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EU: Midday Express of 2008-05-05

News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

/noticias.info/ * Presidents of Commission, Council and Parliament discuss climate change and reconciliation with European faith leaders

On the initiative of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, an informal dialogue took place on 5 May in the headquarters of the European Commission, bringing together around twenty high-level representatives of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in Europe. The meeting was co-chaired by European Commission President Barroso, Slovenian Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering. This year's meeting focused on two major challenges facing the European Union: Climate Change and Reconciliation.

* Commissioners host meeting to boost energy co-operation with Mashreq countries, Iraq and Turkey

European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, meet representatives of the Mashreq countries, Iraq and Turkey on 5 May in Brussels to discuss improving energy security in the region and in the EU, in particular by deepening co-operation on natural gas. The meeting will be attended by the Minister of Petroleum of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Famy, and the Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources of the Arab Syrian Republic, Sufian Al-Alao, the Deputy Minister and Chairman of Egyptian Natural Gas Company, Eng Mahmoud Latif, as well as senior officials from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The meeting will support finalisation of the Arab Gas Pipeline, and promote its role as a future supplier of the Nabucco project. It will also encourage the full participation of Iraq in regional energy activities, including as a partner in the Arab Gas Pipeline.

* EU has a key role in fostering social success

"The EU has a significant role to play in fostering social success" is the message set forth by Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities at the two-day conference on 'Responding to new social realities' taking place in Brussels today. The event, bringing together all EU and national players, sets the stage for a new Communication on the EU Agenda for Opportunities, Access and Solidarity, planned for June 2008.

* Commissioner Kuneva visits LEGO facilities to exchange ideas on toy safety

European Commissioner for Consumers Meglena Kuneva today visited the LEGO toy company in Billund (Denmark), to discuss the important role of industry in ensuring toy safety. The visit comes in the run-up to the conclusion of a voluntary agreement, in which the European toy industry will engage in a common mission to spread best safety practices. The CEO of LEGO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Commissioner Kuneva discussed the company's approach to ensuring consumer safety and confidence, and exchanged ideas on how best practice can be promoted around Europe and in third countries. The visit comes on the heels of the publication of the 2007 report on the Rapid Alert System for non-food products (RAPEX), which revealed toys to be the most notified product last year (see IP/08/597).

* Commissioner Piebalgs and Minister Khristenko discuss EU-Russia Energy Cooperation

European Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs met the Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Victor Khristenko in Moscow at an official dinner organized by the latter yesterday to discuss EU-Russia Energy Cooperation. Ahead of the G8 Energy Ministers Meeting on 8th June in Aomori in Japan and also ahead of the EU-Russia Summit that will take place on 26 June in Khanty Mansiysk in Russia, they assessed the Russia-EU issues of common interest and prospects of enhanced cooperation in the field of energy.

* Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of a controlling shareholding in Aker Yards by STX

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of control of the Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Yards by STX of South Korea. After an in-depth investigation, launched in December 2007 (see IP/07/1979), the Commission concluded that effective competition on the shipbuilding markets would not be significantly impeded as a result of the proposed transaction.

* Sûreté aérienne: pas de nouvelles contraintes de la Commission européenne pour la taille des bagages de cabine

Un règlement qui entre en vigueur aujourd’hui annule des dispositions qui devaient limiter au niveau européen la taille des bagages de cabine lors de voyages en avion. En octobre 2006, des experts en sûreté avaient conseillé à la Commission européenne de limiter à 56 × 45 × 25 cm la taille autorisée des bagages de cabine pour toute l’UE. Mais l’application de cette mesure a été retardée dans l’attente d’études et d’analyses approfondies commandées par la Commission. Celle-ci, qui souhaite concentrer ses efforts sur les mesures de sûreté les plus efficaces, a conclu que la mesure était d’une utilité trop limitée compte tenu des coûts et de la gêne qu’elle entraîne pour les passagers.

* Science and research Commissioner Janez Potočnik visits Albania on 5 and 6 May

Commissioner Potočnik’s first state visit to Albania follows less than 5 months after Albania's decision to join the European Community’s Seventh Framework for Research (FP7) from 1 January 2008. This allows Albanian Researchers to collaborate with scientists and engineers across the EU Member States and the other Balkan countries on an equal footing. This visit is part of a tour to all Balkan countries to discuss with the authorities the importance of research and cooperation with the European Union. In Tirana Commissioner Potočnik will meet the President, the Prime Minister and the Albanian Minister of Education and Science. He will also speak on 6 May to 100 scientists, engineers, researchers and policy makers at an Information Day on FP7 organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science.

Rediffusion

* La Commission européenne condamne l'assassinat du Chef de mission de Save the Children UK au Tchad

Le Commissaire Louis Michel en charge du développement et de l’aide humanitaire a appris avec une profonde tristesse l’assassinat de Pascal Marlinge, Chef de Mission de l'ONG Save the Children UK, qui a eu lieu le 1er mai sur la route de Farchana/Adre dans l’est du Tchad. notas_de_prensa_archivo