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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-08-01
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
01/08/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Romano Prodi congratulates Moshe Katzav
[02] Les scientifiques publient leurs conclusions finales sur le risque
g�ographique d'ESB
[03] WTO rules in favour of EU against the US on wheat gluten
[04] Commission publishes 2000 report on US trade barriers
[05] Commission authorises acquisition of Assidom�n paper and packaging
companies by Mondi/Frantschach
[06] La Commission autorise la cr�ation d'une entreprise commune de
t�l�phonie mobile en Espagne
[07] Structural Funds : Commission approves Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's
operational programme under Objective 1 for the 2000-06 programming period
[08] Ethiopie: une aide humanitaire suppl�mentaire de 1,675 million d'euros
pour les victimes de la s�cheresse
[01] Romano Prodi congratulates Moshe Katzav
The President of the European Commission Romano Prodi yesterday sent the
following message to the new President of the State of Israel Moshe Katzav
: "On behalf of the Commission, and on my own behalf, allow me to extend my
congratulations upon your appointment as the 8th President of the State of
Israel. As a leader with close connections to the social issues affecting
your country, I feel sure that your Presidency will serve as a binding
force. Your appointment comes at a crucial juncture in the peace process, a
process in which the European Union has a deep interest and an ongoing
commitment. Your Presidency will play a vital role in the formidable task
of helping Israel to progress towards peace, reconciliation and co-
operation with its neighbours. As you know, Israel and the European Union
are connected by a strong network of agreements and links that will
continue to develop in the future. It goes without saying that I am always
ready, together with you, to further these close and friendly relations.
With sincere best wishes."
[02] Les scientifiques publient leurs conclusions finales sur le risque
g�ographique d'ESB
Le Comit� scientifique directeur (CSD) de l'UE a publi� aujourd'hui son
avis final sur le risque g�ographique d'ESB, ainsi que des rapports
d'�valuation d�taill�s concernant 23 pays. L'analyse repose sur un mod�le
qualitatif qui a �t� mis au point par le CSD et appliqu� � des informations
communiqu�es spontan�ment par les pays en question. Dans tous les pays o�
des cas d'ESB se sont d�j� produits (Royaume-Uni, Irlande, Belgique,
Luxembourg, Pays-Bas, France, Portugal, Suisse et Danemark), le risque
g�ographique d'ESB a eu tendance � se stabiliser ou � diminuer depuis 1994
ou 1996. Le CSD est arriv� � la conclusion que l'ESB est susceptible d'�tre
pr�sente, � des niveaux inf�rieurs aux seuils de d�tection de leurs
syst�mes de surveillance, en Italie, en Espagne et en Allemagne, et qu'elle
est improbable, quoique non exclue, en Autriche, en Finlande et en Su�de.
Aucun cas d'ESB n'a encore �t� d�couvert dans aucun des neuf pays tiers qui
ont fait l'objet d'une �valuation � ce jour, � l'exception de la Suisse. Le
CSD est parvenu � la conclusion qu'il y avait tr�s peu de chances que l'ESB
puisse �tre pr�sente en Australie, au Chili, en Norv�ge, en Nouvelle-
Z�lande, en Argentine et au Paraguay. Le CSD estime que la pr�sence de
l'ESB aux Etats-Unis et au Canada, quoique improbable, n'est cependant pas
� exclure. Le texte int�gral de l'avis, ainsi que les rapports par pays
connexes, se trouvent � l'adresse Internet suivante: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/outcome_en.html
[03] WTO rules in favour of EU against the US on wheat gluten
A WTO Panel has ruled that a US safeguard quota imposed on the import of
wheat gluten falls foul of WTO rules. In the Panel report the US wheat
gluten quota was found to have violated the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.
The Commission expects the US to comply with the ruling and withdraw the
measure, bringing to a welcome close a protracted and unnecessary trade
dispute. If the US fails to withdraw the quota, the EU will have no option
but to apply a compensatory tariff on the lucrative trade in corn gluten
feed within five days of adoption of the Panel report by the WTO's Dispute
Settlement Body.
[04] Commission publishes 2000 report on US trade barriers
The European Commission released today its sixteenth annual report on
barriers to trade and investment in the United States. The Commission
expresses its expectation that the WTO rulings on the Foreign Sales
Corporation will be implemented by 1 October 2000 and reiterates its
opposition to the so-called 'carousel' legislation. The report provides an
update on all major obstacles that EU companies face when exporting and
investing in the US. It also draws attention to persisting US unilateral
and extraterritorial legislation, abusive use of US trade policy
instruments and export subsidies. There are also many differences in the
legal and regulatory systems, leading to non-tariff barriers. The
Commission attaches the utmost importance to market access barriers in
emerging sectors, notably in information technologies.
[05] Commission authorises acquisition of Assidom�n paper and packaging
companies by Mondi/Frantschach
The European Commission has approved a merger whereby Mondi, the European
paper and packaging branch of the Anglo-American Group with its head office
in Vienna, acquires control of Frantschach AG, Vienna, and of several
European companies belonging to AssiDom�n, Sweden. The merger concerns the
paper and packaging sector, particularly industrial sacks and sack paper.
Since it is not expected that a dominant position will be created or
strengthened, the Commission has not prohibited the merger.
[06] La Commission autorise la cr�ation d'une entreprise commune de
t�l�phonie mobile en Espagne
La Commission europ�enne a approuv� la mise sur pied d'une entreprise
conjointe entre l'entreprise de construction espagnole Actividades de
Construcci�n y Servicios SA (C.A.), le groupe finlandais de t�l�communications
Sonera et la soci�t� fran�aise Vivendi, qui exploitera en Espagne des
services de t�l�phonie mobile de troisi�me g�n�ration.
[07] Structural Funds : Commission approves Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's
operational programme under Objective 1 for the 2000-06 programming period
The European Commission today approved Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's
operational programme for the coming seven years as regards Objective 1
assistance. The programme amounts to almost euro 5.5 billion, euro 2.456
billion of which will be financed by the EU's Structural Funds. The public
and private sectors will finance the remainder (to the tune of euro 1.1
billion and euro 1.93 billion respectively). The programme, which is
intended to promote the region's development and structural adjustment,
aims to create and maintain 9100-9500 jobs a year and to provide 224000
people (almost a third of the working population) with training designed to
avert the risk of unemployment.
[08] Ethiopie: une aide humanitaire suppl�mentaire de 1,675 million d'euros
pour les victimes de la s�cheresse
La Commission europ�enne a approuv� un financement suppl�mentaire de 1,675
million d'euros destin� � apporter au cours des sept prochains mois une
assistance d'urgence aux r�gions d'Ethiopie frapp�es par la s�cheresse,
dans lesquelles vit une population �valu�e � deux millions de personnes.
Les op�rations, coordonn�es par l'Office d'aide humanitaire (ECHO),
cibleront les secteurs suivants: aide alimentaire et sant�, approvisionnement
en eau et soutien logistique. Les financements d�j� mis � la disposition de
l'Ethiopie par ECHO depuis le d�but de la crise s'�l�vent � 5,29 millions
d'euros. Ce nouveau financement porte l'aide totale � 6,965 millions
d'euros. En outre, 432500 tonnes de c�r�ales seront envoy�es en Ethiopie au
titre d'une op�ration d'aide alimentaire distincte de l'UE.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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