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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-10-20

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] EU calls on social partners to join the flexicurity debate
  • [02] Commission proposes an EU strategy for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa
  • [03] Liban: la Commission alloue une nouvelle aide humanitaire de €30 millions pour les victimes du conflit
  • [04] Picture of EU telecoms landscape virtually complete
  • [05] Commission urges Iceland to reconsider its decision to resume commercial whaling
  • [06] La Commission autorise le projet de rachat d'Eneco Energia par Edison
  • [07] Commission clears acquisition of GMAC by Cerberus
  • [08] GM rice : Commission to propose strict counter testing of US rice imports
  • [09] Danuta Hübner participe à la Conférence des Présidents des Régions ultrapériphériques, en Guadeloupe
  • [10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to visit Moscow (23/10)
  • [11] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2006-10-20 Reference: MEX/06/1020 Date: 20/10/2006 EXME06/ 20.10

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    20/10/06


  • [01] EU calls on social partners to join the flexicurity debate

    European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, together with Commissioner Vladimír `pidla and Member States' representatives called on employers' and workers' organisations to participate actively in the debate on flexicurity. The informal Tripartite Social Summit was organised jointly by the Finnish Presidency and the Commission to encourage high-level trade union and employer representatives to examine ways of combining active labour market policies, flexible contractual arrangements, lifelong learning and social protection. It was the first opportunity for the social partners to provide input to discussions on flexicurity at the European level.

    [02] Commission proposes an EU strategy for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa

    The European Commission has adopted today an "EU partnership for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa". This strategy sets out a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention in the Horn of Africa, tackling the root causes of instability, and provides a political framework for concrete regional initiatives and for structured dialogue between partners. The Horn of Africa is one of the poorest and most conflict prone regions in the world. The protracted border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the Somalia crisis and the Sudanese and Northern Uganda conflicts have a negative impact on the region as a whole and broader international ramifications. Cross-border dynamics, such as illegal migration and trafficking of arms, drugs and refugee flows, are factors contributing to regional instability. An uncontrolled, politically neglected, economically marginalised and environmentally damaged Horn has the potential to undermine the region and the EU broad stability and security.

    [03] Liban: la Commission alloue une nouvelle aide humanitaire de €30 millions pour les victimes du conflit

    La Commission européenne vient d'allouer une aide humanitaire supplémentaire de €30 millions pour les victimes du conflit au Liban. Cette aide vise à répondre aux besoins de réhabilitation des personnes retournées dans leur région d'origine. Cette nouvelle décision porte à €50 millions le montant global de l'aide humanitaire versé par la Commission dans le cadre du conflit au Liban. Les fonds transitent par le Service d'aide humanitaire de la Commission européenne (ECHO), placé sous la responsabilité du Commissaire Louis Michel.

    [04] Picture of EU telecoms landscape virtually complete

    With its letter dated 19 October 2006 to the Greek telecom regulator (EETT), the European Commission has, as of today, assessed 500 notifications from Member States reviewing competition in their electronic communications markets. EETT's notification concerned low speed narrowband access to fixed telephone networks in Greece. With this 500th notification, the Commission now has a clearer picture of the state of competition in all Member States, in time for the review of the regulatory framework.

    [05] Commission urges Iceland to reconsider its decision to resume commercial whaling

    Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg regret, on behalf of the European Commission, that Iceland has decided to resume commercial whaling. The EU is strongly committed to the conservation of whales. The Commission said: "If it was simply a matter for the EU to decide, all commercial whaling would be abandoned once for all. Whales are a fragile component in the biological equilibrium of marine fauna, already threatened by the unwarranted resumption of whaling, and by other human activities, mainly pollution". Accordingly, the level of protection of whales in the EU is high and EU legislation bans commercial whaling. The Commission strongly supports the general moratorium on whaling decided within the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which is fully implemented by the European Union, and sees no valid reason for its termination. The EU has observer status at the IWC and will make the best use of this. The EU is resolved to spare no efforts to ensure that whale species are effectively protected worldwide.

    [06] La Commission autorise le projet de rachat d'Eneco Energia par Edison

    La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations, le projet de concentration par lequel Edison SpA, une société italienne active dans le secteur du gaz et de l'électricité en Italie, compte acquérir le contrôle exclusif d'Eneco Energia S.p.A., une société italienne spécialisée dans la fourniture au détail d'électricité en Italie. La Commission a conclu que l'opération envisagée n'entraverait pas de manière significative l'exercice d'une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.

    [07] Commission clears acquisition of GMAC by Cerberus

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) of the US by Cerberus Group (Cerberus) also of the US. Cerberus is active in investment in real property and personal property worldwide and is ultimately controlled by Mr Stephen A. Feinberg. GMAC is active in the EEA in vehicle related activities such as loan and leasing finance, reinsurance, second hand vehicle sales and fleet management services and in financial services and employee relocation services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [08] GM rice : Commission to propose strict counter testing of US rice imports

    The European Commission will table a Decision imposing mandatory counter testing for unauthorised GMOs in all imports of US long grain rice, at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain next Monday. The decision follows the lack of agreement by the US authorities to a common sampling and testing protocol which would ensure a high level of consistency and accuracy in the tests for the unauthorised GM rice LLRICE601 in consignments to the EU. The measures are being taken in response to findings four weeks ago of LLRICE601 in shipments of US long grain rice, despite the rice having been certified as free from this unauthorised GMO.

    [09] Danuta Hübner participe à la Conférence des Présidents des Régions ultrapériphériques, en Guadeloupe

    Danuta Hübner, Commissaire européenne en charge de la Politique régionale, participe à la XIIème Conférence des Présidents des Régions ultrapériphériques, en Guadeloupe, les 19 et 20 octobre 2006. Cette année, la conférence donne l'occasion aux régions ultrapériphériques de faire le point sur leurs problématiques communes. Elle se tient sous la présidence de M. Victorin Lurel (président du Conseil Régional de Guadeloupe), en présence des représentants de la Réunion, de la Martinique, de la Guyane, des Canaries, des Açores et de Madère. "La meilleure façon pour ces régions, de tirer parti de leur position géographique, est de développer des projets de coopération avec leurs voisins", a indiqué la Commissaire au cours de la Conférence.

    [10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to visit Moscow (23/10)

    European Commissioner for External Relations and Euoprean Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will travel to Moscow for meetings on 23rd October with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and President Putin's Special Representative for the EU, Sergey Yastrzhembski. During her visit she will join Minister Lavrov and and Mr Yastrzhembski in an opening ceremony to inaugurate a new EuropeanStudies Institute jointly funded by the EU and Russia. This new institute will offer a one year Master's programme, as well as shorter courses, to enhance understanding of the EU in the Russian Federation. 50 students are already enrolled for this first academic year, and the numbers are expected to rise to 200 in future years.

    [11] Autre matériel diffusé

    Note on preparation of Environment Council (23/10, Luxembourg)

    Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Harmonisation and Better Regulation" at Irish Brokers Association Lunch (Dublin, ! embargo 14h00 !)

    Discours de Mme Hübner à la XXIIème Conférence des Présidents des Régions Ultrapériphériques (19/10, Guadeloupe)

    Calendrier du 23 au 27 octobre 2006 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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