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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-07-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission helps farmers affected by drought
[02] EU co-financing agreed for eradication of Classical Swine Fever in
Germany, Luxembourg and Spain
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Pinault Bois & Matériaux par
le groupe anglais Wolseley
[04] Commission clears JV between ThyssenKrupp and Salzgitter in the sheet
piling & construction equipment sector
[05] UE/OMC : Pascal Lamy salue la résolution du Parlement européen
concernant "La route vers Cancun"
[06] Third Euromed Trade Ministerial : stepping stones towards greater
regional integration
[07] Relations commerciales de l'UE avec les 12 PPM : réunion euro-
méditerranéenne des ministres du commerce (07/07, Palerme)
[08] EU-Africa Bringing the dialogue forward
[09] Commission grants €11 million to improve living conditions in the
Central Valley region of Costa Rica
[10] Aflatoxins : Commission imposes special conditions for import of
Brazil nuts in shell from Brazil
[11] Commission welcomes outcome of the World Radiocommunication Conference
2003 (WRC-03)
[12] Foreign ownership and corporate income taxation : an empirical
evaluation
[13] eGovernment ministerial Conference of July 7-8 : reinforcing political
commitment
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 04/07/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 04/07/2003
[01] Commission helps farmers affected by drought
The management committee for cereals has given the green light to a
European Commission proposal which will help farmers affected by a severe
drought in some EU regions. From today, 4 July, farmers can exceptionally
use their set-aside land for animal fodder. This measure applies in some
regions in France, Germany, Italy and Austria.
[02] EU co-financing agreed for eradication of Classical Swine Fever in
Germany, Luxembourg and Spain
The European Commission has decided to grant financing towards the
eradication of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) relating to outbreaks in Germany,
Luxembourg and Spain. Subject to certain conditions, Member States can
receive EU co-financing of 50% for expenditures incurred when compensating
farmers forced to kill and destroy their animals and for operational
expenditures associated with the destruction of contaminated animals and
products. The provisional limits of EU reimbursements are set at €440,000
for Germany, €500,000 for Luxembourg and €6,000,000 for Spain. Outbreaks of
CSF occurred in Germany in 2001, in Luxembourg in 2002 and in Spain in 2001
and 2002. The decision to grant EU co-financing to Germany, Luxembourg and
Spain was taken in agreement with the Standing Committee on the Food Chain
and Animal Health, which represents the EU Member States.
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Pinault Bois & Matériaux par
le groupe anglais Wolseley
La Commission européenne vient d'autoriser l'acquisition de Pinault-Bois &
Matériaux SA, filiale du groupe Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, par le groupe
anglais Wolseley Plc. A la suite de l'opération, Wolseley aura un des
principaux réseaux de distribution de matériaux de construction en France,
mais continuera à faire face à de nombreux concurrents.
[04] Commission clears JV between ThyssenKrupp and Salzgitter in the sheet
piling & construction equipment sector
The European Commission has approved under the Merger Regulation a proposed
joint venture between subsidiaries of German steel companies ThyssenKrupp
and Salzgitter for the worldwide marketing of hot rolled piles and sheet
piling and construction equipment. This merger does not raise any
competition concerns on any of the markets considered.
[05] UE/OMC : Pascal Lamy salue la résolution du Parlement européen
concernant "La route vers Cancun"
Le 3 juillet, le Parlement européen a adopté une résolution exprimant sa
position sur la prochaine Conférence ministérielle de l'OMC à Cancun en
septembre 2003, une réunion d'étape dans le cadre des négociations de
l'agenda de développement de Doha. Le commissaire européen au Commerce
Pascal Lamy a salué ce vote : "Je me réjouis de constater que le Parlement
européen a approuvé les positions de négociation de la Commission pour
Cancun dans leur totalité, à la fois sur l'accès au marché et le mécanisme
décisionnel. Le soutien apporté au négociateur européen est particulièrement
appréciable à ce moment clé de la préparation de la Conférence
ministérielle de l'OMC à Cancun. L'insistance du Parlement européen pour
que les questions concernant le développement soient prises en
considération sur l'ensemble des sujets en négociation est bienvenue. Nous
continuerons à travailler étroitement avec le Parlement européen dans le
cadre de la préparation de la Conférence ministérielle de Cancun, lors de
cette Conférence à Cancun, et au-delà."
[06] Third Euromed Trade Ministerial : stepping stones towards greater
regional integration
The launch of the pan-Euro-Mediterranean system of rules of origin,
fundamental to develop trade and foster regional integration, will be top
of the agenda at the third Euromed Trade Ministerial meeting in Palermo,
Italy on 7th July 2003. The meeting, aimed at fostering trade relations
between Mediterranean countries and the EU, will bring together Trade
Ministers from the EU, Mediterranean countries and, for the first time,
countries acceding to the EU. The meeting will also consider blueprints for
opening trade in services and streamline customs procedures, discuss the on-
going WTO talks under the Doha Development Agenda and examine means to
enhance cooperation ahead of the upcoming WTO Ministerial in Cancun in
September. Discussion will also focus on the issues surrounding a Wider
Europe and its impact on the Mediterranean neighbours. The Euromed Trade
Ministerial will be preceded by an informal meeting of EU Trade Ministers
on Sunday 6 July.
