August in Europe

13.09.2001 | Euroskop

Commission

Structural Funds : Commission adopts an Interreg programme for Austria and Slovenia of euro 54.5 million (Aug 10)

The European Commission has adopted the cross-border co-operation programme between Austria and Slovenia, which will be financed by the Community initiative Interreg III A. Its main objectives are the development of the economy on both sides of the border and better transnational cooperation. The total amount available until 2006 is euro 54.5 million of which the EU finances about euro 27.3 million. The programme involves the Austrian regions of Styria and Carinthia as well as the Slovenian border regions, representing a population of about 2.37 million. [Background text IP/01/1203]

Structural Funds : Commission adopts an Interreg programme for Germany (Bavaria) and the Czech Republic of euro 63.8 million (Aug 10)

The European Commission has adopted the second of two cross-border co-operation programmes between Germany and the neighbouring border regions of the Czech Republic which will be financed by the Community initiative Interreg III A. The programme concerns the Land of Bavaria and its main priorities are the development of the economy on both sides of the border and better transnational cooperation. The total amount available until 2006 is euro 127.6 million of which the EU finances about euro 63.8 million. The remaining euro 63.8 million comes from national and regional budgets and private funding. [Background text IP/01/1204]

Commission decides advance payments to reimburse Member States for spending relating to FMD crisis (Aug 16)

The Commission has adopted four Decisions authorising 400 million euro of advance payments to Member States to reimburse compensation paid to farmers for animals slaughtered. Advances of 355 million euro are allocated to the UK, 39 million euro to the Netherlands, 3.3 million euro to France and 2.7 million euro to Ireland. [Background text IP/01/1210]

LIFE-Environment: 103 projects in the EU share 59 million Euro to boost environmental innovation (Aug 31)

The European Commission has decided to co-fund 103 new projects in the field of environmental demonstration for the round 2000-2001. The total value of all projects is estimated at 180 million EURO, of which LIFE provides 59 million EURO. LIFE-Environment aims at contributing to the development and implementation of EU environmental policy in an innovative way through financing of specific actions. The selected projects contribute to the following EU environmental priorities: the integration of environmental considerations into land use development and planning; promotion of sustainable management of water resources; prevention, recycling and management of waste; minimisation of the environmental impact of economic activity and integrated product policy. Among the 103 projects, those relating to clean technologies, integrated environmental management, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable tourism predominate both in number and value (33 projects, EU contribution 17.426.233 Euro). [Background text IP/01/1234]

Eurostat

Population of the EU in 2000 (Aug 10)

EU accounts for only 1% of world population growth. Fertility rate up but still below replacement threshold. On 1 January 2001, the population of the EU was 377.0 million, making it the third largest power in the world in terms of the number of inhabitants - far behind China, with 1.273 billion, and India, with 1.030 billion. For more info see the press release.

GDP per capita between 24% and 82% of the EU average (Aug 13)

There was a renewed surge in growth in the Candidate Countries (CC-13)1 in 2000. According to a report2 published today by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg, the GDP of the CC-13 countries as a whole, after standing still in 1999, went up by 5.0% at constant prices in 2000. The increases ranged between +1.6% in Romania and +7.2% in Turkey.

In terms of purchasing power standards3 (PPS), per capita GDP was highest in 2000 in Cyprus (82% of the EU average) and Slovenia (71%), i.e. close to or even above the figures for Greece (68%), Portugal (74%) and Spain (81%), the Member States with the lowest figures for per capita GDP. In the other Candidate Countries, the figures for GDP per capita ranged between 24% of the EU average in Bulgaria and 58% of the average in the Czech Republic. Positive growth rates in all 13 countries

For more info see the press release

July 2001 - Euro-zone annual inflation down to 2.8%, EU15 down to 2.6%(Aug 7)

Euro-zone annual inflation fell from 3.0% in June to 2.8% in July, Eurostat - the Statistical Office of theEuropean Communities in Luxembourg - reports today. A year earlier the rate was 2.3%. EU15 annual inflation fell from 2.8% in June to 2.6% in July. A year earlier the rate was 2.1%. EEA annualinflation was down to 2.6% in July.

For more info see the press release

June 2001 - Industrial production up by 0.6% in euro-zone, EU15 up by 0.7% (Aug 20)

Seasonally adjusted industrial production increased by 0.6% in the euro-zone2 in June compared to May, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg, estimates today. This follows a decrease of 0.2%3 in May and of 0.9% in April.

Production in the EU15 increased by 0.7% in June, after a fall of 0.4%3 in May and of 0.9% in April.

For more info see the press release

European Central Bank

Publication of a study related to the euro equity market (Aug 17)

The results of the study on the euro equity market that was conducted in 2000 are published today in a report entitled "The Euro Equity Market". This report is the last part of a triptych, of which the first two parts entitled "The Euro Money Market" and "The Euro Bond Market" were published on 20 July 2001.

Publication: The Monetary Policy of the European Central Bank(Aug 28)

The European Central Bank (ECB) is today releasing a publication entitled "The Monetary Policy of the ECB" (pdf 1010 kB). This publication is intended to provide the public with a comprehensive overview of the ECB's monetary policy and its economic and institutional background.

Amendment to the rules for the reproduction of euro banknotes (Aug 30)

The Governing Council of the ECB has adopted an ECB Decision on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes (ECB/2001/7) with a view to the public release later today of the final visual appearance of the seven euro banknotes, including their security features.