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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-01-16
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Marché intérieur : la Commission demande l'avis de l'industrie et
d'autres parties intéressées sur la future politique des brevets
[02] Markos Kyprianou visits China to discuss avian flu, influenza
preparedness and product safety
[03] Benita Ferrero-Waldner's visit to Middle East (16-17/01)
[04] Commission clears acquisition of KBX by Kalyani and Brembo
[05] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of Q-Telecom by TPG
IV and Apax
[06] VAT : Commission tackles Germany over taxation of supplies of services
by executors of wills
[07] Fiscalité indirecte : recours contre la Grèce en matière de TVA sur
les contrats d'assistance routière et de taxation des voitures
[08] Commission requests Portugal to end discriminatory taxation of foreign
banks
[09] Fiscalité directe : la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de
justice contre l'Espagne au sujet de deux dispositions fiscales
[10] Report of the Commission to the Council on visa waiver reciprocity
with certain third countries
[11] La Commission nomme un nouveau Chef de Représentation au Luxembourg
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-01-16
Reference: MEX/06/0116
Date: 16/01/2006
EXME06 / 16.1
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
16/01/06
[01] Marché intérieur : la Commission demande l'avis de l'industrie et
d'autres parties intéressées sur la future politique des brevets
La Commission européenne a lancé une consultation publique afin de
déterminer comment une action future, dont le but est de créer un
système de protection des brevets à l'échelle de l'UE, pourrait le mieux
prendre en compte les besoins des parties intéressées. Le brevet
communautaire demeure une priorité, mais la Commission souhaite également
savoir quelles seraient les mesures à prendre à brève échéance pour
améliorer le système des brevets en Europe. Toutes les parties
intéressées, l'industrie comme les particuliers, sont invitées Ã
répondre pour le 31 mars 2006 (date limite).
[02] Markos Kyprianou visits China to discuss avian flu, influenza
preparedness and product safety
On 16-21 January 2006, the European Health and Consumer Protection
Commissioner Markos Kyprianou will visit the People's Republic of China and
Hong Kong. He will in particular represent the European Commission at the
International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza in Beijing
on January 18th (see IP/06/29). The Commission is co-hosting the
ministerial conference with the World Bank and the government of China.
Commissioner Kyprianou will also visit a medical laboratory specialising in
avian flu and SARS, and the infectious diseases' ward of a hospital. He
shall also visit a toy factory and address EU-China cooperation in product
safety, in particular regarding toys, safety, with the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese authorities.
[03] Benita Ferrero-Waldner's visit to Middle East (16-17/01)
The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is visiting the Palestinian Territories and
Israel on 16th and 17th January. During her visit she expects to meet
President Mahmoud Abbas, with whom she will review the situation in the
West Bank and Gaza in the run up to the elections scheduled for 25th
January. With the elections only 10 days away, the Commissioner will take
the opportunity to meet representatives of the EU Election Observation
Mission which is already active on the ground. Another main focus of her
trip will be the contribution that the EU is making to reconstruction of
Gaza following Israel’s disengagement. The Commissioner will also meet
acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to express Europe's concern for the
health of Prime Sharon, to review bilateral relations with Israel, and
prospects for the peace process after the Israeli and Palestinian
elections.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of KBX by Kalyani and Brembo
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of a newly created company
KBX Motorbike Products Private Ltd (KBX) of India by Kalyani Brakes Ltd
(Kalyani) of India and Brembo S.p.A (Brembo) of Italy. Kalyani is part of
the Bosch group and is active in the manufacturing and sale of hydraulic
brakes for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and in the
manufacturing and sale of braking systems for two wheeled vehicles. Brembo
is active in the manufacturing of braking systems for passenger cars,
racing cars, two wheeled vehicles and commercial vehicles. The transaction
sets up a new joint venture (KBX) in India. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of Q-Telecom by TPG
IV and Apax
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed joint acquisition of Q-Telecommunications ("Q-Telecom"), the
smallest mobile telephony operator in Greece, by TPG Advisors IV ("TPG IV")
and Apax Partners Holdings ("Apax"), private investors who already jointly
control the third largest Greek mobile telephony supplier, TIM Hellas.
