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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-01-20
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Contrefaçon: la Commission propose de faciliter l'intervention des
douanes
[02] Capital gains tax on shares: Commission decides to refer Spain to
Court over discrimination
[03] Industrial property: Commission proposes improvements to Community
Trade Mark system
[04] Commission asks Luxembourg to comply with EU law on unsafe pesticides
[05] Commission asks Spain to comply with EU law on access to environmental
information
[06] Green Week 2003: Commission invites schools to participate in creative
painting and sculpture competition
[07] Commissioner Nielson to visit Zambia, Angola and South Africa, 23 to
29 January 2003
[08] Volkswagen and Audi to conclude agreements with repair shops for the
provision of after-sales services
[09] Preparation of Eurogroup and Council of Economics and Finance
Ministers, Brussels, 20-21 January 2003
[10] Commission clears management services JV between DMdata of Denmark WM-
data of Sweden
[11] Commission clears joint control of Italian eyewear maker Safilo
[12] European Commission Launches Pilot Courses for Training Civilian
Experts in Crisis Management
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 20/01/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 20/01/2003
[01] Contrefaçon: la Commission propose de faciliter l'intervention des
douanes
La Commission européenne a proposé un projet de règlement au Conseil pour
combattre la contrefaçon et piraterie. Il détermine d'une part les
conditions d'intervention des autorités douanières à l'égard de
marchandises soupçonnées par des titulaires de droit ou par des autorités
douanières de porter atteinte à certains droits de propriété intellectuelle
et d'autre part les mesures à prendre par les autorités compétentes à
l'égard de marchandises portant atteinte à certains droits de propriété
intellectuelle. Ce projet législatif remplacerait un règlement existant
(3295/94/CE) pour apporter plus de clarté juridique, étendre l'application
aux nouveaux droits de propriété intellectuelle, faciliter l'accès à la
réglementation pour les titulaires de droits et élaborer un outil
législatif performant permettant de mieux appréhender ces phénomènes de
fraude. Dans une approche globale, avec les titulaires de droits, de lutte
contre ces phénomènes, la Commission proposera bientôt aussi une directive
visant à harmoniser les législations des Etats membres relatives aux moyens
de faire respecter les droits de propriété intellectuelle.
[02] Capital gains tax on shares: Commission decides to refer Spain to
Court over discrimination
The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice
over its refusal to alter its legislation applying capital gains tax under
more favourable conditions for shares traded on Spanish stock exchanges
than for shares traded on the stock exchanges of other Member States. The
Commission considers that the arrangements in Spain are contrary to the
principles of freedom to provide services (Article 49 of the EC Treaty) and
free movement of capital (Article 56 of the EC Treaty). Spain has not
amended its legislation despite receiving a formal request from the
Commission to do so in March 2002 (see IP/02/457).
[03] Industrial property: Commission proposes improvements to Community
Trade Mark system
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a Regulation modifying
existing procedures for the granting of Community Trade Marks (CTMs) by the
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) in Alicante.
Community Trade Marks are valid EU-wide on the basis of a single
application to the OHIM. The new proposal would abolish the system of
searches. That system was intended to help applicants for CTMs to monitor
effectively the possible existence of prior conflicting rights, but in
practice has not proved satisfactory. Moreover, the Regulation would amend
the regime for professional representation before the OHIM to bring it
fully into line with the principles of freedom of establishment and freedom
to provide services. Furthermore, the proposed Regulation would expand the
system to include instruments allowing the Boards of Appeal to improve
further the way they function. The Regulation would also make other
procedural changes aimed at making the system simpler and more efficient,
without affecting its substance or the rights of the parties involved. For
the full text of the proposed Regulation and of reports on the functioning
of the existing Regulation see: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/indprop/tm/index.htm
[04] Commission asks Luxembourg to comply with EU law on unsafe pesticides
The European Commission has requested that Luxembourg complies with a
ruling by the European Court of Justice concerning implementation of the
EU's Biocides Directive. This Directive sets environmental and safety
standards for biocidal products, i.e. non-agricultural pesticides. It
requires Member States to set up an authorisation system for the marketing
of biocidal products. In contrast to plant protection products, biocidal
products control organisms harmful to human or animal health and organisms
that damage natural or manufactured products. They include products like
wood preservatives, disinfectants and insecticides. Luxembourg has so far
failed to notify the Commission of any transposing legislation to the
Commission. The Commission's request takes the form of a "Letter of Formal
Notice", or first written warning, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty.
Failure to implement rulings of the Court can result in substantial fines
being imposed on the Member State in question.
