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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-02-17
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission adopte un nouveau plan d'action drogue pour 2005-2008
[02] Commission secures improvements to gas supply contracts between OMV
and Gazprom
[03] Commission approves acquisition of Smurfit Munksjö by EQT
[04] La Commission approuve un financement public de €33 millions pour un
projet R&D de Philips Semiconductors à Caen
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Bekaert by Gilde
[06] Commission clears acquisition of GIM by INTEK
[07] La Commission développe ses relations avec les parlements nationaux :
renforcer la voix des parlements, c'est renforcer la voix des citoyens
européens
[08] Report on the operation of the CMO in bananas
[09] La Commission préconise un renforcement de la coopération spatiale
[10] The EU's Space Policy - an overview
[11] Green Line Regulation : Commission welcomes Council adoption of
measures that further facilitate trade across the Green Line in Cyprus
[12] US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez met Günter Verheugen
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-02-17
Reference: MEX/05/0217
Date: 17/02/2005
EXME05 / 17.2
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
17/02/05
[01] La Commission adopte un nouveau plan d'action drogue pour 2005-2008
La Commission européenne a adopté et transmis au Conseil et au Parlement
européen un plan d'action drogue de l'UE pour 2005-2008 dont le principal
objectif est de diminuer sensiblement la prévalence de la consommation de
drogue parmi la population de l'UE et de réduire les dommages sociaux et
pour la santé qu'entraînent la consommation et le commerce de drogues
illicites dans nos pays.
[02] Commission secures improvements to gas supply contracts between OMV
and Gazprom
In the light of improvements made to the gas supply contracts between
Austrian oil and gas company OMV and Russian gas producer Gazprom to remove
clauses that infringed EC Treaty rules on restrictive business practices
(Article 81), the European Commission has decided to close its
investigation. In particular, OMV will no longer be prevented from
reselling, outside Austria, the gas it buys from Gazprom, and Gazprom will
be free to sell to other customers in Austria without having to first offer
the gas to OMV. OMV also agreed to contribute to increasing capacity on the
pipeline that transports Russian gas, through Austria, to Italy, a similar
outcome to the one reached with the Italian oil and gas company ENI in
October 2003 (see IP/03/1345). The case demonstrates the Commission's
resolve to act against market partitioning agreements or any other
potentially anti-competitive arrangements that hamper the true
liberalisation of the energy sector.
[03] Commission approves acquisition of Smurfit Munksjö by EQT
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Smurfit Munksjö (Munksjö), a Swedish based
manufacturer of value-added paper products, by EQT investment group (EQT),
controlled by Investor AB. The Commission concluded that the transaction
would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any
substantial part of it and has therefore approved the concentration.
[04] La Commission approuve un financement public de €33 millions pour un
projet R&D de Philips Semiconductors à Caen
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en application des règles du
traité CE sur les aides d'Etat, un financement public de €33 millions
pour un projet recherche et développement de Philips Semiconductors sur
son site de Caen. Le projet vise le développement d'une nouvelle filière
technologique innovante destinée à répondre aux besoins des marchés de
communication par ondes à haute fréquence. Etant donné que toutes les
conditions établies par l'encadrement communautaire des aides d'Etat à la
recherche et au développement sont remplies, la Commission considère que
l'aide ne menace pas d'entraver les conditions de concurrence au sein du
marché intérieur et que, par conséquent, elle est compatible avec le
Traité CE (article 87).
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Bekaert by Gilde
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Bekaert Fencing NV
(Bekaert) of Belgium, by Gilde Buy-Out Fund II, (Gilde) of the Netherlands,
belonging to the Dutch Rabobank Group. Gilde is a specialised investment
fund which focuses on investing in medium to large sized customers through
management buy-outs/buy-ins in continental Europe. The company is part of
the Rabobank Group, a Dutch bank and credit institution active in the
financial services sector. Bekaert manufactures and sells steel based
fencing systems, industrial mesh and cable and wire. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of GIM by INTEK
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Generale Industrie
Metallurgiche S.p.A (GIM) of Italy by INTEK S.p.A of Italy, controlled by
Quattroduedue Holding BV of the Netherlands. INTEK is a finance company
listed on the Milan stock exchange and active in the acquisition and
transfer of shareholdings and profit-sharings in Italian and foreign
companies and entities. G.I.M. is a holding company, also listed on the
Milan stock exchange, heading a group of companies active in the production
and distribution of copper and copper alloy products. The company group
operates 18 production plants located in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom,
Spain and China. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[07] La Commission développe ses relations avec les parlements nationaux :
renforcer la voix des parlements, c'est renforcer la voix des citoyens
européens
La Commission européenne veut renforcer ses relations avec les parlements
nationaux, et avec eux, faire connaître ses politiques dans les Etats
membres. Cet objectif fait partie intégrante d'une culture où les
institutions européennes au sens large travaillent ensemble, mais il
constitue aussi un outil de communication pour développer un sentiment de
propriété partagée du projet européen en améliorant la communication
avec les citoyens et leurs représentants élus. Les relations de la
Commission avec les parlements nationaux devraient être fondées sur trois
objectifs clés : une assistance mutuelle, un dialogue continu et ouvert et
une mise en réseau effective. Renforcer la voix des parlements, c'est
renforcer la voix des citoyens européens.
