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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-07-18
From: HR-Net News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
18 / 07 / 1996
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 17 juillet -
Outcome of Commission meeting of 17 July
[01] Burden of proof in sex discrimination cases - Commission adopts a
proposal for a Council directive
[02] Franz Fischler outlines action to rebalance the beef market
[03] Accord intérimaire euro-méditerranéen de commerce et de coopération
entre l'Union européenne et les Palestiniens
[04] Atlas-GlobalOne: feu vert de la Commission sous condition de libéralisation
en France et en Allemagne
[05] La Commission approuve la fusion de Ciba-Geigy et Sandoz moyennant un
engagement pris par les parties
[06] Commission approves Holland Media Groep in its modified form
[07] Commission opens procedure on contract-related aid to Bremer Vulkan
Werft
[08] Commission opens procedure against Denmark on shipbuilding aid
[09] Commission approves a French aeronautics R&D scheme
[10] Commission opens investigation on Italian R&D aid to SGS-Thompson
[11] Commission declares land sales to Siemens real estate holding illegal
[12] Commission approve Dutch R&D scheme for environmental and energy
efficiency in transport
[13] Commission decides to close against planned aid to a wood processing
company
[14] La Commission approuve des aides à l'emploi en Extremadura (Espagne)
[15] Commission gives green light to French aid to Compagnie Générale
Maritime
[16] Taxes dans le secteur agricole en Finlande
[17] Aides dans le secteur agricole et forestier en Italie
[18] BSE: beef and beef products disposal scheme in the United Kingdom
[19] Aides compensatoires agrimonétaires en Autriche et aux Pays-Bas
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[20] Egalité des rémunérations entre les femmes et les hommes: code de
conduite
[21] EC takes new initiatives to foster cooperation amongst the New
Independent States
[22] Euro-Asia meeting to tacke trade and investment barriers
[23] Somalia: Commission clears humanitarian aid worth ECU 1.52 million
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 17 juillet -
Outcome of Commission meeting of 17 July
[01] Burden of proof in sex discrimination cases - Commission adopts a
proposal for a Council directive
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Directive on the
burden of proof in sex discrimination cases. This proposal aims to provide for a
sharing of the burden of proof between plaintiff and defendant. In such cases,
until now, a woman who alleged breach of the principle of equality has generally
had to bear the full burden of proving her case, even where certain facts were
easier for her employer to establish. The Commission plans to change the
burden of proof rather than reversing it totally. The essence of this proposal is
that the plaintiff would be required to provide evidence of probable or presumable
discrimination. The defendant would then have to prove that there has been no
infringement of the principle of equal treatment between men and women".
[02] Franz Fischler outlines action to rebalance the beef market
The European Commission gave Franz Fischler, Agriculture and Rural
development Commissioner, green light for an orientation debate in the Council
of Ministers on measures under consideration to help restore market balance in
the beef sector. The measures aim at reducing beef production in the short and
medium term by promoting extensification of production; introducing intervention
for young animals (8/9 months of age); reducing the total number of producer
rights to the male beef premium and by obliging all Member States to introduce
the calf-slaughter premium which formed part of the CAP reform decision in 1992
but whose aplication by Member States was on a voluntary basis. It will also be
necessary to increase the limit on purchases into intervention established under
CAP Reform at 400,000 and 350,000 tonnes for 1996 and 1997 respectively.
Funding for these and any other measures which may be decided upon will have
to be found from within the agricultural budget. The Commission will draft
concrete proposals after the orientation debate in the Council of Ministers.
[03] Accord intérimaire euro-méditerranéen de commerce et de coopération
entre l'Union européenne et les Palestiniens
La Commission européenne vient d'adopter une recommandation de décision du
Conseil des Ministres l'autorisant à négocier un accord euro-méditerranéen
intérimaire relatif aux échanges et à la coopération entre l'Union européenne et
les Palestiniens. Il régira l'ensemble des relations économiques et commerciales
entre les parties et comportera entre autres des dispositions relatives à la
coopération dans le domaine financier, social et culturel ainsi qu'aux aspects
institutionnels appropriés.
