- How
to improve mutual recognition?
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The European Commission (EC)
published in the Official Journal of the European
Union (OJ) of 4 November 2003 an
interpretative communication on the
principle of mutual recognition of goods
within the European Economical Area and
Turkey. Click
here to read the related news. That
publication also demonstrates that
question is not trivial. Therefore, the
EC has launched a public enquiry on how
to improve the application of the
principle of mutual recognition. The
consultation will be closed on 30 April
2004. Read the full text
of the communiqué in: English,
français
Click
here to access the consultation
website.
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- What
means the EU enlargement for the EU
trade?
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On 4 February 2004, the European Commission has issued a memo on the
trade implications of the EU enlargement on EU trade.
A few main figures are given. They show that the EU population will
rise to 455 million (+ 20%) when the gross domestic product (GDP)
will grow by 8.5%, EU becoming therefore poorer on average.
On the other hand, the EU will be less open to the international
trade as its share will fall to 26.9% of GDP. Indeed, this is a
consequence of the increase of the internal market which brings a better
access to a larger population and a reduction in custom duties.
They are other advantages and also a need to reorganise the trade
agreements of the new partners.
Click
here to read the EC memo (English only).
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- When
environment and security help each
other
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On 3 February 2004, the European Commission announced the adoption of
an action plan on GMES, the Global Monitoring for the Environment and
Security.
GMES is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European
Space Agency, designed to establish a European capacity for the
provision and use of operational information from the global monitoring
of the environment and of the planet.
The plan outlines firm steps towards the establishment of a system
that will harness, co-ordinate and enhance existing earth observation
and monitoring information from satellites and earth-based sensors, in
order to support better decision-making for the environment and
security.
Click here to access the GMES
website.
Read the EC communiqué in: English,
français
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- Extension
of CEBEC accreditations
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On 9 January 2004, Mrs. Fientje Moerman, the Belgian Minister of
Economy, confirmed that the Belcert accreditations of CEBEC have been
extended since 7 May 2003. The extension mainly concerns:
- the activities of CEBEC as notified body for the European
Directive 93/42/EEC on Medical Devices;
- new domains for the certification of environmental management
systems.
Click here to read the
news on the CEBEC's notification for the Directive 93/42/EEC.
Click here for details on
CEBEC's accreditations.
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- 2.5
millions extra jobs generated in
Europe
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On 21 January 2004, the European Commission has issued a note on the
implementation of the Internal Market Strategy.
Although the EC is satisfied of the result of the strategy since 10
years (extra growth of 1.8%, 2.5 millions extra jobs), it indicates also
that more efforts are needed in several areas: cross-border trade should
be facilitated by improving mutual recognition, better integrating
financial services, modernising corporate governance... If market
opening in network industries (electricity...) has brought significant
benefits, many public administrations continues to award contracts without
effective competition. Significant improvements are also needed in areas
such as industrial and intellectual property, taxation and the
regulation environment.
Read the full text of the note in: English,
français
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- Towards
the hydrogen economy
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How to limit Europe's dependency on oil import? How to promote the
use of clean energy?
According to the European Commission, the only way is a drastic
change from a carbon economy (based on fossil fuel) to a hydrogen
economy (based on renewable energy sources). This of course implies the
production of electricity by fuel cells. The objective is to realise the
hydrogen economy by the middle of the century. This requires a clear
strategy and coordinated efforts. Therefore, the EC launched on 20
January 2004 a European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Platform
having the mission to guide the developments in that area.
Click
here to read the full text of the communiqué (English only).
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- EUR
72 millions to support consumer policy
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The Official Journal of the European Union of 9 January 2004
published the Decision No 20/2004/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 8 December 2003 establishing a general framework for
financing Community actions in support of consumer policy for the years
2004 to 2007.
EUR 72 millions are devoted to the said period to finance 19 specific
actions, 14 being directly implemented by the Commission. The other
actions are co-financed by the Community or benefit from a financial
contribution. They will be awarded to specific public bodies or
non-profit-making bodies designated by Member States (two actions), to
European consumer organisations (two actions), and to a contractor
(public or private) independent of industry and commerce.
The actions at stake concern four specific areas:
- protection of consumer health and safety with respect to services
and non-food products,
- protection of the economic and legal interests of consumers,
- promotion of consumer information and education, and
- promotion of the capacity of consumer organisations to contribute
at European level.
Read the full text of the Decision in: English,
français,
nederlands
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- Welcome
to Medisearch International
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On 22 December 2003, SGS Belgium announced the acquisition of
Medisearch International n.v. (MSI) of Mechelen, Belgium.
MSI is a contract research organisation specialised in the medical
domain. Its field of activities includes biometry and clinical
evaluations.
We wish to our new colleague within the SGS Belgium Group a great
future and a fast development of its activities.
Click here to read the full text of the
SGS Belgium communiqué (Dutch and French only).
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On 22 August 2003, SGS Belgium and the Belgian Electrotechnical
Committee (BEC-CEB) announced that SGS Belgium takes over 100% of the
shares of CEBEC, including the CEBEC-label. SGS Belgium is a member of
the SGS Group established in Switzerland. Globally, SGS operates a
network of 840 companies and affiliates, and 320 laboratories spread
over 140 countries. It is the market leader regarding inspection and
monitoring of the international trade of agricultural products, rough
materials, oil and consumer products. It is also the world reference in
the areas of technical expertise, quality and inspection. CEBEC has no
doubt that joining such a powerful group will foster its services to the
benefit of its customers and of the community at large. Read the full text of the
press release in: français,
nederlands Click
here to visit the SGS Belgium website.
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