Midday Express of 2009-11-26
Midday Express of 2009-11-26
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EXME 09 / 26.11
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communication
26 / 11 / 09
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will pay an official visit to the Republic of Moldova (hereafter "Moldova") from 26-27 November. During her stay she will have meetings with Acting President and Speaker of the Parliament Mihai Ghimpu, Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca, as well as presidential candidate Marian Lupu and members of the opposition and with civil society representatives. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will deliver a speech in the Parliament of Moldova and visit a children's village established by "Concordia" an organisation founded by Father Georg Sporschill. This is the first visit by a Commissioner since the elections in July 2009 and is an important sign of the Commission's support for Moldova on its path towards political and economic stability. In her meetings Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will emphasise the need for Moldova to continue efforts for the effective implementation of economic and political reforms and to fully cooperate with the international financial institutions. The Commissioner will express the EU's intention to accelerate the development of the EU relationship with Moldova, making full use of the opportunities of the Eastern Partnership including the launch in January of negotiations for a new contractual agreement with Moldova to replace the current Partnership and Co operation Agreement, and the promise of continued financial assistance to help the country cope with the financial and economic crisis in the country. She will equally express the EU's continuing engagement in the Transnistrian settlement efforts.
- "European citizenship: not just words, but also concrete rights!" – Commission information campaign lands in Malta
The European Commission launches today an information campaign in Malta on EU citizenship rights. Under the slogan "European citizenship: not just words, but also concrete rights!", the campaign will tour five locations, from 26 November to 1 December 2009. Over the last two years, the campaign has moved through Romania, Germany, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Millions of travellers who book holiday ?packages' with combinations of flights, hotels, car rentals etc on the internet or in the high-street look set to receive tougher financial protection if things go wrong, under plans put out for consultation by the European Commission today. The Commission is consulting on extending the basic cover provided by EU's 1990 Package Travel Directive – on information, liability for sub-standard services and protection for insolvency - to the next generation of ?dynamic packages' where consumers make up their own packages, often online, through one website or different partner websites. 23% of EU consumers, and over 40% in countries like Ireland, Sweden are now booking "dynamic packages", many of which currently fall outside EU protection rules (67% mistakenly think they are protected). Following the recent spate of airlines going bust, the paper also considers extending basic insolvency protection for consumers beyond package and dynamic packages across the board, including for stand alone airline tickets.
Today, the European Commission adopted a financial package of €275 million to support programmes to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases in 2010. The 224 annual or multi-annual programmes which were selected for EU funding will tackle animal diseases that impact both human and animal health. The large EU contribution towards these programmes reflects the high level of importance attached to disease eradication measures, for the protection of both animal and public health.
Brussels, 26th November – The ?Tech-Box' teaching aid, schooling through social networks and specialised programmes for people who have dropped out of education where just some of the innovations suggested by 95 secondary school students from 25 countries during the 24-hour marathon challenge of the first-ever European Innovation & Creativity Camp, on 24 – 25 November. This was one of the flagship projects of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009, organised by the European Commission and Junior Achievement-Young Enterprise (JA-YE) Europe.
- CFP reform and local issues on agenda as Commissioner Borg visits Canary Islands
EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joe Borg, arrives in the Canary Islands today for a two-day visit. His first port of call will be Tenerife, where he will meet the Fishermen's Association of El Pris, Tacoronte, and discuss the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and the outermost regions. Mr Borg will be accompanied by Ms Pilar Merino, Regional Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of the Canary Islands Government. Later in the day, the Commissioner will meet Mr Paulino Rivero, President of the Canary Islands Government, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. On Friday morning Commissioner Borg will be in Arrecife, capital of the island of Lanzarote, at the Maritime and Fisheries Training Institute, where he will also be joined by Mr Rivero and Mr Juan Carlos Martín Fragueiro, Spanish Secretary-General for the Sea, at a conference to discuss the Green Paper on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. In his speech to the conference, Mr Borg will address a range of issues relating to the Green Paper, which the Commission published earlier this year to launch the reform debate. After this, the Commissioner will take part in a round table discussion on the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the Canary Islands, together with representatives from the sector itself, the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Canary Islands and the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs. Before leaving Lanzarote, the Commissioner will visit the refrigeration facilities at Puerto Naos, Arrecife's fishing port, the facilities of the Yaizatún fishing enterprise and the Fishermen's Association of Playa Blanca, in southern Lanzarote. He will then travel to the island of Gran Canaria, where he will tour the ADSA company's aquaculture installations, the Fishermen's Association of Melenara and the Canarian Institute for Marine Sciences (ICCM).
- The 25 best pictures of sustainable tourism in Europe
Mr. Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Mr. Gianni Pittella, First-Vice President of the European Parliament, will jointly open the "European Destinations of Excellence" (EDEN) Photo Exhibition on 1st December 2009 at 18:30 at the European Parliament (Altiero Spinelli (ASP) building, 3rd floor "Espace Bar"). The exhibition will showcase the 25 best pictures from almost 2100 entries that have been selected in a public contest for the best pictures of Europe's unspoiled areas. Three prize winners will receive awards from the Vice-Presidents. The photo competition complements the EDEN contest that aims at selecting the best sustainable tourist destinations in European countries. The awards for the 22 destinations selected this year around the theme of "tourism and protected areas" were announced on 8 October in Brussels. EDEN photo competition; European Destinations of Excellences
Rediffusion
- Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes the adoption of the Tyre labelling regulation by Council and Parliament
"I'm very happy about the adoption today of the Tyre labelling regulation. This is a typical win-win situation where consumers and fleet managers will be able to choose safer and low noise tyres and save on their fuel bills while the European Union as a whole will benefit from reduced road transport emissions". With these words, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed today the final step for the adoption in the European Parliament of the Regulation on tyre labelling following a political agreement at Council level on 19 November.
Energy commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, together with Belgian authorities, inaugurated today in Estinnes, near Mons, Belgium, the world's first wind park with giant 7MW wind turbines, a state-of-the art European technology achievement. The project for the development of the world's most powerful wind turbine today was co-financed by the European Commission with up to € 3.3Million from the 7th Framework Programme. "Estinnes is a milestone on our ambitious road to sustainable energy. All those having worked hard to bring this project forward should take pride today in their achievements, and take courage for the work ahead", said Commissioner Piebalgs after the inauguration.
- Autre matériel diffusé
? Memo on Commissioners designate for the next Commission
? Memo on Overhauling EU rules on package travel. Frequently Asked Questions
? Memo on Package Travel: Key Facts and Figures
? Memo on Antitrust: Commission confirms sending Statement of Objections to alleged participants in TV and computer monitor tubes cartels
? Speech by Commissioner Rehn: "Enlargement Package"
? Speech by Commissioner Dimas: " The third Civil Protection Forum: developing Europe's resilience to disasters"
? Statement of President Barroso in the debate on the Preparation of the European Council
? Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner: East European Energy efficiency & Environmental Partnership
A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/
European EC Rapid Press Release MEX/09/1126, copyright European Commission.
read the original release
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