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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-12-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Eurobarometer : decline in public confidence but continued strong
support for EU priorities
[02] Air France et Alitalia proposent des mesures correctives pour rendre
leur alliance bilatérale conforme aux règles de concurrence
[03] Commission clears Outokumpu's control of Boliden
[04] Commission clears northern England train JV between FirstGroup and
Keolis
[05] Aide espagnole aux producteurs de fruits à coque et de caroubes pour
l'année 2003
[06] Déchets d'emballages : le recyclage va être plus que doublé
[07] Soins de santé transfrontaliers : les ministres de la santé et la
société civile appellent à une coopération plus étroite
[08] World Summit to set out a strategic vision for a global information
society
[09] Commission strongly supports the energy markets integration in the
Balkans and promotes its connection with the EU
[10] Commission reports progress on the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western
Balkans
[11] EU challenges Indian anti-dumping practices
[12] La Commission nomme un chargé des relations avec les consommateurs
[13] Pascal Lamy visits all four Mercosur countries
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 09/12/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 09/12/2003
[01] Eurobarometer : decline in public confidence but continued strong
support for EU priorities
The latest Eurobarometer opinion poll, from which preliminary results are
published today, reveals a general decline in public confidence since the
previous survey carried out in the spring. This is reflected in growing
concerns about the economic and employment outlook for next year and a
decrease in confidence in public institutions in general. This increased
sense of pessimism appears to have affected people's attitudes towards the
European Union and its institutions. Despite this, those who feel their
country's membership of the EU is a "good thing" still outnumber by more
than three-to-one those who do not. The survey is notable for the very
uneven shifts in opinion from Member State to Member State.
[02] Air France et Alitalia proposent des mesures correctives pour rendre
leur alliance bilatérale conforme aux règles de concurrence
Air France et Alitalia ont présenté des propositions pour répondre aux
préoccupations exprimées par la Commission européenne sur leur alliance,
qui est susceptible de réduire significativement la concurrence sur les
liaisons entre la France et l'Italie. Les propositions consistent à céder
des créneaux d'atterrissage et de décollage, principalement aux aéroports
de Paris et de Milan, pour permettre à d'autres compagnies aériennes
d'assurer la liaison entre la France et l'Italie, afin que les voyageurs
entre les deux pays bénéficient d'un ample choix de services et de la
concurrence par les prix. Avant de se prononcer, la Commission invite les
tiers intéressés à présenter leurs observations sur les propositions
publiées ce jour au Journal officiel de l'Union européenne.
[03] Commission clears Outokumpu's control of Boliden
The European Commission has cleared an operation whereby Finnish metals
company Outokumpu Oyj will sell its zinc and copper mining and smelting
activities to Boliden AB, a Swedish mining and metals group. At the same
time, Outokumpu will acquire Boliden's brass and copper businesses. As a
result of the transaction, which also involves the acquisition of shares,
Outokumpu will take control of Boliden.
[04] Commission clears northern England train JV between FirstGroup and
Keolis
The European Commission has approved under the Merger Regulation the
creation by FirstGroup plc (United Kingdom) and Keolis (France) of Trans-
Pennine Express JV, which will operate a train service between Liverpool,
Manchester, Newcastle and other towns in the north of England.
[05] Aide espagnole aux producteurs de fruits à coque et de caroubes pour
l'année 2003
Le comité de gestion des paiements directs s'est prononcé aujourd'hui en
faveur d'une proposition de la Commission européenne tendant à approuver
pour 2003 une aide d'un montant maximum de 241,50€ à l'hectare, accordée
par l'Espagne aux producteurs de fruits à coque et de caroubes. Il s'agit
d'un secteur où les plans d'amélioration qualitative et de commercialisation
ont pris fin en 2002. L'aide nationale proposée par l'Espagne servirait à
assurer la transition entre les contributions relatives aux plans
d'amélioration venus à expiration en 2002 et l'aide prévue dans le cadre de
la politique agricole commune réformée, qui entrera en vigueur en 2004.
Cette aide d'Etat s'élève à 76,6 millions d'€ pour une superficie estimée à
280.000 ha. La proposition va maintenant être formellement adoptée par la
Commission.
[06] Déchets d'emballages : le recyclage va être plus que doublé
La Commission européenne se félicite de l'accord conclu le 8 décembre au
sein du comité de conciliation Parlement européen - Conseil, en vertu
duquel les objectifs de recyclage minimaux pour les déchets d'emballages
passeront de 25 à 55% d'ici à 2008. "Je me félicite de cet accord qui ouvre
la voie à une augmentation sensible du recyclage des déchets d'emballages.
Il permettra aux consommateurs de participer activement aux programmes de
recyclage et de faire preuve de leur engagement en faveur d'une gestion
plus responsable des déchets d'emballage", a déclaré Mme Margot Wallström,
Commissaire responsable de l'environnement.
