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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-11-25Midday 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 Générale Presse etbCommunication25/11/05[01] World AIDS Day 2005 : EU action to combat a resurging epidemicYoung people across the European Union and neighbouring countries are among the main victims of a resurgence of the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the run-up to World AIDS Day on 1 December, freshly released data from the EU- funded "Euro-HIV" network indicates that the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV is increasing steadily. In the 20 EU countries for which data was available for the last 4 years, the total number of reported new HIV diagnoses increased by 23%. The escalation has been largest in the United Kingdom, with a 69% rise. In 2004 just under 72000 cases were reported in the whole WHO European Region. According to new UNAIDS estimates 2.3 million people are living with HIV and AIDS within the European region. To help combat the rise of the epidemic in Europe and neighbouring countries, the European Commission will shortly adopt a Communication detailing concrete steps for 2006-2009. These will address aspects such as the involvement of civil society, partnerships with industry, surveillance, prevention of new infections, drug dependence, education, counselling and testing, research, and initiatives for neighbouring countries. The Commission is continuing to invest in research projects focussing on new drugs as well as microbicides and vaccines to prevent the spread of the virus.[02] e-Commission : enabling efficiency and transparencyThe European Commission has adopted a strategic framework, the e-Commission 2006-2010, renewing its commitment to an optimal use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to continuously improve its performance and transparency. While promoting externally the use of ICT in the whole society through the i-2010 strategy, the Commission intends to lead by example by applying to its own administration the European society policy in the e-government field. It aims in particular at offering better, more cost-effective, transparent and secure services to staff, national administrations, business and citizens.[03] eTwinning : déjà 10.000 écoles enregistrées!L'action de partenariats scolaires eTwinning a été lancée en janvier 2005 et s'est rapidement imposée comme un instrument majeur de la collaboration scolaire en Europe puisque 10.000 écoles à ce jour ont manifesté leur intérêt en y adhérant. Cette action encourage la formation de partenariats sur l'internet en conférant une dimension européenne à l'utilisation des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) dans la vie scolaire. L'action eTwinning est la principale initiative du programme européen eLearning.[04] Commission approves creation of Behr Hella Service joint ventureThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed creation of a joint venture between the German car components companies Behr Service GmbH and KGaA Hueck & Co. The Commission concluded that the transaction will not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[05] La Commission autorise Fiat à acquérir l'entreprise de gestion de flottes LeasysLa Commission européenne a autorisé l'acquisition par le groupe Fiat, le constructeur automobile italien, du contrôle exclusif de Leasys SpA, une entreprise que Fiat contrôlait auparavant conjointement avec le groupe italien de production d'électricité Enel. Leasys exerce ses activités dans la location à long terme de véhicules légers et lourds et dans les services de gestion de flottes en Italie. La Commission a considéré que cette opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou dans une partie substantielle de celui-ci.[06] Commission clears acquisition of Ivax by TevaThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the US Ivax Corporation (Ivax) by the Israeli company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva). The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[07] Commission clears acquisition of Exel by Deutsche PostThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the British logistics and freight forwarding company Exel by Deutsche Post, which owns DHL and Danzas. The Commission considers that although Deutsche Post will increase its presence on the markets where Exel is active, other companies will be able to compete effectively with Deutsche Post. The Commission has therefore concluded that the proposed transaction will not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any part of it.[08] Commission clears joint venture between Shell and ERGThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of a newly created company by Shell Energy Italia S.r.l. (Shell) and ERG Power & Gas S.p.A. (ERG), both of Italy. Shell Energy Italia S.r.l. belongs to Royal Dutch Shell plc, a publicly-listed company incorporated in the UK with headquarters in the Netherlands. In Italy, Shell is active in oil exploration and oil retail markets and the supply of natural gas. ERG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ERG Spa, the ultimate parent company of the ERG group. The ERG group is active in the production and sale of oil and in electricity generation. Under the joint venture agreement, a new company will be created for the construction, ownership and operation of an onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in the industrial area of Priolo, Sicily. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[09] Commission clears acquisition of Lumileds by PhilipsThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Lumileds Lighting LLC (Lumileds) of the US by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Philips) of the Netherlands. Philips is active in the design, manufacture and sale of a broad range of electronic products and general purpose lighting products. Lumileds develops, manufactures and sells LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and LED components. Lumileds is currently a joint venture in which Philips has joint control together with Agilent LED International Inc. (Agilent) of the US, formerly part of Hewlett Packard. