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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-07-18Midday 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 etbCommunication18/07/05[01] L'UE en bonne voie dans la mise en œuvre du marché intérieurLes Etats membres ont accompli des progrès remarquables dans la transposition des directives "Marché intérieur" et atteint ainsi l'un des meilleurs résultats jamais enregistré. Malheureusement, il arrive encore trop souvent que les règles régissant le marché intérieur ne soient pas appliquées correctement: seuls quatre Etats membres sont parvenus à réduire le nombre de procédures d'infraction à leur encontre.[02] Patents : Commission adopts a second report on biotechnological inventions, covering gene patents and stem cellsThe European Commission has adopted a second report (COM(2005)312) to the Council and European Parliament covering developments and implications of patent law in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering. It focuses on issues in the area of patents relating to gene sequences and the patentability of inventions relating to stem cells. It also reports on the implementation of the Directive.[03] La Commission lance une campagne de sensibilisation de quatre ans en faveur de l'énergie durable"Les modes de production et de consommation d'énergie intelligents vont transformer définitivement le paysage énergétique européen." Tel est le message essentiel de la campagne européenne pour l'énergie durable que la Commission européenne a lancée aujourd'hui, et qui se prolongera jusqu’en 2008. Cette action doit contribuer à la réalisation des buts de la politique énergétique de l'UE : il s'agit d'accroître la part des sources d’énergie renouvelables pour atteindre 12% d'ici à 2010, tout en réalisant des économies substantielles en matière de consommation d'énergie ; selon le récent Livre vert sur l'efficacité énergétique, celles-ci devraient se monter à 20% d'ici à 2020.[04] EU grants €86 million to boost innovation in vocational trainingThe European Commission has selected 295 projects from 31 countries to receive grants under the Leonardo da Vinci programme. The programme promotes trans-national cooperation to foster innovation in and improve the quality of European vocational education and training. A total of €86 million has been awarded to co-finance the selected projects.[05] Eurobaromètre Standard 63 : vague de printemps 2005Cette vague Eurobaromètre Standard de printemps s'inscrit dans une dynamique marquée par la situation économique et de l'emploi dans de nombreux Etats membres de l'UE, les problèmes rencontrés dans le processus de ratification de la Constitution européenne et un désaccord sur les nouvelles perspectives financières.[06] International calls in Finland competitive : no new rules needed, confirms CommissionThe European Commission has today published a decision under Article 7 of the EU framework on electronic communications supporting the findings of the Finnish national regulatory authority (Ficora) that the international calls markets in Finland are effectively competitive. International calls markets include all fixed telephone calls made from home by residential users and from the office by business users, to both fixed and mobile telephones outside the country. As a result of today's Commission decision, Ficora will not have to impose any regulation on these markets in Finland.[07] Euro area economy : sluggish second quarter but signs point to a pick- up in second half of 2005After a rebound in the first quarter of the year, economic growth is likely to have been disappointing in the months of April to June as surging oil prices and the lost of momentum of global manufacturing have both taken their toll on confidence, according to the European Commission's latest quarterly report on the Euro Area. But signs of renewed growth in the global economy, a more competitive exchange rate and continuing supportive financial and monetary conditions all point to an acceleration of growth in the second half of 2005. The last quarterly report also focuses on growth differences in the euro area to conclude that although they are not unusually high historically or by comparison with the United States they require urgent action by some Member States to tackle entrenched structural weaknesses and problems.[08] June 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation up to 2.1% ; EU25 stable at 2.0%Euro-zone annual inflation was 2.1% in June 2005, up from 2.0% in May, reports Eurostat. A year earlier the rate was 2.4%. Monthly inflation was 0.1% in June. EU25 annual inflation was 2.0% in June 2005, the same as in May. A year earlier the rate was 2.4%. Monthly inflation was 0.1% in June. EICP annual inflation was 2.0% in June 2005.