After a thorough investigation, the Commission has concluded that the
operation will not result in a significant impediment to effective
competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
[06] VAT : Commission tackles Germany over taxation of supplies of services
by executors of wills
The European Commission has decided to send Germany a formal request to
change its laws and resulting administrative practices regarding the place
of taxation of the services provided by executors of wills. German law
treats the place of taxation of such services as that from which the
executors provide their services. The Commission considers that these
services are similar to the services provided by lawyers and therefore that
the place of taxation should, under the European Community VAT rules, be
the place of residence or establishment of the customer. Germany's
interpretation may lead to cases of double taxation. The Commission's
request is in the form of a Reasoned Opinion, the second stage of the
infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence
of a satisfactory amendment to the German tax rules within two months of
receipt of the reasoned opinion, the Commission may refer the matter to the
Court of Justice.
[07] Fiscalité indirecte : recours contre la Grèce en matière de TVA sur
les contrats d'assistance routière et de taxation des voitures
La Commission européenne a décidé de traduire la Grèce devant la Cour
européenne de justice face à son refus d'exonérer de TVA l'aspect
"assurance" des contrats d'assistance routière. Dans une affaire distincte,
la Commission a également décidé de former un recours contre la Grèce
devant la Cour pour ses règles de taxation des voitures. La méthode
utilisée en Grèce pour calculer la dépréciation des véhicules
d'occasion importés dans le pays ne garantit pas que le montant de la taxe
d'immatriculation due n'excèdera pas celui de la taxe résiduelle
incorporé dans la valeur des véhicules d'ancienneté similaire
immatriculés en Grèce à l'état neuf.
[08] Commission requests Portugal to end discriminatory taxation of foreign
banks
The European Commission has sent Portugal a formal request to amend its tax
legislation concerning outbound interest payments. A withholding tax of 20%
is levied on the gross interest paid by Portuguese resident borrowers to
non-resident lenders. Interest paid to resident financial institutions, on
the other hand, is not subject to a withholding tax, although it is subject
to the Portuguese corporate income tax. The result is that interest
payments to foreign banks may sometimes be taxed more heavily than interest
payments to Portuguese banks. The Commission considers that the higher
taxation of foreign banks restricts the freedom to provide services and the
free movement of capital. The request is in the form of a 'reasoned
opinion' under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If Portugal does not reply
satisfactorily to the reasoned opinion within two months the Commission may
refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.
[09] Fiscalité directe : la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de
justice contre l'Espagne au sujet de deux dispositions fiscales
La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de justice
contre l'Espagne au sujet de ses règles d'imposition des plus-values
réalisées par les personnes physiques non résidentes sur la vente de
biens immeubles situés sur son territoire. La législation espagnole
soumet ce type de plus values à une imposition de 15% lorsqu'elles sont
réalisées par des résidents, et de 35% lorsqu'elles le sont par des non
résidents. La Commission a aussi décidé de saisir la Cour de justice
contre l'Espagne au sujet de ses règles d'imposition des revenus perçus
par les non résidents au titre d'un emploi salarié. En vertu de la
législation espagnole, les revenus d’emploi des non résidents sont
généralement soumis à une retenue à la source libératoire de 25%, alors
que ceux des résidents sont imposés selon un barème progressif. La
Commission estime que dans ces deux domaines, la législation fiscale
espagnole est incompatible avec les exigences du traité CE, notamment avec
le principe de non-discrimination. En dépit de la demande formelle que la
Commission lui a adressée en juillet 2005 (IP/05/933), l'Espagne n'a pas
modifié les dispositions incriminées.
[10] Report of the Commission to the Council on visa waiver reciprocity
with certain third countries
European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini presented on 13 January
a first report adopted by the Commission on 10 January 2006 on visa waiver
reciprocity to the Justice and Home Affairs Council. This report is a key
element of the new visa reciprocity mechanism. The Vice President
emphasised that "the content of the report is the first confirmation of the
success of the new mechanism. The non-reciprocity situation is subject to
open debate with third countries concerned and within the EU and the number
of non-reciprocity cases has fallen significantly thus ensuring the
credibility and efficiency of the common visa policy."
[11] La Commission nomme un nouveau Chef de Représentation au Luxembourg
M. Ernst Moutschen a été nommé Chef de la Représentation de la
Commission européenne au Luxembourg. Il prend ses fonctions en janvier
2006.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Viviane Reding : "ICT are new opportunities for social inclusion,
participation, business, growth and jobs in the EU and China" at the China-
Europe International Business School (Shanghai)
Report of the Commission to the Council on visa waiver reciprocity with
certain third countries
Contrefaçon des pièces en euros en 2005
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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