[04] Atlas-GlobalOne: feu vert de la Commission sous condition de libéralisation
en France et en Allemagne
La Commission européenne a donné son autorisation à l'alliance européenne de
télécommunications entre France Télécom (DT) et Deutsche Telekom AG (DT),
dénommée Atlas, et à l'alliance mondiale entre Atlas et Sprint Corp., récemment
rebaptisée 'GlobalOne'. Cependant, la décision de la Commission fait dépendre
l'inclusion de différents services et réseaux dans les alliances de la réforme
réglementaire au niveau national. Une fois que les nouvelles lois françaises et
allemandes de libéralisation de télécommunications seront entièrement mises en
oeuvre et en état de fonctionnement, DT et FT pourront demander que la
Commission réexamine les restrictions spécifiques attachées à la décision, qui
dépendent de la nature concurrentielle du marché. En outre, la Commission
approuve Atlas pour une période relativement courte de 5 ans. L'alliance sera
examinée à nouveau en 2001, en même temps que l'entreprise commune
'Concert' de BT et MCI, qui a été approuvée en 1994.
[05] La Commission approuve la fusion de Ciba-Geigy et Sandoz moyennant un
engagement pris par les parties
La Commission européenne a déclaré compatible avec le marché commun la
fusion envisagée par les deux entreprises suisses Ciba-Geigy AB et Sandoz AG
en une nouvelle entreprise dénommée Novartis AG. La décision est assortie de
la condition que les parties respectent un engagement qu'elles ont pris dans le
domaine de la santé animale. Des préoccupations de concurrence subsistaient
en effet sur un marché du domaine de la santé animale: les antiparasitaires
externes pour animaux de compagnie, à savoir les produits destinés au
traitement de parasites tels que les puces et les tiques. Les parties détiendront
ici une position particulièrement forte dans un segment. Trois des cinq
substances actives mondialement disponibles pour fabriquer ces produits sont
contrôlées par Ciba-Geigy et Sandoz. En particulier, l'accès à une substance
active de Sandoz (méthoprène) a eu jusqu'ici une importance particulière pour
les concurrents des parties. En vue de résoudre le problème, les parties se sont
engagées à octroyer des licences non exclusives pour méthoprène et à fournir
ladite substance active au licencié jusqu'à ce que celui-ci commence sa propre
production.
[06] Commission approves Holland Media Groep in its modified form
The European Commission has decided to approve the Dutch TV joint venture
Holland Groep SA (HMG) in its modified form. Initially, HMG was set up as a
joint venture between RTL4 SA (RTL), Vereniging Veronica Omroeporganisatie
(Veronica) and Endemol Entertainment Holding BV (Endemol) for the operation
of the three Dutch general interest channels RTL4, RTL5 and Veronica. On 20
September 1995 the Commission declared this concentration which had already
been completed incompatible with the common market. As a reaction to the
Commission's decision Endemol withdrew completely its participation in HMG.
Furthermore, HMG has entered vis-à-vis the Commission into the commitment to
transform RTL5 from a general interest channel into a news channel. In view of
these modifications, the Commission was now able to declare the concentration
compatible with the common market.
[07] Commission opens procedure on contract-related aid to Bremer Vulkan
Werft
The European Commission has doubts whether the contract-related aid given to
Bremer Vulkan Werft for the construction of the cruise vessel "Costa I" is
compatible with the Seventh Directive on Aid to Shipbuilding and the Treaty and
therefore opened the formal investigation procedure foreseen under Article 93 (2)
of the Treaty. In 1994 Bremer Vulkan Werft signed the contract for construction
of the large cruise vessel "Costa I" which has been launched recently. The yard
suffered heavy losses under this contract as the sales price amounts to about DM
600 million but costs exceeded by far DM 700 million. According to the
information available to the Commission, the total aid given exceeds the ceiling
of 9% of contract value before aid which is permissable under the Seventh
Directive.
[08] Commission opens procedure against Denmark on shipbuilding aid
The European Commission has decided to open a procedure against Denmark
because of the misinformation of prices for the construction of new vessels in
Denmark during 1987-93. There are indications that in 65 cases the financing
of vessels during the period was made on an inflated price level, which has
created a risk that the state aid ceiling was exceeded.
