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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-06-02Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb02/06/06[01] Semaine verte 2006 : la Commission décerne les prix de l'environnement pour les entreprises, les villes et les écolesLe constructeur automobile allemand Volkswagen et cinq autres entreprises de Finlande, d'Italie, des Pays-Bas, d'Espagne et du Royaume-Uni ont remporté lee 1er juin le prix européen 2006 de l'environnement pour les entreprises. Le prix 2006 de la Semaine européenne de la mobilité, qui récompense les autorités locales, a été décerné à la ville de Copenhague, tandis que des écoliers de Lettonie et de Grèce sont les lauréats du concours scolaire de la Semaine verte de cette année. Peter Carl, directeur général chargé de l'environnement à la Commission européenne, a proclamé lors d'une cérémonie organisée à Bruxelles les noms des lauréats et des deuxièmes au classement auxquels il a remis leur récompense. Cette manifestation entre dans le cadre de la Semaine verte, la conférence et exposition annuelle de la Commission européenne consacrée à l'environnement, axée cette année sur la protection de la diversité biologique.[02] What to know before you go on holiday - new website for EU health insurance cardAs Europeans gear up for their summer holidays, the European Commission has launched a revamped European Health Insurance Card website. The site provides clear explanations and details on the availability and use of European Health Insurance Card. Launched exactly two years ago on 1st June, the Card makes it easier to obtain medical treatment while staying temporarily in another Member State. Treatment is provided in accordance with the rules of the Member State being visited, and costs are reimbursed in line with the tariffs applied in that Member State. Specific features of the new website include : a "what you need to know before you go" section for people planning their holidays ; two updated "Frequently asked questions" sections, the first with answers to the individuals' questions, the second with answers to healthcare providers ; fully detailed information for specialists, be it legal or historical, on the European Health Insurance Card. The website also features all the cards delivered throughout Europe. See: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/healthcard/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/healthcard/index_en.htm[03] Améliorer les médicaments à usage pédiatrique : l'UE parvient à un accord finalA la suite d'une proposition de la Commission européenne en septembre 2004, le Parlement européen et le Conseil sont parvenus à un accord final sur un règlement relatif aux médicaments à usage pédiatrique. A l'heure actuelle, plus de 50% des médicaments utilisés pour traiter les enfants en Europe n'ont pas été testés ou autorisés par rapport à leur usage. Les médecins ont donc un choix limité de médicaments pour les enfants malades. Cette situation devrait changer prochainement. Le règlement sur les médicaments à usage pédiatrique qui a été convenu le 1er juin améliorera la santé des enfants en Europe en renforçant la disponibilité de médicaments dûment testés, développés et autorisés et destinés spécifiquement aux enfants. L'accord sera formalisé au sein du Conseil dans les prochains jours.[04] Agreement on new €3.6 billion "competitiveness and innovation programme"On 1st June, the European Parliament has adopted the first "Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme" (CIP). Between 2007 and 2013, some 350, 000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will receive €3.6 billion in EU support to invest in all forms of innovation and growth. The new programme will support actions to help enterprises and industry to innovate. It will also boost energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, environmental technologies and a better use of information and communication technology (ICT). The final adoption in Council will follow in the coming weeks. For more details see MEMO/06/226.[05] Commission allocates €700,000 for flood victims in SurinameThe European Commission has allocated €700,000 in emergency humanitarian aid to meet the needs caused by exceptional floods in Suriname. Torrential rainstorms in May led to many schools, clinics and homes being submerged. More than 20,000 people have been seriously affected. Funds are allocated through the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.[06] Commission approves record allocation for ACP-EU Energy FacilityThe European Commission has approved €220 million for the ACP-EU Energy Facility. This will allow the Commission to co-finance selected energy projects contributing to the provision of adequate, affordable and sustainable energy services in the ACP countries. The €220 million is the most important single allocation ever granted by the EU for energy projects in Africa, the Caribbean region and the Pacific Islands. It follows the launch of the EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Energy (EUEI) at the World Summit of Sustainable Development (2002), toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the goal of halving the number of people living in extreme poverty (les than $1 a day) by 2015.[07] Commission proposes to resume normal relations with LiberiaAfter a four year suspension, the European Commission has decided to propose to the Council to normalise relations with Liberia. A recent EU mission to Liberia concluded the Government is committed to building a well governed and democratic country. In light of this the Commission has proposed the Council to resume normal cooperation under the Cotonou Agreement, which was partially suspended in March 2002 due to the failure of Liberia's leaders to respect human rights, the rule of law and democracy. This reinstatement sends a strong message of political support to the Liberian people.