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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-12-16

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Trade policy : EU says no final date for ending export subsidies until others sign up to reform (Hong Kong)
  • [02] Fisheries : long-awaited agreement concluded on blue whiting fishery
  • [03] ConfĂ©rence de Marrakech : un nouveau souffle Ă la coopĂ©ration Transports entre les deux rives de la MĂ©diterranĂ©e
  • [04] Commission approves €25 million in humanitarian aid for South Asia earthquake victims
  • [05] TVA : la Commission invite l'Espagne Ă modifier le traitement fiscal appliquĂ© aux fournitures effectuĂ©es en faveur de l'Eglise catholique
  • [06] Commission refers Sweden to Court over discriminatory rules on capital gains tax relief on home sales
  • [07] Commission clears acquisition of SSK by PAI
  • [08] November 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation down to 2.3% ; EU25 down to 2.2%
  • [09] Stavros Dimas convoque une rĂ©union Ă haut niveau sur la dĂ©pollution de la rĂ©gion MĂ©diterranĂ©enne d'ici 2020
  • [10] Autre matĂ©riel diffusĂ© Midday Express of 2005-12-16 Reference: MEX/05/1216 Date: 16/12/2005 EXME05 / 16.12

    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

    16/12/05


  • [01] Trade policy : EU says no final date for ending export subsidies until others sign up to reform (Hong Kong)

    The European Union is not willing to discuss dates for the elimination of export subsidies, until other countries sign up to transparent reform to their forms of export subsidies. The EU accepted elimination itself in July 2004 on condition that others did the same. Europe's commitment to eliminating all export subsidies in an unequivocal, transparent way remains absolute. But every form of export support distorts world markets and the the need to act applies to all governments engaged in export subsidisation.

    [02] Fisheries : long-awaited agreement concluded on blue whiting fishery

    "This is very good news for the sustainability of the blue whiting stock. It took a lot of time and effort to conclude an agreement but it was worth it. This agreement shows the determination of all the Parties concerned to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the future of this fishery. In this regard, I would like to underline the significant role played by the industry in helping to unlock the negotiations earlier this year. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved through effective cooperation between all stakeholders", Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said following the signing of the agreement between the coastal States, in Oslo, this morning (see IP/05/1572). In addition to the European Union, the coastal States include Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The total allowable catch (TAC) has been set at 2 million tonnes for 2006. The EU share amounts to 30.5%. The Parties have agreed to reduce the TAC by at least 100,000 tonnes annually until the fishing mortality (amount of fish taken from the stock by fishing) reaches 0.32 from a much higher level at present.

    [03] Conférence de Marrakech : un nouveau souffle à la coopération Transports entre les deux rives de la Méditerranée

    Réunis à Marrakech, les ministres des Transports de l'Union européenne et des pays méditerranéens ont décidé d'encourager la poursuite de la réforme du secteur des transports dans la région méditerranéenne et de renforcer la coopération régionale et sous-régionale dans ce domaine. Un accord global entre l'UE et le Maroc dans le domaine de l'aviation, le premier du genre, a également été paraphé en marge de la Conférence.

    [04] Commission approves €25 million in humanitarian aid for South Asia earthquake victims

    The European Commission has adopted a €25 million humanitarian aid decision to provide further relief assistance to victims of the South Asia earthquake. This raises the amount of humanitarian aid provided by the Commission to €48.6 million - €43.6 million already announced (IP/05/1332, 24 October) and an additional €5 million obtained through resource reallocations in the humanitarian aid budget.

    [05] TVA : la Commission invite l'Espagne à modifier le traitement fiscal appliqué aux fournitures effectuées en faveur de l'Eglise catholique

    La Commission européenne a décidé d'adresser à l'Espagne une demande officielle afin qu'elle aligne sur le droit communautaire quelques-uns de ses engagements fiscaux contractés par la signature, le 3 janvier 1979, de l'accord économique entre l'Etat espagnol et le Saint-Siège. L'Espagne argue qu'elle est tenue, en vertu de cet accord, d'accorder une exonération de TVA à certaines fournitures destinées à l'église catholique. Or, le régime communautaire de la TVA, défini dans la sixième directive TVA (77/388/CEE), interdit une telle exonération. La Commission a déjà clairement indiqué que ce régime n'empêche pas l'Espagne d'accorder à l'église catholique une compensation financière pour les taxes qu'elle doit acquitter aux autorités fiscales espagnoles. La demande se présente sous la forme d'un 'avis motivé' émis en vertu de l'article 226 du traité CE. Si l'Espagne ne répond pas de manière satisfaisante à cet avis motivé dans un délai de deux mois, la Commission pourra saisir la Cour de justice.

    [06] Commission refers Sweden to Court over discriminatory rules on capital gains tax relief on home sales

    The European Commission has decided to refer Sweden to the European Court of Justice because, under Swedish tax law, capital gains from home sales attract tax relief only if the sold home is situated in Sweden and the sales proceeds are reinvested in a replacement residence in Sweden. The unavailability of the tax relief where the sold dwelling is situated outside Sweden or where the proceeds are used to acquire a replacement home outside Sweden is contrary to EC Treaty rules, including those on the free movement of persons. The Commission considers that the tax break should be applied in a non-discriminatory way to all Swedish taxpayers, irrespective of whether they purchase a house in Sweden or in another Member State.

    [07] Commission clears acquisition of SSK by PAI

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Sydsvenska Kemi AB (SSK) of Sweden by PAI Partners S.A.S. (PAI) of France. PAI is an independent investment company. SSK is the holding company of a group producing speciality chemicals, including Perstorp AB, a 100% subsidiary of SSK, which produces speciality chemicals; predominantly for the coatings market. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [08] November 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation down to 2.3% ; EU25 down to 2.2%

    According to Eurostat, Euro-zone annual inflation was 2.3% in November 2005, down from 2.5% in October. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%. Monthly inflation was -0.3% in November. EU25 annual inflation was 2.2% in November 2005, down from 2.4% in October. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%. Monthly inflation was -0.2% in November. In November 2005, the lowest annual rates were observed in Finland (1.0%), Poland (1.1%), Sweden (1.2%), the Netherlands and Austria (both 1.6%), and the highest rates in Latvia (7.5%), Malta (4.3%), Estonia (4.0%), Luxembourg and Slovakia (both 3.6%). Compared with October 2005, annual inflation rose in seven Member States, remained stable in one and fell in seventeen.

    [09] Stavros Dimas convoque une réunion à haut niveau sur la dépollution de la région Méditerranéenne d'ici 2020

    Une initiative ambitieuse visant à dépolluer la région de la Méditerranée d'ici 2020 sera lancée lors d'une réunion à haut niveau du Partenariat Euro-méditerranéen le 19 décembre à Barcelone. L'initiative « Horizon 2020 » a été avalisée par les chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement à l'occasion du sommet du Partenariat Euro-méditerranéen des 27 et 28 novembre à Barcelone. La réunion du 19 décembre, convoquée par le Commissaire européen à l'Environnement Stavros Dimas, doit initier une vaste consultation des parties prenantes dans le but d'établir un plan d'action détaillé pour cette initiative d'ici à la fin de l'année prochaine. Des ministres de l'Environnement de la région Méditerranéenne, y compris Cristina Narbona la ministre du pays hôte, participeront à la réunion.

    [10] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Towards a Better Regulated European Capital Market" at London Stock Exchange Christmas lunch

    Speech by Janez PotoÄŤnik : "European Technology Platforms: making the move to implementation" at Seminar of Industrial Leaders of European Technology Platforms

    Calendrier du 19 au 23 décembre 2005 From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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