[09] Commission approves a French aeronautics R&D scheme
The European Commission has approved a French research and development
scheme for the aeronautics sector. The scheme covers the period 1996 to 2000,
with a 1996 budget of ECU 196 million. Funding is proposed for research and
development activities in the areas of airframes, aeroengines and avionics. The
principal beneficiaries are individual companies, with a relatively small amount of
ECU 7.5 million in 1996 for the financing of aeronautics R&;D activities by public
non-profit making higher-education or research establishments. Falling under the
scheme is aid to Aérospatiale for the 'Development of a new, long-range Airbus,
the A330-200' and aid to the aeroengine manufacturer SNECMA for feasibility
studies on aeroengines and development of associated design methodologies.
[10] Commission opens investigation on Italian R&D aid to SGS-Thompson
The European Commission opened an investigation regarding the Italian
authorities proposal to provide research and development aid to SGS-Thomson,
a highly successful, diversified and international semiconductor manufacturer.
Funding of ECU 18 million is proposed to contribute to the costs of design and
development of dedicated integrated-circuits and silicon processing methods for
research which began in 1993. The integrated-circuits are for computer and
power supply, telecommunications, automotive and audio/radio applications.
There are serious doubts regarding several aspects of the proposed aid,
principally in relation to the necessity for the aid, the 'incentive' effect, and the
precompetitive nature of the work proposed.
[11] Commission declares land sales to Siemens real estate holding illegal
The European Commission decided that a land sales agreement between the City
of Mainz and Fort Malakoff Grundstücksverwaltungsgesellschaft GmbH & Co KG
of 1992 contained State aid of approx. DM 5 million which is incompatible with
the common market and consequently to be recovered.
[12] Commission approve Dutch R&D scheme for environmental and energy
efficiency in transport
The European Commission has approved a Dutch research and development
scheme to promote activities that reduce fuel consumption and minimise pollution
arising from goods transport. A budget of ECU 25 million is foreseen for the
period 1996 to 2001, geared to funding collaborative projects between industrial
enterprises (like shipping companies, intermodal agencies and distribution
centres), research centres and universities.
[13] Commission decides to close against planned aid to a wood processing
company
The European Commission decided to close proceedings of the EC Treaty
against aid which the Land Lower Saxony proposes to award to Glunz AG for the
restructuring of its production plant of chipboard and medium-density fibreboard
at Meppen. Lower Saxony proposes to award a guarantee on a 12-year loan of
DM 50 million for this restructuring, in addition to DM 9 million regional
investment aid. The regional investment aid is awarded on the basis of the
Gemeinschaftsaufgabe scheme, which has already been approved by the
Commission; the Commission therefore has no problem with this aid. The
guarantee had to be regarded as investment aid to a healthy company investing
in a depressed area. Since the overall aid ceiling permitted in that area was
kept, the Commission decided to approve the aid and to close the procedure.
[14] La Commission approuve des aides à l'emploi en Extremadura (Espagne)
La Commission européenne a approuvé un régime d'aide doté d'un budget de
5.700 millions pour la période 1996-99, conçu pour faciliter la création d'emplois
et contribuer ainsi à améliorer les conditions du marché du travail en
Extremadura. Les bénéficiaires directs en sont les petites et moyennes
entreprises, qui recevront des subventions à fonds perdu modulées et
décroissantes selon les cas : recrutement de chômeurs âgés de plus que 45 ans,
recrutement de chômeurs âgés de moins que 45 ans et transformation de
contrats d'emploi de courte durée en contrat à durée indéterminée.
[15] Commission gives green light to French aid to Compagnie Générale
Maritime
The European Commission has closed the article 93.2 procedure relating to state
aid paid by the French government to Compagnie Générale Maritime, providing
certain conditions are met. These are that the French authorities provide a report
on operating results and the proposed privatisation of the company by 1 February
1997 at the latest, so that the Commission can satisfy itself that aid has not been
used to support aggressive market behaviour or loss-making activities and that
the privatisation of the company has been transparent and non-discriminatory.
[16] Taxes dans le secteur agricole en Finlande
La Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas soulever d'objection à l'égard
d'un régime d'aide destiné aux exploitations agricoles en difficulté en Finlande.
Les aides prévues sont destinées à diminuer les charges financières de soldes
des prêts qui ont été contractés pour financer des investissements déjà réalisés
avant l'entrée de la Finlande dans l'Union européenne et concernant des
exploitations agricoles en difficulté à cause des charges financières résultant des
emprunts.
