directive (11/05)
Preparation of Eurogroup and Informal Council of Economics and Finance
Ministers (13-14/05, Luxembourg)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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