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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-01
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] Livre blanc de la Commission sur une politique de communication
européenne - débattre de l'Europe en impliquant les citoyens
[02] La Commission évalue les programmes de stabilité de la Belgique, du
Luxembourg et de l'Autriche
[03] Commission assesses convergence programmes of Estonia, Latvia and
Slovenia
[04] Tobacco advertising : Commission takes action against two non-
compliant EU Member States
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] Changement climatique : la Commission se félicite de l'accord de
conciliation sur les gaz à effet de serre fluorés
[06] Commission clears Gilde's acquisition of Heiploeg
[07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Sanutri par ABN Amro et L
Capital
[08] Commission clears acquisition of CTS by Magna
[09] Commission clears acquisition of LDEHG and LDRM by ConocoPhillips
[10] December 2005 : Euro-zone unemployment up to 8.4% ; EU25 unchanged at
8.5%
[11] La Commission renforce le programme ECOFAC pour la conservation et
gestion durable des forêts d'Afrique Centrale avec €38 millions
[12] Avian influenza : EU to send senior expert to assist Iraq in assessing
suspect human cases
[13] Benita Ferrero-Waldner meets Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-02-01
Reference: MEX/06/0201
Date: 01/02/2006
EXME06 / 1.2
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
01/02/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Livre blanc de la Commission sur une politique de communication
européenne - débattre de l'Europe en impliquant les citoyens
La Commission européenne a adopté un Livre blanc sur une politique de
communication européenne. Mme Margot Wallström, vice-présidente de la
Commission, s'est exprimée en ces termes : "La communication est d'abord
et avant tout une question de démocratie. Les citoyens ont le droit de
savoir ce que l'UE fait et ce qu'elle représente. Et ils ont le droit de
participer sans réserve au projet européen. La communication sur l'Europe
n'est pas uniquement l'affaire de Bruxelles. Les institutions de l'UE et
les Etats membres doivent à présent unir leurs efforts. L'Union
européenne s'est développée et est devenue un projet politique, mais
elle n'a pas trouvé sa place dans le cœur et dans l'esprit des citoyens.
Dans son Livre blanc, la Commission formule des propositions afin de
relever ce défi, mais aussi de jeter les bases d'une politique de
communication de l'UE".
[02] La Commission évalue les programmes de stabilité de la Belgique, du
Luxembourg et de l'Autriche
Après avoir examiné les versions actualisées de leurs programmes de
stabilité respectifs, la Commission européenne estime que l'Autriche, la
Belgique et le Luxembourg ont mis en place des stratégies saines pour
leurs finances publiques à moyen terme, conformément au pacte de
stabilité et de croissance révisé. Cela étant, il serait souhaitable
que l'Autriche et le Luxembourg précisent davantage les mesures
d'assainissement envisagées, et que le Luxembourg se penche sur les
implications budgétaires à long terme du vieillissement de la population.
Quant à la Belgique, si elle avait moins recours aux mesures
exceptionnelles, cela renforcerait encore sa stratégie exemplaire de
réduction de la dette.
[03] Commission assesses convergence programmes of Estonia, Latvia and
Slovenia
The second update of convergence programmes submitted by Estonia, Latvia
and Slovenia since they became members of the European Union are in line
with the Stability and Growth Pact. With a budget on balance, the lowest
debt in the EU and low age-related expenditure risks, Estonia can be hailed
as an example of good fiscal policy. Latvia is also in a comfortable
situation overall, but the budgetary adjustment of less than half a
percentage point of GDP until 2008 is rather timid when the economy is
expected to grow by more than 7% during the period and a bigger effort
would be recommended given its inflation rate and external imbalance.
Slovenia should also aim at more ambitious budgetary targets and pursue
changes to its pension system to improve the long-term sustainability of
its public finances.
[04] Tobacco advertising : Commission takes action against two non-
compliant EU Member States
The European Commission has sent "reasoned opinions" to Germany and
Luxembourg for failing to transpose into national law Directive 2003/33/EC
of 26 May 2003 on advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products. These
countries already received a "letter of formal notice" in October 2005.
