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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-10-18
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission pushes the EU's fight against trafficking in human beings
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Kunert by Deutsche Bank, Hardt Group,
Trafalgar and ECO
[03] Politique de l'eau : la Commission engage des actions en justice
contre l'Italie, l'Espagne et la Grèce sur une directive-clé
[04] Italie : la Commission engage des poursuites pour 11 infractions la
législation en matière d'environnement
[05] Internal Market : Commission acts to ensure 12 Member States implement
EU laws
[06] September 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation up to 2.6% ; EU25 up to
2.5%
[07] La Commission se félicite du premier rapport annuel du CARIM relatif
aux migrations méditerranéennes
[08] Latest scientific advice on fisheries recommends less fishing on a
number of stocks
[09] Janez Potočnik rencontre le nouveau Conseil scientifique
[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to visit Jordan (19-20/10)
[11] Commission organises first Forum on Fossil Fuels in Berlin (19-20/10)
[12] Javier Solana and Olli Rehn welcome the appointment of a new EU
Special Representative and Head of European Commission Delegation in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
[13] La Commission se félicite de la reprise de la coopération avec
Haïti
[14] Life made easier for journalists : Commission launches a new
audiovisual web portal
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-10-18
Reference: MEX/05/1018
Date: 18/10/2005
EXME05 / 18.10
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
18/10/05
[01] Commission pushes the EU's fight against trafficking in human beings
Today, the European Commission presented its communication "Fighting
trafficking in human beings – an integrated approach and proposals for an
action plan". This communication shows ways to consolidate and improve the
European Union's anti trafficking policy. It will help addressing human
trafficking by action not only in the area of justice and home affairs but
also by taking appropriate initiatives in other policy fields, notably in
the EU's external relations and development policy.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Kunert by Deutsche Bank, Hardt Group,
Trafalgar and ECO
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Kunert AG (Kunert) of
Germany by Deutsche Bank AG, Hardt Group Private Equity Partners I (Hardt
Group) of the UK, Trafalgar Group (Trafalgar) also of the UK and ECO Master
Fund Ltd. (ECO) of the Cayman Islands. Kunert manufactures socks, stockings,
tights, underwear and outer clothing. Kunert markets its products under its
own brand names "Kunert" and "Hudson" and under the licensed brand names
"Burlington", "Bruno Banani", "MEXX" and "Calvin Klein". Kunert is mainly
active in Europe. Deutsche Bank is a globally operating business bank,
active in all main areas of financial services. Hardt is an investment
company, mainly active in Europe. Trafalgar is a private equity company,
acting through several investment funds. The transaction involves
Trafalgar's subsidiaries Trafalgar Recovery Fund and Trafalgar Discovery
Fund, both registered in the Cayman Islands. ECO is a private equity fund,
specialising in investments with companies in financial difficulties.
Although the acquisition does not have a Community dimension as such, the
parties asked for the concentration to be referred to the Commission in
order to avoid multiple filings (Germany, Austria, Italy and Ireland). The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[03] Politique de l'eau : la Commission engage des actions en justice
contre l'Italie, l'Espagne et la Grèce sur une directive-clé
La Commission européenne a envoyé un dernier avertissement l'Italie,
l'Espagne et la Grèce pour non-respect d'obligations fondamentales au
titre de la directive-cadre de l'UE sur l'eau. La désignation en temps
voulu de leurs districts hydrographiques, qui aurait dû tre faite depuis
juin de l'année dernière, est l'un des éléments-clés de la
préservation de la qualité de toutes les ressources en eau. La Commission
a également envoyé un premier avertissement l'Italie et la Grèce
pour n'avoir pas communiqué des études environnementales sur l'état
actuel de leurs ressources en eau. Les procédures engagées font partie
d'une série de décisions actuellement annoncées par la Commission
l'encontre de plusieurs Etats membres concernant des infractions
environnementales.
