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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-02-22
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 22/02/2000b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission approves participation of DaimlerChrysler in Union-Tank
[02] La Commission autorise la prise de contrôle par Bayer AG des activités
de Lyondell Chemical Company dans le secteur des polyols de polyéther
[03] Anna Diamantopoulou launches broad political debate on new equal
opportunities policy
[04] Chris Patten on ESDP : "Rapid Reaction Facility and non-military
headline goals are needed"
[01] Commission approves participation of DaimlerChrysler in Union-Tank
The European Commission has approved the participation of DaimlerChrysler
AG in the existing joint venture Union-Tank Eckstein GmbH & CO. KG. Union-
Tank (UTA) distributes a tank and service card for the operators of
commercial motor vehicle fleets. UTA is jointly controlled by Deutsche BP
AG, Hermes Mineralöl GmbH and Familiengesellschaft Eckstein mbH Verwaltungs
KG. By the acquisition of a 15% participation in UTA from Deutsche BP AG,
DaimlerChrysler AG takes part in the joint control over UTA. The entry of a
new shareholder does not change the existing market position of UTA. In
view of the existence of numerous competitors, the Commission decided to
approve the transaction and to declare it compatible with the common
market.
[02] La Commission autorise la prise de contrôle par Bayer AG des activités
de Lyondell Chemical Company dans le secteur des polyols de polyéther
La Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas s'opposer à la prise de
contrôle exclusif par Bayer AG des activités mondiales de Lyondell dans le
secteur des polyols de polyéther. Ces activités consistent dans la
production et la commercialisation de polyols de polyéther, produits
chimiques intermédiaires utilisés principalement pour la fabrication de
mousses de polyuréthane. La Commission a considéré que cette prise de
contrôle serait compatible avec le marché commun, car la nouvelle entité
n'occuperait pas de position dominante à l'issue de cette opération.
[03] Anna Diamantopoulou launches broad political debate on new equal
opportunities policy
European Commissioner for Employment and Social affairs, Anna
Diamantopoulou, will today for the first time present her ideas for a new
broad-ranging programme on equal opportunities to the European Parliament's
Equal Opportunities Committee. This is the first of a series of political
debates to be held by the Commission in the run-up to its formal proposal
for a new programme pencilled in for May. Theses debates follow the
political consensus within the Commission on 26 January on future
orientation of equal opportunities policy.
[04] Chris Patten on ESDP : "Rapid Reaction Facility and non-military
headline goals are needed"
European Commissioner for External relations, Chris Patten, addressed today
a joint meeting of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee and Members of the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly. He suggested that two conditions were needed for a
credible and coherent foreign and security policy : the capacity to exert
influence (through diplomacy, aid, trade and the provision of security
assistance in crisis situations) and the political will and practical
ability to apply military force in the last resort. "If Europe's foreign
policy incorporates these two features, we will be better able to promote
our interest, to shoulder our responsibilities and to project our shared
values in the international arena… we will have come of age". On NATO and
US concerns Chris Patten said : "… in the post Cold War international
environment, our transatlantic partners will not want to intervene in every
regional crisis on the European continent. Nor do I blame them. This is our
backyard, not theirs. The pity is that we haven't looked after it rather
better". As regards Member States efforts he declared : "The real danger
for NATO is not that we might succeed, but that we might fail. Are the the
countries of Europe prepared to devote the means to match their ambitions.
Ultimately that is the test by which ESDP will stand or fall" Patten
expressed the Commission's determination to deliver its contribution - the
non-military aspects of crisis management. He announced : a Commission
proposal for the creation of the Rapid Reaction Facility requested by the
Helsinki Council. This should enable the EU to mobilise Community resources
within hours or days, rather than weeks or months ; the elaboration of non-
military headline goals (on capacities such as policing, mine-clearance or
mediation) to match the military ones ; the creation of a small Commission
Crisis Centre to act as operational interface with the EU Situation Centre
at the Council.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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