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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-02-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Déclaration du Président de la Commission européenne, José Manuel
Barroso, à la suite du référendum en Espagne (20/02)
[02] Statement on the elections in the northern part of Cyprus (20/02)
[03] Commission clears acquisition of CSM by CVC
[04] Togo : la Commission réclame le retour sans délai à l'ordre
constitutionnel (20/02)
[05] Conference on the future of the furniture Industry
[06] "Dialogue between Peoples and Cultures : The Artists and the Cultural
Actors" Conference
Midday Express of 2005-02-21
Reference: MEX/05/0221
Date: 21/02/2005
EXME05 / 21.2
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
21/02/05
[01] Déclaration du Président de la Commission européenne, José Manuel
Barroso, à la suite du référendum en Espagne (20/02)
"Les Espagnols ont dit oui à l'Europe, oui à l'avenir. L'Espagne s'est
prononcée par un oui absolument clair en faveur d'une Europe qui avance et
qui fait la différence, une Europe unie dans la diversité. La Commission
européenne s'en réjouit. En ouvrant la voie avec ce vote positif et sans
ambiguïté, le peuple espagnol a envoyé un signal fort aux concitoyens
appelés à se prononcer sur la Constitution dans les prochains mois. Ce
vote pionnier et historique est un oui à une Union européenne plus
démocratique, plus efficace, plus transparente. L'enjeu est de taille :
avec cette nouvelle Constitution, c'est la paix, la prospérité, la
solidarité et la sécurité que nous consolidons en Europe. J'ai contacté
le Président du Gouvernement Espagnol pour lui présenter mes
félicitations. Je remercie le gouvernement espagnol de s'être engagé
dans la campagne référendaire, comme tous ceux qui s'y sont investis,
forces politiques, députés nationaux et européens, artistes, sportifs,
partenaires sociaux, ONG et surtout ceux qui ont considéré que leur voix
comptera pour l'avenir de l'Espagne dans l'Europe unie. Je respecte ceux
qui se sont abstenus de voter ou ceux qui ont voté non. La Constitution de
l'Union européenne sera une force puissante de changement et de renouveau.
Je suis convaincu qu'elle sera en même temps un instrument unique pour
préserver les valeurs de l'Union européenne. L'Espagnol et grand
européen qu'était Salvador de Madariaga disait que "si l’Europe était
un corps, elle était aussi une âme, mais elle n'était pas encore une
conscience". Avec ce référendum, les Espagnols ont été les premiers
Européens à avoir enraciné de manière décisive une véritable
conscience européenne."
[02] Statement on the elections in the northern part of Cyprus (20/02)
"The European Commission welcomes the results of the 'parliamentary'
elections in the northern part of Cyprus. The results indicate a clear
desire of the Turkish Cypriot community to continue preparations for their
full integration into the EU. The results also show that the Turkish
Cypriots are committed to the reunification of Cyprus. The Commission is
determined to seek the rapid adoption of its proposals on both the
financial assistance (€259 million) and on special conditions for trade.
This package is seen as a way to put an end to the isolation of Turkish
Cypriot community and to facilitate reunification by encouraging the
economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. The Commission
continues to remain ready to actively support all efforts to find a
comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem."
[03] Commission clears acquisition of CSM by CVC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of CSM Sugar Confectionary
(CSM SC) of the Netherlands by CVC European Equity Partners III LP (CVC
EEP) based in the Cayman Islands, belonging to CVC Capital Partners Sarl
(CVC) of Luxembourg. CVC EEP holds investments in companies in various
industries. It belongs to one of the funds that are managed by CVC Capital
Partners SÃ rl and New Capital Investors Limited and their subsidiaries
(CVC Group). The CVC Group is composed of privately-owned entities which
provide investment advice or manage investments on behalf of investment
funds. CVC investments funds hold investments in various industries in
Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region. CSM SC produces and markets sweets,
pastilles and chewing gum and distributes other sugar confectionary
products on behalf of third parties. It is active mainly in the Nordic
region, Benelux, France and Italy. It is part of CSM, a Dutch company,
which produces and sells bakery supplies, bio-chemicals, sugar and sugar-
confectionary. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[04] Togo : la Commission réclame le retour sans délai à l'ordre
constitutionnel (20/02)
La Commission européenne déplore vivement l'annonce faite par M. Faure
Gnassimbe, fils du président défunt Gnassimbe Eyadema, de se maintenir au
pouvoir en tant que Président par intérim, en violation de l'ordre
constitutionnel et légal.
[05] Conference on the future of the furniture Industry
The EU furniture industry accounts for about half of world furniture
production. Around 130,000 companies, mostly SMEs, operate in the EU's
furniture industry, employing over 1 million people and with a turnover in
excess of €100 billion. How to enhance its competitiveness at a time of
increasing international competition? What strategies will ensure
sustainability and employment in the long term? And what are the prospects
for the sector in an enlarged European Union? Questions like these will be
addressed on 25 February 2005 at the first Commission sponsored conference
on the furniture industry. The opening address will be given by Vice-
President Günter Verheugen, Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry. The
conference is one of a series of actions being taken in the wake of the
Communication on Industrial Policy for an Enlarged Europe adopted in April
2004. That paper identified concrete initiatives to improve the
competitiveness of European industry while accompanying the process of
structural change in which it is engaged. For further information :
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/furniture/conf_2005_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/furniture/conf_2005_en.htm
[06] "Dialogue between Peoples and Cultures : The Artists and the Cultural
Actors" Conference
On February 25th and 26th, some 900 participants from European associations
and from cultural, intellectual, academic and political spheres will
participate in the conference on "Dialogue between Peoples and Cultures:
The Artists and the Cultural Actors" organised by the Jean Monnet Action in
the Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts. The main line of this event will be the
interaction between the artists and the cultural players of the dialogue
and the debate with the public. The conference addresses citizens,
recognising that culture is a tremendous intra and inter-community
communication tool. Consequently, a significant part of the conference
programme will be devoted to the testimonies of the artists. European
Commissioner Ján Figel' will open the conference, which will seek to
identify concrete proposals on the cultural dimension of the dialogue in
Europe, notably in view of the proposed European year of intercultural
dialogue planned for 2008. For more information on the conference, see :
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/ajm/organisation/dialogue2005/index_en.html">http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/ajm/organisation/dialogue2005/index_en.html
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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