Daily News 18 / 10 / 2016
Transcription
Daily News 18 / 10 / 2016
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 18 / 10 / 2016 Brussels, 18 October 2016 European Commission presents today reports on progress in the implementation of the Partnership Framework with third countries Today, the European Commission will present its first progress report on the implementation of the Partnership Framework with third countries to more effectively manage migration together. Four months after the Commission proposed this new Framework under the European Agenda on Migration and its endorsement by the June European Council, which also called for its swift implementation, the EU's new partnership approach with countries of origin and transit of migration is starting to yield results. The Partnership Framework is a forward-looking European approach to deepening cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination. Since June, under the leadership of the High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini, EU institutions and EU Member States have jointly put substantial efforts into making this new approach a success. This new approach established a resultsoriented approach to mobilise and focus all EU and Member States' tools and resources for managing migration effectively and addresses short-term solutions to immediate migration pressure, as well as deeper investment to tackling the root causes of irregular migration has started with five priority countries: Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Ethiopia. (For more information: Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Tove Ernst – Tel.: +32 229 86764; Esther Osorio – Tel.: + 32 229 62076; Markus Lammert – Tel.: + 32 229 80423) Commission proposes first research partnership in the Mediterranean to increase food and water sustainability Today, the Commission has presented a proposal for a Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area – PRIMA. The first partnership of its kind in the Mediterranean basin aims to develop much-needed novel solutions for sustainable water management and food production. Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "EU research and innovation is open to the world so we can tackle global challenges together. This Euro-Mediterranean partnership is an excellent example of where pooling knowledge and money can make a huge difference. It would bring more clean water and food to the people, boost local economies and create jobs. Through PRIMA, research and innovation will play a crucial role in addressing the root causes of migration." The Commission's proposal already includes Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. The participation of Germany is currently under negotiation. As the initiative is evolving over time, more participants are expected to follow, both EU and non-EU countries. Funding for the €400 million partnership will come from the participating countries (currently around €200 million), matched by a €200 million contribution from the EU through its current research framework programme Horizon 2020. The partnership is scheduled to run for 10 years, starting in 2018. A full press release in EN, FR and DE and a memo are available online. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Joseph Waldstein – Tel.: +32 229 56184) EU and Eastern Partners stepping up cooperation on Environment, Climate Action, Digital Economy and Society The European Union is stepping up its cooperation with the Eastern Partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The first ever Eastern Partnership formal Ministerial meeting dedicated to Environment and Climate Action took place in Luxembourg this morning with the participation of Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. Ministers from EU and Eastern Partner countries adopted a Ministerial Declaration confirming the joint commitment to accelerate their cooperation on environment and climate change and promoting a sustainable and inclusive economic development. A press release is also available online. Commissioners Vella and Hahn are having a press conference. This afternoon, Commissioner Günther Oettinger, responsible for the Digital Economy and Society, and Commissioner Johannes Hahn will commit to the way forward for a Digital Community with the six Eastern Partnership countries and Slovakia which holds the Presidency of the EU Council. The aim is to extend the benefits of the EU's Digital Single Market to the six Eastern Partnership countries, and possibly to other EU neighbours. Participants will launch EU4Digital networks on jointly agreed priority topics. These networks would serve as platforms for sharing best practices and experiences among partners and with the EU, promoting synergies and developing joint projects. More information and a Joint Statement are expected to be published here after the meeting, at around 15:45. Photo and video coverage will be available on EbS. (For more information: (Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Enrico Brivio – Tel.: + 32 229 56172) Sécurité routière: aucune victime dans 19 pays européens lors de la «Journée européenne sans mort sur les routes» Le Réseau Européen des Polices de la Route (TISPOL) a aujourd'hui publié les résultats de la première «Journée européenne sans mort sur les routes» (ou "EDWARD" de son acronyme anglais) qui s'est tenue le 21 septembre dernier avec le soutien de la Commission Européenne. Ce jour-là, 19 pays n'ont enregistré aucune victime sur leurs routes. Dans les 31 pays participants, on dénombre un total de 43 victimes, contre 70 un an auparavant. Violeta Bulc, Commissaire chargée des Transports, a déclaré "Les actions de pédagogie et de sensibilisation contribuent grandement à la sécurité routière, et le projet EDWARD se fixe un objectif très ambitieux: une journée sans mort sur les