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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-11-20
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission demande la dénonciation des accords bilatéraux de ciel
ouvert
[02] Investment services : proposed new Directive would protect investors
and help investment firms operate EU-wide
[03] La Commission recommande au Conseil d'avertir la France sur la
situation de ses finances publiques
[04] Commission adopts report on government finances in Germany as a first
step of the Excessive Deficit Procedure
[05] Fabrizio Barbaso et Dirk Ahner nommés directeurs généraux adjoints à
la DG Agriculture
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Prestige oil spill : EU stands by affected fishermen and fish and
shellfish farmers
[07] La Commission propose cinq critères de référence européens pour les
systèmes d'éducation et de formation
[08] Commission clears creation of joint venture between ACEA Distribuzione,
BTicino and Siemens Metering SpA
[09] Guide prices for fisheries products in 2003 : proposed increases for
almost all species
[10] Pan-European interchange of data between administrations : nine
candidate countries soon to follow the example of Slovenia and Poland
[11] EU annual report on US trade barriers highlights need for enhanced
cooperation
[12] Green light for the import of more products of animal origin from
China
[13] Leonardo da Vinci projects shown at the employment week 2002
[14] Anna Diamantopoulou and Etienne Davignon to receive 'Corporate Social
Responsibility' (CSR) prize
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 20/11/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 20/11/2002[I] Résultats de la Commission
du 19 novembre 2002 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 19 November
[01] La Commission demande la dénonciation des accords bilatéraux de ciel
ouvert
La Commission européenne a décidé de demander aux Etats membres qui ont
signé avec les Etats-Unis des accords bilatéraux dans le domaine du
transport aérien de faire jouer leurs clauses de dénonciation pour assurer,
dans les meilleurs délais, le respect de l'arrêt de la Cour de justice.
Dans une déclaration adoptée hier, la Commission a précisé son analyse et
sa réaction suite à l'arrêt de la Cour du 5 novembre. La Cour a déclaré que
les accords bilatéraux de ciel ouvert actuels étaient illégaux à plusieurs
égards. En particulier, les clauses de nationalité strictes privent les
compagnies aériennes de l'UE des droits que leur confère le traité et sont
contraires au droit communautaire. D'autres dispositions concernent des
sujets qui relèvent de la compétence externe exclusive de l'UE et ne
devraient pas être négociés par les Etats membres. En vertu du traité, les
Etats membres doivent prendre toutes mesures propres à assurer l'exécution
de leurs obligations et il incombe à la Commission de demander le respect
des arrêts. En outre, la Commission considère que l'arrêt a des
conséquences non seulement pour les accords spécifiques concernés mais pour
tous les accords bilatéraux existants dans le domaine des services aériens
et pour la négociation de nouveaux accords. Par conséquent, la Commission a
également invité les Etats membres à s'abstenir de prendre tout engagement
international sous quelque forme que ce soit dans le domaine de l'aviation
avant que la compatibilité de tels engagements avec le droit communautaire
ait été vérifiée et elle a exhorté les Etats membres à autoriser l'UE à
ouvrir des négociations avec les Etats-Unis pour le remplacement des
accords existants. Cela permettra une transition contenue sans
perturbations vers un marché aérien transatlantique ouvert.
[02] Investment services : proposed new Directive would protect investors
and help investment firms operate EU-wide
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a new Directive on
investment services and regulated markets. The proposal aims to overhaul
existing legislation in response to the far-reaching structural changes in
EU financial markets over the last decade. It would increase harmonisation
of national rules and meet two key prerequisites for the completion of the
Internal Market in financial services. First it would give investment firms
an effective "single passport", which would allow them to operate across
the EU. Second, it would make sure investors enjoyed a high level of
protection when employing investment firms, wherever in Europe they were
located. It seeks to establish, for the first time, a comprehensive
regulatory framework governing the organised execution of investor
transactions by exchanges, other trading systems and investment firms. Once
adopted, the proposed Directive will uphold the integrity and transparency
of EU markets and foster competition between traditional exchanges and
other trading systems, with the effect of encouraging innovation, reducing
trading costs and releasing more funds for investment, ultimately boosting
economic growth. The new proposal follows extensive consultations.
