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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-02-26
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
Midday Express 26/02/2001
[01] Adoption du premier tableau de bord sur la politique sociale
La Commission europ�enne a adopt� le premier tableau de bord sur la mise en
oeuvre de l'agenda pour la politique sociale. Cette communication fait
partie int�grante du dossier que la Commission pr�sentera au sommet de
Stockholm � la fin du mois prochain et concorde avec le rapport de synth�se
annuel "Tirer le meilleur parti du potentiel de l'Union europ�enne :
consolidation et extension de la strat�gie de Lisbonne" du 7 f�vrier (voir
IP/01/170). Le tableau de bord pr�sente les mesures concr�tes d�j� prises
dans les domaines de l'emploi et des affaires sociales en vue du renouveau
�conomique et social.
[02] Zones de protection sp�ciale pour les oiseaux sauvages : la Commission
intervient contre la France et l'Espagne
La Commission europ�enne a d�cid� de saisir la Cour de justice europ�enne
d'un recours contre la France et d'envoyer un avis motiv� (deuxi�me lettre
d'avertissement) � l'Espagne pour ne pas avoir d�sign� un nombre suffisant
de zones de protection sp�ciale conform�ment � la Directive de l'Union
europ�enne sur les oiseaux sauvages. A propos de ces d�cisions, Mme Margot
Wallstr�m, le membre de la Commission charg� de l'environnement, a d�clar�
: "La mise en place d'un r�seau communautaire comprenant suffisamment de
zones de protection sp�ciale pour les oiseaux sauvages compte parmi les
priorit�s de la Commission pour pr�server la biodiversit� en Europe. Nous
engageons d�s lors des actions en justice contre plusieurs Etats membres,
dont la France et l'Espagne. La Commission doit tenir compte du fait que la
disparition d'habitats a contribu� � un grave d�clin des populations de
nombreuses esp�ces vuln�rables d'oiseaux sauvages".
[03] Genetically Modified Micro-organisms : Commission moves against ten
Member States
The European Commission has decided to send a Reasoned Opinion (second
warning letter) to France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the United
Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Spain and Austria for their failure to
communicate implementing legislation for the Directive on laboratory use of
Genetically Modified Micro-Organisms. Commenting on the decisions,
Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstr�m said : "I am disappointed that so
many Member States have still not implemented this high profile Directive
more than 6 months after the deadline".
[04] Commission approves acquisition of the food division of CSM by Heinz
The European Commission has approved the acquisition by the US global food
products company Heinz Co of the Dutch and Belgian food products
subsidiaries of CSM of the Netherlands.
[05] EU signs trade facilitation agreements with Hungary and Czech Republic
The European Union today signed trade facilitation agreements with Hungary
and the Czech Republic. The agreements were signed on behalf of the EU by
European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and Swedish Trade Minister Leif
Pagrotsky. The agreements, known as Protocols to the European Agreements on
Conformity Assessment (PECAs), extend certain benefits of the EU's single
market to candidate countries for the first time. They are the first step
towards establishing the EU Single Market in industrial sectors for which
Hungary and the Czech Republic have aligned their legislation with that of
the EU.
[06] Council adopts Rapid Reaction Mechanism - Commission now in position
to intervene fast in civilian crisis management
The General Affairs Council adopted today a European Commission proposal
for a Regulation for the establishment of a Rapid Reaction Mechanism. This
mechanism is designed to enhance the EU's civilian capacity to intervene
fast and effectively in crisis situations in third countries. It will
provide the flexibility to mobilise Community instruments to be deployed
quickly, whenever necessary. Commissioner for External Relations Chris
Patten said : "Conflict prevention and crisis management are at the heart
of the EU's Foreign and Security Policy agenda. The new Rapid Reaction
Mechanism will act as a catalyser, allowing us to mobilise resources within
hours or days rather than weeks or months. We will now be in a better
position to organise and support the mobilisation of Member States civilian
experts (in areas such as mine clearence, customs, mediation, training of
police or judges) in crisis situations. In times of urgent needs we cannot
anymore afford the luxury to be bogged down by bureaucratic constraints and
deliver Community instruments with unnecessary delays."
