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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-12-08
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission clears GE's acquisition of Agfa's NDT business, subject to
conditions
[02] Maritime safety : IMO introduces new double-hull requirements at
worldwide level to close the gap with new EU safety rules
[03] L'UE et les PTOM évaluent positivement leur coopération
[04] Poul Nielson meets Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan
[05] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 08/12/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 08/12/2003
[01] Commission clears GE's acquisition of Agfa's NDT business, subject to
conditions
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the proposed acquisition of Agfa's non-destructive testing (NDT)
business by General Electric (GE) of the US. The Commission's review
highlighted serious concerns in the market for portable ultrasound NTD
devices, but GE was able to address these concerns by offering to divest
the ultrasound NDT business of its subsidiary Panametrics.
[02] Maritime safety : IMO introduces new double-hull requirements at
worldwide level to close the gap with new EU safety rules
The European Commission welcomed the decision taken within the framework of
the International Maritime Organisation to amend the MARPOL Convention to
introduce for the world fleet of oil tankers a similar regime to the new
stricter measures in place at EU level. This decision in favour of a
worldwide ban, and its implementation as soon as possible, but not later
than 5 April 2005, on the carriage of heavy grades of oil in single-hull
tankers, as well as the accelerated phasing out of single-hull tankers in
general, closes the gap between the international regime and the measures
already adopted by the EU.
[03] L'UE et les PTOM évaluent positivement leur coopération
Les ministres de l'UE et des pays et territoires d'outre-mer associés à
l'UE (PTOM) se sont réunis le 5 décembre à Bruxelles, à l'occasion de leur
forum annuel. Ils y ont fait le point de la situation et ont évalué
positivement la coopération instituée entre l'UE et les PTOM. Une large
unanimité a été réalisée sur la nécessité de renforcer les activités de
partenariat existantes, en tenant compte des besoins, des attentes et du
statut spécifiques de ces territoires.
[04] Poul Nielson meets Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan
On 9 December 2003 at 12h00, European Commissioner for Development
Assistance and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, meets Sudanese Minister for
Foreign Affairs Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail. The meeting will offer an
occasion to exchange views on the on-going promising peace process in Sudan
and the issues to be resolved in order to reach a comprehensive and
detailed peace agreement. The current situation in Darfur will also be
discussed, including the Commission's humanitarian response to the
conflict. Through its Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO, the Commission has
since 1994 allocated over €200 million in Humanitarian assistance to both
North and South Sudan. Allocations for 2003 alone have reached €24 million
including recent emergency decisions for €4 million to alleviate the
consequences of the Darfur conflict. A VIP corner will be held in rue
Geneve 12 at 13h00, after the meeting.
[05] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Poul Nielson : "External EU policy on AIDS" at Conference 'Aids
in Africa: what are the priorities as for medical assistance ?' (European
Parliament)
Speech by Loyola de Palacio : "Integrating the Energy Market in the Balkans
: a key issue for more stability" at 2nd Ministerial Conference on Energy
(Athens)
Note sur les résultats du Conseil Transports
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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