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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-03-24
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
24/03/98
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission publie sur l'Internet sa recommandation sur la liste des
pays participants à l'UEM
[02] Commission clears hotel groups merger
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Digital par Compaq
[04] Promouvoir la recherche aéronautique au niveau européen
[05] Accession of the EU to the Revised 1958 United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe Agreement in the automobile sector
[06] Christos Papoutsis : "We need practical answers on how to gain the
maximum benefit from tourism's potential for job creation"
[01] La Commission publie sur l'Internet sa recommandation sur la liste des
pays participants à l'UEM
Le mercredi 25 mars, la Commission européenne présentera sa recommandation
sur les pays qui remplissent les conditions nécessaires pour participer à
la monnaie unique, l'euro, à partir du 1er janvier 1999, ainsi que son
rapport de convergence économique. Les documents, dans les 11 langues
officielles, seront disponibles via le site Europa sur Internet ainsi qu'un
communiqué de presse de synthèse. L'adresse pour la version française des
documents est la suivante : http://europa.eu.int/comm/off/rep/conver/index_fr.htm.
(Pour les autres langues, même adresse : …./index_(initiales langue).htm).
[02] Commission clears hotel groups merger
The European Commission has decided to clear the operation whereby Bass plc,
of the UK, which operates the Holiday Inns hotel chain, acquires the
Intercontinental hotels business. The merger will add to Bass's existing
hotel interests the Intercontinental and Forum hotels, of which some 40 are
located within the European Union. The Commission analysed the likely
effects of the merger and concluded that it would not create or strengthen
a dominant position which would significantly impede competition in the
common market or a substantial part of it.
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Digital par Compaq
La Commission européenne a autorisé l'acquisition de Digital Equipement
Corporation ("Digital"), entreprise informatique basée aux Etats-Unis, par
l'entreprise informatique américaine Compaq Computer Corporation
("Compaq"). Compaq et Digital sont actives dans la conception, le
développement, la fabrication et le marketing d'ordinateurs. Digital offre
de plus des services en matière de technologie de l'information. La
position de l'entité combinée dans un marché qui évolue vite et qui est
très concurrencé ne soulève pas d'objections.
[04] Promouvoir la recherche aéronautique au niveau européen
Promouvoir, au niveau européen, une véritable action significative de
recherche stratégique dans le domaine de l'aéronautique, tel est l'objet de
la rencontre entre Mme Edith Cresson, Membre de la Commission européenne en
charge de la recherche et de l'innovation, et M. Jürgen Rüttgers, Ministre
allemand de la recherche, le 24 mars à Bonn. La rencontre sera l'occasion
d'esquisser la future action-clé "Aéronautique" prévue dans le programme
"Promouvoir une croissance compétitive et durable" du 5ème Programme-cadre
de recherche et développement technologique, actuellement en discussion au
Conseil des Ministres et au Parlement européen. Pour Edith Cresson, la
réalisation de ces objectifs ne pourra être atteinte "qu'à condition de
doter le Programme-cadre dans son ensemble des moyens financiers permettant
d'attribuer aux actions l'indispensable 'masse critique'".
[05] Accession of the EU to the Revised 1958 United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe Agreement in the automobile sector
From today, the European Union's (EU) accession to the 1958 United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Agreement will be effective. This
agreement establishes uniform technical regulations for motor vehicles,
equipment and parts and sets up the conditions for reciprocal recognition
of approvals granted on the basis of the technical regulations. Since
there is an increase in globalisation in the automobile industry,
international harmonisation in the field of motor vehicle regulations, test
procedures and certification requirements is becoming ever more important.
The accession to the agreement will help to avoid parallel regulatory costs
and benefit both industry and consumers alike. It guarantees a high level
of safety and environmental protection across the EU and in third
countries. As a Contracting Party to the Agreement, the EU will
participate fully in the regulatory work undertaken by the Working Party on
the construction of vehicles, and will exercise its right to vote on behalf
of its Member States (which will, however, remain Contracting Parties to
the Agreement). According to the provisions of the Agreement, the EU will
dispose of 15 votes.
[06] Christos Papoutsis : "We need practical answers on how to gain the
maximum benefit from tourism's potential for job creation"
"Your Group will advise the European Commission on how to encourage a
favourable environment for tourism in economic, legal, financial, social
and cultural terms, thus contributing to employment creation in Europe"
said today Tourism Commissioner Christos Papoutsis in his speech at the
first meeting of the High Level Group on Tourism and Employment. Mr
Papoutsis went on stressing that European economies are facing difficulties
in creating enough new jobs and the exceptions lie mainly in the services
sector, such as tourism. "It is a fact, he said, that tourism, together
with telecommunications, information technology and transport will be the
sectors of greatest development in the next century". The Commissioner
said that the mandate of the Group is to "examine the conditions, in which
tourism could make a greater contribution to growth and stability, and to
make recommendations to the Commission by October 1998".
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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