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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-07-01
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] President Barroso and Commissioner Michel to participate at African
Union Summit in Sirte, Libya
[02] Les citoyens de l'UE voyagent facilement mais ne sont pas encore tout
à fait au courant de leurs droits
[03] Commission adopts 3-month closure of anchovy fisheries in the Bay of
Biscay
[04] May 2005 : Euro-zone and EU25 unemployment down to 8.8%
[05] Aide humanitaire : la Commission alloue €1,05 million pour les
réfugiés Togolais au Bénin
[06] Consultation sur l'avenir de la politique de développement de l'UE :
les parties prenantes souhaitent un cadre commun de coopération au
développement et une priorité à l'éradication de la pauvreté
[07] Jack Straw and Benita Ferrero-Waldner make joint statement on
cooperation during UK Presidency
[08] László Kovács welcomes the application of the savings tax Directive
[09] Funding for European cinema : significant increase in new Member
States' applications for EU support
[10] Commission clears acquisition of Cortefiel by CVC
[11] Commission clears acquisition of Edelstahlwerke Buderus by Böhler-
Uddeholm
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-07-01
Reference: MEX/05/0701
Date: 01/07/2005
EXME05 / 1.7
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
01/07/05
[01] President Barroso and Commissioner Michel to participate at African
Union Summit in Sirte, Libya
On the 4th of July, President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for
Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel, will participate as guests
at the African Union Summit Sirte (Libya). They will stress the EU's strong
support to an Africa that has chosen for a vision of integration to bring
the continent peace, prosperity and welfare. Three years ago, African
leaders decided to launch a continental organisation - the African Union -,
with an imagination and creativity that know no precedent. The European
Commission is presently working on a comprehensive and long term strategy
that will be the basis of a new Euro-Africa Pact. Increasing our support to
the African Peer Review Mechanism, a unique tool of monitoring of Africans
by Africans, and promoting a partnership for infrastructure in Africa,
based on ambitious Trans-African networks, covering roads, railways,
airports, energy, water, Information and Communications Technology, are two
key elements of this support.
[02] Les citoyens de l'UE voyagent facilement mais ne sont pas encore tout
à fait au courant de leurs droits
D'après une enquête Eurobaromètre sur les droits des passagers publiée
aujourd'hui par la Commission européenne, la majorité des citoyens des
pays de l'UE estime qu'il est aussi facile de voyager à l'intérieur de
l'UE qu'à l'intérieur de leur propre pays. 69% des 24.000 personnes
interrogées conviennent qu'il est facile de se rendre dans d'autres Etats
membres. Plus de la moitié d'entre elles seraient prêtes à acheter les
services de sociétés de transport établies dans un autre Etat membre que
le leur. A la question de savoir quels sont les facteurs qui les dissuadent
de voyager à l'intérieur de l'UE, elles répondent en premier lieu le
manque d'informations et les prix élevés.
[03] Commission adopts 3-month closure of anchovy fisheries in the Bay of
Biscay
As announced on 22 June 2005 (ME05/22.6) the European Commission today
adopted emergency measures to prohibit fishing for anchovy in the Bay of
Biscay for a period of three months. The decision on this temporary closure
was taken in response to a recent scientific recommendation from the
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for an
immediate closure to protect and help the recovery of the anchovy stock
which is in a poor biological state. During this closure, the Commission
will assess whether this ban should be reviewed after consulting the
Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF). A
meeting of STECF experts will be held, in Brussels, from 11 to 13 July
next. The fleets concerned by this closure come from France and Spain.
European Union aid is available for those affected by such closures under
the Fisheries Fund (the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance, or
FIFG).
[04] May 2005 : Euro-zone and EU25 unemployment down to 8.8%
Euro-zone seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at 8.8% in May 2005,
compared to 8.9% in April, reports Eurostat. It was 8.9% in May 2004. The
EU25 unemployment rate was 8.8% in May 2005, compared to 8.9% in April. It
was 9.1% in May 2004. In May 2005, the lowest rates were registered in
Ireland (4.2%), Austria (4.6%), the United Kingdom (4.6% in March),
Luxembourg (4.7%) and Denmark (4.9% in April). Unemployment rates were
highest in Poland (17.8%), Slovakia (15.5%), Greece (10.2% in December
2004), Spain (9.9%) and France (9.8%).
