|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-05-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] José Manuel Barroso to bring "voices of EU Development aid" to
Brussels
[02] La Commission remet son rapport sur l'application des règles
relatives aux aides d'Etat à l'industrie houillère dans l'UE
[03] Commission deeply concerned at lost opportunity to effectively combat
illegal fishing in Indian Ocean
[04] Benita Ferrero-Waldner : first bilateral visit to Norway
[05] Danuta Hubner awarded Polish Employers' Confederation Lewiatan prize
2007
[06] Commission recommends abrogation of excessive deficit procedure for
Germany, Greece and Malta
[07] La Commission propose que Malte adopte l'euro en 2008
[08] Commission proposes that Cyprus adopts the euro in 2008
[09] La Commission approuve le projet de rachat du groupe Camaïeu par
Cinven
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-05-21
Reference: MEX/07/0521
Date: 21/05/2007
EXME07 / 21.5
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
21/05/07
[01] José Manuel Barroso to bring "voices of EU Development aid" to
Brussels
In the run-up to next month's G8 Summit in Germany, European Commission
President José Manuel Barroso will meet next Thursday in Brussels with the
President of Ghana and President of the African Union, John Kufuor. He will
also welcome representatives from several developing countries who will
present their personal experience and involvement in EU financed projects
that have a decisive impact in the lives of millions of people in
developing countries.
[02] La Commission remet son rapport sur l'application des règles
relatives aux aides d'Etat à l'industrie houillère dans l'UE
La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui un rapport sur les aides
d'Etat à l'industrie houillère. Celle-ci fait l'objet de règles
spéciales concernant les aides d'Etat depuis l'expiration du traité
instituant la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier en 2002. Ces
règles, dans la mesure où elles prévoient une dérogation Ã
l'interdiction générale des aides d'Etat, visent à soutenir la
restructuration de l'industrie houillère, non rentable depuis de
nombreuses années dans la plupart des Etats membres. Elles expirent le 31
décembre 2010. Ce rapport, adopté après consultation des Etats membres
et des acteurs concernés, conclut qu'il n'est pas nécessaire de modifier
les règles existantes.
[03] Commission deeply concerned at lost opportunity to effectively combat
illegal fishing in Indian Ocean
The European Commission has expressed its deep concern at the lack of
agreement, at a meeting held last week in Mauritius, on a move that would
have given the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) the ability to
effectively combat illegal fishing in the region. (See ME/11/05/07). At
last week's meeting, IOTC Members discussed the necessary amendments to the
organisation's basic convention to make IOTC an independent regional
fisheries management organisation (RFMO). This move would de-link IOTC from
the Food and Agriculture Organisation thereby making it an independent
organisation on a par with the other tuna RFMOs responsible for the
management of tuna fisheries on the high seas. This move is crucial if the
main players fishing for tunas are to be bound by the IOTC's management
rules aimed at ensuring sustainable tuna fisheries in the area.
Unfortunately, formal consensus was not reached on the necessary amendments
even though these had already been agreed in principle last year, at a
meeting, in Goa. The lack of agreement means that the elements that
undermine IOTC's ability to tackle illegal fishing, head on, remain, thus
putting the tuna resources in the area under a high risk of depletion. Such
as situation penalises first and foremost the coastal developing states in
the area, particularly the local small-scale fisheries. The Commission
reaffirms its full commitment to working with other IOTC Members to ensure
that IOTC becomes an independent RFMO and to exploring legal avenues. RFMOs
have shown that they are the most effective instruments at ensuring
sustainable management of fisheries on the high seas. This is why IOTC must
urgently be given the means to play a full and effective role in the
management of the tuna fisheries under its responsibility.
[04] Benita Ferrero-Waldner : first bilateral visit to Norway
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will be making her first bilateral visit to
Norway on 21 May. She will meet with Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre,
Speaker of the Parliament Torbjørn Jagland, have an exchange of views with
the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and will give a speech at the
Norwegian Government's Annual European Conference. The talks will take in
bilateral relations, regional and foreign policy issues.
[05] Danuta Hubner awarded Polish Employers' Confederation Lewiatan prize
2007
European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner received a special
Lewiatan prize 2007 at the Polish Confederation of Private Employers'
annual award ceremony in Warsaw on 16 May. The prize was for her
contribution to supporting democracy, and to building civil society and the
market economy. In her acceptance speech, Commissioner Hubner said: "As far
as I am concerned, I am honoured to accept this award for helping to build
civil society on behalf of regional policy." Commissioner Hubner was
keynote speaker ahead of a panel debate entitled 'National interests in the
EU – the voice of business'. In her introductory remarks, she called on
Poland to reflect on what it could do for the EU, and not just on what the
EU could do for Poland. Two other special Lewiatan awards were made, to Mr
Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, former Foreign Minister, and to former Prime
Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki.
[06] Commission recommends abrogation of excessive deficit procedure for
Germany, Greece and Malta
The European Commission decided on 16 May to recommend that the Council
abrogates the excessive deficit procedure (EDP) for Germany, Greece and
Malta since in 2006 their budget deficit fell below the 3% of GDP ceiling
on the back of a significantly improved structural budget balance
reflecting permanent measures, and is projected to decrease further in 2007
and 2008. This is accompanied by favourable developments in the public debt
ratio in 2006 and the projection for all three countries of a decreasing
trend in 2007 and 2008. This achievement indicates a credible and
sustainable correction of the excessive deficit situation, and shows that
such an adjustment is compatible, and indeed supportive, of economic
growth. Looking ahead, in view of their still high level of debt and the
projected increase in age-related expenditure, it remains a key objective
for Germany, Malta and especially Greece to improve the long-term
sustainability of their public finances by achieving rapidly their medium-
term objective (MTO) of balanced budgets.
[07] La Commission propose que Malte adopte l'euro en 2008
Le 16 mai, la Commission européenne a conclu que Malte avait atteint un
degré élevé de convergence économique durable avec les Etats membres de
la zone euro et qu'il remplissait les conditions nécessaires pour adopter
l'euro. Sur la base de ce rapport de convergence positif, la Commission
propose au Conseil que Malte adopte l'euro dès le 1er janvier 2008. La
décision finale sera prise par les ministres des finances de l'Union
européenne en juillet, après consultation du Parlement européen et à la
suite d'une discussion au sommet de juin.
[08] Commission proposes that Cyprus adopts the euro in 2008
The European Commission concluded on 16 May that Cyprus has achieved a high
degree of sustainable economic convergence with the euro area Member States
and that it fulfils the necessary conditions to adopt the euro. On the
basis of this positive Convergence Report, the Commission proposes to the
Council that Cyprus adopts the euro on the 1st of January 2008. The final
decision will be taken by EU Finance Ministers in July, after consultation
of the European Parliament, and following a discussion by EU leaders at
their June summit.
[09] La Commission approuve le projet de rachat du groupe Camaïeu par
Cinven
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement CE sur les
concentrations, le projet de rachat du groupe français Camaïeu S.A. par
l'entreprise Cinven Limited, du Royaume-Uni. La Commission a conclu que
l’opération envisagée n'entraverait pas de façon significative
l'exercice d'une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen
ou dans une partie substantielle de celui-ci.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Joaquin Almunia : "Taking advantage of globalisation: the role of
education and reform in Europe" at 35th Economics Conference 'Human Capital
and Economic growth' (Vienna)
Speech by Neelie Kroes : "Two years into the SAAP – state of play and
prospects" at European State Aid Law Institute Conference
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
