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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-08-11
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement of President Barroso on Lebanon
[02] EU assists Lebanon in managing the environmental impact of the Middle
East crisis
[03] Statement by Vice-President Franco Frattini on tackling of migration
flows to the Canary Islands
[04] Commission publishes updated crop yield forecast: July heat waves and
drought reduce European crop yields
[05] Rédiffusion
[06] Joint declaration by Vi-President Franco Frattini and Vice-President
Jacques Barrot
[07] Drought: Use of set aside land for animal feed allowed in a more
Member States
[08] Statement by Commission Spokesperson: Receipt of letter from Spanish
authorities on Eon/Endesa merger
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-08-11
Reference: MEX/06/0811
Date: 11/08/2006
EXME06 / 11.8
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
11/08/06
[01] Statement of President Barroso on Lebanon
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said: "The
EU is continuing its efforts to respond effectively to the needs of this
terrible conflict. Commissioner Louis Michel will be visiting the region
next week to assess the situation on the ground and address the urgent and
critical issue of safe and unhindered humanitarian access with both the
Lebanese and Israeli authorities. First and foremost, hostilities must
cease immediately. So far at least 1011 Lebanese, many of them civilians,
and 116 Israelis have been killed in this conflict. Humanitarian assistance
must urgently reach the civilian population, which has suffered too much
during this conflict. The EU has already committed and pledged more than
€100 million in humanitarian aid for the Lebanese population. For this
aid to reach the people in need - and this includes the hundreds of
thousands of internally displaced families - safe and unhindered access is
essential. All parties must assume their responsibilities and allow
humanitarian assistance to reach the civilian population safely and
promptly. High Representative Solana's mission to the region is also a
reflection of the EU's continued engagement. Furthermore, Commissioner
Benita Ferrero-Waldner will continue to participate actively in all
diplomatic efforts towards a lasting solution. Finally, the EU stands ready
to support rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, once conditions
allow. Following the Rome conference in the last week of July, the
Commission is already preparing for the provision of assistance for the
revival of Lebanon. Important steps towards ending this conflict must be
taken. Both Lebanese and Israelis alike deserve a life in peace, and the EU
will do its utmost to help to make it possible.
[02] EU assists Lebanon in managing the environmental impact of the Middle
East crisis
The European Commission is in the forefront of efforts to tackle the oil
pollution along the Lebanese coast. The Lebanese authorities sought
assistance through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. In response,
the Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) dispatched three
experts to Beirut to assist the Lebanese authorities in the assessment of
the situation and the preparation of the clean-up operations. Several
tonnes of specialist equipment are being sent to help Lebanon manage the
consequences of this environmental disaster.
[03] Statement by Vice-President Franco Frattini on tackling of migration
flows to the Canary Islands
"I have just been informed by Director-General Ilka Laitinen of FRONTEX[1]
that the joint sea operation on tackling migration flows to the Canary
Islands, HERA-II, is ready to be launched. This is truly a historic moment
in the history of EU immigration policies and a very tangible expression of
EU solidarity amongst Member states. This is the “solidarity in action”
I promised to the government and citizens of Spain, and those of the Canary
Islands in particular, and this is the kind of support the governments and
citizens from Malta and Italy also receive in addressing their specific
migration pressures. The second stage of a Mediterranean border control
operation, entitled Jason, will also be launched as soon as possible. These
operations are not about building “Fortress Europe”, these operation
have a humanitarian character, aiming at saving lives at sea, as well as
reducing illegal immigration and combating trafficking in human beings, a
crime from which only traffickers benefit. These operations furthermore
form part and parcel of a wider EU comprehensive approach in addressing
migration, in particular migration from Africa. Except for measures in
addressing illegal immigration, this approach also includes exploring
possibilities for legal migration, aims at avoiding “brain drain”, so
detrimental to countries of origin, and rather to look at engaging migrants
in the further development of their country, and includes programmes to
assist refugees getting access to international protection sooner and
closer to their needs. The operations are also fully in line with the Rabat
Action Plan on a Euro-African Partnership for Migration and Development, 56
countries of origin, transit and destination agreed upon last month in
Rabat, which also includes cooperation in the fight against illegal
immigration. I am extremely grateful to the governments of the various
Member States involved in this particular operation for their assistance,
knowledge and equipment offered. This is what Europe is about."
[04] Commission publishes updated crop yield forecast: July heat waves and
drought reduce European crop yields
An updated analysis by the European Commission, through its advanced crop
yield forecasting system, shows that the particularly hot weather in July
has significantly affected this year’s EU crops productions. Compared to
the previous analysis performed at the end of June, the European crop
monitoring system now depicts a further reduction of crops. In comparison
with the 2005 campaign, the main crop yields affected are: soft wheat (-
4.0%), winter barley (-2.0%), grain maize (-5.1%), potato (-4.3%) and sugar
beet (-3.0%). The total cereal production is expected to be about 9 M
tonnes (-3.6%) even lower than 2005’s reduced yields. In terms of
production, Germany, Poland, UK, France and Italy appear to be most
affected. Compared to the 2003 drought, the geographic area affected by the
yield reduction is greater, whereas the overall loss in production is less
severe.
[05] Rédiffusion
[06] Joint declaration by Vi-President Franco Frattini and Vice-President
Jacques Barrot
Following this mornings events in the United Kingdom in regard to the
disruption of a major terrorist plot, the European Commission has been in
close and continuous contact with the UK authorities. Vice-President Franco
Frattini has congratulated his colleague Home Secretary John Reid and
British authorities on the police and intelligence work undertaken, which
seems to have been very effective and saved many lives "Today’s events",
Vice-President Frattini stated, "show once more that terrorism is a
continuous and global threat in Europe and in other parts of the world,
which calls for a constant, concerted response from all European countries,
institutions and peoples. The European Union's counter-terrorism policies
in all its dimensions, including prevention, protection, prosecution and
response, will be implemented with full vigour to this end". Vice-President
Barrot welcomed the quick Europe-wide reaction to coordinate air traffic
management through Eurocontrol, which has prevented flights from taking off
to Heathrow airport. On a case by case basis Eurocontrol, in full
concertation with UK authorities, also helped to reroute European flights
already on their way to Heathrow. Vice -President Barrot stated: "the
aviation industry had shown great solidarity in very difficult
circumstances".
[07] Drought: Use of set aside land for animal feed allowed in a more
Member States
After agreeing to authorise farmers affected by severe drought to use set
aside land for animal feed purposes in nine Member States at the end of
July, the European Commission has now responded positively to similar
demands from five other Member States: Ireland, the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, Denmark and Slovenia. Normally the agricultural use of set-aside
areas is allowed only from 31 August onwards but due to the heatwave in the
last weeks, the animal feed growing on these areas would dry up before it
could be used.
[08] Statement by Commission Spokesperson: Receipt of letter from Spanish
authorities on Eon/Endesa merger
I can confirm that the European Commission has today received an answer to
the letter it sent to the Spanish authorities on 3 August 2006. The letter
from the Commission, based on Article 21 of the Merger Regulation,
requested clarifications to the decision taken by the CNE (Spanish Energy
Regulator) on the Eon/Endesa case. The services of the Commission will now
examine in detail the reply from the Spanish authorities. The European
Commission will not comment on the content of the letter before it has
finished its assessment.
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Updated crop yield forecasts for 2006 and analysis of drought effects
Rediffusion « Commission activities in the fight against
terrorism
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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