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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-10-17Midday 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 Générale Presse etbCommunication17/10/05[01] Santé mentale : la Commission adopte un livre vert sur une maladie qui touche un adulte sur quatreAujourd'hui, la Commission européenne a adopté un livre vert sur la santé mentale afin de s'attaquer aux maladies mentales, qui touchent actuellement plus d'un adulte sur quatre dans l'Union européenne. Ce texte, vise à lancer une consultation publique sur les moyens d'améliorer la gestion de la maladie mentale et de promouvoir le bien-être mental dans l'UE. Les troubles mentaux atteignent chaque année plus de 27% des Européens d’âge adulte; ils sont à l'origine de la plus grande partie des 58 000 décès annuels dus au suicide, lequel fait plus de victimes que les accidents de la route. De plus, le niveau de santé mentale peut avoir une influence importante sur le bien-être économique et social de la société. Pourtant, jusqu'à une date récente, d'autres questions de santé publique ont nettement éclipsé la santé mentale. C'est pourquoi la Commission ouvre aujourd'hui un large débat sur la question, afin de souligner l'importance du bien-être mental et d'examiner les meilleurs moyens d'élaborer une stratégie communautaire globale sur la santé mentale.[02] Trade mark protection in the EU gets cheaperThe European Commission has decided to lower the fees payable to the Community agency responsible for granting EU-wide trademark rights, OHIM (Office for the Harmonization in the Internal Market, located in Alicante, Spain). This measure - unprecedented in the EU and endorsed by Member States - will make intellectual property protection cheaper for businesses operating in the EU single market, saving them between €37 and €40 million a year.[03] Remboursement des produits pharmaceutiques : la Commission demande à l'Espagne de garantir la transparence de ses décisionsLa Commission européenne a pris des mesures à l'encontre de l'Espagne en raison des conditions de remboursement de certains médicaments (tels que différents médicaments anti-inflammatoires, des traitements destinés aux diabétiques ou de prévention contre la thrombose) qui ne sont pas justifiées de manière appropriée. En Espagne, les médicaments sont remboursés par le système d'assurance maladie s'ils figurent sur une liste de produits pharmaceutiques bénéficiant d'un remboursement. Toutefois, pour certains médicaments, les autorités espagnoles exigent également l'approbation préalable des prescriptions individuelles, sous la forme d'un visa d'inspection, avant que les patients puissent effectivement être remboursés. La Commission considère que cette procédure ne repose pas sur des critères objectifs et vérifiables, comme l'impose la législation de l'UE. Dans ce contexte, la Commission a formellement demandé à l'Espagne dans une lettre (sous forme d'avis motivé) d'introduire des procédures de prise de décision plus transparentes pour le remboursement des médicaments.[04] Commission investigates rules on parallel imports of pesticides into UK, Italy, Poland and HungaryThe European Commission has started inquiries into certain practices applied by the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Hungary that make parallel imports of pesticides from other Member States difficult. Under EU law, such imports are allowed if the product imported is allowed to be sold in the Member State of origin and is identical or sufficiently similar to one already authorised for sale in the Member State of destination. The Commission has asked the four Member States to explain and clarify their rules on the importation of plant protection products from other Member States.[05] Internal Market : infringement proceedings against Austria, Finland, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal and SwedenThe European Commission has decided to refer France and Greece to the European Court of Justice regarding their implementation of the Second Anti- Money Laundering Directive : France has notified its transposition measures only partially and Greece has not yet communicated to the Commission any of its transposition measures for the Directive. Austria, Sweden and Finland will also be referred to the Court with respect to provisions in some of their Bilateral Investment Treaties concluded before their accession to the EU with non-EU countries. In addition, the Commission has decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to refer Portugal to the Court regarding its non-compliance with a 2004 Court judgment on its implementation of Directive 89/665/EEC on remedies in Public Procurement. The Court may then impose a daily penalty or/and lump sum payment on Portugal. In the area of insurance, the Commission has decided formally to request Italy to modify its legislation requiring all insurers that are licensed to provide compulsory motor insurance in Italy to offer insurance for all categories of insured in all regions of Italy. Sweden will also be formally requested to implement correctly Articles 4, 5 and 6 of the Legal Expenses Insurance Directive. Finally, the Commission has decided to close a case against Malta regarding its legislation that required every user of a satellite dish in Malta both to have a licence and to pay a fee for this licence in order to be allowed to receive satellite television services.