|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-07-31
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission warns AstraZeneca of preliminary findings in Losec
antitrust investigation
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Zanussi Elettromeccanica by Sole
[03] Commission clears Procter & Gamble's acquisition of Wella subject to
conditions
[04] La Commission propose les futures structures de gestion de Galileo, le
programme européen de radionavigation par satellite
[05] June 2003 : economic sentiment increased slightly in both the EU and
the euro area
[06] July 2003 : The Business Climate Indicator for the euro area
deteriorated
[07] Estimation rapide - juillet 2003 : l'inflation de la zone euro estimée
à 1,9%
[08] Une initiative de l'UE dotée de 2,5 millions d'€ stimule la
participation des régions européennes à l'économie de la connaissance
[09] Statement by Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement,
on the adoption of the 7th reform package and amnesty provisions by the
Turkish Parliament
[10] Commission adopts proposal to grant €79,5 million for a third
Reconstruction Programme for Afghanistan
[11] FMD in Swaziland and Botswana : imports again fully authorised
[12] Combating poverty related diseases : Philippe Busquin to visit Africa
to promote clinical trials programme
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 31/07/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 31/07/2003
[01] Commission warns AstraZeneca of preliminary findings in Losec
antitrust investigation
The European Commission has sent a Statement of Objections (SO) to the
Anglo-Swedish group AstraZeneca outlining its preliminary findings that it
may have misused the patent system and other regulatory procedures for the
marketing of pharmaceutical products. The Commission believes that this was
abusively done with the purpose of blocking or delaying market entry for
generic products. The sending of an SO marks the opening of a formal
antitrust investigation. AstraZeneca now has the opportunity to present its
defence in writing and may, subsequently, request an oral hearing.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Zanussi Elettromeccanica by Sole
The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of full control of the
Italian undertaking Zanussi Elettromeccanica S.p.A (ZEM) by another Italian
undertaking Sole S.p.A. Sole is active in the production of electrical
engines for "white goods" and ultimately controlled by the German Allianz
Group. ZEM is a market leader in Europe which produces compressor engines
for refrigerators and currently belongs to the Electrolux Group, which,
pursuant to the proposed transaction, would withdraw from the market for
refrigeration compressors. (The operation, notified on 01 July 2003, was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure)
[03] Commission clears Procter & Gamble's acquisition of Wella subject to
conditions
The European Commission cleared the proposed acquisition by the American
Procter & Gamble Company of the German company Wella AG subject to a
package of commitments. The Commission had identified competition concerns
in markets for retail hair care products in Ireland, Norway and Sweden. The
Procter & Gamble Company submitted a package of undertakings aimed at
licensing its brand "Herbal Essences" and a number of other brands for five
years to a licensee to be approved by the Commission. After careful
evaluation of the commitments package, the Commission concluded that the
remedies removed its concerns and would restore effective competition.
[04] La Commission propose les futures structures de gestion de Galileo, le
programme européen de radionavigation par satellite
La Commission européenne présente aujourd'hui les futures structures de
gestion du programme Galileo pendant ses phases de déploiement (2006-2008)
et d'exploitation (à partir de 2008). Deux structures, qui assumeront des
missions essentielles pour la défense de l'intérêt public, sont proposées :
une Autorité de Surveillance et un Centre pour la Sécurité et la Sûreté.
L'Autorité de Surveillance concédera le déploiement et l'exploitation du
système Galileo à un consortium privé choisi après un appel d'offres à
lancer dans les prochaines semaines. Le Centre pour la Sécurité et la
Sûreté, créé auprès du Secrétaire général du Conseil, assurera notamment
l'interface entre les autorités politiques et le concessionnaire en cas de
crise. Loyola de Palacio, Vice-Présidente en charge de l'Energie et des
Transports a souligné : "Cette proposition très attendue par les Etats
membres et les industriels, est fondamentale parce qu'elle fixe le cadre
juridique et institutionnel pour la gestion du programme à partir de 2006,
j'encourage le Conseil et le Parlement européen à les examiner
promptement."
[05] June 2003 : economic sentiment increased slightly in both the EU and
the euro area
The economic sentiment indicator (ESI) recorded a slight increase in June
for both the EU (0.2 percentage points) and the euro area (0.1), reaching a
value of 98.5 and 98.2, respectively, thereby confirming the improvement
since March. The small improvement of the ESI is the resultant of
relatively small changes in the underlying components. In the euro area,
the industrial and the consumer confidence indicator went up by 1 point
while the retail confidence indicator fell by 1 point. For the EU as a
whole, only the consumer and the construction confidence indicator changed
; the former increased by 1 point, while the latter declined by 1 point.
[06] July 2003 : The Business Climate Indicator for the euro area
deteriorated
The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area decreased by 0.19
percentage points between June and July, reaching a value of -0.89. This
decrease was driven by negative developments in almost all components of
the indicator. The BCI combines the responses of managers in industry to
the questions regarding production trends in the recent past, production
expectations, total order books, export order books and stocks of finished
products. Among these components, only export order books showed an
improvement in July.