[08] Report on the operation of the CMO in bananas
The European Commission today adopted a report to the European Parliament
and the Council on the operation of the common market organisation (CMO) in
bananas. The factual report provides an overview of the functioning of the
banana regime as of 1999. It gives basic information, figures and graphs on
the structure and implementation of the CMO in bananas (producers'
organisations, compensatory aid, structural measures and trade with third
countries), on the special framework of assistance for traditional ACP
banana suppliers and on the market trends in the EU. An in-depth evaluation
on the implementation of the CMO as of 1993 is currently under way and is
to be competed in the second quarter of 2005. Simultaneously, the
Commission has engaged in negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT in
order to introduce a "tariff only" regime for banana imports as of 1
January 2006. On the basis of the results of the evaluation, the Commission
will deepen the debate with its institutional, economic and social partners
on possible improvements of the CMO. The full text of the report is
available on the internet at:
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/banana/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/banana/index_en.htm
[09] La Commission préconise un renforcement de la coopération spatiale
Lors de la conférence intitulée "Winning through cooperation: sharing the
benefits of space" (la coopération gagnante : le partage des avantages
spatiaux) à Bruxelles aujourd'hui, plus de 40 nations et près de 20
organisations internationales se sont réunies pour discuter de la
coopération spatiale internationale. L'espace fait déjà l'objet d'un
effort international, comme le démontre une vaste gamme de projets
scientifiques. Cette conférence a fourni un lieu de rencontre entre les
Etats membres capables de fournir une technologie spatiale – le côté de
l'offre – et ceux qui sont disposés à l'utiliser – le côté de la
demande. L'industrie spatiale européenne est devenu un acteur clé du
marché commercial mondial de la construction de satellites, des services
de lancement, et des opérateurs de satellites. Le maintien d'une industrie
compétitive (notamment pour les constructeurs, les prestataires de
services et les opérateurs) exige de nouvelles recherches et de nouvelles
technologies.
[10] The EU's Space Policy - an overview
Space provides a source of unique and essential tools, enabling governments
and international bodies to tackle critical social and political issues.
The European space industry is a key actor in the world-wide commercial
market of satellite manufacturing, launch services, and satellite
operators. Sustaining a competitive industry (including manufacturers,
service providers and operators) requires new research and technologies.
International cooperation has been of primary importance in reaching this
position. Space applications bring important benefits to the citizens (e.g.
radio navigation, communication by satellite, earth observation for
monitoring in case of natural disasters or humanitarian aid).
[11] Green Line Regulation : Commission welcomes Council adoption of
measures that further facilitate trade across the Green Line in Cyprus
The European Commission has welcomed the adoption by the EU's Council of
its proposals to improve the so-called Green Line Regulation which would
further facilitate the movement of goods and persons across the Green Line,
thus contributing to the integration of the island.
[12] US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez met Günter Verheugen
US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and European Commission Vice-
President Günter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise and Industry, met
on 16 February in Brussels to discuss how to promote economic growth and
policies that keep our economies flexible and innovative. They discussed
the importance of industry, entrepreneurship and the role of the Trans-
Atlantic Business Dialogue ("TABD") in strengthening EU-US relations.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
La Commission a adopté un nouveau plan d'action drogue de l'UE pour 2005-
2008
Speech by Jan Figel' : "Academia and the Quest for Europe" at Cerimonia di
inaugurazione del 783° anno accademico (Università di Padova)
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Afghan Refugees: Working for Durable
Regional Solutions" at joint conference of the European Commission and
UNHCR (16/02)
Speech by Neelie Kroes : "Regulating for Competition and Growth" at OECD
Global Forum on Competition (Paris)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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