[08] EU and Australia strengthen education links : four major new exchange projects linking universities in the EU and Australia are to start this monthThe projects, jointly funded by the Australian Government and the European Commission through the fourth round of the EU-Australia Education Cooperation in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training Projects, will cover a wide range of disciplines. Fourteen European universities, from ten Member States, and twelve Australian universities, across six states, will participate in the Programme, enabling more than 160 Australian students the opportunity to study in Europe for a semester and a similar number of Europeans to go to Australia. Unlike the previous selection rounds, which focus on the graduate level study, the new projects are essentially oriented towards undergraduate students. The four projects to be supported were selected from over 30 applications in total. The Australian Government and the European Commission have each committed over €1 million to this fourth round of the programme. Education is a key plank of the Joint Agenda for Cooperation which forms the framework for relations between the European Union and Australia. Details and description of the projects :<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/eu_others/australia/projects_en.html">http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/eu_others/australia/projects_en.html [09] Ján Figel' au Canada pour renforcer les relations bilatérales dans les domaines de l'enseignement supérieur, de la formation, de la culture et de la jeunesseJán Figel’, commissaire européen en charge de l'éducation, de la formation, de la culture et du multilinguisme, se rendra au Canada du 4 au 6 juin. Il y rencontrera des autorités canadiennes dans le but de renforcer et de renouveler la coopération entre l'Europe et le Canada dans les domaines de l'enseignement supérieur et de la formation professionnelle, coopération qui, depuis son instauration en 1995, a fait intervenir plus de 200 établissements et 200 étudiants.[10] Danuta Hübner in Galicia : "Competitive, innovative and attractive regions is what the new Cohesion policy stands for"European Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner is visiting Galicia, Spain, to discuss with the regional authorities how to best take advantage of the 2007-2013 Cohesion policy to generate growth and create quality jobs. The Commissioner will meet with the Galician government President, Emilio Pérez Touriño, hold a working meeting with the Galician Regional Government and discuss with Galician entrepreneurs the important role of the private sector in creating jobs and growth. During her two-day stay, Commissioner Hübner will visit projects which have received EU funding, among which the "Technological Automotive Centre" at Porriño, the motorway and the high-speed railway Coruña-Vigo, and the outer harbour works at Punta Langosteira.[11] Markos Kyprianou visits CanadaMarkos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, will make his first official trip to Canada from 5-9 June 2006. The Commissioner will use the visit to cover a wide range of health-related topics including pandemic preparedness, obesity and biosecurity. Avian influenza will also be high on the agenda, given the current global situation with regard to the disease. The Commissioner will begin his five- day trip in Montreal, where he will give a keynote speech at the Conférence de Montréal session on children, poverty and health. On Tuesday morning, he will visit the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), to discuss possible travel restrictions and border controls in the case of a serious international disease outbreak. Mr Kyprianou will be in Ottawa on Wednesday, where he will address the press on EU measures taken to combat avian influenza over the past months – a topic he will also cover during a meeting with Canadian Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Chuck Strahl. In the afternoon, the Commissioner will meet with Minister for Health Tony Clement to outline EU pandemic preparations, follow up on the last G8 and G7+ meetings on international measures related to pandemic influenza, and discuss the 2003 SARS crisis (which affected over 400 people in Canada). At the Economic Club of Toronto, the Commissioner will give a speech on the economic consequences of obesity, before returning to Brussels on Friday.[12] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Stavros Dimas : "Global Challenges: European Solutions" at Green Week, Global Partnership session (01/06)Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "The EU, the Mediterranean and the Middle East: A Partnership for Reform" at the German World Bank Forum 'Middle East & Germany: Change & Opportunities' (Hamburg) Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Alte Freunde - neue Herausforderungen: Die Transatlantische Partnerschaft in einer globalisierten Welt" at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung / American Club of Hamburg (01/06, Hamburg) Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Women in peace building" (De Keyser report) at European Parliament (31/05) Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Improving transatlantic relations in the framework of a Transatlantic Partnership Agreement" (E. Brok report) at European Parliament (31/05) Calendrier du 5 au 9 juin 2006
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |