AGENDA/06/2

Brussels, 13th January 2006

Top News from the 16th January– 5th February 2006 Background Notes from the Spokesperson’s group FAO journalists The European Commission reserves the right to make changes

Information : - The College of Commissioners will meet in Strasbourg at 1300 on Tuesday 17th January.

Wednesday 18th January: International Donors Conference on Human and Avian Influenza, Beijing

The news: - The European Commission is co-hosting with the World Bank and the government of the People’s Republic of China an International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza. Over 90 countries have been invited as well as 25 organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). - Building on the Geneva conference of November 2005 which identified what support and resources were needed, this meeting aims to set up a financing framework for donors to assist the worst affected countries in need to respond to the socioeconomic, animal and human health challenges posed by avian influenza. - Commissioner Markos Kyprianou will represent the European Commission. The European Commission has already set aside € 30 million to help the countries of South East Asia tackle avian influenza in the framework of this conference. Commissioner Kyprianou will announce the final donation of the European Union, which will be in addition to the assistance to be provided by EU Member States.

The event: Speech by Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, and concluding press conference with senior representatives of the Chinese government and the World Bank.

The sources: Pictures will be available for broadcasters from EBS ¾ European Commission: http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/Influenza/influenza_en.htm

The contacts: Philip Tod +32 2 296 5911; Nina Papadoulaki +32 2 298 6378 Thursday 19th January: Evaluation of Member States' control of fishing activities

The news: - The Commission will publish the scoreboard on Member States' compliance with the EU fisheries rules' latest version. - EU fisheries are managed under the Common Fisheries Policy. - Measures are taken at EU level but the responsibility for ensuring their propoer implementation lies with the Member States. - The Commission must ensure that Member States meet their obligations in this domain. - This third edition of the Scoreboard provides details of the performance of all coastal Member States in the enforcement of fisheries measures in 2004 and of the infringement procedures currently pending against those which have failed in their obligations.

The event: Publication of a press release and experts will be available for questions at the midday briefing.

The sources: ¾ MEMO/04/200 ¾ IP/04/997 ¾ IP/05/917 ¾ IP/03/1534 ¾ European Commission : http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/scoreboard/index_en.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/doc_et_publ/magaz/fishing/mag4_fr.pdf

The contacts: Mireille Thom +32 2 299 1630; Lone Mikkelsen +32 2 296 0567 Friday 20th January: Boosting European research and innovation: Hampton Court follow-up

The news: - The group established by the Commission after the Hampton Court Council to look at Europe's research and innovation challenges in the face of globalisation will present its report to the Commission. - The Group is chaired by Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland, and a driving force behind the high levels of innovation and research in Finland. Other members of the group are Catalonian Minister of Industry Antoni Subira, Chairman of the Commission's Information Technology Advisory Group Jo Cornu and Professor Luke Georghiou of Manchester Business School. - The report will give a brief diagnosis of the state of Europe in research and innovation and propose essential remedies. It will take a radical approach to the problem, arguing that existing efforts need to be complemented with a top down vision of what an Innovative Europe would look like, and a programme of necessary actions to achieve it that go well beyond the narrow issue of R&D expenditure. - Detailed recommendations will cover a wide range of issues such as the supply of venture capital, public procurement, Structural Funds and European Technology Platforms.

The event: Press conference at 1030 with Esko Aho, the Group's Chairman, and Commissioner Potocnik. Other members of the group will also be available to the press after the event.

The sources: ¾ Hampton Court Summit: http://ue.eu.int/showPage.asp?id=965&lang=en&mode=g ¾ IP/05/1557 ¾ MEMO/05/471 ¾ IP/06/21 ¾ MEMO/06/5 ¾ IP/05/968

The contacts: Antonia Mochan +32 2 296 9921; Marilyn Carruthers +32 2 299 9451 Wednesday 25th January: Progress report on renewed Lisbon Strategy

The news: - As the next concrete step of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, the Commission will table its first annual progress report assessing the 25 national reform programmes (NRPs) submitted by Member States in the Autumn. - The report will evaluate Member States' commitments and plans to implement the renewed strategy for economic growth and job creation and in particular, its adequacy to address the main challenges and weaknesses in each economy. - The assessment will encompass macroeconomic stability, structural market reforms and employment policies. - The Integrated Guidelines will serve as the useful reference against which to assess the adequacy and appropriateness of the national Programmes. - The annual report sets the agenda for the Spring meeting of the European Council.

The event: Press conference with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, at 12.15pm at the Berlaymont in Brussels. Live on Europe-by-Satellite.

The sources: ¾ European Commission website : http://europa.eu.int/growthandjobs/index_en.htm ¾ On the previous Spring reports: http://europa.eu.int/growthandjobs/reports/index_en.htm ¾ Key documents concerning the Lisbon strategy: http://europa.eu.int/growthandjobs/key/index_en.htm ¾ IP/05/1491

The contacts: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen +32 2 295 3070, Gregor Kreuzhuber + 32 2 296 6565, Amelia Torres +32 2 295 4629 , Katharina von Schnurbein + 32 2 298 1408 Wednesday 25th January: Communication on the Western Balkans

The news: - The Commission will reveal its contribution to the Informal Foreign Ministers meeting on the Western Balkans organised by the Austrian Presidency in Salzburg in March 2006. - The EU has given a clear European perspective to the whole region of the Western Balkans in 2003 at the Thessaloniki Summit. - The Commission's contribution will take stock of the developments since then and give priorities for next steps in the EU policy towards the region. - The objective is to reconfirm the European perspective of the Western Balkans and to further develop our policy towards the region.