[05] Commission asks Spain to comply with EU law on access to environmental
information
The European Commission has formally requested that Spain fully implements
the Directive on access to environmental information. The request takes the
form of a so-called Reasoned Opinion or "final written warning", the second
stage of infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the
absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may
refer the case to the Court of Justice. This case arose from a complaint
lodged against the Government of the Region of Cantabria following its
failure to fulfil two requests for access to information. The first request
concerned the proposed list of sites of Community interest under the EC
Natura 2000 scheme, which seeks to conserve natural habitats and wild flora
and fauna. The second request was made to the Cantabrian Environment
Minister with regards to a quarry at Izara. The EU Directive enables
citizens to be better informed about environmental matters thereby
improving the protection of the environment.
[06] Green Week 2003: Commission invites schools to participate in creative
painting and sculpture competition
The European Commission invites all children in the EU and candidate
countries, aged between 5 and 16 years, to take part in its Green Week
schools competition 2003. The competition is part of the annual Green Week
conference and exhibition, which this year will take place from 2-5 June
2003 in Brussels. Younger children are invited to make water themed
drawings and paintings, while older pupils can take part by making
sculptures using recycled material. Environment Commissioner Margot
Wallström said: "For me it is very important to know what young people
think and feel about the environment. After all, we are only "borrowing"
the planet from the younger generation and I believe that if all adults
listened more carefully to young people's concerns, and acted upon them,
the Earth would be in a healthier state".
[07] Commissioner Nielson to visit Zambia, Angola and South Africa, 23 to
29 January 2003
Mr Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development Co-operation and
Humanitarian Aid, will visit Southern Africa from 23 to 29 January 2003. Mr
Nielson's visit to Zambia, Angola and South Africa will include the signing
of co-operation strategies, bilateral talks with government members and
visits to Commission funded programmes. In Zambia notably, Mr Nielson will
take stock of the EU response to the food crisis and re-iterate solidarity
with those in need. In Angola, Mr Nielson will sign the EU/Angola Co-
operation Strategy for the coming 5 years which is worth €146 million, and
announce further funding worth €8 million for humanitarian operations in
2003. Also in Angola, Mr Nielson will give a message of strong support for
the country's post-conflict development and peace process. At the end of
his visit, Commissioner Nielson will pay a short stopover visit to South
Africa where he will sign the new EU-South Africa three-year Indicative
Programme worth €386 million.
[08] Volkswagen and Audi to conclude agreements with repair shops for the
provision of after-sales services
The Commission reached agreement with Audi AG, the German car manufacturer
belonging to the Volkswagen group, on the authorisation of repair shops in
the Audi network. Audi has undertaken to establish a system of qualitative
selective distribution for the provision of after-sales services in order
to benefit from the new block exemption regulation. This permits former
Audi dealers or repairers that meet the relevant quality criteria to remain
active in the market as members of Audi's network. In addition, Volkswagen
AG will ensure that the same policy will be followed by all the other
brands of the Volkswagen group.
[09] Preparation of Eurogroup and Council of Economics and Finance
Ministers, Brussels, 20-21 January 2003
Eurogroup Finance Ministers are due to meet in Brussels at 19h00 on Monday
20 January. A press conference is due at the end of the Eurogroup meeting.
The European Union's Council of Economics and Finance Ministers will meet
in Brussels on Tuesday 21 January at 10h00. The European Commission will be
represented at the Council by Economic Affairs Commissioner Pedro Solbes
and Internal Market and Taxation Commissioner Frits Bolkestein.
[10] Commission clears management services JV between DMdata of Denmark WM-
data of Sweden
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to an operation whereby Denmark's DMdata A/S, controlled by Mærsk Data A/S
and Danske Bank Aktieselskab, and WM-data of Sweden will acquire joint
control of WM-data Infra Solutions AB, which will focus on operational
management services. (The agreement, which was notified on December 9, was
examined under a simplified procedure)
[11] Commission clears joint control of Italian eyewear maker Safilo
The European Commission has cleared under the Merger Regulation an
operation whereby DLJ Merchant Banking III, Inc., which belongs to the
Credit Suisse Group, and businessman Vittorio Tabacchi acquire joint
control of Italian producer of eyewear products Safilo Holdings S.p.A. (The
operation, which was notified for clearance on December 6, was examined
under a simplified procedure).
[12] European Commission Launches Pilot Courses for Training Civilian
Experts in Crisis Management
The first European Union (EU) pilot training course for experts in civilian
crisis management opens today, 20 January 2003, at the Austrian Study
Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution in Stadtschlaining. 28
participants from all EU member states, as well as from EU candidate
countries and from conflict areas will undergo two weeks of intensive
training to prepare themselves for participation in EU missions in areas of
conflict. Judges, prosecutors and human rights observers as well as local
administrators, social workers, teachers and infrastructure experts are
amongst those to be trained on how to apply their professional competence
in conflict-stricken environments. The course is part of a major training
initiative launched by the European Commission at the end of 2001 with the
aim of boosting the Union's civilian peacekeeping capacities. The
initiative will train up to 250 experts in 2003. The European Commission
contributes €1.49m to the training courses under the European Initiative
for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de M. Fischler : La mondialisation de l'agriculture : de nouveaux
risques, de nouvelles chances !
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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