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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-06-22
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] La réforme du sucre offrira aux producteurs de l'UE des perspectives
d'avenir à long terme grâce à une compétitivité accrue
[02] Europe could save 20% of its energy by 2020
[03] Commission adopts report on Portuguese budgetary situation ; assesses
updated stability programme
[04] La Commission rend obligatoires les engagements pris par Coca-Cola, et
élargit ainsi le choix des consommateurs
[05] Commission endorses €47.3 million aid to AVR in the Netherlands but
orders recovery of €2.4 million
[06] La Commission clôture l'examen relatif aux aides d'Etat accordées
aux clubs sportifs italiens sous forme d'allègements fiscaux (loi
"Salvacalcio")
[07] UK State aid for Channel Tunnel rail freight services
[08] Commission approves "coal package" authorising restructuring plans for
the Polish, German and Hungarian coal industry until 2010
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[09] Certificat de performance énergétique pour le "Berlaymont", siège
de la Commission européenne
[10] Energy efficiency – what can I do?
[11] Commission clears acquisition of Sandd by Fortis, NIBCapital and
Trimoteur
[12] Avril 2005 : excédent de 1,3 milliard d'euros du commerce extérieur
pour la zone euro ; déficit de 9,7 milliards d'euros pour l'UE25
[13] April 2005 compared to March 2005 : industrial new orders up by 1.5%
in euro-zone - EU25 up by 2.1%
[14] Commission to close anchovy fishery in Bay of Biscay for three months
[15] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to attend G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in
London
[16] EU-Jordan Association Committee to meet 23 June
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-06-22
Reference: MEX/05/0622
Date: 22/06/2005
EXME05 / 22.6
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
22/06/05
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] La réforme du sucre offrira aux producteurs de l'UE des perspectives
d'avenir à long terme grâce à une compétitivité accrue
La Commission européenne a proposé une réforme de grande envergure de
l'organisation commune du marché du sucre. Les changements renforceront la
compétitivité et l'orientation en fonction des impératifs du marché du
secteur sucrier de l'UE, lui garantiront un avenir durable à long terme et
consolideront la position de l'UE dans le cadre du cycle actuel de
négociations sur le commerce mondial. Ils moderniseront également le
régime actuel, qui est resté pratiquement inchangé depuis une
quarantaine d'années. Le nouveau régime continuera d'offrir un accès
préférentiel au marché du sucre européen pour les pays en
développement à un prix avantageux très au-dessus du niveau du marché
mondial. Les pays d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (ACP)
exportateurs traditionnels de sucre vers l'UE, bénéficieront d'un
programme d'aide adopté également aujourd'hui par la Commission. Les
propositions de réforme de la Commission prévoient une réduction en deux
temps de 39% au total du prix du sucre blanc ; l'indemnisation des
agriculteurs à hauteur de 60% de la baisse du prix par l'intermédiaire
d'un paiement découplé subordonné au respect de normes de gestion
environnementale et des terres intégré au paiement unique par
exploitation ; un régime volontaire de restructuration de quatre ans
visant à inciter les producteurs les moins compétitifs à abandonner le
secteur ; et la suppression de l'intervention. Le plan d'aide ACP sera
doté d'un budget de €40 millions pour 2006 et ouvrira la voie à d'autres
aides ultérieures. La Commission espère un accord politique sur ces
propositions lors du Conseil de l'Agriculture en novembre.
[02] Europe could save 20% of its energy by 2020
The European Commission has adopted a Green Paper on Energy Efficiency that
seeks to put energy savings higher on the agenda. Faced with increasing oil
prices and the prospects of having 70% of its energy needs covered by
imports by 2030, the European Union needs to start a discussion on how to
save energy. The Green Paper lists a number of options to save 20% of
energy consumption by 2020 in a cost effective way through changes in
consumer behaviour and energy efficient technologies. These savings would
allow the EU to save an estimated €60 billion on its energy bill. This
will in turn represent investments in the EU economy where European
industry can strengthen its lead.
[03] Commission adopts report on Portuguese budgetary situation ; assesses
updated stability programme
The European Commission has adopted a report on the Portuguese budgetary
situation after the government recently announced that the deficit will
reach 6.2% of GDP this year. Such deficit is neither close to the 3%
reference value set in the European Union Treaty nor can it be considered
temporary or exceptional, as defined by the Treaty. The debt-to-GDP ratio
is also above the 60% reference value and on the increase. In parallel, the
Commission also examined Portugal's updated stability programme which
foresees a decrease of the deficit to 4.8% in 2006 and 2.8% in 2008. This
does not prejudge the deadline for correcting the deficit which will be
agreed by the Council when deciding on the Commission's future
recommendations in the context of the excessive deficit procedure.
