|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-02-11
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
11/02/98
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Aspects pratiques de l'introduction de l'euro
[02] Commission proposed coordinated introduction of next generation of
mobile communications in the European Union (UMTS)
[03] La Commission autorise, sous conditions, l'acquisition par Agfa des
activités de DuPont dans le secteur des arts graphiques
[04] Commission calls for restructuring of Polish steel sector
[05] Measures promoting transport of Irish livestock by sea to continental
Europe
[06] Ensuring the Single Market contribution to Economic and Monetary Union
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Hans van den Broek's visit to Poland
[08] Franz Fischler : "Reform will take into account the social and
economic importance of the olive oil sector in Member States"
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] Aspects pratiques de l'introduction de l'euro
La Commission européenne a publié un nouveau rapport sur les aspects
pratiques de l'introduction de l'euro. Ce rapport couvre trois domaines où
des décisions restent à prendre : la période - début 2002 - durant laquelle
les billets et les pièces en euros circuleront parallèlement aux monnaies
nationales, le double affichage des montants en euros et en monnaie
nationale et les frais bancaires de conversion en euros. Ces questions
seront discutées lors d'une table ronde qui réunira le 26 février à
Bruxelles des représentants d'associations professionnelles et de
groupements de consommateurs. En se fondant sur les résultats de cette
table ronde, la Commission entend proposer des recommandations au Conseil
des ministres afin de parvenir à des conclusions finales sur tous les
points en suspens le week-end du 2 mai, date à laquelle la liste des Etats
membres participant à l'UEM sera décidée. Plus généralement, le rapport
met à jour un rapport publié en octobre 1997 concernant les préparatifs
menés par les institutions communautaires, les autorités nationales et le
secteur privé. Le rapport met clairement en évidence que des progrès
considérables ont été réalisés dans la préparation à l'introduction de
l'euro au niveau national et européen et tant dans le secteur public que
dans le secteur privé.
[02] Commission proposed coordinated introduction of next generation of
mobile communications in the European Union (UMTS)
The European Commission adopted a Proposal for a Decision of the European
Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the coordinated introduction of
mobile and wireless communications (Universal Mobile Telecommunications
System - UMTS). In addition to mobile telephony and messaging services,
UMTS will offer wireless access to the Internet and other multi-media
services. By means of a coordinated regulatory framework, the proposed
Decision aims to assist in the development of the next generation of mobile
services in Europe as a follow-up to the current world-wide GSM services.
In particular, the Decision will stimulate the early licensing of UMTS
services in the Member States and ensure that users can use their UMTS
phone, PC or other handheld device anywhere in the European Union just as
they can with GSM today. This pan-European roaming will result from
licences being based on the co-ordinated allocation of frequencies and the
use of European Telecommunications Standards Institute's standards. The
harmonised licensing environment is expected to be in place by 2000 at the
latest to allow UMTS services to be offered from 2002. The Europe-wide
availability of future mobile multi-media services will play a key role in
ensuring broader access to new services in a "wireless Information
Society".
[03] La Commission autorise, sous conditions, l'acquisition par Agfa des
activités de DuPont dans le secteur des arts graphiques
La Commission européenne a décidé d'autoriser, sous conditions, la fusion
par laquelle les sociétés Agfa-Gevaert N.V. et Agfa-Gevaert AG, toutes les
deux contrôlées par Agfa AG (Agfa), prendront le contrôle des activités
dans les films pour arts graphiques et les plaques d'impression offset de
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DuPont). La Commission a établi que la
fusion conduirait à la création d'une position dominante d'Agfa sur le
marché de l'Espace Economique Européen des plaques négatives pour
l'impression offset. Pour faire face aux préoccupations de la Commission en
matière de concurrence, Agfa s'est engagé formellement à lever les
exclusivités que la société avait conclues avec ses fournisseurs
d'équipement et avec ses distributeurs. Ces engagements permettront aux
concurrents d'Agfa/DuPont d'avoir accès aux équipements commercialisés par
Agfa et d'offrir, à leur tour, des 'package deals' utilisant leurs propres
plaques négatives et l'équipement d'Agfa auquel ils auront accès. Ces deux
engagements formels ouvrent à la concurrence environ un tiers du marché
détenu par le groupe fusionné.
[04] Commission calls for restructuring of Polish steel sector
The European Commission adopted a recommendation to the Council of
Ministers concerning the tariff rate on European Union (EU) steel exports
to Poland. If adopted by the Council, the Commission would be authorised
to negotiate with the Polish authorities an agreement on a 6% tariff level
for the first six months of 1998. Under the Europe Agreement, the tariff
rate for imports of EU steel products into Poland was scheduled to fall to
3% in 1998. "The proposal is being put forward on the strict understanding
that the Polish government will present the EU with a serious restructuring
plan for its steel industry before 30 June 1998", commented Foreign Affairs
Commissioner Hans van den Broek. "Our own Member States have taken steel
restructuring, with all its social and economic effects, very seriously.
