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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-08Midday 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[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etbCommunication08/03/06[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting[01] Assurer notre avenir énergétique : la Commission présente son projet de stratégie européenne de l'énergieLa Commission européenne a défini les bases d'une politique européenne de l'énergie dans un important nouveau livre vert, qui ouvre le débat concernant six domaines prioritaires spécifiques, et qui contient plus de 20 propositions de nouvelles actions concrètes.[02] Combating urban pollution : German aid programme clearedThe European Commission has authorised the extension of Saxony's programme aimed at reducing urban pollution caused by exhaust gases from buses and by greenhouse gas emissions. This programme, which was launched in 2001, provides financial support for municipalities and businesses responsible for public transport services. It is aimed at reducing emissions through the procurement of new, more environmentally efficient public transport vehicles and better traffic management.[03] Feu vert au sauvetage de la compagnie italienne Volare Airlines SpALa Commission européenne a autorisé une aide au sauvetage la compagnie aérienne italienne Volare Airlines SpA. Cette aide de courte durée a pour but de sauver l'entreprise de la faillite et de lui permettre de prendre les mesures assurant la poursuite de son activité. Elle consiste en une garantie octroyée par l'Etat italien hauteur de €25 millions dont la compagnie pourra se servir pour obtenir un crédit du même montant auprès de banques.[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[04] Commission withdraws port services proposalThe European Commission decided today to withdraw the proposed directive on market access to port services. The European Parliament voted against this proposal in its first reading on 17 January 2006. In earlier Council discussions several Member States had expressed their reluctance on certain provisions. An EU ports policy can therefore not be limited to the questions dealt with by the directive which was proposed in October 2004. The ambition of an EU ports policy should be to assist European ports to respond effectively to the increase in maritime traffic and the risk of saturation of port capacity. The Commission will return to this issue in its mid-term review of the White Paper on transport policy at the end of April 2006. Vice-President Jacques Barrot will launch a wide debate with stakeholders, Parliament and Member States on the strategic orientations which the White Paper will put forward. An important contribution to such a debate will be the annual conference of the European Seaports Organisation (ESPO) on 1 and 2 June 2006 in Stockholm, which Vice-President Barrot will attend.[05] BSE : UK beef embargo to be liftedThe Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health today adopted unanimously a favourable opinion on a European Commission proposal to lift the embargo on UK exports of live cattle, beef and beef products. The proposal is now expected to be adopted by the Commission in about six weeks time, as the European Parliament has a one month right of scrutiny. The ban on the export of UK beef was issued in March 1996 (with certain derogations introduced in 1999), due to the high incidence of BSE cases in the UK at the time. The proposal was made on the basis that the UK has fulfilled the conditions laid down by the Commission in its TSE Road Map (adopted in July 2005) in order for the ban to be lifted. These were to have an incidence of BSE below a certain level and to demonstrate that the BSE controls laid down in EU legislation were being fully and properly applied. Once the proposal is adopted and published in the Official Journal, the UK will be able to export live cattle born after 1 August 1996, and bovine meat and products produced after 15 June 2005, under the same terms as other Member States.[06] London meeting will bring key WTO negotiators together to prepare for April deadlineTrade negotiators from the EU, the US, Brazil, India, Japan and Australia will meet in London this week for three days of talks intended to move forward the ongoing WTO Doha negotiations. With negotiators committed to resolving some key issues by the end of April 2006, this meeting will be an important chance for some of the major players to close the ground between them. The aim is to put trade at the service of development, create consensus and give impetus to the wider negotiations in Geneva. The European Union, which will chair the meeting, will be represented by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel.[07] Why are women still excluded from every day politics in Central Eastern Europe ?The 'Enlargement, Gender and Governance' project, supported by the Research Framework Programme, is organising an international seminar at the European Parliament to be followed by a press conference in Brussels (9 March) in order to present its key findings to MEPs, policy makers, NGOs and journalists. The project asked questions such as : What are the obstacles and the opportunities that women face in CEECs in terms of political participation? How similar are they to those of the West? Do any of the conclusions provide answers to some of the obstacles that women in Western Europe face too? What is gender mainstreaming? Does it really work? If not, why not? The study was conducted in the eight Member States of Central Eastern Europe including Bulgaria and Romania regarding the role and participation of women in political decision-making. The press conference with the project leaders will take place at 14.15 in Room ASP 1G3 at the European Parliament.[08] Louis Michel to call for faster progress in the peace talks on DarfurThe European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, will call all parties for more progress in the peace talks on Darfur, in a series of high level meetings with the UN, the African Union, the USA and the Sudanese Government, today in Brussels.[09] Autre matériel diffuséBackground note on European energy researchBSE : Lifting restrictions on the trade of cattle and beef from the UK - questions and answers Speech by Franco Frattini : "Forced Prostitution in the framework of world sports events" at seminar in the EP Speech by Janez Potočnik : "Using research to create a dynamic European rail sector" at the Annual Reception of UNIFE (Association of Railway Supply Industries) (! embargo 18h30 !) Speech by Andris Piebalgs : "Secure Energy Supplies for the Future" at
Conference on 'Synthetic Fuels' (07/03)
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 |