[04] La Commission rend obligatoires les engagements pris par Coca-Cola, et
élargit ainsi le choix des consommateurs
La Commission européenne a adopté une décision au titre des règles de
concurrence du traité CE qui rend les engagements pris par Coca-Cola
concernant les boissons gazeuses sans alcool juridiquement contraignants.
Ces engagements, qui resteront d'application jusqu'au 31 décembre 2010,
auront pour effet d'élargir le choix des consommateurs dans la mesure où
ils empêcheront notamment Coca-Cola de conclure des accords d'exclusivité
avec les magasins et les cafés, de leur offrir des remises ciblées et des
remises de quantité ou de les contraindre à acheter des produits moins
populaires en même temps que ses marques les plus porteuses.
[05] Commission endorses €47.3 million aid to AVR in the Netherlands but
orders recovery of €2.4 million
The European Commission has endorsed under EC Treaty state aid rules
€47.3 million operating aid in favour of AVR of the Netherlands for
hazardous waste disposal. €2.4 million - compensation for the cost of
acquisition of the hazardous waste - was not approved and has to be
recovered from the beneficiary.
[06] La Commission clôture l'examen relatif aux aides d'Etat accordées
aux clubs sportifs italiens sous forme d'allègements fiscaux (loi
"Salvacalcio")
La Commission européenne a adopté une décision finale disposant que les
mesures récemment modifiées en faveur des clubs sportifs en Italie ne
constituaient plus des aides d'Etat. Cette décision ne concerne que les
aspects fiscaux et la procédure d'infraction pour violation des directives
comptables de l'UE demeure ouverte (voir IP/04/854).
[07] UK State aid for Channel Tunnel rail freight services
The European Commission has approved a State aid measure by the UK
government in favour of the company English Welsh Scottish Railway
International Ltd (EWSI), which currently provides cross-Channel rail
freight services. The aid serves to compensate EWSI for infrastructure
expenditure that other rail transport operators are not burdened with and
is necessary to ensure the continued provision of rail freight services
through the Channel Tunnel. The aid is therefore considered compatible with
the EU State aid rules and promotes the broader European objective of
developing a sustainable transport system with better performing rail
services.
[08] Commission approves "coal package" authorising restructuring plans for
the Polish, German and Hungarian coal industry until 2010
The European Commission has decided to authorise the restructuring plans
for the Polish, German and Hungarian coal industry, considering that the
plans presented by the three governments are in line with European rules on
State aid for the coal industry and are compatible with the proper
functioning of the common market.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[09] Certificat de performance énergétique pour le "Berlaymont", siège
de la Commission européenne
Un groupe d'experts des Etats membres a remis aujourd'hui à Andris Piebalgs,
membre de la Commission européenne chargé de l'Energie, les certificats
de performance énergétique du bâtiment "Berlaymont". Ces
certificats font partie des mesures prévues par la législation
européenne sur la performance énergétique des bâtiments. A partir de
2006, les certificats de performance énergétique de tous les grands
bâtiments publics de l'UE devront être affichés de manière visible afin
que le public puisse en prendre connaissance.
[10] Energy efficiency – what can I do?
Do you know how much energy is used by electronic equipment left on stand-
by? Up to 10% of household consumption – about €15 billion per year –
is being wasted in this way. The European Commission promotes voluntary
standards to reduce stand-by consumption in European households which will
yield potential savings of up to 30 billion kWh of electricity.
[11] Commission clears acquisition of Sandd by Fortis, NIBCapital and
Trimoteur
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Sandd B.V. of The
Netherlands by Dutch undertakings Fortis Private Equity Holding Nederland
B.V., controlled by Fortis Bank Nederland (Holding) B.V. (Fortis) and
NIBCapital Principal Investments B.V., controlled by NIBCapital Bank N.V.
(NIBCapital), along with Trimoteur Distribution Services B.V. (Trimoteur).
Currently Sandd is solely controlled by Trimoteur. Sandd is a mail delivery
company based in and operating in the Netherlands. A substantial part of
Sandd's activities is related to direct mailing activities (processing and
delivering large quantities of almost identical items). NIBCapital is a
merchant bank with a global distribution network providing corporate
finance, risk management and structured investment solutions for corporate
entities and institutional investors. Fortis is part of the Fortis Group,
one of the world's largest financial institutions. It offers banking
services and insurance products to private, business and institutional
customers. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[12] Avril 2005 : excédent de 1,3 milliard d'euros du commerce extérieur
pour la zone euro ; déficit de 9,7 milliards d'euros pour l'UE25
D'après les premières estimations pour le mois d'avril 2005, la zone euro
a enregistré un excédent du commerce extérieur de 1,3 milliard d'euros
avec le reste du monde, contre +6,8 milliards en avril 2004. Le solde
enregistré au mois de mars 2005 était de +4,3 milliards, contre +10,4
milliards en mars 2004. En avril 2005, les exportations, corrigées des
variations saisonnières, ont augmenté de 0,9% par rapport à mars 2005, et
les importations de 1,3%. Les premières estimations du solde des échanges
extra-UE25 pour le mois d'avril 2005 indiquent un déficit de 9,7 milliards
d'euros, contre -7,2 milliards en avril 2004. Au mois de mars 2005, le
solde était de -6,4 milliards, contre -1,6 milliard en mars 2004. En avril
2005, les exportations, corrigées des variations saisonnières, ont
augmenté de 1,1% par rapport à mars 2005, et les importations de 0,8%. Ces
données sont publiées par Eurostat.