[03] La Commission recommande au Conseil d'avertir la France sur la
situation de ses finances publiques
La Commission européenne recommande au Conseil d'adresser un avertissement
à la France afin d'éviter que celle-ci ne dépasse la valeur de référence de
3,0% du PIB fixée en matière de déficit. Elle propose également au Conseil
de rendre sa décision publique, de même que le texte intégral de la
recommandation qu'elle lui a adressée. Pour cette recommandation, la
Commission s'est fondée sur ses propres prévisions d'automne, publiées la
semaine dernière (IP/02/1659), qui indiquent que le déficit des
administrations publiques françaises pourrait atteindre 2,7% du PIB en 2002
et 2,9% en 2003. La procédure "d'alerte rapide" applicable en l'espèce est
définie par le règlement n° 1466/97, qui fait partie du pacte de stabilité
et de croissance (PSC), conformément à l'article 99, paragraphe 4, du
traité. En engageant cette procédure, la Commission, comme ce fut le cas en
début d'année pour l'Allemagne et le Portugal, honore les engagements pris
dans le cadre de la résolution du Conseil européen sur le pacte de
stabilité et de croissance en vue d'une application rigoureuse, rapide et
efficace de celui-ci.
[04] Commission adopts report on government finances in Germany as a first
step of the Excessive Deficit Procedure
The European Commission has adopted a report on the government finance
situation in Germany. This report constitutes the first step of the
Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) provided for by Art. 104.3 of the Treaty.
The Commission has initiated the EDP for Germany, as the Commission's
autumn forecast shows a general government deficit of 3.8% of GDP for 2002.
This deficit forecast clearly indicates the risk of an excessive deficit,
as it exceeds by a large margin the Treaty reference value of 3% of GDP.
Moreover, general government gross debt is projected to move from 59.5% of
GDP in 2001 to 60.9% of GDP in 2002, also rising above the Treaty reference
value of 60%. On the basis of available information it is yet uncertain
whether the deficit will actually decline below 3.0% of GDP in 2003. In
this first step the Commission report is analysing the government finance
situation in Germany without making specific recommendations. As a second
step, the Commission will make a recommendation to the Council of economic
and finance Ministers for a decision. By following the Article 104
procedure, the Commission is, like in the case of Portugal, honouring its
commitments laid down in the European Council Resolution on the Stability
and Growth Pact for a strict, timely and effective functioning of the Pact.
[05] Fabrizio Barbaso et Dirk Ahner nommés directeurs généraux adjoints à
la DG Agriculture
La Commission européenne a décidé de nommer MM. Fabrizio Barbaso et Dirk
Ahner directeurs généraux adjoints à la DG Agriculture. M. Barbaso sera
chargé des relations institutionnelles, de la communication et de la
qualité, des marchés des produits végétaux et animaux, ainsi que des
cultures spécialisées et des produits vitivinicoles. M. Ahner sera
responsable des programmes de développement rural, des aspects horizontaux
du développement rural et des programmes Sapard, ainsi que des analyses
économiques et de l'évaluation.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Prestige oil spill : EU stands by affected fishermen and fish and
shellfish farmers
European Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler declared today that the
Commission would do everything it can to help fishermen affected by the oil
spill. "I feel for the fishermen on the Spanish coast. Through no fault of
their own, they now are part of this disastrous oil spill, and their
livelihoods are threatened. The EU won't let them down. Fishermen who have
to stop their fisheries activities because of this ecological disaster can
count on EU aid to compensate them for the temporary cessation of their
activities. Spain has earmarked €117.7 million under the FIFG (Financial
Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) for this purpose. FIFG can also provide
financial support to affected fish and shellfish farmers for the cleaning
or replacement of damaged equipment. It is now up to the Spanish
authorities to make use of this money. If it turns out that these sums are
not enough they can disburse additional FIFG money following a re-
programming."
[07] La Commission propose cinq critères de référence européens pour les
systèmes d'éducation et de formation
Afin de relever le défi lancé par le Conseil européen de Lisbonne, à savoir
faire de l'Europe, d'ici 2010, l'économie de la connaissance la plus
compétitive et la plus dynamique du monde, la Commission européenne et les
Etats membres axent leurs efforts sur la définition et la réalisation
d'objectifs communs pour les systèmes d'éducation et de formation. Dans la
communication qui vient d'être adoptée par la Commission, nous proposons
cinq critères de référence européens pour l'éducation et la formation,
notamment pour les taux d'abandon scolaire ou le nombre de diplômés en
mathématiques, en sciences et en technologie. Ces critères participeront à
la réalisation des objectifs communs pour les systèmes d'éducation et de
formation.
