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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-06-29Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etbCommunication29/06/04[01] Council fails to reach agreement on GM maize NK603On 28 June, European Environment ministers failed to reach an agreement in favour of or against the European Commission's proposal to authorise the import and processing of the genetically modified maize NK603 in the EU. In the absence of a Council decision, the file will now go back to the Commission for final decision. The decision is expected within the coming weeks. The maize has been modified for increased tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate by the company Monsanto. If authorised, the maize would be used as any other maize, except for cultivation and food uses. Its authorisation would be for 10 years and it would have to be clearly labelled as being genetically modified. The approval for food uses is pending decision under EU GM Food legislation. More information on EU and the regulation of GMOs can be found in MEMO/04/102.[02] Commission clears UNIQA's acquisition of control over MannheimerThe European Commission has cleared, under the Merger Regulation, the acquisition of the German insurance group Mannheimer by the Austrian insurance group UNIQA. The Commission found that this transaction would not lead to any competition problems, because there are only limited overlaps between the parties on the national markets concerned.[03] Commission clears creation of two joint ventures by Dow Chemicals and PICThe European Commission has approved, under the Merger Regulation, the creation of two joint ventures between the Dow Chemical Company and Kuwait Petroleum Corp's Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. The two chemical joint ventures do not raise any competition concerns as there are little or no overlaps between the activities concerned.[04] Commission clears Avantone JV between Nokia and MetsoThe European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the creation of a Finnish joint venture called Avantone Oy between Nokia Corporation and Metso Corporation which will have joint control of the new company. Avantone will offer Brand Communication Technology Solutions. The notified concentration is also subject to the approval of the competition authorities in Poland (as well as Bulgaria and Ukraine) because the agreement was concluded before the 1st of May and was, therefore, notified under the old Merger Regulation and the enlargement. (The operation, notified on 19 May 2004, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure).[05] Commission clears purchase of car park operator Apcoa by InvestcorpThe European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition of full control of the German car park operator Apcoa Parking AG Parking Holdings Limited (Lux), which belongs to the Investcorp Group (Bahrein), from from Salamander AG. (The operation, notified on 25 May 2004, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)[06] Commission clears acquisition of GSL by Electra and EnglefieldThe European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of UK company Global Solutions Limited (GSL) by Electra European Fund Limited and Englefield Capital L.L.P, two private equity fund managers, from Group 4 Falck. GSL provides facility management services and outsourcing solution services, in particular justice services (e.g. management of prisons, courts and immigration detention centres). (The operation, notified on 27 May 2004, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)[07] Commission clears Deutsche BP/Oktan light heating oil JV in GermanyThe European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of German light heating oil distributor Aral Wärme Service GmbH by Deutsche BP AG, which belongs to the BP group, and OKTAN Mineralöl-Vertrieb GmbH, of the BMV group. (The operation, notified on 27 May 2004, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)[08] Commission clears control of RAG American Coal by First Reserve and BlackstoneThe European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control over RAG American Coal, a US-based coal mining company, by US merchant bank First Reserve and private equity firm Blackstone. (The operation, notified on 27 May 2004, was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)[09] La Commission se félicite des recommandations du forum plurilatéral européen visant à promouvoir la responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) dans l'UERéunis pour la dernière fois, les représentants de haut niveau des entreprises, des organisations syndicales et de la société civile soumettent aujourd'hui le rapport final du forum plurilatéral européen sur la responsabilité sociale des entreprises à Erkki Liikanen et Stavros Dimas, les commissaires en charge, respectivement, des entreprises et de l'emploi. Le rapport, qui contient des recommandations en matière de sensibilisation à la RSE, de renforcement des capacités et de mise en place d'un environnement favorable, constitue l'aboutissement de vingt mois d'intenses discussions. Il repose sur les travaux de quatre tables rondes axées sur les thèmes de la connaissance, des PME, du développement et de la transparence. Plus de cinquante cas concrets ont été présentés par des entreprises et leurs partenaires durant douze réunions des tables rondes. Le rapport ancre la RSE dans le cadre de la stratégie européenne définie à Lisbonne où, en 2000, les dirigeants de l'UE ont, pour la première fois, fait appel aux sens des responsabilités sociales des entreprises.