[13] April 2005 compared to March 2005 : industrial new orders up by 1.5%
in euro-zone - EU25 up by 2.1%
The euro-zone industrial new orders index rose by 1.5% in April 2005
compared to March 2005, Eurostat estimates. The index fell by 0.3% in March
and by 2.3% in February. EU25 new orders grew by 2.1% in April 2005, after
falls of 1.8% in March and 1.7% in February. In April 2005 compared to
April 2004, industrial new orders increased by 1.6% in the euro-zone and by
2.3% in the EU25.
[14] Commission to close anchovy fishery in Bay of Biscay for three months
Following a recommendation by the International Council for the Exploration
of the Sea (ICES), that, given the poor state of the stock of anchovy in
the Bay of Biscay, the fishery should immediately be closed, the Commission
has decided to close this fishery for a period of three months. As it
announced on 10 June 2005, the Commission launched an internal procedure
with a view to put in place emergency measures to close the fishery. It has
now decided to let the procedure run its course and the emergency measures
should be adopted and become effective at the beginning of July. The
Commission is, however, intending to organise an urgent meeting of
scientific experts from its advisory Committee, the Scientific, Technical
and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF). This meeting, which should
take place in July, will examine the most recent data, including those from
the surveys conducted by the French scientific research institute, Ifremer
and the Spanish ones, the IEO and AZTI, and advise the Commission as to
whether the latest data affect the earlier ICES recommendation. The
Commission will review its initial closure in the light of STECF advice.
[15] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to attend G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in
London
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will represent the Commission at the G8
Foreign Ministers meeting in London on 23 June 2005. The meeting will be
chaired by Jack Straw, the UK Foreign Secretary, and will bring together
the Foreign Ministers of the G8, the EU High Representative for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the EU Presidency the
Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn. Special invitees are the
Afghan Foreign Minister, Mr Abdullah, and the Special Envoy of the Quartet
for Gaza disengagement, Mr Wolfensohn. Discussion will cover the key areas
of G8 activity, such as supporting reform throughout the broader Middle
East and Afghanistan and UN reform. The Commission makes a major
contribution on all the issues discussed in the G8 context. In particular,
the Commission will underline its support for assisting the reconstruction
of Afghanistan. It will also express its commitment to assisting Mr
Wolfensohn in his tasks and has seconded personnel to his office. Focus on
Africa and the reinforcement of effective multilateralism through UN reform
will also be emphasised.
[16] EU-Jordan Association Committee to meet 23 June
The EU-Jordan Association Committee will hold its third meeting on 23 June
in Brussels. The Committee will set the agenda for the first year of
implementation of the EU-Jordan European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.
This will include human rights, democracy and governance ; promoting
stability in the region, prioritising regional cooperation (including Iraq)
; economic and social reform ; trade related issues ; cooperation in the
fields of justice, the fight against the financing of organised crime and
terrorism ; and cooperation on transport, the information society and some
of the priorities for the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Process. The
key priorities for the first year of implementation have been identified
and targeted financial assistance has been linked to these Action Plan
priorities. For the first time ever in the Mediterranean region, a regular
forum has been set up between the EU and a partner country to discuss
measures to promote democracy and human rights based on Jordan's own
national priorities. On trade, committee members will look at preparations
for liberalising trade in agricultural products and services, as well as
possible future negotiations for a free trade agreement between Jordan and
the Palestinian Authority. <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/jordan/intro/index.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/jordan/intro/index.htm
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Europe could save 20% of its energy by 2020
Speech by Olli Rehn : "The plan 'C' for enlargement" at European Parliament
Foreign Affairs Committee (21/6)
Speech by Stavros Dimas : "REACH and the Lisbon Strategy" at debate with EP
Kangaroo Group (21/06)
Speech by Günter Verheugen : "EU-US Cooperation a Partnership for Growth"
at Industry Outreach Event (21/06, Washington)
Discours de M. Louis Michel : "Financement de l'éducation pour atteindre
les objectifs du millénaire 2&3" (PE, ! embargo 13h30 !)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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