routes d'Europe. Cette année, nous enregistrons une amélioration très nette par rapport à 2015 ce qui démontre que lorsque toutes les parties prenantes travaillent ensemble, il est possible de faire la différence et de sauver des vies. Nous sommes sur la bonne voie pour atteindre notre but ultime, faire de l'objectif des zéro morts une réalité". Dans le cadre de cette journée, plus de 103 000 organisations et individus ont signé une charte de la sécurité routière et plus de 80 évènements ont été organisés à travers l'Europe, tels que des actions de sensibilisation, des ateliers dans des écoles et entreprises ou des tables-rondes. Les réseaux sociaux et le #ProjectEDWARD ont permis de toucher plus de 19 millions de personnes. Plus de détails et les chiffres par pays sont disponibles sur le site de TISPOL et de la DG MOVE. (Pour plus d'informations: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.: +32 229 56186; Alexis Perier – Tel.: +32 229 69143) ANNOUNCEMENTS Le premier Vice-Président Timmermans et les Commissaires Moedas et Vestager participeront aux "Journées de Bruxelles" Le premier Vice-Président Frans Timmermans ainsi que les Commissaires Carlos Moedas et Margrethe Vestager vont participer demain à la 4ème édition des "Journées de Bruxelles". Le premier Vice-Président se joindra à Gilles Kepel, spécialiste de l'Islam et du monde arabe, pour une discussion sur le thème de "L'Europe face aux menaces" de 14h30 à 15h45. Le même jour de 17h30 à 19h, les Commissaires Moedas et Vestager, aux côtés de l'ancien Ministre de l'Economie français Emmanuel Macron, participeront à un autre débat intitulé "Comment donner un avenir à L'Europe?”. Ces deux débats se tiendront dans le hall Henri Le Bœuf au Bozar et seront retransmis en direct en Français et en Néerlandais. Les journalistes sont priés de s'inscrire en ligne. Chaque année, les Journées de Bruxelles sont co-organisées par BOZAR, Le Nouvel Observateur, De Standaard et Le Soir, rassemblant des hommes politiques, des experts et des intellectuels pour débattre des défis majeurs auxquels l'Europe fait face. (Pour plus d'informations: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 2 29 67456; Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100) Paris Agreement: Commissioner Arias Cañete in Marrakesh for ministerial meeting ahead of UN climate conference Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete will be in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 18-19 October to meet with ministers ahead of next month's UN climate conference COP22. The ministers will discuss the preparations for the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change as well as its implementation. Following the EU's ratification, the Paris Agreement will enter into force just before the COP22. A key topic for discussion will be the means of implementation for supporting action to reduce emissions and strengthen the ability of all countries to cope with the effects of climate change. Ministers will discuss the recently published Climate Finance Roadmap which outlines the key factors and pathways to reach the developed countries' joint goal to mobilise 100 billion US dollars per year by 2020 for climate action in developing countries. There will also be an opportunity for countries to share their experiences in preparing and implementing national climate action plans at an event co-hosted by Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete and Moroccan Environment Minister Hakima El Haite. The ministers will also discuss the development of long-term climate strategies and how to mobilise and strengthen climate action before 2020. More information is available on the Commission's website. On climate finance see the recent Finance Ministers Council conclusions on climate change.See also OECD report on the “2020 Projections of Climate Finance Towards the USD 100 Billion Goal”. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.: +32 229 56186; Nicole Bockstaller – Tel.: +32 229 52589) Commissioner Creţu at U.N. Habitat conference: "The New Urban Agenda reflects the EU's vision for sustainable urban development" Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Crețu is participating in Habitat III, the U.N. conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development in Quito, Ecuador. The purpose of the conference is to adopt the global New Urban Agenda, which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development. On Monday the Commissioner addressed an assembly of leaders and stakeholders from all over the world and gave a speech in the opening plenary session of the conference on behalf of the EU and its Member States. "We have adopted the Urban Agenda for the European Union which, based on a partnership approach involving cities and other stakeholders, aims at better including the urban dimension into EU policies. […] The European Union and the Member States are also committed to engaging with partners around the globe, to jointly address the challenges of urban poverty and exclusion, for the benefit of sustainable development in our partner countries overall," the Commissioner said in her address. You can find the full speech here. Yesterday Commissioner Creţu met with Ban Ki-Moon, U.N. Secretary General and José Ángel Gurría Secretary-General of the OECD, before meeting later this week with Joan Clos, Habitat III Executive Director and Helen Clark, Head of the U.N. Development Programme. Wednesday, the Commissioner will announce the EU's Voluntary Commitments, to help reach the targets of the New Urban Agenda. More information on the conference, its programme, as well as on EU urban policy is available online. (For more information: Jakub Adamowicz – Tel.: +32 229 50595; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169) Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News) MEX/16/3478