[06] €280 millions d'aides nationales aux agriculteurs grecsLa Commission européenne a autorisé l'octroi d'aides nationales, d'un montant total de €280 millions, aux agriculteurs et aquaculteurs grecs qui ont subi les effets des intempéries de février 2004. Ces intempéries ont provoqué des pertes d'une ampleur telle qu'elles ont pu être assimilées à une catastrophe naturelle. Les aides nationales approuvées sont destinées à permettre la reconstitution du potentiel de production endommagé (par exemple, la replantation d'arbres ou la réparation de dégâts matériels), ainsi que la perte de production subie, les conditions climatiques pouvant faire sentir leurs effets pendant plusieurs années. En vertu de la réglementation communautaire en matière d'aides d'Etat dans les secteurs de l'agriculture et de la pêche, lorsque l'existence d'une catastrophe naturelle a été dûment établie, les indemnisations sont considérées comme compatibles avec le marché commun pour autant qu'elles n'entraînent pas de surcompensation des dommages subis. Mme Fischer Boel, membre de la Commission chargée de l'agriculture et du développement rural, a exprimé l'espoir que ces aides puissent soulager les victimes des intempéries, confrontées à de graves difficultés.[07] Avian influenza : high pathogenic type H5N1 confirmed in Romania is same strain as in Asia and Turkey"The European Commission has been informed that test results from the EU laboratory at Weybridge this afternoon confirmed that the avian influenza virus in Romania is the same high pathogenic H5N1 strain found in Asia and in Turkey”, said the European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou. On 15 October, tests confirmed that the virus in Romania was an H5N1 strain but further tests were required to confirm the link with the strain found in Asia and Turkey. This link has now been confirmed. "As a precautionary measure following the confirmation of the H5N1 virus in Turkey on 13 October, the Commission had already been working on the assumption that the virus found in Romania was also the H5N1 strain. Therefore appropriate measures are already in force", said Commissioner Kyprianou. A measure blocking the import into the EU of live birds, poultry meat and other poultry products from Romania came into force last Thursday and a Commission decision on reinforced preventive measures was endorsed by Member State experts on 14 October. The Romanian authorities have taken the necessary culling measures and imposed restrictions on the movement of birds within Romania."[08] Benita Ferrero-Waldner welcomed the holding of the referendum in Iraq as an important step towards democracy and stability in Iraq (15/10)The European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, stated on 15 October : "Despite the difficult security situation, it has been a great day for democracy in Iraq. I pay tribute to all those Iraqis who cast their votes. By voting Iraqis have confirmed their commitment to democratic change. Risking their personal safety to exercise their democratic rights required immense courage. I condemn all violent acts, and regret the loss of life and the casualties that occurred. These criminal acts have not succeeded in quenching the Iraqi people's determination to take their political future in their hands. This vote was an important step to a future in which political differences will be settled in Iraq through democratic dialogue, and not through violence. The Commission remains committed to supporting the Iraqis in their efforts to build a stable and prosperous country with democratic and accountable institutions."[09] La Commission renforce son aide de €10 millions pour les victimes du tremblement de terre en Asie du SudSuite aux premières allocations de €3.6 millions, la Commission européenne a décidé de renforcer son aide aux victimes de €10 millions. Cette aide couvrira les besoins les plus urgents des victimes de la catastrophe en Asie du Sud, telle que nourriture, eau potable, abris et soins médicaux. Ces fonds seront versés via le service d'Aide humanitaire de la Commission européenne (ECHO), sous la responsabilité de M. Louis Michel, Commissaire européen en charge du Développement et de l'aide humanitaire.