Week in Europe 10-16/09/01

Week in Europe 10-16/09/01

Terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 in the United States

12.09.01

European Parliament: Solemn session held by the European Parliament and Statement by Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament

Council of the European Union: Extraordinary meeting of the General Affairs Council (Brussels‚ 12 September 2001): Declaration by the European Union and Council conclusions

Council of the European Union: Statement by Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Extraordinary meeting of Foreign Ministers (Brussels, 12 September 2001)

European Commission - External Relations: Statement by Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Chris Patten, Member of the European Commission responsible for External Relations

European Central Bank: Testimony before the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament - Introductory Statement by Wim Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank

European Commission Civil Protection system activated to offer assistance to victims in the US

As part of the Commission's offer to provide any possible practical assistance to the United States, as conveyed by President Prodi to the US Ambassador yesterday, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström last night activated DG Environment's Civil Protection unit 24h/24h alert system.

13.09.01

Council of the European Union: Joint Declaration by Heads of State and Government‚ President of the EP‚ President of the Commission and the High Representative for the CFSP

Statement by President Prodi

European Central Bank: Monetary policy decisions

Other issues

Humanitarian crises - 18 million beneficiaries of ECHO funding during 2000

Launching the latest Annual Review of the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), Poul Nielson, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, has highlighted the vital role played by ECHO in delivering relief to victims of humanitarian tragedies. He reported that, during 2000, the EUR492 million managed by this Commission department had benefited 18 million people in 65 different countries in the world. "This aid is vital" he said, "in saving lives, alleviating misery and giving people a chance to rebuild following natural and man-made catastrophes." The report is available on:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/en/publicat/publications.htm

[Background paper IP/01/1256]

Greening the European Commission: Decision on the implementation of the eco-management and audit scheme, EMAS

The European Commission decided to take further steps to green the institution by adopting a Decision to implement the Community's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, EMAS. The scheme will give the Commission an accurate picture of its environmental impact, improve its environmental performance and provide both organisational and financial benefits. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said: "The European Commission will lead by example. With the introduction of EMAS we want to set an example for other public authorities and economic operators to follow, and our final objective is achieving EMAS registration for the European Commission". Vice-President Neil Kinnock said: "The Commission signalled its awareness of the need for practical action when it launched its Green Housekeeping scheme in 1997. Applying EMAS will further reinforce our commitment to ensuring an environmental-friendly administration."

For more information about EMAS go to: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/emas/index.htm

[Background paper IP/01/1258]

Commission sends an extra EUR1 million in emergency aid for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

The European Commission has earmarked an additional EUR1 million in emergency aid to help people who have been displaced as a result of the conflict in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). This new decision will benefit 45,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 6,000 families hosting them. The aid will be channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

[Background paper IP/01/1259]

Commission allocates euro 350,000 for victims of flooding in Serbia

The European Commission has announced euro 350,000 in emergency aid to help flood victims in the Sabac region of Central-Western Serbia. A number of rivers burst their banks following heavy rains, resulting in widespread damage to homes and water supply systems, as well significant crop losses. Channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson, the funds will be used to rehabilitate houses damaged in the flooding which are occupied by the most vulnerable families, and to repair a number of water supply networks. The affected region has a resident population of some 270,000 and also plays host to 30,000 refugees and Internally Displaced Persons ECHO's implementing partner for this operation is the Italian NGO Movimondo/MOLISV. On 6 August, the Commission allocated euro 750,000 in humanitarian assistance to neighbouring Bosnia & Herzegovina, also seriously affected by the floods. So far this year, euro 45.3 million has been earmarked to meet the continuing humanitarian needs in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following recent conflicts.

Commission warns Member States to maintain pressure of EU labour market reforms

The European Commission agreed an employment package to advance reform of EU labour markets. The three-part annual package - a report on member states' employment performance, a set of recommendations addressed to each individual member state and policy guidelines for the future gives credit to Member State governments for positive results so far in creating new jobs and switching to job-friendly policies. The year 2000 has been the most successful since the launch of the European employment strategy. But the Commission also calls on governments, business and trade unions to persevere with reform of labour markets regardless of any cooling of the world business climate. The package now goes to the EU's Council of Ministers for decision before the end of the year.

