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GALILEO: finishing touches before the
launch of the first satellite in December [ full text ]
During a ceremony organised by the European
Space Agency and the Dutch government on 9 November at the European Space
Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the first
GALILEO satellite was officially baptised “GIOVE” (Galileo In
Orbit Validation Element). This first satellite, built by
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, will be launched by a
Soyouz rocket from the Baïkonour space centre during the
latter half of December 2005. It will transmit all Galileo
signals. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European
Commission in charge of transport, declared: “This is a big
step in the history of Galileo. The in-orbit validation phase
of the programme will now truly begin with the launch of this
first satellite”.
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EU and Morocco
reach agreement on Galileo
[ full text ]
The European Union
has reached agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco on its
participation in the GALILEO programme. This agreement was
initialled in Brussels on 8 November by Mr. Heinz
Hilbrecht, Director at the European Commission, and S. E. M.
Alem Menouar, Ambassador of Morocco to the European Union. The
agreement will cover industrial and scientific cooperation and
the development of specific GALILEO applications for Morocco
and its region (the western Mediterranean and West Africa).
Vice-President Jacques Barrot in charge of EU Transport policy
said: “I welcome today’s agreement. Morocco is the first
African country to join the Galileo project”.
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Clean urban transport: the European
Commission wants to build on the results of the CIVITAS
programme [
full text ]
On 3 November
Nantes, France hosted
the third annual meeting of the cities taking part in Europe’s
CIVITAS programme, an initiative aimed at developing
alternatives to private car use in towns and cities in order
to reduce congestion and pollution. Vice-President Jacques
Barrot, the Commissioner for Transport, spoke at the meeting
to reaffirm the Commission’s support for the programme and
announced his intention of sharing positive results with any
interested cities.
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European Commission authorises
changes to a French aid scheme to promote less polluting
transport [
full text ]
The Commission on
9 November gave the French authorities the go-ahead to
modify an aid scheme it had authorised on 5 March 2003 to
limit greenhouse gas emissions caused by transport activities.
The changes which the French Environment and Energy Management
Agency (Ademe) has made to the multiannual scheme comply with
the objectives of sustainable development, in conformity with
the European Union's commitments in the framework of the Kyoto
Protocol.
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"Roadmaps for the transition to a secure
and sustainable energy future" Speech by Energy Commissioner
Andris Piebalgs, Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and
Sustainable Development
[
full text ]
On 1 November
Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, addressed the Dialogue
on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development in
London. Commissioner Piebalgs emphasised the need to increase
energy efficiency and investment and diversify energy
supplies. In this light, the intention of the
Commission was announced to undertake a fundamental review of
the EU’s energy policy to ensure that it fully meets the
objectives of security of supply, competitiveness and
sustainability, leading to the publication of a Green Paper
on a Secure, Competitive and Sustainable Energy Policy for
Europe in spring 2006.
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Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner,
attends Ministerial Conference organised within the framework
of BASREC
[ full text ]
On 28 October Andris Piebalgs,
Energy Commissioner, addressed the Ministerial Conference
organised within the framework of the Baltic Sea Region Energy
Co-operation (BASREC). At the conference, held in Reykjavik,
Iceland, the country currently holding the yearly Presidency
in the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Commissioner said
that regional energy co-operation, including co-operation in
the Baltic Sea Region, is an important tool for addressing the
current energy challenges, including security of energy supply
and sustainable development.
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State aid: Commission opens formal
investigation into long term power purchase agreements in
Hungary [
full text ]
The European Commission has opened a formal
investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules (Article 88(2))
into Hungary’s long term power purchase agreements (PPAs)
concluded between the state-owned electricity network operator
MVM Rt. and the power generators. The PPAs guarantee a return
on investment to the generators without any risk. They cover
around 80% of the Hungarian power generation market, leaving
little room for new market entrants. The Commission has doubts
about the compatibility of the PPAs with EC Treaty state aid
rules that require Member States not to grant aids or
subsidies which distort or threaten to distort competition
within the EU’s Single Market. The investigation will allow
the Commission to obtain more information on the PPAs and give
interested third parties an opportunity to comment. The
Commission will then finalise its assessment of whether the
PPAs are likely to cause undue distortion of competition.
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Publications : Just Released !
A
selection of our latest publications:
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Doing more with less: Green
Paper on energy efficiency
45 p
Language(s) : All (20)
Price: gratis
Available on-line
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Trans-European transport
network: TEN-T priority axes and projects 2005
72 p.
Language(s) : DE - EN – FR
Price: gratis
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(c) European Communities, 2005
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No 159 - Weekly - 11
November 2005
