|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-06
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID") : Commission
sends formal drafts for "level 2" implementing measures to Parliament and
ESC
[02] Changement climatique : la Semaine verte est la première
manifestation "neutre" sur le plan climatique organisée par la Commission
[03] Experts propose measures to increase the role of philanthropy in
research
[04] Charlie McCreevy in Washington (06-09/02)
[05] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to visit Mexico (07-09/02)
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-02-06
Reference: MEX/06/0206
Date: 06/02/2006
EXME06 / 6.2
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb
Communication
06/02/06
[01] Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID") : Commission
sends formal drafts for "level 2" implementing measures to Parliament and
ESC
The European Commission has presented its formal drafts to the European
Parliament and the European Securities Committee (ESC) for a series of
technical measures implementing the Markets in Financial Instruments
Directive (MiFID). The MiFID is one of the corner stones of the Financial
Services Action Plan which seeks to create a single market for financial
services in Europe and is also a response to structural changes in the
European securities markets. The objective of the MiFID is to enable
investors to invest and procure investment services across EU borders more
easily, to remove obstacles to the use of the EU passport by investment
firms, to foster competition and a level playing field between Europe's
trading venues, and to ensure appropriate levels of protection for
investors and consumers of investment services across Europe. The MiFID
will play an essential part in building the more integrated, deeper and
efficient capital market which Europe needs to lower the cost of capital,
generate growth and boost its international competitiveness. The proposed
measures now being submitted to the European Parliament and the ESC are the
so-called "level 2" measures(or "implementation measures") required under
the "Lamfalussy" process ; they will make operational the principles set
out in the "level 1" Directive (IP/04/546). The draft measures are being
tabled after a very extensive round of intense consultations with all
stakeholders over the last two years. They are designed to protect
investors and consumers without imposing unnecessary compliance burdens on
firms. The measures have been drafted to provide firms with clear and
predictable rules and to give greater security to investors and consumers
who buy services from foreign firms.
[02] Changement climatique : la Semaine verte est la première
manifestation "neutre" sur le plan climatique organisée par la Commission
La Commission européenne a pris des mesures pour que sa grande conférence
annuelle sur l'environnement, la Semaine verte, ne contribue pas au
changement climatique. Selon des estimations, les émissions de gaz à effet
de serre imputables à la Semaine verte 2005 s'élèvent à 139 tonnes
d'équivalent-dioxyde de carbone (CO²), les déplacements des participants
à la conférence constituant la principale source d'émissions. La
Commission a d'ores et déjà compensé ces émissions par l'achat de quotas
d'émissions correspondant à la même quantité de CO² dans le cadre du
système communautaire d'échange de quotas d'émission (SCEQE). Ces quotas
seront annulés afin de ne pouvoir être réutilisés à l'avenir.
Cela fait de la Semaine verte 2005, qui s'est tenue à Bruxelles en juin
dernier sur le thème du changement climatique, la première manifestation
"neutre" sur le plan climatique organisée par la Commission. Celle-ci
souhaite faire de même pour la Semaine verte 2006 consacrée à la
protection de la diversité biologique, qui se déroulera du 30 mai au 2
juin.
[03] Experts propose measures to increase the role of philanthropy in
research
Philanthropy – as provided by foundations, trusts and charities, for
example – can play an important role in raising funds for research, but
the potential has not been examined or used properly at European level. So
says an expert group set up by the European Commission, which has released
its report "Giving More for Research in Europe". The experts found that too
little attention is given to the role of foundations and other
philanthropic bodies in research, and makes recommendations as to how this
could be increased, including through a better tax and regulatory
environment, targeted donation campaigns and better mechanisms for
attracting such funds to research. This report follows on from the Action
Plan for More Research and Innovation adopted by the Commission in October
2005, which proposed national and European action to mobilise sources of
funding for European research and innovation. The report will be discussed
at a conference on 27-28 March.
[04] Charlie McCreevy in Washington (06-09/02)
The European Commissioner for Internal Market Charlie McCreevy will visit
Washington US this week. On Monday 6th February he will meet John Snow, US
Treasury Secretary. On Tuesday 7th Commissioner McCreevy will address
Council on Foreign Relations on "A framework for the 21st century - the new
global regulatory agenda in financial markets". The Commissioner will have
meetings with Chuck Hagel, Chair Senate Subcommittee on Securities and
Investment, Bill Gradison, Acting Chairman, Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board, Richard Baker, Chairman House Sub-committee on Capital
Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, Spencer Bachus,
Chairman House Sub-committee on Financial Institutions and consumer credit
and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. On Wednesday 8th, MrÂ
McCreevy will address the US Chamber of Commerce on "The Transatlantic
Financial Market: fulfilling its true potential". He will meet with
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Chairman, Christopher Cox, and
with SEC Commissioner Cynthia Glassman, Commissioner Paul Atkins, and
Commissioner Annette Nazareth. The Commissioner will also meet Ben Bernanke,
Chairman, Federal Reserve Board, Governor Susan Bies, Federal Reserve Board
and the Securities Industry Association and Ambassador Boyden Gray. Finally,
on Thursday 9th Commissioner McCreevy will meet Secretary Don Evans, CEO,
Financial services Forum.
[05] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to visit Mexico (07-09/02)
The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Mexico from 7 to 9 February
2006. During her visit she will meet the President of the Republic, Vicente
Fox, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Luis Ernesto Derbez, with whom
she will review the current state of EU-Mexico relations. She will also
meet representatives of the judiciary to discuss EU-Mexico cooperation
activities in the field of justice as well as key stakeholders and partners
involved in EU-financed projects in the small and medium enterprise sector.
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Frequently Asked Questions on MiFID: Draft implementing "level 2" measures
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