[07] Soins de santé transfrontaliers : les ministres de la santé et la
société civile appellent à une coopération plus étroite
Les ministres de la santé des Etats membres actuels et futurs de l'UE se
sont réunis hier à Bruxelles avec des représentants du secteur de la santé
en Europe, des membres du Parlement européen et David Byrne, Commissaire
européen responsable de la santé et de la protection des consommateurs,
pour conclure le document informel intitulé "Processus de réflexion à haut
niveau sur la mobilité des patients et l'évolution des soins de santé dans
l'Union européenne". Ils ont adopté un rapport contenant 19 recommandations
d'action au niveau européen. Ces recommandations vont de travaux sur les
systèmes d'information pour faciliter l'achat transfrontalier de soins
médicaux, à des explications supplémentaires sur les droits des patients et
l'utilisation des Fonds structuraux de l'UE pour améliorer les hôpitaux et
les cliniques dans les nouveaux Etats membres. Le processus de réflexion a
été lancé par les commissaires David Byrne et Anna Diamantopoulou lors
d'une réunion ministérielle tenue en février 2003. Son rapport final
prépare le terrain à une communication que la Commission a l'intention de
publier en 2004 et qui prendra en compte les 19 recommandations du rapport.
[08] World Summit to set out a strategic vision for a global information
society
The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will take
place in Geneva from the 10th to the 12th December 2003. This is the single
most important political event dedicated to the Information Society since
the European Commission coined the phrase in the mid-Nineties. Heads of
State and Government and senior ministers from around the world should
agree a Declaration of Principles governing the global information society
and a Plan of Action to guide countries in making it a reality. Erkki
Liikanen, Commissioner for the Information Society, has been asked by
President Romano Prodi to represent the European Commission throughout the
Summit, while Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, Poul
Nielson, will attend the Summit on the 10th December to sign a joint
position on information society for development with the Union's African,
Caribbean and Pacific partners. A second session of the World Summit will
take place in Tunis in November 2005.
[09] Commission strongly supports the energy markets integration in the
Balkans and promotes its connection with the EU
On 8 December was signed in Athens a very important Memorandum of
Understanding which aims at integrating the energy markets in the SouthEast
Europe and targets its connection with the EU. Loyola de Palacio, vice-
president in charge of transport and energy, represented the European
Commission. She highlighted the great importance of the setting-up of a
regional energy market in South East Europe. "Beyond the technical aspects
of the energy market, what has been achieved in South East Europe is
momentous", she said. "For the first time, on a regional level,
encompassing all countries and states, is being created a regional market
with a political function. This is a new very important step of a long
process towards a closer cooperation which will ensure peace and stability
in this European region", she added.
[10] Commission reports progress on the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western
Balkans
At a meeting of the Western Balkans Forum in Brussels on 9 December Chris
Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, will present a
progress report on how the European Commission is following up the
commitments made in the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans
(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro). The Commission is on track with many
of the initiatives agreed at the Thessaloniki European Council in June 2003
and is already producing tangible results, in the launching of European
Partnerships, actions to enhance support for institution building,
initiatives to promote economic development and measures in the field of
justice and home affairs, as well as progress in introducing some of the
techniques that helped today's Accession countries prepare for closer
integration with the EU. The Forum will discuss EU-Western Balkans
relations, including follow-up to the Thessaloniki Agenda, developments in
the region and latest events in the EU.
[11] EU challenges Indian anti-dumping practices
On 8 December, the EU has formally requested WTO consultations with India
on practically all of its anti-dumping measures affecting European exports.
This move comes after growing frustration amidst EU exporters not only at
the escalation in the number of measures imposed by India, which has now
become the world's largest user of anti-dumping practices, but also at the
very low standards applied. Despite numerous discussions, it has not been
possible to persuade India to align itself on WTO standards. The sectors
concerned are mainly chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textiles and steel.
[12] La Commission nomme un chargé des relations avec les consommateurs
Aujourd'hui, le Commissaire européen à la concurrence M. Mario Monti a
nommé M. Juan Riviere y Marti au poste nouvellement créé de chargé des
relations avec les consommateurs au sein de la direction générale de la
Concurrence. La Commission a annoncé la création de ce poste en décembre
2002, afin de pouvoir instaurer un dialogue permanent avec les
consommateurs européens, dont le bien-être est l'un des principaux
objectifs de toute politique de concurrence, mais dont la voix n'est pas
suffisamment entendue lors du traitement des différentes affaires ou lors
des discussions sur des questions de politique de concurrence.
[13] Pascal Lamy visits all four Mercosur countries
Following from the recent EU-Mercosur trade ministerial meeting and shortly
after the adoption of the EU strategy to revive the Cancun talks, European
Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy travels to all four Mercosur countries
between 10 and 16 December. High on the agenda will be discussions on a
region-to-region Association Agreement, Mercosur progress in regional
integration as well as the on-going talks under the Doha Development
Agenda. Before departing for Buenos Aires Pascal Lamy said : "My end-of-
year 'marathon' to the region is a clear sign of our commitment to develop
deep and ambitious relations with the Mercosur. This will be an opportunity
to discuss with the administrations and citizens of the four countries the
recently adopted roadmap for the final phase of the negotiations for an EU-
Mercosur bi-regional agreement. The trip also comes timely to discuss with
the 'G20' group of developing countries how we can work together to revive
the WTO Doha Agenda which failed in Cancun. All of us have recently
signalled our strong commitment to the multilateral system : we now need to
make sure that our words translate into deeds. My message will be loud and
clear : the EU is ready to resume the talks. But the clear lesson of Cancun
is that no single player or group of players can deliver the Round or make
the multilateral system work on his own. I look forward to discussing with
my colleagues the efforts needed from all sides if we are to re-launch this
year."
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by David Byrne : "Do we need a Constitution for the EU?" at the
Institute of European Affairs (08/12)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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