[09] Commission approves acquisition of Gillette by Procter & Gamble subject to conditionsThe European Commission has cleared under the EC Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Gillette by Procter & Gamble, both based in the US. The approval is conditional on the divestiture of Procter & Gamble's battery toothbrush business. Since the merger will combine two leading global producers of branded consumer goods, the Commission's market investigation focussed on potential anti-competitive effects arising from the parties' large combined product portfolio. The market investigation has, however, shown that even after the transaction the parties would not be in a position to impose conditions on retailers to the detriment of the consumer. The only remaining competition concern, in the sector of battery toothbrushes, could be solved by the parties' commitment to sell off Procter & Gamble's battery toothbrush business. In the light of this commitment, the Commission has concluded that the operation will not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[10] Mise en place du Conseil scientifique du Conseil européen de la recherche(! embargo 13h30 !) La Commission européenne a dévoilé aujourd'hui le nom des 22 personnalités éminentes qui seront les membres fondateurs du Conseil scientifique du Conseil européen de la recherche chargé du financement des travaux de recherche exploratoire proposés par la Commission dans le cadre du septième programme-cadre de recherche (2007- 2013). Le Conseil scientifique sera un organe indépendant dont le rôle consistera à définir la stratégie scientifique du Conseil européen de la recherche et à veiller à ce que ses actions soient menées conformément aux exigences de l’excellence scientifique. Les 22 personnalités scientifiques ont été choisies par un comité de scientifiques de haut niveau présidé par Lord Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of Oxford and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Universities.[11] Commission welcomes Council's decision to sign agreement on the transfer of air passenger data to CanadaThe European Commission welcomes the decision at today's meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to sign with Canada an agreement on airline passenger data. Under the agreement, airlines flying from the EU to Canada will transfer selected passenger data to the Canadian authorities to help identify passengers who could be a security, and in particular a terrorist threat. The agreement strikes a good balance between security requirements and the data protection standards required under EU law, thus making an important contribution to the fight against terrorism.[12] EU-Iraq : Commission support for new ConstitutionJust four weeks before the new Iraqi Constitution is due to be completed, international donors are meeting in Jordan 18th and 19th July to discuss Iraqi reconstruction priorities, project implementation and new funding. The European Commission will attend the meeting to outline its continuing support for the political and economic reconstruction of the country, in particular a €20 million package to support the preparation of the new Constitution. The Commission's €200 million allocation for 2005 also covers support for basic services in the areas of basic education, health services and employment generation, technical assistance to the Ministries of Energy and Transport and further assistance in the fields of democracy and human rights. To date, the Commission's total contribution to the Iraqi reconstruction process amounts to more than half a billion euro.[13] Consultation on a fourth working document on the markets in financial instruments, Directive (MiFID) and on a working document on investment researchThe European Commission is inviting comments on its fourth working document on implementing legislation for MiFID. While the first working document focused on transaction reporting plus exchange of information between competent authorities, the second on organisational requirements for investment firms and the third working document on issues of market transparency and admission to trading, this document deals mainly with the definitions of investment advice and commodity derivatives, conduct of business rules, best execution, order handling rules and eligible counterparties. The working document has been drawn up following technical advice given to the Commission by the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR). Publication of the document is part of the open and transparent regulatory process the Commission follows for drawing up technical implementing measures in line with the procedures agreed to implement the March 2001 Stockholm European Council Resolution to improve decision-making concerning securities markets (see IP/02/195). The working document is not a formal Commission proposal. The documents are available at :<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/securities/isd/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/securities/isd/index_en.htm <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/securities/isd/index_fr.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/securities/isd/index_fr.htm <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/securities/isd/index_de.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/securities/isd/index_de.htm Comments should be sent to the Commission to the following e-mail address by 15 September 2005. Markt-ESC@cec.eu.int. Comments will posted on the website unless authors specifically request the contrary. The Commission will draw up its formal proposal at a later stage. [14] Autre matériel diffuséBiographies of members of the Scientific Council (! embargo 13h30 !)Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "The Commission's Financial Services Policy
2005-2010" (! embargo 13h00 !)
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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