[05] Aide humanitaire : la Commission alloue €1,05 million pour les
réfugiés Togolais au Bénin
Suite aux violences qui ont affecté le Togo à l'occasion de l'élection
présidentielle, plus de 20.000 personnes ont fui vers le Bénin. Pour
faire face aux besoins de ces réfugiés togolais, la Commission
européenne vient de débloquer €1,05 million d'aide humanitaire via son
département d'aide humanitaire (ECHO), placé sous la responsabilité du
Commissaire Louis Michel. Cette aide sera mise en Å“uvre parle Haut
commissariat des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés (HCR). Elle couvrira les
besoins actuels des réfugiés, en particulier par une aide alimentaire et
en produits de première nécessité.
[06] Consultation sur l'avenir de la politique de développement de l'UE :
les parties prenantes souhaitent un cadre commun de coopération au
développement et une priorité à l'éradication de la pauvreté
La Commission européenne a publié aujourd'hui un rapport sur les
résultats de la consultation publique, qui a été lancée en janvier 2005
(IP/05/91), concernant l'avenir de la politique de développement de l'UE.
Le but de cette consultation était d'engager un débat sur les moyens de
relever les défis de la coopération au développement. La majorité des
parties prenantes a estimé que l'éradication de la pauvreté devait
demeurer le principal objectif d'une nouvelle déclaration de politique
générale et que l'Union européenne devait arrêter un cadre commun de
coopération au développement.
[07] Jack Straw and Benita Ferrero-Waldner make joint statement on
cooperation during UK Presidency
The European Commissioner for External Relations and the European
Neighbourhood policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, met the UK Foreign Secretary,
Jack Straw, today as part of the UK's preparations for assuming the
Presidency of the EU. Jack Straw and Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the
meeting had been a valuable opportunity to take stock of the Commission's
extensive external relations activity, and to look forward to the next six
months under the UK Presidency.
[08] László Kovács welcomes the application of the savings tax Directive
The European Commissioner for Taxation and CustomsLászló Kovács has
welcomed the fact that the EU savings tax directive and EU saving tax
agreements with third countries and territories take affect from today, 1
July 2005. This represents a successful conclusion to 15 years of thought
negotiations. "The application of saving tax measures by 40 countries - EU
Member States, third countries and territories - will go a long way towards
ensuring that rules on free movement of capitals do not create
opportunities for tax evasion. The liberalised capital market enables EU
residents to invest their savings abroad without restriction. But this
should not give rise to tax evasion and consequent distortions in capital
movements between Member States which are incompatible with the internal
market."
[09] Funding for European cinema : significant increase in new Member
States' applications for EU support
Applications from the new EU Member States for funding from the EU's MEDIA
programme have increased substantially over the past years and in some
cases even tripled. This is highlighted today at the opening of the Karlovy
Vary Film Festival 2005, which is a barometer for the development of cinema
in the enlarged Union. This year, eight films, which have been supported by
the MEDIA Programme, are either in competition or the Variety Critic's
Choice. MEDIA supports the trans-frontier distribution of nine out of ten
European films. It has been extended to the new Member States already prior
to accession to ensure their active participation in this programme.
[10] Commission clears acquisition of Cortefiel by CVC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Cortefiel, S.A. of Spain
by Coral Retail Industries, S.L., controlled by CVC Capital Partners Group
SÃ rl (CVC) of Luxembourg. Cortefiel is active in the manufacture and
retail distribution of men's and women’s clothing and the retail
distribution of toiletries, cosmetics and beauty products. CVC is an
investment fund involved in several sectors. Inter alia, it jointly
controls the UK department stores Debenhams and controls the Colomer Group,
which is active in the wholesale supply of perfumes, cosmetics and
toiletries to specialised and non-specialised retail stores. The operation
was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[11] Commission clears acquisition of Edelstahlwerke Buderus by Böhler-
Uddeholm
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the German company Edelstahlwerke Buderus by the
Austrian company Böhler-Uddeholm. Both companies are active in the
specialty steel sector. The Commission concluded that the transaction will
not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any
substantial part of it.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Nouvelles règles européennes visant à faciliter aux victimes de la
criminalité l'accès à l'indemnisation dans les situations
transfrontalières
Speech by President José Manuel Barroso at the National Forum on Europe
(30/06, Dublin)
Speech by Günter Verheugen : "Europa ist dort stark, wo es gemeinsam
handelt" at the Humboldt Universität (30/6, Berlin)
Opening speech by Jacques Barrot at the EU-China civil aviation summit
(30/06, Beijing)
Calendrier du 4 au 8 juillet 2005
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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