[04] Italie : la Commission engage des poursuites pour 11 infractions la
législation en matière d'environnement
La Commission européenne a décidé d'engager des poursuites l'encontre
de l'Italie concernant onze cas de manquement au droit communautaire de
l'environnement. Dans dix des onze cas, il est reproché l'Italie de
n'avoir pas communiqué des informations essentielles sur la pollution
atmosphérique, la protection de la nature, la gestion des déchets, les
évaluations des incidences sur l'environnement et les biotechnologies. Ces
mesures font partie d'une série de procédures d'infraction au droit de
l'environnement que la Commission a décidé d'engager l'encontre de
plusieurs Etats membres.
[05] Internal Market : Commission acts to ensure 12 Member States implement
EU laws
The European Commission has decided to pursue a total of 14 infringement
cases involving 12 Member States for failure to implement in national law
one or more of five different Internal Market Directives. The Commission is
to refer the Netherlands to the European Court of Justice because it has
not notified the Commission of national measures implementing the 2002
Financial Collateral Directive. The Commission will also formally request
Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Malta,
Portugal and Spain to implement the Insurance Mediation Directive. In
addition, France will be formally requested to implement the Directive on
supplementary supervision of financial conglomerates. Meanwhile, Estonia
will receive a formal request to complete its implementation of a Directive
modifying the definition of 'credit institutions' in the Banking Directive,
as will Latvia for clarification of the measures it has taken to implement
the Directive on legal protection of biotechnological inventions. These
requests take the form of "reasoned opinions", the second stage of the
infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there
is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the
matter to the European Court of Justice.
[06] September 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation up to 2.6% ; EU25 up to
2.5%
Euro-zone annual inflation was 2.6% in September 2005, up from 2.2% in
August. A year earlier the rate was 2.1%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in
September. EU25 annual inflation was 2.5% in September 2005, up from 2.2%
in August. A year earlier the rate was 2.1%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in
September. EICP annual inflation was 2.5% in September 2005. These figures
come from Eurostat.
[07] La Commission se félicite du premier rapport annuel du CARIM relatif
aux migrations méditerranéennes
La Commission européenne se félicite du rapport publié aujourd'hui
par le CARIM (le consortium euro-méditerranéen pour la recherche
appliquée sur les migrations internationales) relatif aux migrations
méditerranéennes en 2005. Ce rapport devrait jouer un rôle déterminant
en remédiant au manque cruel d'observations et d'analyses statistiques
relatives aux flux migratoires sur les deux rives de la Méditerranée. La
Commission juge ce rapport très important, car il donne un aperçu des
politiques migratoires nationales dans la région méditerranéenne en 2005
et permet de mieux comprendre quels sont les liens entre migration et
développement.
[08] Latest scientific advice on fisheries recommends less fishing on a
number of stocks
The first indications from the scientific advice released by the
independent International Council for the exploration of the Sea (ICES),
yesterday, confirm the need for important reductions in the amount of
fishing applied to a number of fisheries. This is particularly the case
with deep sea species, such as sharks, orange roughy and roundnose
grenadier, justifying the European Commission's efforts at putting in place
effective conservation measures in these fisheries. Also concerned are cod
stocks on which, given their highly depleted state, fishing levels continue
to be too high and this despite the existing cod recovery plan. On southern
hake, for which the Commission has proposed a recovery plan which will be
discussed at Council next Monday, scientists recommend a zero catch.
Fishing pressure on some flatfish stocks in the North Sea, such as skate
and ray and, to a lesser extent, plaice and sole, should be reduced. This
is also the case for anglerfish for which poor data undermine scientific
advice and related management measures. Species used for reduction to fish
meal and fish oil such as sandeel and Norway pout, for which fisheries are
currently closed, require continued protection. Signs are more positive,
however, for some stocks such as Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting,
while haddock, though less abundant than last year, still remains in good
shape. ICES will transmit its full report to the Commission on Friday. The
Commission will examine this report and, in the light of the advice from
its own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF),
consultations with stakeholders and negotiations on shared stocks with
Norway, will table a proposal on fishing possibilities for 2006, in late
November/early December. This proposal will be discussed at the December
Council. ICES: <a href="http://www.ices.dk">http://www.ices.dk
[09] Janez Potočnik rencontre le nouveau Conseil scientifique
Le Commissaire européen chargé de la science et de la recherche, Janez
Potočnik, va rencontrer le nouveau Conseil scientifique, fort de 22
membres, qui a été créé pour mettre sur les rails le futur Conseil
européen de la recherche, lors de sa séance inaugurale aujourd'hui
Bruxelles. Le Conseil européen "recherche" soutiendra la fine fleur du
monde scientifique et universitaire européen, sur base d'une évaluation
par des pairs, partir de 2007. Le nouveau Conseil scientifique –
composé de scientifiques, d'ingénieurs, d'universitaires et de chercheurs
principaux – jouera un rôle-clé dans le renforcement de la qualité et
de l'indépendance des avis scientifiques sur lesquels se fondent les
décisions relatives au financement de la recherche.