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[10] Moderniser la gestion du trafic aérien en EuropeLa Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui les textes proposant une structure de gouvernance de SESAR, le projet de modernisation de la gestion du trafic aérien en Europe. Une entreprise commune, basée sur le modèle de Galileo, permettra d'assurer une gestion unique et cohérente d’un programme aussi complexe que SESAR. Initialement réunissant la Communauté européenne et Eurocontrol (l’Agence européenne de sécurité de la navigation aérienne), l'entreprise commune pourra accueillir des membres privés, ou des Etats partenaires qui souhaiteraient participer au programme. "L'entreprise commune est le bon moyen d'associer les ressources des secteurs publics et privés pour la réalisation d'un objectif commun ambitieux", a déclaré le vice-président Jacques Barrot, en charge des transports. "Elle permettra aussi d’associer à notre initiative des pays partenaires en dehors de l'Union européenne, ce qui renforcera nos liens avec eux dans le domaine du transport aérien", a-t-il ajouté.[11] EU radically reforms its sugar sector to give producers long-term competitive futureEU agriculture ministers reached on 24 November political agreement on a wide-ranging reform of the Common Market Organisation for sugar, based on the proposal tabled by the European Commission in June. The reform will enhance the competitiveness and market-orientation of the EU sugar sector, guarantee it a viable long-term future and strengthen the EU's negotiating position in the current round of world trade talks. It will bring a system, which has remained largely unchanged for almost 40 years, into line with the rest of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. The guaranteed price for white sugar will be cut by 36% over 4 years ; farmers will be compensated for, on average, 64.2% of the price cut through a decoupled payment - which will be linked to the respect of environmental and land management standards and added to the Single Farm Payment; countries which give up more than half of their production quota will be entitled to pay an additional coupled payment of 30% of the income loss for a temporary period of five years ; a generous voluntary restructuring scheme will be established to provide incentives for less competitive producers to leave the sector; intervention buying of surplus production will be phased out after four years. Developing countries will continue to enjoy preferential access to the EU market at attractive prices. Those ACP countries which need it will be eligible for an assistance plan worth €40 million for 2006, which will pave the way for further assistance.[12] More information, safer food : new food labelling rules come into effectNew provisions amending the food labelling Directive must be fully implemented from today. The new rules, which were agreed in September 2003 (see IP/03/1310), will ensure that the complete contents of foodstuffs are listed on the label. This will enable consumers with allergies to identify any allergenic ingredients that may be present. Of particular importance is the abolition of the "25% rule", which previously allowed compound ingredients that made up less than 25% of the final food product to be left off the label. Under the new rules, it will be mandatory to list all sub- ingredients of compound ingredients, so that allergens cannot be "hidden". A list of ingredients liable to cause allergies or intolerance has been established as part of the new law, and includes nuts, eggs, fish and mustard among others. The new rules also extend to alcoholic beverages if they contain an ingredient on the allergen list – for example sulphite in wines. From today, products that do not comply with these rules will be prohibited from being placed on the market, although, goods already on the market or labelled prior to this date may still be sold while stocks last.For more information, see : <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/labellingnutrition/foodlabelling/index_en.htm">http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/labellingnutrition/foodlabelling/index_en.htm [13] Louis Michel se rend dans les territoires Palestiniens pour évaluer la crise humanitaireLouis Michel, Commissaire européen au Développement et à l'Aide humanitaire, se rend ce lundi 28 novembre dans les territoires Palestiniens, pour évaluer sur le terrain la situation humanitaire. Il rencontrera les principaux interlocuteurs politiques ainsi que les partenaires humanitaires de la Commission.[14] Innovative public services : European award winners from Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands and IrelandThe best of the best in European eGovernment were announced today at a pan- European ministerial conference in Manchester. Revenue On-line from Ireland, KSI ZUS from Poland, Kadaster-on-line from the Netherlands, and a system for electronic invoicing from Denmark each picked up one of the prestigious awards celebrating Europe's most innovative public services. They were presented by Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding and UK Cabinet Office Minister responsible for eGovernment Jim Murphy. The event also showcased 52 finalist projects, selected from among the 234 nominated "good practice" cases.[15] Dixième anniversaire de l'agence Europe by Satellite : une communauté de sons et d'imagesEurope by Satellite (EbS), l'agence d'actualités de l'Union européenne, célèbre ce vendredi 25 novembre son dixième anniversaire. Porte-drapeau du service audiovisuel des institutions européennes, EbS constitue aujourd'hui un guichet unique incontournable, qui fournit les informations les plus récentes et les plus précises sur les affaires européennes.[16] Autre matériel diffuséPreparation of the Competitiveness Council of MinistersCommission activities on HIV/AIDS under the Public Health Programme What is the Manchester eGovernment Ministerial Declaration on the European Union : frequently asked questions Top News de la Commission du 28 novembre au 18 décembre 2005 Calendrier du 28 novembre au 3 décembre
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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