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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 09-02-03Midday 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
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb03/02/09[01] High quality industrial relations can help EU face crisisA European Commission report published today shows that structured dialogue between workers' and employers' representatives can help the EU face the economic crisis. High quality industrial relations are a key element in managing economic change and reducing its costs, helping workers and companies adapt to change while protecting them from transitory shocks.[02] Western Balkans: enhancing the European perspective – update 2009Progress in visa liberalisation, more scholarships, and more opportunities in research – the Commission updates its initiatives to support the political and economic development in the countries of the Western Balkans, thus helping to accelerate their progress on the road towards EU membership.[03] Aides d'État: la Commission autorise un régime temporaire français permettant d’accorder des prêts bonifiés aux entreprises fabriquant des produits vertsLa Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu des règles du traité CE sur les aides d'État, un régime offrant des prêts à taux réduits aux entreprises investissant dans la fabrication de produits verts. Cette aide s'inscrit dans la série de mesures adoptées par la France pour faire face à la crise économique actuelle. Cette aide vise en particulier à soulager les entreprises qui rencontrent des problèmes de financement en raison du resserrement du crédit, tout en facilitant leur investissement dans des produits apportant un bénéfice environnemental. Grâce à ce régime, les pouvoirs publics, en particulier les collectivités territoriales, peuvent accorder jusqu'au 31 décembre 2010 des prêts bonifiés, pour une durée de deux ans au maximum. Le régime remplit les conditions de l’encadrement temporaire de la Commission relatif aux aides d’Etat qui donne aux États membres des possibilités supplémentaires pour faciliter l’accès des entreprises au financement dans le contexte de la crise économique et financière (voir <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1993&format=HTML&aged=0&language=FR&guiLanguage=en">IP/08/1993). Il est, par conséquent, compatible avec l’article 87, paragraphe 3, alinéa b du traité CE, qui permet des aides pour remédier à une perturbation grave de l'économie d'un Etat membre.[04] Industrial producer prices down by 1.3% in euro areaIn December 2008 compared with November 2008, the industrial producer price index fell by 1.3% in the euro area (EA15) and by 1.4% in the EU27. In November, prices decreased by 2.0% in both zones. In December 2008 compared with December 2007, industrial producer prices rose by 1.8% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27. The average industrial producer price index for 2008, compared with 2007, increased by 6.2% for the euro area and by 8.1% for the EU27. These figures come from Eurostat.[05] Enregistrement de quatre dénominations de produits agricolesLa Commission européenne a ajouté quatre dénominations de produits agricoles et alimentaires à la liste des appellations d'origine protégées (AOP) et indications géographiques protégées (IGP). Il s'agit des produits italiens "Radicchio di Verona" (Radis - IGP) et "Zafferano di Sardegna" (Safran – AOP), de l'huile d'olive espagnole "Aceite de La Alcarria" (AOP) et du produit français "Huîtres Marennes Oléron" (IGP). Les quatre dénominations s'ajoutent à la liste d'environ 800 produits déjà protégés en vertu de la législation sur la protection des indications géographiques, des appellations d'origine et des spécialités traditionnelles. Des renseignements sur les produits de qualité ainsi que la liste des dénominations protégées sont disponibles sur l'internet à l'adresse: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/foodqual/quali1_fr.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/foodqual/quali1_fr.htm[06] Health effects of electromagnetic fields: Commission's Scientific Committee adopts opinionToday, the Commission's independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) publishes its opinion on possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). Due to rapid technological advances and new scientific research, the Commission asked the Committee to update its opinion from 21 March 2007. The update considered more than 200 new scientific papers yet the conclusions differ little from the earlier opinion. Based on current evidence the main conclusions remain that radio frequency fields used in wireless communication technologies are unlikely to lead to an increase in cancer in the human population at large. However, further studies are needed to clarify if long-term exposure to mobile phones (well beyond 10 years) increases cancer risk for an individual using a mobile phone frequently and to examine the effects on children. The Commission has committed research funds from the 7th research framework programme to investigate the link between mobile phones and brain cancer risk in children. Data for health effects of intermediate frequency fields used, for example, in metal detectors or anti theft devices in shops, are still lacking. This area of research is important given the increasing exposure to these products and will thus need to be continued. The updated opinion confirms the 2007 opinion that extremely low frequency fields, used in high voltage power lines might contribute to childhood leukaemia. Furthermore, the updated opinion identified 2 new epidemiological studies that indicate a possible link to Alzheimer's disease. These are serious matters and further investigation will be pursued. Given the seriousness of these issues and noting the growing public concern on this subject as well as the absence of clear scientific evidence on many questions, the Commission will hold a workshop on EMF and Health on 11 and 12 February. The workshop will bring together scientists, stakeholders and policy makers to discuss the latest scientific assessments on EMF and health and generate a constructive policy dialogue. SCENIHR Opinion: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_022.pdf">http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_022.pdf - Easy to read version of Opinion (from March 2007): <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions2/en/electromagnetic- fields/index.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions2/en/electromagnetic- fields/index.htm Workshop on EMF and health:<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/ev_20090211_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/ev_20090211_en.htm[07] Autre matériel diffusé• Memo on Industrial Relations in Europe Report• Memo Antitrust: Commission confirms inspections in high voltage power cable sector • Speech by Commissioner Kuneva on the Second Consumer Market Scoreboard, Brussels • Discours du Vice-président Tajani à l'occasion du sommet de Chefs d'État et de Gouvernement de l'Union Africaine, Addis Ababa • Speech by Commissioner Borg at the launch of Google Ocean, Brussels • Speech by Commissioner McCreevy at the European Parliament Committee on
Economic and Monetary Affairs, Strasbourg
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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