[10] Making the future with nanoelectronics : a strategy for Europe(! embargo 15h00 !) To become the world's most competitive powerhouse, Europe must lead the transition of the micro-electronics sector to the next generation of nano-electronics, with coordinated public and private investments of at least €6 billion per year. This is the message from a report drawn up by CEOs of leading companies and research organisations and presented today to European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen. Smarter and smaller electronics at the nano-meter scale managing vast amounts of data are becoming key components for many applications, from household appliances and consumer goods to automotive transport, health care and security, and ultimately ambient intelligence. The "Vision 2020: Nano- electronics at the centre of change" will lead to the launch of the European Nano-electronics Initiative Advisory Council (ENIAC) to be chaired by STMicroelectronics' President and CEO Pasquale Pistorio. This European public-private partnership will identify a strategic research agenda for nano-electronics in Europe and implement it.[11] "Newmood", recherche communautaire sur les facteurs génétiques associés à la dépression en vue de la mise au point de nouveaux médicaments120 millions de personnes dans le monde souffrent de dépression. Un projet de recherche subventionné par l'Union européenne a été lancé récemment pour mettre en évidence les facteurs génétiques associés à la dépression, dans le but de mettre au point de nouveaux traitements médicamenteux. Le projet intégré, dénommé NEWMOOD, a reçu une enveloppe de 7,2 millions d'€ au titre du sixième programme-cadre de recherche (6e PC) de l'UE ; il vise à mettre en évidence les gènes qui interviennent dans le déclenchement de la dépression. Ces résultats aideront les chercheurs à mettre au point de nouveaux médicaments d'ici cinq ans et à mieux comprendre les causes de cette maladie. Ces médicaments sont appelés à révolutionner le monde des antidépresseurs qui n'a pas beaucoup évolué depuis les 30 dernières années. Le projet, coordonné par l'Université de Manchester (Royaume-Uni), réunit des partenaires de 13 laboratoires situés dans 10 pays européens dont l'Estonie, la France, l'Allemagne, la Hongrie, l'Italie, les Pays-Bas, la Pologne, la Slovénie et l'Espagne.[12] Textiles and clothing : meeting of the High Level Group to prepare recommendations for future of EU textilesThe High Level Group on textiles and clothing meets on Wednesday 30 June to wrap up 5-months of work to develop ideas to boost the competitiveness of the EU textiles and clothing industry. Participants gathering in Brussels includes European Commissioners for Trade Pascal Lamy and for Enterprise and Information Society Erkki Liikanen, representatives from EU Member States (France, Italy, Germany and Portugal), Members of the European Parliament as well as representatives from industry, retailers, distributors, European textiles associations, trade unions and local textile and clothing associations. Participants will adopt a set of recommendations for action at regional, national and EU level on research and innovation, education and employment, trade policy or protection of intellectual property rights.[13] Roadmap for EU-US Regulatory Cooperation and TransparencyThe European Commission and the United States Government announced at the EU-US Summit on 26 June that their services have developed a Roadmap for EU- US Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency, outlining a broad range of activities intended to reduce costs, expand market opportunities and help minimize EU-US regulatory differences. The Roadmap reflects the importance of EU-US regulatory cooperation for removing undue barriers to transatlantic trade and investment. It also represents a move towards a more systematic implementation of the EU-US "Guidelines on Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency", an important mechanism for promoting a positive EU-US economic agenda. Intensified EU-US regulatory cooperation will facilitate trade in goods and will enable regulators to better discharge their public responsibility for health, safety, the environment and consumer protection.[14] Chris Patten to visit Singapore and Indonesia (29/06-02/07)European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten will visit Singapore 29th/30th June and Jakarta 30th June/2nd July. In Singapore he will formally open the European Commission Delegation Office, and hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Goh and Trade Minister Yeo. In Jakarta he will be part of the Troika representing the European Union (EU) at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and at meetings with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). There will also be the opportunity for a number of bilateral (EU) meetings with Asian partners including Indonesia, China, Pakistan, India and Thailand, as well as with Vietnam and Japan (as ASEM Coordinators).[15] Autre matériel diffuséCommission statement on the transfer of power in Iraq (28/06)Statement by President Prodi on the designation of José Manuel Durão Barroso Note sur les dispositions du Traité pour la nouvelle Commission et son Président Trade in textiles Roadmap for EU-US Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency Speech by David Byrne : "The role of diet: How to inform consumers" at the
European Food Law Conference
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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