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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-09-23Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etbCommunication23/09/05[01] Journée européenne des langues : un citoyen européen sur deux peut s'exprimer dans une langue autre que sa langue maternelleLe 26 septembre, l'Europe célèbrera sa diversité linguistique. Organisée chaque année depuis 2001 par le Conseil de l'Europe, la Journée européenne des langues vise promouvoir l'apprentissage des langues dans tous les groupes d'âge et souligner l'importance de la diversité linguistique. Chaque année, l'UE investit plus de €30 millions dans l'apprentissage des langues.[02] World Heart Day : Markos Kyprianou promotes healthy lifestyles for healthy heartsMarkos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, today voiced his support for World Heart Day on September 25th, which has 'Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape' as its theme this year (www.worldheartday.org). Commissioner Kyprianou stated : "We need to drum in the message that just a few basic lifestyle changes, such as better diets and more exercise, can dramatically improve the cardiac and overall health of EU citizens. Every year, around 1.9 million Europeans die, often prematurely, from heart problems. Obesity is now one of the leading causes of heart disease in the EU and with the number of overweight children in the EU currently rising by 400,000 a year, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is likely to increase. The Commission has made tackling obesity an urgent priority and encourages any initiative which helps to realise this goal." The Commission has taken a number of measures to promote cardiovascular health through better diet and more physical activity. These include the establishment of a European Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (see IP/05/292) and the proposal for a Directive on Health and Nutrition Claims (see <a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/668&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr">IP/05/668).[03] Guyane et Grenade : la Commission octroie une aide humanitaire de quelque €2,2 millionsLa Commission européenne a décidé d'approuver l'octroi d'une nouvelle aide de €996,500 en faveur des victimes des inondations qui ont touché la Guyane, qui viendra s'ajouter la somme de €1,7 million déj débloquée. Une autre enveloppe de €1,2 million sera destinée venir en aide aux populations les plus touchées par les ouragans Ivan et Emily sur l’le de la Grenade. Ces ressources seront gérées par ECHO, l'Office d'aide humanitaire de la Commission, qui est placé sous la responsabilité de Louis Michel, commissaire chargé du développement et de l'aide humanitaire.[04] Commission takes further steps to ensure blood transfusions are safeThe European Commission has today adopted two implementing measures (Commission Directives) concerning the quality and safety of blood and blood derivatives. One concerns the traceability of blood and blood derivatives, while the other concerns quality standards. The Blood Directive of 2003 (see IP/02/1919 and MEX/03/0227) established a general framework of principles and common EU rules on blood used in medical treatment. Developing detailed implementing measures to give these effect required a process of consultation and consensus building with government officials and blood safety experts from across Europe. The measures adopted by the Commission today are the result of that process. Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said : "Blood, and products derived from it, are essential to modern medicine. But healthcare staff and patients need to be confident the blood they are using is safe. Having common safety standards and safety systems across the EU helps facilitate cooperation between healthcare systems by enabling them to import blood from each other. It also helps give Europeans confidence that wherever they receive treatment in Europe, they will be properly protected from blood born diseases." Day to day quality control of blood and regulation of organisations collecting, processing or storing blood still takes place at national and regional level. For further information please visit:<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/human_substance/blood_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/human_substance/blood_en.htm [05] Review of effective application of competition rules to abuse of dominant market positions(! embargo 15h00 !) European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes is reviewing how to apply in a more effective manner EU competition rules against companies who abuse a dominant position on their markets. In a speech at the Fordham Corporate Law Institute in New York, Commissioner Kroes will outline an approach based on the economic effects of dominant firms' conduct. The approach would allow dominant firms room to compete on their merits while ensuring strong action against anti-competitive conduct. This review will help companies, courts and competition authorities to understand what dominant companies can and cannot be allowed to do and therefore ensure that European consumers and businesses are not harmed by anti-competitive activity. The Commission will decide the form and timing of this review in the light of on-going discussions with Member States and interested parties.[06] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Günter Verheugen : "The Commission's initiative for better regulation" at UK Presidency Better Regulation Conference (Edinburgh)Discours de M. Michel : "Coopération européenne au développement l'horizon 2010: nouveaux défis" l'Institut Allemand de Développement (Bonn) Speech by Janez Potočnik : "Science and Political Power" to First World Conference on the Future of Science, Fondazione Giorgio Cini (Venice) Speech by Janez Potočnik : "To build a future where European scientists can reach their full potential" to BergamoScienza: Bergamo science week (Bergamo, ! embargo 24/9 - 09h30 !) Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Financial services in Europe today" to Irish Association of Investment Managers (22/09, Dublin) Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Pension funds and asset management: A European Perspective" to Irish Association of Pension Funds Annual Benefits Conference (22/09, Dublin) Speech by Günter Verheugen : "The Commission's new Biotech policy" at biotechnology policy day high level roundtable (22/09) Speech by Siim Kallas : "Real estate policy of the European Commission in the new Leopold area and the consequences for its future" at Seminar 'The new Leopold area' (22/09) Speech by Louis Michel : "Are the developed countries hitting the Millennium Development Goals ?" to Friends of Europe & Friedrich-Ebert- Stiftung (22/09) Calendrier du 26 septembre au 1er octobre 2005
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |