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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-10-05
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] A new industrial policy : creating the conditions for manufacturing to
thrive
[02] Commission proposes comprehensive EU strategy for support to
Palestinians
[03] La Commission inflige une amende de €49,5 millions à Peugeot pour
avoir entravé les exportations de voitures neuves à partir des Pays-Bas
[04] La Commission propose que 2008 soit l' "Année européenne du dialogue
interculturel"
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] La Commission désigne un mandataire pour contrôler le respect par
Microsoft de la décision de 2004
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Corman Miloko by Glanbia and Corman
[07] La Commission alloue €6 millions aux victimes du conflit au Népal
et aux réfugiés bhoutanais
[08] National Growth and Jobs coordinators to meet in Brussels on 6 October
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to meet Guatemalan Vice President
[10] Ján Figel' to open exhibition of Slovak painter
[11] Stavros Dimas to discuss climate change at first sectoral policy
dialogue
[12] August 2005 compared to August 2004 : volume of retail trade up by
2.0% in euro-zone ; up by 2.2% in EU25
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-10-06
Reference: MEX/05/1006
Date: 05/10/2005
EXME05 / 5.10
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
05/10/05
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] A new industrial policy : creating the conditions for manufacturing to
thrive
In the face of globalisation and intense international competition, the
European Commission has launched a new, more integrated industrial policy
to create better framework conditions for manufacturing industries in the
coming years. The manufacturing industry matters to the EU. It employs over
34 million people, it accounts for three quarters of EU exports and over
80% of EU private sector R&D expenditure. The new EU industrial policy will
complement work at Member State level to support a strong and dynamic
industrial base. It includes seven new cross-sectoral initiatives - on
competitiveness, energy and the environment, on intellectual property
rights, on better regulation, on industrial research and innovation, on
market access, on skills, and on managing structural change - which will
benefit a wide range of industry sectors. In addition, the Commission
brings forward seven new initiatives targeted at specific sectors, such as
pharmaceuticals, defense and information and communication technologies. It
focuses also on investment in skills and equipping people for change. This
industrial policy aims to support adaptability and structural change to
boost the competitiveness of EU manufacturing, especially in the light of
increasingly strong competition from China and Asia. This is an important
step in the delivery of the new Lisbon "Partnership for Growth and Jobs".
[02] Commission proposes comprehensive EU strategy for support to
Palestinians
The European Commission has adopted a Communication to the Council and the
European Parliament "EU-Palestinian cooperation beyond disengagement -
towards a two-state solution". The aim is to put in place a comprehensive,
medium-term strategy for the EU’s support to the Palestinians. The
strategy focuses on the actions required to create a Palestinian state
viable both politically and economically. This is a an immediate response
to the new opportunities presented following Israel's withdrawal from Gaza,
and to the needs assessment currently being carried out by the Quartet
Special Envoy, James Wolfensohn. Mr Wolfensohn has called on the
International Community to double assistance to the Palestinians. This
would imply an increase of €200 to €300 million in assistance from the
Community budget. Provided Israel's disengagement from Gaza leads to
progress in implementing the Road Map, and provided other donors also
substantially increase their contributions, the Commission is ready to
propose mobilisation of additional funds, subject to agreement with Member
States and European Parliament. The strategy presented today builds on the
immediate €60 million post-disengagement package already being
implemented.
[03] La Commission inflige une amende de €49,5 millions à Peugeot pour
avoir entravé les exportations de voitures neuves à partir des Pays-Bas
La Commission européenne a décidé d'infliger à Automobiles Peugeot SA et
à Peugeot Nederland N.V. une amende de €49,5 millions pour avoir entravé,
entre 1997 et 2003, les exportations de voitures neuves en provenance des
Pays-Bas à destination des consommateurs vivant dans d'autres Etats
membres. En empêchant ces exportations de voitures neuves, les sociétés
ont commis une violation très grave de l'interdiction des pratiques
commerciales restrictives prévue par le traité CE (article 81).
[04] La Commission propose que 2008 soit l' "Année européenne du dialogue
interculturel"
La Commission européenne a adopté une proposition de décision du
Parlement européen et du Conseil visant à déclarer 2008 "Année
européenne du dialogue interculturel". Cette idée avait été
initialement avancée par le Commissaire européen en charge de la Culture,
Ján Figel’, lors de son audition au Parlement européen en septembre
2004. Dotée d'un budget global de €10 millions, l'Année européenne
s'appuiera sur la richesse et la diversité d'une série de projets
concrets qui seront mis en Å“uvre en 2008, au travers de programmes et
autres actions communautaires. Les domaines de la culture, de
l’éducation, de la jeunesse, du sport et de la citoyenneté seront les
principaux domaines concernés.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] La Commission désigne un mandataire pour contrôler le respect par
Microsoft de la décision de 2004
La Commission européenne a désigné M. Neil Barrett, informaticien, comme
mandataire et l'a chargé de lui fournir des avis techniques dans le cadre
de l'examen du respect par Microsoft de sa décision de 2004 (voir
IP/04/382). M. Barrett débutera son mandat immédiatement.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Corman Miloko by Glanbia and Corman
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Corman Miloko Limited of
Ireland by Glanbia Consumer Foods Limited (Glanbia CF) of Ireland and
Corman S.A. of Belgium. Corman is active in the production and marketing of
dairy products. Glanbia CF manufactures and sells branded chilled dairy and
beverage products on the Irish market. Corman Miloko, currently inactive
and controlled by Corman, will be active in the production and marketing of
dairy products, including anhydrous milk fat (AMF - used by industrial
processors in products such as ice cream, chocolate and cheese) and dairy
spreads. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[07] La Commission alloue €6 millions aux victimes du conflit au Népal
et aux réfugiés bhoutanais
La Commission européenne a octroyé une aide humanitaire supplémentaire
de €6 millions aux victimes du conflit au Népal et aux bhoutanais
réfugiés dans ce pays. Cette enveloppe permettra aux partenaires
d'assurer l'accès à l’eau potable et aux équipements sanitaires, la
sécurité alimentaire, les soins de santé et la protection des civils
vulnérables et de fournir des denrées alimentaires et un soutien
nutritionnel aux réfugiés. Les fonds transitent par l'Office d’aide
humanitaire de la Commission européenne (ECHO), placé sous la
responsabilité du commissaire Louis Michel.
