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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-07-04
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
04/07/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission adresse une mise en garde aux banques de quatre pays sur
les frais de change dans la zone euro
[02] Commission welcomes Court of Justice judgment imposing a penalty on a
Member State for failure to comply with previous judgment
[03] Euro-zone unemployment stable at 9.2% ; EU15 unchanged at 8.5%
[04] Euro-zone economic sentiment indicator unchanged at record level in
June 2000 ; slight decrease for EU 15
[01] La Commission adresse une mise en garde aux banques de quatre pays sur
les frais de change dans la zone euro
La Commission européenne averti les banques et associations bancaires de
Belgique, de Finlande, du Portugal et d'Irlande qu'elle disposait
d'éléments prouvant qu'il y avait eu violation des règles de concurrence de
l'Union européenne concernant les frais de change des monnaies de la zone
euro. Ces banques ont jusqu'à début octobre pour répondre, mais elles
peuvent être certaines que la Commission punira sévèrement tout accord de
fixation des prix qui, si son existence se confirmait, aurait été de nature
à compromettre le lancement de la monnaie unique européenne et à léser les
consommateurs.
[02] Commission welcomes Court of Justice judgment imposing a penalty on a
Member State for failure to comply with previous judgment
The European Commission today welcomed the decision by the European Court
of Justice (ECJ) to impose a daily penalty fine on Greece for failure to
comply with a judgment from 1992, as requested by the Commission. The 1992
judgment found that Greece failed to meet certain requirements of two
Directives on waste and toxic and dangerous waste. Today's judgment imposes
a penalty payment of euro 20,000 for each day of delay in complying with
the 1992 judgment, from today. This is the first time the ECJ has taken
such a decision based on article 228 of the Treaty. On this basis,
financial penalties may be imposed on a Member State, which fails to comply
with a judgment finding that it has failed to meet its obligations under EU
law. The Commission considers this decision to be an important signal to
Member States that they must fullfill all their obligations under EU law.
Otherwise, they run the risk of seing themselves imposed highly penalising
sanctions. Commenting on the ruling, Environment Commissioner Margot
Wallström stated : "The ECJ decision shows that EU institutions are serious
about ensuring full and effective implementation of EU law, through all
means available. This is vital to protect the environment and the health of
European citizens."
[03] Euro-zone unemployment stable at 9.2% ; EU15 unchanged at 8.5%
(! embargo 12 am !) According to Eurostat, Euro-zone seasonally-adjusted
unemployment was 9.2% in May 2000, unchanged compared to April. This
compares to 10.0% in May 1999. The EU15 unemployment rate was 8.5% in May
2000, the same as in April. In May 1999 it was 9.2%. Lowest rates were
registered in Luxembourg (2.2%), in the Netherlands (3.0% in April) and in
Austria (3.2%). Spain's 14.3% remained the EU's highest rate.
[04] Euro-zone economic sentiment indicator unchanged at record level in
June 2000 ; slight decrease for EU 15
(! embargo 12 am !) According to the European Commission's (Directorate
General for Economic and Financial Affairs) business and consumer survey
results, the euro-zone economic sentiment indicator remained unchanged in
June 2000 ; there was a slight decrease for EU15. The survey results showed
a strong three point rise in the industry confidence indicator in the euro
zone and one point in the EU as a whole. The main contributors to this
positive development were Italy (+ 5 points), Germany (+ 4 points) and
France (+ 3 points). Confidence in the construction sector increased also
by two points in the euro zone and by one point in the EU. Consumer
confidence declined however by two points in the euro zone and by one point
in the EU affecting the performance of the general index. Moreover, the
spring investment survey results confirmed the recovery in investors'
confidence in the European industry. Investment in 1999 grew higher than
forecasted in last autumn's survey and plans for industrial investment in
the manufacturing industry in 2000 were revised strongly upwards for both
the euro-zone and the EU.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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