[08] Commission clears creation of joint venture between ACEA Distribuzione,
BTicino and Siemens Metering SpA
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the creation of a joint venture between the Italian undertakings ACEA
Distribuzione SpA, an electricity producer and distributor, BTicino SpA and
Siemens Metering SpA, two manufacturers of low voltage electrical products.
The joint venture will study, develop, manufacture and sell a new advanced
systems for the management and control of low voltage electric distribution
networks. (The operation, notified on 16 October 2002, was examined under
the simplified merger review procedure)
[09] Guide prices for fisheries products in 2003 : proposed increases for
almost all species
The European Commission has issued its annual proposal on EU guide prices
for fresh and frozen fisheries products as well as for tuna for processing
for 2003. The prices of fisheries products have generally been increasing
since 1999. This continues to be due to the overall scarcity of resources
and increasing consumer demand, particularly in the case of white fish
species.
[10] Pan-European interchange of data between administrations : nine
candidate countries soon to follow the example of Slovenia and Poland
The European Commission decided today that from next year administrations
in 11 candidate countries will be able to exchange data with EU Member
States' administrations as regards application of EU law, enforcement of
Internal Market rules, and supply of e-Government services across borders
to citizens and enterprises. The system that allows Interchange of Data
between Administrations (IDA) was first extended to Slovenia and Poland
(see IP/02/902), and will be open to Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia on 1 January
2003. Stepping up data exchange will accelerate the candidates' take-up of
EU legislation before they formally join the Union, thereby safeguarding
security and freedom of movement in the enlarged Europe.
[11] EU annual report on US trade barriers highlights need for enhanced
cooperation
Today the European Commission released its eighteenth annual report on
barriers to trade and investment in the US, providing an overview of the
obstacles that EU exporters and investors face in the US. A number of
impediments, ranging from tariff and non-tariff barriers to differences in
legal and regulatory systems need to be tackled. European Trade
Commissioner Pascal Lamy said : "Tackling bilateral trade obstacles is
essential to transatlantic confidence-building. It is therefore important
to advance in the Positive Economic Agenda adopted at the EU-US summit in
May 2002."
[12] Green light for the import of more products of animal origin from
China
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) voted
in favour of a European Commission proposal to allow the resumption of
imports of certain fishery products (crayfish and surimi), subject to
testing. The import of some other fish products, gelatine and sausage
casings was already authorised by earlier decisions. The proposal will now
be formally adopted by the Commission and will enter into force shortly.
[13] Leonardo da Vinci projects shown at the employment week 2002
Job training is a key factor in employment. The European Commission's
Directorate-General for Education and Culture, responsible for EU
vocational training policy, is again participating this year in "Employment
Week 2002" at the Heysel exhibition centre in Brussels from 19-21 November.
The agenda includes the valorisation of vocational training products. Many
of the featured products are from the EU's Leonardo da Vinci vocational
training programme. Five Leonardo da Vinci projects will also be exhibited
for three days at the new "Training Zone/Espace Formation".
[14] Anna Diamantopoulou and Etienne Davignon to receive 'Corporate Social
Responsibility' (CSR) prize
Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment and Social
Affairs, and Viscount Etienne Davignon, prominent Belgian businessman,
politician and former Commissioner will tomorrow 21 November receive the
Special CSR prize from the Danish "National Network of Business Leaders" in
Copenhagen. The objective of the award, given each year to one public and
one private figure, is to recognise innovativion in promoting CSR and
stimulating CSR awareness in business at large, including in small
businesses (see www.netvaerksprisen.dk, website in English). EU leaders
have recognised the importance of CSR in furthering the Lisbon strategy for
sustainable growth and jobs. The Commission recently issued a policy paper
on CSR and has set up a Multistakeholder Forum to try to coordinate EU CSR
efforts and agree ways to monitor and report on them. The forum will
produce final conclusions by mid 2004 (see IP/02/985).
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Romano Prodi : "The Commission's legislative and work programme
for 2003" at the plenary session of the European Parliament (Strasbourg)
Letter from President Prodi to Heads of State and Governement on "Spring
Report"
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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