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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-05-05
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
05/05/97
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission initiates detailed investigation into the creation of a
joint venture between the Coca-Cola Company and Carlsberg
[02] Sir Leon Brittan: "EU-US: Creating a partnership of equals"
[03] 10 mai 1997: journée portes ouvertes au Parlement européen, au Conseil
de l'Union européenne, à la Commission européenne, au Comité économique et
social et au Comité des régions
[01] Commission initiates detailed investigation into the creation of a
joint venture between the Coca-Cola Company and Carlsberg
The European Commission has decided to initiate a detailed investigation
into the creation of a joint venture and the transfer of assets between The
Coca-Cola Company and Carlsberg. The operation will only at present affect
Denmark and Sweden but will be extended, in the future, to cover the whole
of the Nordic and Baltic regions. The operation concerns an amalgamation
of the companies' soft drinks activities in these regions, as well as
certain licence agreements and a distribution joint venture with the
Swedish brewer Falcon, which is jointly owned by Carlsberg and the Finnish
brewing company Sinebrychoff. The market shares of the parties are more
than 60% in the Danish cola market, more than 40% in the Danish market for
non-cola soft drinks, and above 70% in the Swedish cola market. The
Commission cannot exclude at this stage that the operation will lead to the
strengthening of a dominant position in the Danish cola market, the
creation of dominant position in the Danish market for non-cola soft drinks
and the reinforcement of a dominant position in the Swedish cola market.
[02] Sir Leon Brittan: "EU-US: Creating a partnership of equals"
In a speech in Washington today to a Transatlantic Conference on improving
links between the peoples of Europe and the United States, Trade
Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan says the US has been instrumental since the
war in building Europe into the economic and political force that it is
today. But while Europe was formerly a vulnerable infant, it has become a
lusty adult. Europe is now willing, in many areas, to shoulder its own
share of the burden, for example on supporting reform in Eastern Europe or
in helping developing and war-torn countries. Furthermore, the European
Union's (EU) own integration is making Europe stronger: the single currency
will lead to more trade, investment and debt being denominated in Euros.
In some policy areas the EU has taken the lead. As Europe stands on its
own two feet, the transatlantic relationship is changing. The common
threat may have vanished, and common historical ties may be weakening as
America becomes more diverse. But common interests and shared values are
creating a powerful partnership of equals, capable of sustaining the joint
global leadership that has served so well in the past.
[03] 10 mai 1997: journée portes ouvertes au Parlement européen, au Conseil
de l'Union européenne, à la Commission européenne, au Comité économique et
social et au Comité des régions
Le Parlement européen, le Conseil de l'Union européenne et la Commission
européenne organiseront, pour la deuxième fois, une journée portes ouvertes
conjointe, le 10 mai prochain. Le Comité économique et social et le Comité
des Régions s'y associeront. Le public pourra visiter les bâtiments
"Espace Léopold", "Justus Lipsius" et "Breydel", le bâtiment du Comité
économique et social ainsi que l'Info Point du Comité des Régions (79 rue
Belliard). Cette initiative traduit la volonté de transparence des
institutions européennes; elle s'inscrit dans le prolongement de la Fête de
l'Europe qui débutera le vendredi 9 mai, date anniversaire de la
déclaration de Robert Schuman, le 9 mai 1950.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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