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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-03-19
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
19/03/97
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Sexual harassment in the workplace: second stage consultation of the
social partners
[02] La Commission propose aux Ministres de l'Industrie de l'UE d'adopter
des aides à la restructuration des chantiers navals en Espagne, en
Allemagne et en Grèce
[03] Commission questions Denmark's total ban on metal cans for drinks
[04] Commission takes further legal actions against Portugal and Ireland
for failing to respect EU rules on the protection of waters against nitrate
pollution
[05] Commission takes further legal action against the United Kingdom for
failing to respect EU rules on the protection of groundwater
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Commission begins an in-depth investigation of the Boeing / McDonnell
Douglas Merger
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Sexual harassment in the workplace: second stage consultation of the
social partners
The European Commission has launched the second stage consultation with the
Social Partners on the possibility of drawing up a comprehensive policy at
European Union (EU) level to fight against sexual harassment in the
workplace. While the consultation document strongly encourages the Social
Partners to negotiate a collective agreement on this issue, it makes it
clear that the Commission is ready to go further if such an agreement is
not reached. The Commission asks the Social Partners to agree on questions
like the definition, prevention and prohibition of sexual harassment and a
system of confidential counselling. According to the Social Protocol
annexed to the Maastricht EU Treaty, the Social Partners now have to give
the Commission their opinion on this document. At this stage, they can
decide to negotiate on the issue of preventing sexual harassment in the
workplace, in which case they would have nine months to reach a collective
agreement at European level.
[02] La Commission propose aux Ministres de l'Industrie de l'UE d'adopter
des aides à la restructuration des chantiers navals en Espagne, en
Allemagne et en Grèce
La Commission européenne a décidé de proposer au Conseil des Ministres de
l'Industrie le 24 avril prochain un paquet de mesures en faveur de la
restructuration des chantiers navals d'Espagne, d'Allemagne et de Grèce.
Ces trois dossiers ne changent pas de manière significative la position
concurrentielle de ces chantiers. Dans le cas allemand, l'aide remplace
les montants illégalement détournés par Bremer Vulkan au détriment des deux
chantiers est-allemands. Dans les cas grec et espagnol, une grande partie
de l'aide est justifiée par des intérêts que les entreprises concernées ont
dû verser sur des prêts qu'elles avaient contractés parce que pour des
raisons soit budgétaires soit juridiques les gouvernements concernés
n'étaient pas en mesure de verser l'aide autorisée. A cela s'ajoute pour
l'Espagne et l'Allemagne d'importantes réductions de capacité dans les
chantiers navals. Un contrôle très strict sera effectué sur les
différentes phases de ces restructurations. Si le Conseil des Ministres
donne son feu vert aux mesures proposées, la Commission pourra se prononcer
formellement sur ces trois cas d'aide. Un élément crucial dans ces mesures,
proposées à l'initiative du Commissaire à la Concurrence, Karel Van Miert,
est l'engagement de trois gouvernements de ne plus payer d'aides au
sauvetage, à la restructuration ou pour compenser de pertes de garantie à
ces chantiers à l'avenir.
[03] Commission questions Denmark's total ban on metal cans for drinks
The European Commission decided to send a Letter of Formal Notice to
Denmark under Article 169 of the EC Treaty stating that Denmark's total ban
on the use of metal cans for beers and soft drinks may be contrary to the
Packaging Directive (Council Directive 94/62/EEC on packaging and packaging
waste). Directive 94/62/EEC has the twin aims of, on the one hand,
reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste, and, on the other
hand, of ensuring the functioning of the internal market and avoidance of
obstacles to trade and of distortion and restriction of competition. The
Directive thus strikes a balance between internal market considerations and
environmental considerations, and any restrictions on the placing on the
market of packaging must be justified accordingly.
[04] Commission takes further legal actions against Portugal and Ireland
for failing to respect EU rules on the protection of waters against nitrate
pollution
The European Commission decided to lodge an application before the European
Court of Justice against Portugal for its failure to fully respect the
Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection
of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources).
The Commission also decided to send a Reasoned Opinion to Ireland for non
respect of the same Directive. These decisions reflect the Commission's
concern to make the Nitrates Directive fully effective across the
Community. The Directive sets out to lower excessive nitrate levels in
surface waters and groundwaters in so far as these are caused by
agriculture. The aims are two-fold: to safeguard the quality of drinking
water (very high nitrate levels represent a public health risk) and to help
combat eutrophication algal blooms and other undesirable changes caused by
an excess of nutrients such as nitrates).
[05] Commission takes further legal action against the United Kingdom for
failing to respect EU rules on the protection of groundwater
The European Commission decided to send a Reasoned Opinion to the United
Kingdom under Article 169 of the EC Treaty for its failure to fully comply
with a Community directive for the protection of groundwater (Council
Directive 80/68/EEC on the protection of groundwater against pollution
caused by certain dangerous substances). This decision reflects the
Commission's general concern that the vital Community's groundwater
resources should be fully protected in accordance with the Directive. The
Directive has the aims of preventing the introduction into groundwater of
certain toxic, persistent and bioaccumulable substances and of limiting the
introduction of certain other less hazardous substances into groundwater.
With these aims in view, the Directive provides for a set of strict
controls on activities which may lead to groundwater pollution, including
in some cases prior authorisation and investigation.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] Commission begins an in-depth investigation of the Boeing / McDonnell
Douglas Merger
The European Commission has decided to proceed to an in-depth investigation
of the proposed merger between the Boeing Company and the Mc Donnell
Douglas Corporation (MDC) and to initiate second phase proceedings under
the EC Merger Regulation. The operation which was notified to the
Commission on 18th February would lead to the creation of the largest
aerospace company in the world. The Commission will, in particular, have
to examine to what extent Boeing's leading position in the market for
commercial jet aircraft could be strengthened through the proposed merger.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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