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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-11-06
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
06/11/98
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] The tied pub leases of the small and regional UK brewers fall outside
the reach of European competition rules
[02] Commission adopts its Annual Report of the Structural Funds 1997
[03] Business and consumer surveys for September 1998 : Consumer
confidence remains high but business sentiment deteriorates
[01] The tied pub leases of the small and regional UK brewers fall outside
the reach of European competition rules
The European Commission has decided to reject a complaint of tenants of a
regional UK brewer concerning their beer tie in their lease. The
Commission considers that this particular brewer's tied network does not
fall within the scope of Article 85(1). This sets a clear precedent for
all the small and regional UK brewers, as well as the non-brewing pub
companies.
[02] Commission adopts its Annual Report of the Structural Funds 1997
The European Commission has adopted its Annual Report of the Structural
Funds for the year 1997. The Report concentrates on how the countries have
put the aid that has been made available to them to use. It draws attention
to the sharp increase in the budget execution of programmes undertaken at
national initiative: by the end of 1997, 52% of EU contributions had been
committed and 46% paid. The Report points out that the Member States where
rates of implementation were highest were generally the least prosperous,
and also the main beneficiaries, principally under Objective 1: Spain,
Portugal and Ireland. While the two previous annual reports concentrated on
the environmental aspect of assistance (1995) and support for the
technological development of the regions (1996), this Report continues the
tradition by focusing on ways in which assistance from the Structural Funds
helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). During the current
programming period 1994 - 99, between 15% and 20% of the total resources of
the Funds will be specifically earmarked for measures to stimulate small
firms and improve their productive facilities and economic environment. The
total amount involved is between ECU 23 and 30 billion. In Austria, Sweden
and Finland, the effort devoted to small firms is even greater (30% to 40%
of EU assistance). The Report illustrates the wide variety of measures
aimed directly at SMEs (as for instance aid for capital investment through
direct grants or financial engineering measures venture capital or aid for
training, including management training) in each of the Member States.
[03] Business and consumer surveys for September 1998 : Consumer
confidence remains high but business sentiment deteriorates
The latest results from the business and consumer surveys conducted by the
European Commission's Directorate General for economic and financial
affairs are published today. Consumer confidence in the EU improved in
October. This was mostly due to a more optimistic view ono the expected
genral economic situation. The rise in confidence was more pronounced in
the euro-zone than for the Community as a whole, with Germany, Italy and
Spain showing improvements. On the other hand, business sentiment
deteriorated in October. The industrial confidence indicator fell in all
EU countries. The decline in confidence was larger in EU-15 than the euro-
zone. Capacity utilization fell slightly in October to 82.9% (preliminary)
in both the EU and the euro-zone. The leading indicator for the EU, the
economic sentiment indicator, fell back again in October. This can to a
large extent be attributed to the drop in industrial confidence and a
further weakening of stock markets in October.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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