[10] Commission approves acquisition of control of Züblin by Strabag ; refers review of regional asphalt markets to Germany's Federal Cartel OfficeActing under the EU Merger Regulation, the European Commission has given FIMAG Finanz Industrie Management AG (FIMAG), the Austrian holding company of the Strabag Group, the go-ahead to acquire control of the German construction company Ed. Züblin AG (Züblin). The Commission concluded that the planned operation will not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it, as the parties' combined market shares on the relevant markets in Germany will be limited and there will be only a slight increase of market share on the relevant markets in Austria. At the same time, the Commission has referred the assessment of the impact of the operation on the regional asphalt markets in Berlin, Chemnitz, Leipzig/Halle, Rostock and Munich to Germany's Federal Cartel Office.[11] Commission clears joint acquisition of Baltic Grain Terminal by ADM Szamotuły and CefetraThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Polish company BTZ by Wielkopolskie Zakłady Tłuszczowe ADM Szamotuły (ADM Szamotuły) and the Dutch company Cefetra. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[12] Vladimir Špidla on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty : "Having a job is the best weapon against poverty"More than 68 million people in the European Union continue to live at risk of poverty. Today, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the European Commission is supporting a Round Table Conference in Glasgow, bringing together people from all over Europe as part of our ongoing efforts to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty as part of the Lisbon process by 2010. Globalisation and ageing societies represent growing challenges to our current policies and we must respond by reforming and modernising our social protection systems and developing policies to ensure that all our citizens have the opportunity to participate in society and to enjoy a full and rewarding life. Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla says : "Having a job is the best weapon against poverty. Equal opportunities and strong social protection systems in the combination with more jobs provide a solid foundation for improving the living conditions of Europe's citizens in the years to come."[13] Danuta Hübner visits Slovakia (16-17/10)The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner visits Slovakia on 16-17 October 2005, on the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Pal Csaky. On her first visit to Slovakia, Commissioner Hübner will meet Deputy Prime Minister Pal Csaky, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ivan Miklos, Minister of Construction and Regional Development Laszlo Gyurovszky and Slovak representatives to discuss the regional development and other regional policy issues. The Commissioner will also take part in the signing ceremony of an Agreement for implementation of the Commission's decision awarding a grant to finance emergency measures. Ms Hübner will also give opening addresses at the Conference on Regional Policy and sustainable Development and at the Conference "How to Use Structural Funds for Research and Development".[14] €5.67 million to pay for emergency aid for storm damagesToday in Bratislava, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, and Slovak Deputy Prime Minister, Pál Csáky Bra, signed an agreement to pay €5.67 million to Regions of Slovakia - including Banská, Bystrica, Košice, Prešov, Žilina - worst hit by the severe storm of November 2004. The grant is being made available through the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF). It will reimburse public funds spent on the immediate emergency response : restoring infrastructure, setting up temporary accommodation, activating rescue services and clean-up operation in affected areas.[15] Autre matériel diffuséAvian influenza : Commission proposal for reinforced measures agreed with the Member States (14/10)Speech by Danuta Hübner : "EU Regional Policy – vision and challenges" at Conference on Regional Policy and Sustainable Development Slovak National Bank (Bratislava) Opening address by Danuta Hübner at Conference on EU Structural Funds and RTD Support in Slovakia in the context of experiences of other Member States (Bratislava) Speech by Neelie Kroes : "Damages Actions for Breach of EC Competition Rules: Realities and Potentials" (Cour de Cassation, Paris) Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "The benefits of economic liberalisation" at Kenmare Economics Conference (14/10) Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "The Future of Europe – Are we asking the
right questions?" at the Institute of European Affairs (14/10, Dublin)
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 |
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