For the complete employment package see the following address :

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/news/emplpack2001_en.htm

[Background paper IP/01/1264]

Asylum : Commission proposes a common definition of refugee and a common standard of refugee rights

The European Commission has approved a proposal aiming at a common definition of refugee and at a common definition of rights to be enjoyed by refugees. This proposal, coming 50 years after the Geneva Convention, should create a much-needed level playing field on asylum, ending so-called "asylum shopping". Together with the Commission's other proposals on asylum, this proposals should guarantee a minimum level of protection in all Member States for those who are genuinely in need of international protection, whilst preventing abuses of asylum applications which undermine the credibility of the system. With this proposal the Commission has delivered its commitments made at the Tampere summit to work towards the establishment of a common asylum system in Europe. In view of their opt-outs, this proposal does not apply to Denmark and will apply to the UK and Ireland only if these two member states decide to opt in. For more information : http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/index_fr.htm

[Background paper IP/01/1262]

First estimates for the second quarter of 2001 - Euro-zone and EU15 GDP up by 0.1% ; +1.7% compared to the second quarter of 2000

Euro-zone and EU15 GDP both grew by 0.1% during the second quarter of 2001, compared to the previous quarter, according to first estimates out from Eurostat. These figures follow a rise of 0.5% both for the euro-zone and the EU15 in the first quarter of 2001. Compared to the second quarter of 2000, GDP grew by 1.7% in the euro-zone and in the EU15, after having recorded a growth of 2.4% in both areas in the previous quarter.

[Background paper No 94/2001]

Frits Bolkestein outlines challenges of reforming EU securities markets

"We need to develop trust and cooperation between all parties involved: the Commission, the Parliament and the Council, the regulators and the financial services industry as well", insisted European Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein in a speech on reforming European securities markets in Rome on 13th September. "You cannot legislate that trust. You cannot guarantee it. The only way forward is to build it slowly over time, through consultation, transparency, cooperation and compromise." Mr Bolkestein explained that the four mutually reinforcing objectives of reforming EU securities markets in line with the mandate from the Lisbon European Council were eliminating barriers to cross-border investment, giving investors the information they need, strengthening investor confidence and a more efficient, flexible and durable regulatory system.

[Background speech SPEECH/01/382]

First estimates for the second quarter of 2001; EU15 current account deficit 7.8 bn euro; 7 bn euro surplus on trade in services

The EU15 external current account recorded a deficit of 7.8 billion euro in the second quarter of 2001, as compared with a deficit of 8.0 billion euro in the second quarter of 2000 and a deficit of 17.9 billion euro in the first quarter of 2001. In the second quarter of 2001 the EU15 external balance of trade in services recorded a surplus of 7.0 billion euro as compared with a surplus of 2.6 billion euro in the second quarter of 2000 and a deficit of 3.8 billion euro in the first quarter of 2001.

[Background paper No 95/2001]

Euro-zone government surplus at 0.3% and debt at 69.6% of GDP in 2000 ; public debt ratios decreased in all EU-Member States

For the second time in 2001, the EU15 Member States have notified to the European Commission their data on government deficit and debt for 2000. According to estimates by Eurostat, the revised data confirm the trends observed in the first notification in March 2001. In 2000, the government balance of the euro-zone and the EU15 moved into surplus, while the debt ratio to GDP continued to decline. Even excluding the licence sales, the declining trend in the government deficit continued.

[Background paper No 96/2001]

Enlargement news

Pedro Solbes to open "Euro 2002" conference on the candidate countries and the euro

A two day conference takes place in Budapest (13-14 September 2001, Marriott Hotel) and is aimed at information multipliers, businesses and their advisers and media representatives from the thirteen countries which have applied to join the European Union. It aims to bring together representatives from different economic actors involved in the euro changeover and notably the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the European Parliament. It will address both concrete practical issues around the euro changeover but also assess the wider economic implications for the candidate countries that are on the way to join the EU. See also http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/economy_finance/conf_events/budapest01/bp0901_en.htm

Future of Europe debate takes shape

EU foreign ministers reached broad agreement at an informal meeting in Genval, Belgium on 9 September on the need for a convention to examine the options for the future structure of the EU. Britain and Sweden were the only Member State to express reservations about agreeing to such a convention until its structure and mandate have been clearly defined. The Belgian Presidency has been charged with preparing the ground for the launch of a new debate on the future of the EU at the Laeken European Council. It has launched a dialogue with the Candidate Countries as part of its work on this issue as they will be affected by any decisions resulting from this debate when they become full members of the Union.

The informal foreign ministers meeting in Genval reached broad agreement on the following points:

- The principle of a Convention on the future of Europe consisting of MEPs, members of national parliaments, governments and the Commission.

- The importance of candidate countries being associated with the Convention.

- The presentation of options by the Convention.

- The existence of a separate, wider forum than the Convention that would allow civil society to participate in the debate.

It has been reported that Wim Kok, who is soon to step down as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, will be the President of the Convention.

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