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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-10-21Midday 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
[01] Statement of Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, on the results of the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty (20/10)"I am delighted that the Irish people have voted to approve the Nice Treaty. I would like to pay personal tribute to the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, for the personal energy and commitment he has put into obtaining this very positive outcome, thereby making a substantial contribution to the historic mission of enlargement. We can now get on with finalising preparations for enlargement of the European Union. We will meet at a summit in Brussels next week to consider the issues which remain open. We are closer to our goal, but not there yet. "[02] Commission clears purchase by Johnson Control of Varta's stake in an automotive battery venture with BoschThe European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition by US company Johnson Control, Inc (JCI) of Varta AG's stake in the VB Autobatterien GmbH automotive battery joint venture with Bosch. The Commission has concluded that JCI's replacement of Varta in the venture would not significantly reduce competition, including in Germany where both VB and Bosch are based.[03] Commission asks Member States to comply with EU waste legislationThe European Commission has formally requested that France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Finland adopt national laws concerning end-of-life vehicles. The Member States cited have failed to meet the agreed April 2002 deadline for transposing an EU waste law into their national legislation. The Commission's request takes the form of Reasoned Opinions, the second step in the legal procedure under Article 226 of the Treaty. The Commission has also sent Reasoned Opinions to France and Finland for non-compliance with EU legislation on waste oils. The regeneration of waste oils has not been given adequate priority in either Member State. Also, the Netherlands is to be referred to the European Court of Justice for shortcomings in its implementation of EU packaging waste legislation, and Austria for shortcomings in its legislation on sewage sludge used in agriculture. Italy has been requested to comply with a February 2002 Court ruling on polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT). The Commission is concerned that, by not implementing these laws correctly and in time, Member States will face problems such as rising mountains of waste and inadequately controlled waste disposal and recovery activities, thereby creating risks to human health and the environment.[04] Impôts directs : la Commission décide de demander à la Belgique de modifier sa législation relative aux droits de succession et droits d'enregistrementLa Commission européenne a décidé d'envoyer une demande formelle à la Belgique de modifier sa législation relative aux droits de succession et aux droits d'enregistrement. La Commission considère que cette législation n'est pas compatible avec les dispositions du traité CE qui garantissent la liberté d'établissement pour les entreprises et la libre circulation et la non-discrimination pour les travailleurs salariés et indépendants. La demande est sous la forme d'un avis motivé, qui est la deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction prévue par l'article 226 du traité CE. En l'absence d'une mise en conformité satisfaisante dans les deux mois, la Commission pourrait saisir la Cour de Justice.[05] Trois millions d'étudiants Erasmus en 2010 ? Viviane Reding appelle à la mobilisation à l'occasion de la Semaine ErasmusPour célébrer le millionième étudiant Erasmus, la Commissaire européenne responsable de l'Education et de la Culture, Viviane Reding, convie la semaine prochaine à Bruxelles 30 étudiants, anciens ou actuels "Erasmus" issus de l'ensemble des pays participant au programme (15 Etats Membres, 3 pays de l'EEE et 12 pays candidats à l'adhésion). Ces trente jeunes ou moins jeunes rencontreront le Président de la Commission, Romano Prodi, et le Premier ministre danois, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, à l'occasion du Conseil européen, le 24 octobre. La Commission entend profiter de cette Semaine Erasmus (18 au 25 octobre) pour avancer des idées afin d'amplifier le succès de ce programme et d'en améliorer certains aspects.[06] Commission to launch EU 6th Research Framework Programme at major conferenceFrom 11 to 13 November 2002, European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin will host a major conference in Brussels to launch the EU's 6th Research Framework Programme (FP6 2003-2006), worth €17,5 billion. Over 6000 participants, including Nobel Prize laureates and top representatives from research, academia, business and public service, will gather to discuss how to maximise FP6 and turn it into a driving force for growth and competitiveness. FP6 is a key part of the EU's strategy to create a true European Research Area, an internal market for science and knowledge. FP6 is set to play an instrumental part in the March 2002 Barcelona European Council's target to raise average EU research spending to 3% of European GDP. Journalists are invited to attend the three-day event, which involves 25 plenary sessions and more than 100 workshops. The conference, to be opened by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, will feature 65 European and national research organisations presenting their activities, 150 EU- sponsored research project exhibition stands, a participants' forum and an extensive media programme.[07] Ninth EU-Macao Joint CommitteeThe ninth EU-Macao Joint Committee, and the third since the handover of Macao to the People's Republic of China on 19 December 1999, took place in Brussels on 18 October 2002.[08] Statistical report published "European agriculture entering the 21st century"The European Commission today released a report on the evolution of the agricultural situation in the EU and in all Member States during the last 10 years. Produced by the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture, it is based mainly on statistical information from Eurostat and provides a basis for reflection in the context of the Commission's mid-term review proposals. The first chapter covers the agricultural economy in the EU and provides statistics and graphs on the role of agriculture in the economy, the structure of agricultural holdings, employment, prices, income and trade in agriculture. The second chapter deals with agricultural markets in the EU and includes market balance sheets for a certain number of agricultural products. The last chapter 'Expenditure and support for the agricultural sector in the EU' reports on the main budgetary aspects. The report is now available on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/21century/index_en.htm[09] EU citizens support enlargement but feel insufficiently informed according to Eurobarometer survey € considered as a successThe citizens of the European Union continue to support enlargement, but feel insufficiently informed about the process, according to a Eurobarometer survey published today. A majority of respondents also consider the € to be a success. The survey was conducted in the fifteen Member States between 29 March and 1 May 2002. It questioned approximately 16,000 EU citizens in the Member States about their attitudes to issues of current political and social interest. Highlights on this survey were published in June 2002[10] Autre matériel diffuséDiscours de M. Prodi : "Services publics : un rôle pour l'Europe" à l'Université Paris IX Dauphine (18/10, Paris)Discours de M. Prodi : "Défis de l'Europe et perspectives" à la Sorbonne - Cité de la Réussite (20/10, Paris) Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "e-Skills: crucial to Europe's competitiveness" at the European e-Skills Summit (18/10, Copenhagen) Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "Life sciences and biotechnology a strategy for Europe" (21/10, Copenhagen) Discours de M. Busquin : "La dimension régionale de l'Espace Européen de la Recherche et le Rôle des Régions" (Milan) Intervention du M. Busquin au Colloque "Le rôle de l'Université dans l'Espace européen de la connaissance" From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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