It is only reasonable for Poland as an aspirant for early EU membership to
do likewise. It would not be in Poland's interest further to delay action
in a sector which is crucial for its preparations for membership. Provided
it is willing to act decisively in this sector, Poland can count on
continuing EU support." The restructuring of the Polish steel sector is a
key element of the pre-accession strategy for Poland.
[05] Measures promoting transport of Irish livestock by sea to continental
Europe
The European Commission has decided to open the state aid procedure against
aid granted by the Irish government to Gaelic Ferries in order to
facilitate livestock transport by boat to continental Europe. The aid had
been notified but was put into effect before the Commission had time to
express its view. Ireland decided to grant aid after the only provider of
a ferry service from Ireland to France in the winter season had shut down
its service for the transport of livestock due to animal welfare reasons.
The aid is granted in form of £ IRL 1,000,000 (ECU 1,298,701) to be paid in
instalments to Gaelic Ferries, a shipping company set up to operate a ferry
service between Ireland (Cork) and France (Cherbourg). To that purpose a
vessel, the MV Purbeck was chartered. Gaelic Ferries are required, within
the limit of the number of suitable places available, to give priority to
livestock transport. The Commission, on the basis of the available
information, has questions as to the compatibility of the present State aid
with the common market.
[06] Ensuring the Single Market contribution to Economic and Monetary Union
In a Communication to his colleagues, Single Market Commissioner Mario
Monti points out that ensuring economic and financial integration, by
improving the functioning of the Single Market, is essential for the
success of EMU. In particular, the flexibility of markets for products and
factors of production will be the main mechanism for adjustment to possible
economic shocks once Member States participating in the euro have given up
exchange rate adjustments and autonomous monetary policy as policy
instruments. A smoothly functioning Single Market and a coordination of
tax policies are therefore crucial for the ability of EMU to deliver its
ultimate objectives of growth and employment. The basic Single Market
principles of openness, competition and transparency must penetrate
domestic economies to increase market flexibility. As the Luxembourg
European Council EMU Resolution makes that clear, specific measures to
increase such market flexibility must be included in the economic policy
guidelines agreed by the ECOFIN Council. In the document, Mr Monti
illustrates the ways in which existing monitoring and policy instruments
are being improved and adapted to serve the purpose of assessing deeper
integration and market flexibility and so ensure that economic policy
coordination will ensure the success and sustainability of EMU. The
Luxembourg Resolution states that monitoring under the enhanced policy
coordination should become a regular item on the agenda of ECOFIN Councils.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[07] Hans van den Broek's visit to Poland
Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek will visit Poland on 12 and
13 February, 1998. The visit's focus will be on Poland's accession to the
European Union (EU), including the preparations for the negotiations and
the implementation of the Accession Partnership. The Commissioner will
meet the Prime Minister, the Foreign, Finance and EU integration Ministers
as well as Poland's chief negotiator. He will use the opportunity to
discuss Poland's National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis and the
EU Integration structure in the Polish government. Further on the agenda
are : Phare, the Europe Agreement, the Association Council of March 4,
1998. Mr van den Broek will address the Foreign Affairs and European
Integration committees of the Sjem and the Senate.
[08] Franz Fischler : "Reform will take into account the social and
economic importance of the olive oil sector in Member States"
(!!! embargo 5 pm !!!) In a statement on the "future of agriculture" given
at the agricultural fair in Verona today, Agriculture and Rural Development
Commissioner Franz Fischler welcomed the support by both Agricultural
Ministers and the Heads of Government in Europe for the objectives of the
European Union's agricultural reform. Referring to the olive oil sector,
Mr Fischler noted that the reform "definitely will take into account the
important social and economic role this sector plays in some Member
States". The reform proposal which will be presented in March will also
take into consideration impending structural surpluses as well as measures
to combat fraud. According to Mr Fischler there is an urgent need to
simplify the common market organisation for olive oil and to start with the
reform as soon as possible with the introduction of national guarantied
quantities, a common support system for small and big producers and
stopping the expansion of production area. He rejected the argument that
the common agricultural policy favours so called "Northern" products since
wine from Germany for example will equally be affected by the reform of the
wine sector. "A simple categorisation of agricultural products into
'Mediterranean' and 'Northern' ones is not only artificial but
counterproductive", he stressed. (!!! embargo 5 pm !!!)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