[17] Aides dans le secteur agricole et forestier en Italie
La Commission européenne a adopté une décision finale négative à l'encontre
de certaines aides dans la région Sicile (Italie). Il s'agit, notamment: - d'aides
pour l'assainissement d'entreprises de commercialisation de produits agricoles
et des coopératives agricoles, - de la réduction des frais de transport de produits
agricoles et du coût de l'énergie électrique, - d'aides aux investissements en
dehors des zones défavorisées, - de subventions à l'hectare pour le maintien de
certaines cultures. Le budget global pour ces mesures s'élève à environ 35
millions d'Ecus.
[18] BSE: beef and beef products disposal scheme in the United Kingdom
The European Commission decided not to raise objections to an aid scheme
envisaged by the United Kingdom authorities providing for traders in the supply
chain downstream from the slaughtering sector to dispose of unsaleable stocks
of beef meat and beef products free of cost. The measure aims to restore
market confidence in beef products and avert any environmental and public
health problems which might arise. The stocks would be safely disposed of in an
approved manner under the direction of the UK authorities under normal
commercial conditions. The budget is estimated at £ 10 million (± ECU 12.3
million), and does not involve any compensation for the losses incurred through
write-off of the stocks.
[19] Aides compensatoires agrimonétaires en Autriche et aux Pays-Bas
La Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas soulever d'objections à
l'encontre des compensations agrimonétaires pour 1996, 1997 et 1998 d'un
montant total de 521,8 millions de schillings (38 millions d'Ecus) en Autriche et
de 218 millions de florins (99 millions d'Ecus) aux Pays Bas. Les aides sont
accordées en application du règlement du Conseil relatif à la compensation des
réductions des taux de conversion agricoles de certaines monnaies nationales.
Ce règlement fixe notamment les montants maximaux des aides pouvant être
octroyées en Autriche et aux Pays-Bas pour compenser les effets des baisses
des taux de conversion agricoles le 1er juillet 1995. L'ensemble de ces aides est
pris en charge par le budget communautaire.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[20] Egalité des rémunérations entre les femmes et les hommes: code de
conduite
La Commission européenne a adopté un code de conduite concernant
l'application de l'égalité des rémunérations entre les femmes et les hommes pour
un travail de valeur égale. Ce code a pour objectif de fournir des conseils
concrets aux employeurs et aux partenaires de la négociation collective menée
au niveau de l'entreprise, au niveau sectoriel ou au niveau intersectoriel, pour
assurer l'application du principe de l'égalité dans tous les éléments de la
rémunération entre femmes et hommes qui effectuent un travail de valeur égale.
Il vise en particulier à éliminer les discriminations fondées sur le sexe lorsque les
structures de rémunération s'appuient sur des systèmes de classification et
d'évaluation des emplois.
[21] EC takes new initiatives to foster cooperation amongst the New
Independent States
The European Commission has launched a number of actions to help the New
Independent States (NIS) overcome problems common to the countries of the
region. Voluntary cooperation between neighbouring states in the region is
essential both to expanding trade relations and confronting environmental threats
and international crime successfully.
[22] Euro-Asia meeting to tacke trade and investment barriers
Top officials from Europe and Asia meet in Brussels next week to discuss ways
of improving the investment climate worldwide, and to prepare the ground for
concrete measures to increase trade and investment between the two regions.
Taking their cue from the ASEM summit of European and Asian leaders in
Bangkok last March, senior officials from the twenty-five countries -the fifteen EU
states plus China, Japan, Korea and the seven ASEAN nations -will join the
European Commission and the Irish Presidency for two days of intensive discussions on July 24 and 25. The aim will be two-fold: firstly, the main focus of
the meeting will be to seek to converge European and Asian views on how to
liberalise investment at world level, in time for the WTO Ministerial meeting in
Singapore in December; and secondly to initiate preparations for a strategy to
reduce regulatory barriers that hinder European exports to Asia, which currently
run to around $80,000 million a year, and vice-versa, while preparing an
investment promotion action plan, both of which would be submitted to Ministers
early next year.
[23] Somalia: Commission clears humanitarian aid worth ECU 1.52 million
The European Commission has cleared humanitarian aid worth ECU 1.52 million
for victims of chronic faction-fighting in Somalia. The aid, channelled via the
European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) and international non-governmental organisations from
Belgium, Spain, Germany and France to carry out practical work in the field over
the next eight months.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://www.cec.lu/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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