[07] Council adopts Regulation promoting cooperation and commercial
relations with industrialised countries
The European Commission welcomed today the adoption by the General Affairs
Council of a Regulation concerning the implementation of projects promoting
cooperation and commercial relations between the EU and the industrialised
countries. Under the Regulation, the Commission will be able to implement
projects in the context of the New Transatlantic Agenda with the US and
other cooperation projects with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the
Republic of Korea and Japan. In particular the establishment of EU centres
in the partner countries and the promotion of people-to-people links are
envisaged. In addition, the Regulation establishes a legal basis for the
continuation of the Commission's trade promotion programmes with Japan,
notably the long-standing flagship 'Executive Training Programme' in Japan
and the 'EU Gateway to Japan' export promotion campaign. External Relations
Commissioner Chris Patten said : "The Regulation fills a major gap in the
European Union's external relations legislation. Due to the lack of a legal
framework to support the implementation of cooperation projects we have not
been able to respond to the growing need for closer cooperation with some
of our closest partners. This situation has now been remedied and allows us
to engage in a range of new fields, going beyond traditional activities in
relations between States."
[08] New Eurobarometer survey on entrepreneurial attitudes in Europe and
the US
Though most Europeans would rather be self-employed than work for others,
they are much more reluctant than Americans to start their own businesses.
This is one of the key findings of a Flash Eurobarometer survey of 8200 EU
and US citizens on "entrepreneurship", undertaken for the European
Commission. These findings, presented by Enterprise and Information Society
Commissioner Erkki Liikanen at an informal conference of EU Industry
Ministers in Manchester on 20-21 February 2001, are fuelling discussion
among Member States on how best to improve framework conditions for
entrepreneurship in Europe. Fostering entrepreneurship is part of the EU's
Enterprise Europe strategy, agreed at the Lisbon summit in March 2000, to
help make Europe the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy
in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better
jobs and greater social cohesion. A key factor in Europeans' reluctance to
create a business is their general attitude towards risk taking. While most
Europeans and Americans say people who start their own business and fail
should be given a second chance many more Europeans than Americans feel
that one should not start a business if there is a risk it might fail. The
survey also sheds new light on issues such as the perceived difficulties of
setting up a business, the image of entrepreneurs in society and social
support for entrepreneurs from their families. This is the first survey to
offer comparable data on attitudes that help shape the "entrepreneurial
climate" for all 15 EU Member States and the USA. The data also provide raw
material for a more detailed analysis of attitudes among people of
different ages and both sexes. Highlights from the survey, an analytical
report (French and English only) and the basic data can be downloaded at :
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/enterprise_policy/survey/eurobarometer83.htm
[09] Margot Wallstr�m calls for "new ways of working" in environmental
policy
(! embargo 1.30 pm !) European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstr�m
today called for "new ways of working" in environmental policy in a speech
at the Centre for European Reform in Brussels. Against the background of
the Commission's recent proposal for a 6th Environmental Action Programme,
she stressed the need for applying innovative approaches to greening the
market place and promoting information and awareness. "The new
environmental agenda is an agenda based on inventiveness in terms of new
instruments and methods. It is on this ground that we should all set out
our stall", she said. Turning to the ways in which environmental policy is
designed, she announced "a new style of policy-making based on
participation and sound knowledge." This would lead to "greater
understanding and commitment" from stakeholders. Mrs Wallstr�m is convinced
that the development of an EU sustainable development strategy will put the
environment "at the very centre of EU policy-making."
[10] Fusions approuv�es selon la proc�dure simplifi�e
- Sanmina Corporation (USA) / AB Segerstr�m & Svensson (Sweden)
- BASFAktiengesellschaft (DE) / Bertschi AG (Switzerland) / Hoyer GmbH (DE)
/ VTG-Lehnkering AG (DE) / JV
[11] Autre mat�riel diffus� Discours de M. Monti : "Competition and Sport
Rules of the Games" � la Governance in Sport Conference
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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