[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to visit Jordan (19-20/10)
The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Jordan on 19 and 20 October
where she will strengthen EU and Jordanian cooperation through the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and reaffirm the Commission's support for
Jordan's own reform agenda. Ms Ferrero-Waldner will sign financing
agreements worth €63 million with Jordan that will assist the country in
implementing its reforms and reinforce EU-Jordan ties. During her visit,
the Commissioner will meet his Majesty King Abdullah II and Deputy Prime
Minister Marwan Muasher to discuss Jordan's implementation of the ENP
Action Plan, the National Agenda and the areas in which the EU can offer
further support.
[11] Commission organises first Forum on Fossil Fuels in Berlin (19-20/10)
At the initiative of the European Commission, the Forum on Fossil Fuels
will gather together for the first time Commission and Member States'
representative, stakeholders and energy experts. This first session should
allow an initial exchange of views and analyses on the prospects of the
security of supply of fossil fuels, the objective being to turn the Forum
into an annual structured dialogue with oil, gas and solid fuels
industries. As part of the response of the Commission to the oil price
increase, the meeting in Berlin will open a stakeholders’ consultation
process on possible measures to be taken in the oil sector. The Forum will
be opened by Andris Piebalgs, Commissioner for Energy, and its host, the
German State Secretary of Economy, Georg Wilhelm Adamowitsch.
[12] Javier Solana and Olli Rehn welcome the appointment of a new EU
Special Representative and Head of European Commission Delegation in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security
Policy (CFSP), and Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Enlargement,
welcomed decision by the Council of the EU and the European Commission to
appoint Mr Erwan Fouéré as European Union Special Representative (EUSR)
and Head of the European Commission Delegation to the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia.
[13] La Commission se félicite de la reprise de la coopération avec
Haïti
Le Commissaire européen au Développement et l'Aide humanitaire, Louis
Michel, s'est félicité de la décision prise le 17 octobre par le Conseil
de l'UE de débloquer €72 millions du Fonds Européen de
Développement (FED) pour Haïti. Cette décision, proposée par la
Commission, vise soutenir les efforts de démocratisation et de bonne
gouvernance entrepris par le gouvernement haïtien et la tenue de
prochaines élections législatives.
[14] Life made easier for journalists : Commission launches a new
audiovisual web portal
The European Commission launches a new online audiovisual service, within
the framework of the Action Plan on Communication presented in July 2005 by
Vice-President Margot Wallström. The new web portal provides media with
free access to news, recordings, photography and documentation from the EU.
The range of audiovisual services now on offer allow journalists in
Brussels, to book online the very latest professional recording and editing
equipment. It gives easy access to live coverage of key events, news
summaries and photos. Journalists can also access the Commission's
Audiovisual Library which covers the principal developments in European
history since 1945. Over 10,000 subjects are available and new video
entries are even accessible online in broadcast quality. The web portal
provides direct access to material by product (sound, photo, video), by
theme (Europa nomenclature) and by key words supported by an entirely new
search engine. Most of the material can be readily downloaded from the web
site, and from one single address : <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/avservices/">http://europa.eu.int/comm/avservices/
Contact: press-e-team@cec.eu.int
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Statement by Peter Mandelson on Doha Round negotiations and the Commission
mandate to General Affairs Council (Luxembourg)
Opening speech by Siim Kallas at e-Commission symposium on security
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Financial regulation, integration and
competitiveness" at Central Bank of Ireland (17/10, Dublin)
Speech by Joe Borg : "How can marine research contribute to the Maritime
Policy?" at European Parliament Conference on the Future of European Marine
Scientific Research (17/10)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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