The event : Press conference with , Commissioner for Enlargement, at the Berlaymont in Brussels. Time tbc. Available on Europe-by-Satellite.

The sources : ¾ MEMO/05/410 ¾ MEMO/05/411 ¾ IP/05/1391 ¾ IP/05/1392 ¾ SPEECH/05/770 ¾ European Commission sites: ¾ Enlargement: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index_en.html ¾ On candidate countries and potential candidate countries : http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/candidate.htm#pc ¾ On 2006 status reports : http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/report_2005/index.htm

The Contacts: Kristina Nagy +32 298 86 63, Patricia O'Connor + 32 2 299 05 01 Friday 27th & Saturday 28th February: Europe at the heart of the debate

The news: - President José Manuel Barroso will attend the “Sound of Europe” conference in Salzburg on 27th and 28th January. The conference will be hosted by the Austrian presidency on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth. - The conference will be an opportunity to open debate on the identity and values of Europe. - Over the two days, a number of heads of government, political leaders, representatives of the European institutions, young people and personalities from the arts and sciences will be present. - President Barroso and Vice-President Wallström will also participate in a public discussion entitled “Europe: our hopes and aims.”

The event: The conference will take place on 27th and 28th January at the Conference Centre of the city of Salzburg, Austria. President Barroso will be accompanied by Commissioners Margot Wallström, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Jan Figel. EbS will be on-site for video and photo broadcasts.

The sources: ¾ Austrian presidency site: www.eu2006.at

The contacts: Johannes Laitenberger +32 2 296.57.45 ; Ewa Haczyk +32 2 298.76.80 Wednesday 1st February: White Paper on Communication

The news: - The College of Commissioners will adopt the White Paper on Communication on 1st February. - The goal of the White Paper is to establish a European communications policy, designed to play a prominent role in the European governmental system and to bridge the gap between the EU and its citizens. - Its launch during the EU reflection period will introduce a new concept of politics in Europe. The White Paper aims to help move Europe away from an approach centred on the institutions, and towards a focus on Europe’s citizens. - The White Paper will launch an extensive consultation process to determine the common values and principles which will guide communications policy. It will also suggest themes to be dealt with alongside the other Community institutions and interested parties. - Themes for discussion include : the transfer of power to the citizens, working alongside the media and with new technology, and better understanding of public opinion.

The event: Press conference at 1215 with Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Communications Strategy, at the Berlaymont in Brussels. Broadcast live on EbS.

The sources: ¾ SPEECH/05/701

The contacts: Mikolaj Dowgielewicz 0032 2 29 50 051 ; Mona Lund +32 2 295 0051 Wednesday 1st February: Annual evaluation of the stability and convergence programmes

The news: - Each year, the Member States submit to the Commission a revised version of their multi-annual programmes for stability – in the case of euro-zone states – and convergence – for non-euro zone states. - These revisions detail the necessary measures to maintain or reach a balanced or surplus budgetary position in the medium term. - The aim of the stability and growth pact is to prevent a country from sliding towards excessive deficit. - The Commission will evaluate these programmes in three stages, the first having already taken place on January 11th 2006. - This February 1st, those concerned (subject to change) are: the stability programmes of Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, and the convergence programmes of Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia.

The event: Press conference with Joaquín Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, at the Berlaymont in Brussels, after the midday briefing. Broadcast live on EbS.

The sources: ¾ Previous evaluations of the Commission on stability and convergence programmes : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/about/activities/sgp/ca_en.htm ¾ The examination of stability and convergence programmes : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/about/activities/sgp/scp_en.htm ¾ Excessive Deficit Procedure : http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/about/activities/sgp/edp_en.htm

The contacts: Amelia Torres +32 2 295 4629; Marisa Gonzalez +32 2 295 1925 Wednesday 1st February: Speeding up our pace toward a wider use of biofuels

The news: - For years, the Commission has been promoting the use of biofuels in order to spread the use of renewable energies and meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol . - The Commission will publish a communication on the perspectives on biofuels in Europe in order to promote their development and use. - The principle challenges are: the potential for biofuel production in the EU, in developing third-countries and the role of the Common Agricultural Policy, particularly with relation to “rural development.” - The share of biofuels in European consumption was estimated at 1% in 2004. 1,743,500 tons of biofuel – such as biodiesel and bioethanol –were produced in the European Union in 2003, nearly 26.1% more than in 2002. - The EU is the world leader in biodiesel of which Germany is its main producer. Spain is the main bioethanol producer. - The communication will assess the current situation of biofuel consumption and production of the EU and compare this with the biofuel targets for 2010 : a share of biofuels in European energy consumption at 5,75%. - The Communication aims to evaluate the current biofuel situation and its production in the EU. It will compare figures with 2010 objectives which call for 5.75% of energy needs to provided by biofuels.

The event: Press release after Commission adoption.

The sources: ¾ IP/05/1546 ¾ IP/04/681 ¾ SPEECH/05/620 ¾ SPEECH/05/665 ¾ SPEECH/05/155 ¾ European Commission website on agriculture and environment : http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/envir/index_en.htm ¾ European Commission website on bioenergy and biofuels : http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/res/sectors/bioenergy_en.htm EBS Images: "Biofuels" (mediathèque number: I-037445)

The contacts: Michael Mann +32 498 9 99780, Johan Reyniers +32 498 9 56728