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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-08-07
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
Midday Express 07/08/2001
[01] Commission approves automotive components joint venture of Siemens and
Yazaki
The European Commission has decided to clear the operation by which the
German company Siemens VDO Automotive AG and the Japanese company Yazaki
Corporation will combine their activities in electronic electrical
distribution systems (EEDS) for passenger cars in a joint venture.
[02] Rare diseases : Commission authorises first two orphan medicinal
products for Fabry's disease
The European Commission granted the first two marketing authorisations for
orphan medicinal products. These medicines will benefit patients suffering
from Fabry disease, a rare and inherited metabolic disorder affecting less
than 5,000 patients worldwide.
[03] Commission files new complaint against two US tobacco companies
The European Commission yesterday filed a new complaint on behalf of the
European Union and several Member States against two US cigarette
manufacturers. The following Member States participate in the action :
Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, The Netherlands,
Finland and Luxembourg. "Protecting the financial interests of the European
Union and fighting fraud, remains a top priority for the European
Commission", said Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer, adding : "The
ruling delivered by the US Court on 17 July 2001 contains many positive
aspects, which have encouraged us to pursue our legal case against
cigarette smuggling".
[04] Geneva confirms US Law violates WTO Intellectual Property rules in
"Havana Club" dispute
A WTO Panel report circulated yesterday confirmed that Section 211 of the
US Omnibus Appropriations Act violates WTO rules. The report backs the EU's
claim that Section 211 is in violation of the WTO's Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), because it
effectively denies trademark owners access to the courts to enforce their
intellectual property rights. This should open the way for EU company
Pernod-Ricard to take up its case in the US courts over the registering in
the US of the rum trademark "Havana Club". The report also raises some
important systemic issues, which have led the EU to decide to appeal
against certain aspects of the panel decision.
[05] Mergers approved under the simplified procedure
Sara Lee Corporation (USA) / The Earthgrains company (USA)
SCI Systems, Inc (USA) / Nokia Networks
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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