[08] National Growth and Jobs coordinators to meet in Brussels on 6 October
The national coordinators appointed by the Member States for the
implementation of the Lisbon Partnership for Growth and Jobs will meet in
Brussels on 6 October. They will discuss progress made on the preparation
of National Reform Programmes, share experiences and exchange views on the
implementation so far of the new system of governance launched in March
2005 (see MEMO/05/123) for driving economic reform at EU and national level
under the Lisbon Strategy. Commission President José Manuel Barroso will
conclude the meeting and Vice-President Günter Verheugen will also speak.
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to meet Guatemalan Vice President
The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, meets Eduardo Stein, Vice President of
Guatemala, on 5 October 2005 in Brussels. Vice President Stein is
accompanied on his visit to the Commission by Deputy Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Marta Altolaguirre, and Rigoberta Menchú Tum, winner of the Nobel
Prize for Peace in 1992 and currently Goodwill Ambassador for the Guatemala
Peace Accords, among others. The Commissioner and the Guatemalan
representatives will discuss issues related to EU-Guatemala bilateral
relations with a special focus on social cohesion, one of the EU priorities
for Latin America. They will also review the progress achieved by Guatemala
in the implementation of the Peace Agreements, including the human rights
situation, and the Government's sustainable development agenda.
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/guatemala/intro/index.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/guatemala/intro/index.htm
[10] Ján Figel' to open exhibition of Slovak painter
The European Commissioner responsible for Culture Ján Figel' will
inaugurate today, on the Berlaymont premises, an exhibition of works of the
Slovak painter Cyril Uhnák. This exhibition is coorganised with the Slovak
Representation to the EU institutions and with the support of the Slovak
Ministry of Culture. It will remain on display until the end of December
and will present works inspired by the Danube River and created following
the enlargement of the EU in May 2004.
[11] Stavros Dimas to discuss climate change at first sectoral policy
dialogue
A series of sectoral policy dialogues between the European Commission and
politicians representing European and national associations of regional and
local authorities will begin tomorrow, 6 October, when Environment
Commissioner Stavros Dimas meets the associations to discuss EU policy on
climate change. The two-hour dialogue will take place at the headquarters
of the Committee of the Regions, 101 rue Belliard, at 15h30 and will be
chaired by CoR First Vice-President Sir Albert Bore. The sectoral policy
dialogues were requested by Commission President Barroso as part of the
follow-up to the Commission's 2003 Communication on dialogue with
associations of regional and local authorities on the formulation of EU
policy. A second sectoral dialogue meeting is scheduled for 25 November
with Commissioner Joe Borg to discuss the new EU maritime policy.
Commissioner Dimas said : "This dialogue will give us the opportunity to
discuss the issue of climate change and progress made towards the
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. The Commission firmly believes that
sessions within the dialogue must seek to strengthen links between the
European institutions and local and regional authorities. I am convinced
that this represents a further step towards bringing Europe closer to its
citizens." There is a photo opportunity for the press before the meeting,
in the Members' Salon (fifth floor) at 15h15.
[12] August 2005 compared to August 2004 : volume of retail trade up by
2.0% in euro-zone ; up by 2.2% in EU25
In August 2005, compared to August 2004, the volume of retail trade grew by
2.0% in the euro-zoneand by 2.2% in the EU25. Compared to July 20053, the
retail sales index rose by 0.9% in the euro-zone and by 0.7% in the EU25.
In August 2005, compared to August 2004, retail trade of "food, drinks and
tobacco" gained 1.2% in the euro-zone and 1.5% in the EU25. The non food
sector increased by 2.9% and by 2.8% respectively. Among the Member States
for which data are available, total retail trade rose in Latvia (+22.6%),
Lithuania (+14.0%), Slovenia (+13.8%), Slovakia (+11.6%), Denmark (+9.2%),
Belgium (+6.7%), Sweden (+6.3%), Finland (+6.2%), France (+4.1%), Poland
(+3.7%), Spain (+2.5%), Portugal (+1.2%) and the United Kingdom (+0.9%),
while falls were recorded in Luxembourg (-4.4%) and Germany (-0.8%). In
August 2005, compared with July 2005, "food, drinks and tobacco" grew by
0.8% in the euro-zone and by 0.4% in the EU25. The non food sector
increased by 1.1% and 0.8% respectively. Among the Member States for which
data are available, total retail trade increased in Portugal (+4.0%),
Slovenia (+3.7%), Latvia (+2.0%), Slovakia (+1.6%), Poland (+1.5%), France
(+1.4%), Denmark (+0.8%), Lithuania (+0.7%) and Finland (+0.4%), while the
United Kingdom remained unchanged. Decreases were recorded in Luxembourg (-
1.8%), Belgium (-0.9%), Germany (-0.8%), Sweden (-0.5%) and Spain (-0.2%).
These first estimates come from Eurostat.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
A new industry policy: Making the EU a more attractive place for industry
Note on readmission agreements
Remarks by Benita Ferrero-Waldner to the joint meeting of the Foreign
Affairs and Defence Committees of the European Parliament and of National
Parliaments
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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