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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-02-21
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-Parole 21/02/2000b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission autorise l'acquisition d'Europcar International S.A. par
Volkswagen AG
[02] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of E-Plus by KPN and
BellSouth
[03] Commission opens full investigation into MCI WorldCom / Sprint merger
[04] South Africa and Europe welcome trade, development and cooperation
agreement
[05] Frits Bolkestein stresses Internal Market benefits for both EU and
candidates
[01] La Commission autorise l'acquisition d'Europcar International S.A. par
Volkswagen AG
La Commission européenne a autorisé une opération qui permettra à
Volkswagen AG (VW AG) d'acquérir le contrôle unique d'Europcar
International S.A. (Europcar). Jusqu'à présent, Europcar était contrôlée en
commun par VW AG et la Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et du
Tourisme S.A., filiale à 100% d'Accor S.A. VW AG exerce des activités de
production et de vente de véhicules automobiles, tandis qu'Europcar propose
des voitures en location. L'opération n'aboutit sur aucun des marchés en
cause à une augmentation des parts de marché de l'entité VW/Europcar. Même
si l'on tient compte des chevauchements verticaux, la concentration ne se
traduit pas par la création d'une position dominante pour VW/Europcar sur
le marché de la location. Selon la Commission, aucune raison liée au droit
de la concurrence ne s'oppose donc à l'opération.
[02] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of E-Plus by KPN and
BellSouth
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of control of E-Plus,
the German mobile telephone operator, by KPN, the Dutch fixed and mobile
telephony operator, and the US firm BellSouth. Under the Merger Regulation,
the Commission found that the merger neither created nor strengthened a
dominant position on any market, nor did it lead to anti-competitive
coordination between KPN and BellSouth outside of the joint venture.
[03] Commission opens full investigation into MCI WorldCom / Sprint merger
The European Commission has decided to open a full investigation into the
proposed merger between telecom companies MCI WorldCom and Sprint. The
Commission will make a detailed assessment of the impact of the transaction
on competition conditions in various areas of the telecom industry. More in
particular, the focus areas of the investigation will be the provision of
top level connectivity services in the Internet (i.e. those networks to
whom anybody must directly or indirectly have access in order to get
universal reach on the Internet), of global telecommunication services to
multinational companies and of termination in the US of international voice
telephony calls. A final decision by the Commission is expected by early
July.
[04] South Africa and Europe welcome trade, development and cooperation
agreement
South African Vice-President Jacob Zuma and European Commissioner for
Development, Poul Nielson, met in Bangkok on Saturday 19 February 2000 in
the margins of the Tenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD X). This was the first high-level face-to-face contact between the
two sides involved in the EU/South Africa-agreement since an exchange of
letters last week confirmed the solution of the outstanding problems
related to, inter alia, the protection of the names grappa, ouzo and
several other spirits. Mr Nielson seized the opportunity to express his
sincere appreciation of the manner in which his South African counterpart
in the negotiations, Trade Minister Alec Erwin, had engaged in the talks.
"While the discussions were tough at times", Mr Nielson stressed that "it
had always been understood on both sides that a democratic South Africa,
with a growing economy, and Europe were involved in building a partnership
that was meant to be". Vice President Zuma and Mr Nielson agreed that there
could be no more fitting setting that the UN Conference on Trade and
Development to begin looking forward to reaping the benefits of this broad
agreement.
[05] Frits Bolkestein stresses Internal Market benefits for both EU and
candidates
(! embargo 1 pm !) European Commissioner for Internal Market, Frits
Bolkestein, stressed today that "enlargement should not disturb the
coherence of the Internal Market". Speaking to the Centre of European
Policy Studies, Mr Bolkestein said : "The Union aims at integration : not
fragmentation. We cannot have the Internal Market turned into a patchwork
quilt. Within the current European Union various Member States and interest
groups want to resort to transitional periods as far as the labour market
is concerned. Many people are worried about the arrival of workers from
Eastern European countries. Free movement of persons is a central pillar of
the Internal Market. One might certainly imagine a certain transitional
period, but it should be as short as possible. In a healthy economy, it is
better to prepare for competition than to draw up new barriers."
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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