[07] Estimation rapide - juillet 2003 : l'inflation de la zone euro estimée
à 1,9%
Selon une estimation rapide publiée aujourd'hui par Eurostat, l'Office
statistique des Communautés européennes à Luxembourg, le taux d'inflation
annuel de la zone euro s'établirait à 1,9% en juillet 2003. En juin 2003,
le taux était de 2,0%.
[08] Une initiative de l'UE dotée de 2,5 millions d'€ stimule la
participation des régions européennes à l'économie de la connaissance
Le 1er août, la Commission européenne lancera le projet pilote "Régions de
la Connaissance", doté d'un budget de 2,5 millions d'€ la première année.
Cette initiative soutiendra des projets novateurs qui mobilisent des
régions de plusieurs Etats membres et mettent en lumière le rôle central de
la connaissance (savoir-faire, ressources humaines, R&D et autres facteurs
"immatériels" présents dans la production) dans le développement des
économies régionales. Elle atteste du rôle de moteur que les régions jouent
dans la croissance économique. Les projets qui seront financés comprennent
des audits technologiques, le développement à l'échelon régional de
nouveaux modèles économiques et technologiques, des initiatives
encourageant l'intervention directe des universités dans l'économie locale,
la mise en place d'un tutorat entre régions technologiquement avancées et
régions à la traîne, aussi bien que des projets de sensibilisation au rôle
de la connaissance comme stimulus pour le développement régional.
[09] Statement by Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement,
on the adoption of the 7th reform package and amnesty provisions by the
Turkish Parliament
The European Commission welcomes the unanimous adoption of the 7th reform
package by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 30 July 2003. The
continuation of the reform process shows the strong determination of the
Turkish government to pursue the legislative changes needed to achieve
compliance with the Copenhagen political criteria. The reform of the
structure and functioning of the National Security Council is a significant
step towards aligning civilian control of the military with practice in EU
member States. Several other provisions included in this new package are
important in light of the priorities under the revised Accession
Partnership such as the fight against torture, freedom of expression,
freedom of association and peaceful demonstration as well as respect for
cultural rights. In order to benefit all Turkish citizens in their daily
life, the reforms must be implemented effectively. The Commission
underlines, in particular, the key role of executive and judicial bodies at
different levels throughout the country to implement the reforms in line
with the spirit in which they have been adopted. The Commission notes that
this week Parliament has also adopted a law granting partial amnesty in
relation to past events in South-eastern Turkey. It is hoped that this law
will contribute to strengthen peace and stability in the region.
[10] Commission adopts proposal to grant €79,5 million for a third
Reconstruction Programme for Afghanistan
As part of its €400 million package to Afghanistan for 2003-04, the
European Commission has adopted a proposal to finance a third
Reconstruction Programme for Afghanistan with a total budget of €79.5
million. The programme reflects the Country Strategy Paper and National
Indicative Programme adopted by the Commission in February 2003. It is also
fully in line with the development priorities of the Afghan Transitional
Authority and will guarantee the Commission's ongoing financial assistance
to the socio-political and economic rebuilding of Afghanistan. The
programme aims to restore political stability coupled with a fully
operational public administration, to promote respect for the rule of law
and human rights, especially those of women, and to improve economic
recovery, thus alleviating poverty.
[11] FMD in Swaziland and Botswana : imports again fully authorised
The European Commission today adopted a decision lifting the last remaining
restrictions imposed after outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in
Swaziland and Botswana. Imports into the EU of de-boned and maturated fresh
meat of bovine species from the whole country of Swaziland were suspended
in December 2000, while imports of de-boned and maturated fresh meat of
bovine and caprine species and farmed and wild game animals were suspended
from the whole country of Botswana in January 2003 following outbreaks of
FMD. Additional information and guarantees received from the veterinary
authorities allowed the Commission to regionalise the countries and to
authorise the imports of these products from certain zones of Swaziland in
August 2001 and from certain zones of Botswana in March 2003. Intensive
surveillance carried out in both countries have since confirmed that FMD is
no longer present. These two countries can now again be considered free of
FMD without vaccination. Therefore the remaining restrictions have now been
lifted.
[12] Combating poverty related diseases : Philippe Busquin to visit Africa
to promote clinical trials programme
The Europe-Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is an
ambitious initiative to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis backed by
€200 million of European Union money. European Research Commissioner
Busquin recognises that providing funding is not enough and will be in
Africa from 29 August to 2 September to raise the profile of the clinical
trials programme and to encourage African countries to mobilise around this
important initiative. The Commissioner will visit key research sites and
meet ministers in Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa, in particular at a
WHO meeting in Johannesburg where he will address the Ministers of Health
of African States.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Remarks by Franz Fischler at the closing press conference of WTO mini
ministerial meeting (30/07, Montreal)
Quelle est pour nous l'importance des indications géographiques ?
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
