|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-01-28
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
28/01/97
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Mario Monti welcomes moves towards tax coordination
[02] Social legislation: state of transposition
[03] Football Against Racism - Commission and UEFA cooperate
[04] Entraves aux �changes: proc�dures d'infraction contre la France,
l'Italie, la Belgique, l'Allemagne et l'Espagne
[05] A new round of negotiations with South Africa
[06] Pr�sentation du premier volume de l'inventaire structur� des dossiers
de la Haute Autorit� de la CECA
[07] Augmentation de l'exc�dent commercial de l'UE avec les pays de la
M�diterran�e
[01] Mario Monti welcomes moves towards tax coordination
Taxation Commissioner Mario Monti today welcomed the willingness expressed
by Finance Ministers to examine the possibilites of coordinating taxation
policies in response to the Commission's programme presented yesterday at
the Council of Ministers of Economic and Financial Affairs. Several
Ministers underlined the need to define common rules of good conduct as to
contain unfair tax competition. Mr Monti has been stepping up pressure
towards tax harmonisation in line with the orientations endorsed by the
European Council in Dublin in December 1996. He wrote to Finance Ministers
last week asking each of them to nominate two personal representatives as
members of the Taxation Policy Group. This group was endorsed by the
European Council and will be chaired by the Commission. Mr Monti will
insist on the need for the Group to reach operation conclusions on priority
issues such as the definition of a code of conduct to limit unfair tax
competition, a common framework for taxation of capital income and, with
particular urgency, measures to eliminate tax obstacles to the Single
Market.
[02] Social legislation: state of transposition
A survey of the state of play regarding the transposition of European
Directives in the social field into national law shows that only Finland, a
new Member State, has a 100% record. To date, 54 Directives have been
adopted in the social field, of which 50 have come into force, the
remaining four Directives coming into force before the end of 1999. Sweden,
Germany, Denmark and United Kingdom have communicated that they have 96% of
the legislation in place, the Netherlands 94%, France and Austria 90%.
Member States scoring less than 90% are Luxembourg and Ireland (86%),
Belgium, Greece and Portugal (82%), Italy (78%) and Spain (72%).
Commenting on the situation, Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner
Padraig Flynn insisted on the need for additional efforts to be made by
Member States which are lagging behind.
[03] Football Against Racism - Commission and UEFA cooperate
For the first time ever, a European All-Star team will play an All-Star
African team. This historic match is being played in the framework of the
European Year Against Racism 1997, on the basis of cooperation between the
European Commission and UEFA. It will be the first big sport event
dedicated to the spirit of the Year. This match will take place in Lisbon,
Portugal, on Wednesday 29 January at 21h15. It will be broadcast by a
number of television stations in Europe (RTP in Portugal, TVE in Spain, RTL
in Germany, RTI in Italy, Mega Channel in Greece and Star TV in Turkey).
It will also be shown by national broadcasters in the majority of African
countries, including SABC in South Africa, and by the international network
of American broadcaster, ESPN. The key message of the event is that racism
has no place in sport and football.
[04] Entraves aux �changes: proc�dures d'infraction contre la France,
l'Italie, la Belgique, l'Allemagne et l'Espagne
Suite � des plaintes, la Commission europ�enne a d�cid� d'envoyer des avis
motiv�s (la deuxi�me �tape de la proc�dure d'infraction en vertu de
l'article 169 du Trait� CE) contre la France (deux cas), l'Italie, la
Belgique, l'Allemagne et l'Espagne (deux cas) pour des entraves � la libre
circulation des biens en violation du Trait� CE (Article 30). Ces r�gles
interdisent toutes restrictions quantitatives � l'importation, ainsi que
toute mesure d'effet �quivalent. Il s'agit des entraves � l'importation de
boissons alcoolis�s (France), de produits de caoutchouc en contact des
denr�es alimentaires (France), de crochets de remorque (Italie), des
denr�es alimentaires enrichis de nutriments (Belgique), de produits
di�t�tiques pour nourrissons (Allemagne), des denr�es alimentaires avec
additifs (Espagne) et de th� en vrac (Espagne). En l'absence d'une r�ponse
satisfaisante dans un d�lai de deux mois suivant la r�ception de l'avis
motiv� par l'Etat membre en question, la Commission pourrait saisir la Cour
de justice.
[05] A new round of negotiations with South Africa
On 24-26 January 1997 representatives of the Republic of South Africa and
the European Commission met in Pretoria to continue negotiations towards a
long term framework for co-operation. The delegation of the European
Commission was led by Director General Mr Philippe Soubestre. The South
African team was led by the Republic's Ambassador to the EU, Dr. Elias
Links. Discussions centered on a trade and development agreement, improved
market access and the South African intention to accede to the Lom�
Convention. Negotiations will continue in the coming months and the next
round will be held in Brussels in February 1997.
[06] Pr�sentation du premier volume de l'inventaire structur� des dossiers
de la Haute Autorit� de la CECA
Le premier volume de l'inventaire structur� des dossiers de la Haute
Autorit� de la CECA publi� par l'OPOCE (Office des Publications officielles
des Communaut�s europ�ennes), sera pr�sent� � Jacques Santer, Pr�sident de
la Commission europ�enne, le 30 janvier 1997. Les dossiers de la Haute
Autorit� constituent un ensemble couvrant la p�riode de 1952 � 1967 qui
vient d'�tre rendu public dans son enti�ret�. Afin de rendre ces dossiers
plus accessibles, les Archives Historiques de la Commission europ�enne ont
entrepris de publier une s�rie de cinq volumes d'inventaires structur�s.
Les deux premiers volumes contiennent les dossiers des services horizontaux
de la Haute Autorit� et donneront un aper�u g�n�ral de ses activit�s. Les
volumes trois et quatre contiendront les dossiers des services sp�cialis�s
(charbon, acier, transport, etc) tandis que le cinqui�me volume contiendra
les dossiers des services administratifs.
[07] Augmentation de l'exc�dent commercial de l'UE avec les pays de la
M�diterran�e
L'exc�dent commercial de l'Union europ�enne (UE) avec les 13 pays de la
M�diterran�e a augment� pour atteindre un niveau de 13,7 milliards d'Ecus
en 1995, selon un rapport publi� aujourd'hui par l'Office statistique des
Communaut�s europ�ennes. En 1994, l'exc�dent a atteint 10,4 milliards
d'Ecus. Le rapport souligne que les relations commerciales avec la
M�diterran�e sont d'une importance majeure pour l'UE m�me si leur part dans
le total des relations ext�rieures de l'UE a baiss� quelque peu durant les
ann�es r�centes. En 1995, leur part dans toutes les importations et
exportations de l'UE s'est �tablie respectivement � 9,3% et 7,2%. En 1995,
les importations de l'UE en provenance des pays de la M�diterran�e ont
progress� de 4% par rapport � 1994; les exportations vers ces pays ont
augment� de 10%.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
