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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-01-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission announces €30 million for joint research programming in
metrology and the Baltic ecosystem
[02] Slovenia: Official Launch of the European Year of Intercultural
Dialogue
[03] Safety of humanitarian aid workers following recent events in Burundi
and Somalia
[04] Flash estimate – December 2007
[05] Rediffusion
[06] Telecoms: Commission supports new efforts of the Belgian telecoms
regulator to enhance competition in the broadband market and asks for
speedy and effective action
[07] Commission sees need for a stronger more consumer-friendly Single
Market for Online Music, Films and Games in Europe
[08] Cypriots and Maltese quickly starting to use the euro
[09] From Afghanistan to Uganda: Commission earmarks nearly €370 million
in aid to humanitarian hotspots around the globe for 2008
[10] Commission on Kenyan elections
Midday Express of 2008-01-04
Reference: MEX/08/0104
Date: 04/01/2008
EXME08 / 04.01
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
04/01/08
[01] Commission announces €30 million for joint research programming in
metrology and the Baltic ecosystem
The Commission announced that it will contribute 30 € million to two new
and important joint programming activities involving a substantial number
of Member States (MS). These activities will ultimately result in a
considerable number of MS organising joint calls in the areas of metrology
and the Baltic sea. These actions, known as ERANet-Plus and developed under
the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), will help to structure the European
Research Area and enhance the scale of Europe's common research efforts.
iMERA-Plus, bringing together 32 national metrology institutions, will
receive €21m from FP7, with Member States contributing a further €42 to
carry out research into precise and reliable measurements. The European
Commission will also allocate €9 million to BONUS+, a research programme
to develop an ecosystem-based approach to management of the Baltic Sea,
which will involve 8 Member States that border the Baltic, and Russia. The
countries concerned will contribute a further €18.7 million.
[02] Slovenia: Official Launch of the European Year of Intercultural
Dialogue
The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 will be launched in
Ljubljana on 8 January by the Commission President José Manuel Barroso and
the Slovene Prime Minister Janez Janša. This will be preceded on 7 January
by a conference, also in Ljubljana, entitled "Intercultural Dialogue as the
Fundamental Value of the EU" in the presence of Commissioners Ján Figel'
and Jánez Potočnik. The events in Ljubljana kick off a multitude of
activities across Europe, and throughout the year, which will emphasise
interaction of cultures, deepening of relations between nationalities and
religions, and promoting through dialogue a strengthening of understanding,
tolerance, solidarity and a sense of common destiny among EU citizens from
all walks of life.
[03] Safety of humanitarian aid workers following recent events in Burundi
and Somalia
Louis Michel, the European Commissioner For Development and Humanitarian
Aid, has reiterated his concern for the safety of humanitarian aid workers,
following recent events in Burundi and Somalia.
[04] Flash estimate – December 2007
Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 3.1% in December 2007
according to a flash estimate issued today by Eurostat. It was 3.1% in
November.
[05] Rediffusion
[06] Telecoms: Commission supports new efforts of the Belgian telecoms
regulator to enhance competition in the broadband market and asks for
speedy and effective action
The Commission has today recognised the recent efforts made by the Belgian
telecoms regulator, IBPT (Institut Belge des services postaux et des
télécommunications) to enhance broadband competition in the Belgian
market by making the regulation more effective. In a letter sent today, the
Commission asks IBPT to reinforce the provisions allowing new entrants to
use the local network of the historical incumbent operator to provide
broadband services to end users (local loop unbundling) with a view to
promoting sustainable infrastructure-based competition. The Commission also
asks the Belgian telecoms regulator to closely examine the level of
competition for broadband services in the end-user market.
[07] Commission sees need for a stronger more consumer-friendly Single
Market for Online Music, Films and Games in Europe
The European Commission has decided today to give a new boost to Europe's
online content sector. EU citizens should be able to enjoy easier and
faster access to a rich variety of music, TV programmes, films or games via
the Internet, mobile phones or other devices. The Commission therefore
encourages the content industry, telecoms companies and Internet service
providers to work closely together to make available more content online,
while at the same time ensuring a robust protection of intellectual
property rights. The Commission also wants to facilitate copyright licences
for online content covering the territory of several or all of the EU
Member States. According to Commission studies, a truly Single Market
without borders for Creative Online Content could strengthen considerably
the competitiveness of Europe's music, film and games industry and allow
retail revenues of the sector to quadruple by 2010 if clear and consumer-
friendly measures are taken by industry and public authorities (see
IP/07/95).
[08] Cypriots and Maltese quickly starting to use the euro
Cyprus and Malta adopted the euro on 1 January. All available evidence
suggests that the changeover operation is proceeding very smoothly and
without any noteworthy incidents. On 2 January, a significant number of
cash transactions were already carried out in euro in both countries, and
around 40% of citizens had only or mostly euro cash in their wallets and
purses.
[09] From Afghanistan to Uganda: Commission earmarks nearly €370 million
in aid to humanitarian hotspots around the globe for 2008
The European Commission has earmarked €369.6 million in humanitarian aid
to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable victims of humanitarian
crises around the globe. A series of humanitarian aid decisions has been
launched to provide food assistance (€160 million) and humanitarian aid
to people in need in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan (€25 million),
Colombia (€12 million), as well as the following African countries:
Burundi and Tanzania (€20 million), Chad (€17 million), Democratic
Republic of Congo (€30 million), Liberia (€15.6 million), Sudan (€70
million) and Uganda (€12 million). €8 million is being provided for a
dedicated humanitarian air transport service (ECHO Flight). EU Member
States have already approved the Commission proposals for these aid plans
and they are now being submitted to the European Parliament for scrutiny.
[10] Commission on Kenyan elections
The European Commission notes with satisfaction the high turn-out at the
elections, which shows that Kenyians are eager to consolidate and
participate in the democratic process. Kenyans have clearly wanted to use
their vote to have their say in the country's future. The Commission is
pleased how they have organized the preparations for the elections and have
participated in the elections.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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