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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-10-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commissioner Potočnik participates in the inauguration of the Large
Hadron Collider at CERN – EMBARGO 15H00
[02] International Donors' Conference for Georgia: call for wide
international support for stabilisation and growth in Georgia
[03] First visit of a European commissioner of Education & Training to
Northern Ireland
[04] To boost small enterprises standardisation needs to ‘Think small
first’
[05] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-10-21
Reference: MEX/08/1021
Date: 21/10/2008
EXME08 / 21.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
21/10/08
[01] Commissioner Potočnik participates in the inauguration of the Large
Hadron Collider at CERN – EMBARGO 15H00
In Geneva today, European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik
participates in the formal inauguration of the CERN'S Large Hadron Collider
(LHC), the world’s largest and most complex scientific instrument ever
built to study the basic constituents of matters – the fundamental
particles. Following the successful circulation of the first beam in the
LHC on 10 September, Heads of Government, Research Ministers and High
Representatives of CERN's Members and Observer States and other countries,
as well as over a thousand leading EU and international scientists will
participate in this event. While the bulk of the construction cost of LHC
was supported by CERN's Member States, the European Union has been an
active participant in the setting up and implementation of the ambitious
research programmes of the LHC, in particular through the FP6 and FP7
European Research Infrastructures and Marie Curie budgets.
[02] International Donors' Conference for Georgia: call for wide
international support for stabilisation and growth in Georgia
The European Commission and the World Bank have invited international
donors and financial institutions to a Donors' Conference for Georgia on 22
October in Brussels, which will be co chaired with the current French and
future Czech presidencies of the EU. President José Manuel Barroso will
open the conference and Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will represent the European
Commission in the discussions. The conference will call for pledges to
mobilise external assistance to support the country in the reconstruction
of damaged infrastructure, reintegration of internally displaced people and
in accelerating Georgia's recovery from the impact of the August 2008
conflict on its economy. The European Commission will present its framework
for an assistance package of up to €500 million over three years,
depending on the pace of recovery and the evolution of the Georgian
economy.
[03] First visit of a European commissioner of Education & Training to
Northern Ireland
Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Mr Ján Figel', is
visiting Northern Ireland on 22 - 23 October 2008. During his trip, he will
be meeting Sir Reg Empey MP, MLA, the Minister for Employment and Learning,
and Mr Gerry Kelly MLA, Junior minister at the Office of the First Minister
and Deputy First Minister. They will discuss education and training
priorities in EU and in Northern Ireland, including the Northern Ireland
Action Plan, key competences for lifelong learning, peer learning, learner
mobility, the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the system of
European Credit Transfer in Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), as
well as the issue of new skills for new jobs. Also on the agenda is the
issue of intercultural dialogue in Northern Ireland. The Commissioner will
also visit 'Opportunity Europe', a two day fair and exhibition that
encourages young people to deepen their knowledge of Europe and learn other
languages through a series of fun and interactive workshops. The
Commissioner will also visit Hazelwood Integrated College, which brings
together children, parents and teachers from both Roman Catholic and
Protestant traditions in Northern Ireland. Integrated colleges aim to
provide a balanced education, and provide pupils with the opportunity to
understand and respect all cultural and religious backgrounds.
[04] To boost small enterprises standardisation needs to ‘Think small
first’
Standardisation is an excellent tool for cooperation among companies to
facilitate international trade, competition and the acceptance of
innovations by markets. But not every enterprise benefits equally from
standardisation. A key challenge for European standardisation is to
strengthen its contribution to the competitiveness of Small and Medium
Sized Enterprises (SMEs), providing them with better access to easier-to-
use standards and increasing the involvement of SMEs in standards-making.
These issues were in the focus of the discussions at a conference organised
today by the 2008 French Presidency of the European Union in cooperation
with the European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-
General to mark World Standards Day 2008. Reference in EU legislation to
voluntary standards is widely considered a successful example of better
regulation. Examples of this approach are found in many sectors such as
telecommunications, machinery and medical devices. Voluntary
standardisation is also very important for the smooth introduction of
innovative products and services in open markets. More information
[05] Autre matériel diffusé
• Speech by Commissioner Rehn on Serbian Business and European
Integration, Brussels
• Speech by President Barroso on Results of the European Council,
Strasbourg
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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