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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-08-30
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Matériel diffusé
[02] New advisory group on the food chain created
[03] Start up event for European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC) to be held in Stockholm on 27 September
[04] Rédiffusion de notes
[05] La Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle de l'AA par CVC et
Permira
[06] Rabies: Possible exposure of humans in South West France
[07] Commission clears Cerberus/GDX Automotive deal
Midday Express of 2004-08-30
Reference: MEX/04/0830
Date: 30/08/2004
EXME04 / 30.08
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb
Communication
30/08/04
[01] Matériel diffusé
[02] New advisory group on the food chain created
A group bringing together notably consumers, the food industry, retailers
and farmers is being created to facilitate consultation and dialogue
between the European Commission and European organisations on food safety
policy. The Advisory Group on the Food Chain and Animal and Plant Health
will meet at least twice a year and consist of up to 45 members from EU-
level associations. Reflecting the Commission’s “farm to fork”
approach to food safety, the group will be consulted on a wide range of
food policy matters. Additionally, the Commission intends to create an
Internet based consultative forum on food safety open to all European
organisations with an interest in this area of policy. The new Advisory
Group is likely to meet for the first time towards the end of this year.
[03] Start up event for European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC) to be held in Stockholm on 27 September
Outbreaks such as SARS in 2003 and, more recently, bird flu have
illustrated the potential for infectious diseases to spread rapidly across
borders and highlighted the need for EU level and international
cooperation. This spring the European Parliament and Council adopted
enabling legislation to create a European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control (see: <a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/427&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/04/427).
On 27 September a series of press events will take place in Stockholm –
the seat of this new EU agency – ahead of the inaugural meeting of the
Centre’s Management Board. The programme starts with a press conference
at 14:00 in the Rosenbad, the office of the Swedish Prime Minister, at
which journalists will be able to question David Byrne, European
Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, and Morgan Johansson,
Sweden’s Minister for Public Health and Social Affairs. This will be
followed by an official start up ceremony for the Centre. Further
information about these events can be found at the web-address given below.
Journalists based in Sweden who are interested in attending should contact
Björn Kjellström at the Commission’s Representation in Stockholm (tel:
08-562 444 11). Journalists based outside Sweden should contact Beate
Gminder, the Commission’s spokesperson on Health and Consumer Protection,
at her office in Brussels (tel: +32/2/296 56 94). The ECDC will be a small
but effective European agency enabling EU countries to pool their
scientific knowledge and respond more effectively to emerging health
threats. The Commission is in the process of recruiting a Director for the
Centre – a vacancy notice was published in the EU’s Official Journal on
7 August 2004. For further information about the ECDC see: <a
href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_overview/strategy/ecdc/ecdc_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_overview/strategy/ecdc/ecdc_en.htm
[04] Rédiffusion de notes
[05] La Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle de l'AA par CVC et
Permira
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les
concentrations, une opération par laquelle des fonds contrôlés en
dernier ressort par la société luxembourgeoise CVC Capital Partners, qui
opère dans le secteur de la gestion d'investissements, et le fonds
d'investissement Permira Europe III, qui est contrôlé par la société
britannique Permira Holdings Limited, acquerront le contrôle en commun de
l’AA, qui fournit des services de dépannage et d'assistance routière au
Royaume-Uni et en Irlande. La Commission a estimé que cette opération ne
poserait aucun problème sur le plan de la concurrence, bien que CVC vende
également, par l'intermédiaire de l'une de ses filiales, des polices
d'assurances pour des services de dépannage et d'assistance routière.
[06] Rabies: Possible exposure of humans in South West France
The European Commission has alerted the Member States about the possibility
of exposure of citizens to a dog with rabies in South West France during
the month of August. The information has been circulated through the EU
Early Warning and Response System after an alert by the French Health
Authorities in the evening of 27 August. The dog which has been imported
illegally into France has had numerous contacts with people in different
places that attract during August many foreign tourists. Anyone having had
contacts with that dog should consult his/her doctor to be treated
appropriately. If not treated in time rabies is fatal.
[07] Commission clears Cerberus/GDX Automotive deal
The European Commission has granted clearance, under the Merger Regulation,
to plans by a subsidiary of US investment company Cerberus group to acquire
parts of GDX Automotive business, a US-based company that makes car
components. GDX is controlled by GenCorp Inc. (The deal, which was notified
on July 23, was examined under a simplified procedure)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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