[07] Relations commerciales de l'UE avec les 12 PPM : réunion euro-
méditerranéenne des ministres du commerce (07/07, Palerme)
En 1995, les 15 Etats membres de l'UE et 12 Pays Partenaires Méditerranéens
(PPM) ont signé la Déclaration de Barcelone qui vise à renforcer les
relations euro-méditerranéennes et dont un des objectifs est d'établir,
d'ici 2010, une zone de libre échange euro-méditerranéenne. Dans cette
perspective, quelle est la place de l'UE dans le commerce des PPM et
comment ont évolué les échanges de biens et de services entre les deux
régions ? Quels sont les Etats les plus impliqués dans ce commerce ?
Comment les investissements directs de l'UE dans les PPM ont-ils évolué et
comment se répartissent-ils ? Ce dossier statistique publié aujourd'hui par
Eurostat tente de répondre à ces questions à l'occasion de la 3ème réunion
euro-méditerranéenne des Ministres du Commerce qui aura lieu à Palerme le 7
juillet 2003.
[08] EU-Africa Bringing the dialogue forward
The European Commission has adopted a Communication on 'The EU-Africa
dialogue'. The Communication is adopted at a crucial time three months
after the EU-Africa Summit was postponed and as African leaders are
preparing to meet in Maputo, Mozambique for the first meeting of the
African Union (AU) since it was launched one year ago in Durban. The
Communication assesses the state of the EU-Africa dialogue and suggests
ways of bringing it forward.
[09] Commission grants €11 million to improve living conditions in the
Central Valley region of Costa Rica
The European Commission is supporting a €11 million project to improve the
urban services and living areas in the Costa Rican Central Valley greater
metropolitan area. The objectives of this urban planning project are to
raise the effectiveness of the central urban system, which is Costa Rica's
leading economic region, by reducing current environmental, social and
economic costs that are the result of a disorganized and unsustainable
regional model. This 5 years project will improve the population's urban
conditions culture and the urban management capabilities of local
government and institutions.
[10] Aflatoxins : Commission imposes special conditions for import of
Brazil nuts in shell from Brazil
Following findings of high levels of aflatoxins, the European Commission
decided today to impose special conditions for the import of Brazil nuts in
shell originating from Brazil. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic substances
produced by fungi which contaminate the nuts. Levels of more than 100 times
the legal maximum level were found in Brazil nuts in shell from Brazil. In
addition, an inspection by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office in
January/February 2003 revealed shortcomings in the production chain and
control systems intended to prevent aflatoxin contamination in Brazil nuts
intended for export to the EU. The special conditions agreed today include
certification of all consignments by the Brazilian competent authorities
and an additional control at import by the competent authority of the
importing EU Member State. In addition, only designated points of entry may
be used to import Brazil nuts and there are strict conditions for sending
back non-complying consignments to the country of origin. In addition to
reporting risks through the usual Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed,
Member States will be required to make quarterly reports of the analytical
results of their controls on imported Brazil nuts. The above measures will
be reviewed in May 2004. The measures were decided in agreement with the
Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health, consisting of
representatives of the EU Member States.
[11] Commission welcomes outcome of the World Radiocommunication Conference
2003 (WRC-03)
The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) ended today after
four weeks of negotiations between representatives from countries across
the world on updating the allocation of radio spectrum and its usage
conditions at global level. From a Community perspective, the major
objectives for this conference, presented in a Commission Communication
adopted last March and confirmed by Council, were met to a significant
extent. The positive outcome of these negotiations will significantly
support major policies at Community level which rely on radio spectrum,
such as on Transport (Galileo radio navigation system) or Information
Society (broadband wireless access platforms, notably 3G and wireless LAN).
[12] Foreign ownership and corporate income taxation : an empirical
evaluation
A new study carried out by economists in the European Commission's
Directorate General of Economic and Financial Affairs points that economic
integration in Europe has not led to a 'race to the bottom' regarding
corporate income taxes. This paper documents trends in the foreign
ownership of companies in Europe and it examines whether foreign ownership
has exerted a positive influence on corporate income tax levels. Using
company-level data, we document that the foreign ownership share in Europe
stood at around 21.5 percent in the year 2000. The estimation suggests that
a one percentage point increase in foreign ownership increases the average
corporate income tax rate between a half and one percent. Further
international economic integration is likely to lead to higher foreign
ownership shares with a concomitant positive influence on corporate
taxation levels. Full document available on : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/economic_papers/economicpapers185_en.htm
[13] eGovernment ministerial Conference of July 7-8 : reinforcing political
commitment
More than 1000 people will participate in an eGovernement ministerial
Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Como on July 7-8. 31 Ministers
from European Union countries as well as from future Member States, EFTA
and other countries, have confirmed their participation. Mr Erkki Liikanen,
European Commissioner for Information Society and Enterprise, will attend
the event together with Mr Lucio Stanca, Italian Minister for Innovation
and Technologies. Industry is also very much involved in this top-level
meeting on eGovernment policy and practices, with several CEOs attending
the Conference as speakers. In the context of the eEurope Action Plan, key
European players will discuss how advanced technology can be further used
to help provide more inclusive and personalised services and increase the
productivity of public administrations. The main themes to be discussed
include the impact of eGovernment on European competitiveness, building a
more productive and transparent public sector, and how this "citizen-
centric", one-stop-shop approach helps not only the people dealing with
administrations, but also the efficiency of administrations themselves. The
most outstanding examples of best practice in this field will receive the
"eEurope Award for Innovation in eGovernment" and a meeting of the
Ministers present is expected to lead to a ministerial declaration. Special
arrangements apply for press accreditation to this event.
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Erkki Liikanen : "Public Policy and Corporate Social
Responsibility" at the Centre for European Reform (03/07)
Calendrier du 7 au 12 juillet 2003
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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