They now have two months to comply, otherwise the Commission will resort to
the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to declare that these Member States
have failed to fulfil their obligation to transpose EU legislation. In case
Member States still do not comply with the judgement of the Court, the ECJ
can impose fines following a proposal of the Commission.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] Changement climatique : la Commission se félicite de l'accord de
conciliation sur les gaz à effet de serre fluorés
La Commission européenne se félicite de l'accord auquel le Parlement
européen et le Conseil sont parvenus cette nuit en conciliation pour
réduire les émissions des gaz à effet de serre fluorés. Les gaz fluorés
sont des gaz à effet de serre très puissants et de longue durée de vie,
qui sont utilisés dans les systèmes de réfrigération, de climatisation,
de lutte contre les incendies, de transmission électrique, ainsi que dans
de nombreux procédés industriels. La réduction de leurs émissions est
imposée par le protocole de Kyoto, et les mesures qui ont fait objet de
l'accord aideront l'UE et ses Etats membres à atteindre les objectifs qui
leur ont été assignés en vertu dudit protocole. Sur la base d'une
proposition faite par la Commission en août 2003, les dispositions
législatives convenues aujourd'hui sont constituées d’un règlement
visant à lutter contre les émissions produites par les applications fixes
qui utilisent ces gaz, et interdisant certains produits et équipements qui
en contiennent, d'une part, et d’une directive prévoyant l'élimination
progressive des gaz fluorés actuellement utilisés dans les systèmes de
climatisation des véhicules, d'autre part.
[06] Commission clears Gilde's acquisition of Heiploeg
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Heiploeg Beheer B.V. by Gilde Buy-Out Management
Holding B.V. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or
any substantial part of it.
[07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Sanutri par ABN Amro et L
Capital
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement UE sur les
concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de Sanutri AG (Sanutri), filiale du
groupe suisse Novartis AG, par ABN Amro Capital France (ABN Amro), et le
fond L Capital 2 FCPR, représenté à cet effet par sa société de gestion
L Capital Management (L Capital). La Commission a conclu que cette
opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence
effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen ou dans une partie
substantielle de celui-ci.
[08] Commission clears acquisition of CTS by Magna
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of CTS Fahrzeug-Dachsysteme
GmbH (CTS) of Germany by Magna International Inc. (Magna) of Canada. Magna
designs, develops and manufactures vehicle components, assemblies, modules
and systems, and engineers and assembles complete vehicles. CTS designs,
manufactures and distributes convertible roof systems for the car industry.
Its product range comprises soft top, hard top, retractable hard top and
module roofs which are sold to major manufacturers of passenger cars in
Europe and North America. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[09] Commission clears acquisition of LDEHG and LDRM by ConocoPhillips
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Louis Dreyfus Energy
Holding GmbH (LDEHG) of Germany and Louis Dreyfus Refining & Marketing Ltd
(LDRM) of the UK, both currently owned by Louis Dreyfus Energy Holdings Ltd
(LDEH) of the UK, by ConocoPhillips of the US. ConocoPhillips is active in
the exploration and production of oil and gas ; refining of petroleum,
production and distribution of petrochemicals and plastics ; and related
activities. LDEHG is active in oil refining through an oil refinery near
Wilhelmshaven on Germany's northern coast and in fuel sales in Germany
through its subsidiary Louis Dreyfus & Cie Mineralöl GmbH (LDMO). LDRM is
responsible for purchasing crude oil and feedstock for the refinery and for
marketing the refined products. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[10] December 2005 : Euro-zone unemployment up to 8.4% ; EU25 unchanged at
8.5%
Euro-zone seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at 8.4% in December 2005,
compared to 8.3% in November. It was 8.8% in December 2004. The EU25
unemployment rate was 8.5% in December 2005, unchanged compared to
November. It was 9.0% in December 2004. In December 2005, the lowest rates
were registered in Ireland (4.3%), Denmark (4.4%), the Netherlands (4.7%),
the United Kingdom (4.9% in October) and Austria (5.2%). Unemployment rates
were highest in Poland (17.2%), Slovakia (16.1%), Greece (10.1% in the
third quarter 2005), Germany (9.5%) and France (9.2%). These figures come
from Eurostat.
[11] La Commission renforce le programme ECOFAC pour la conservation et
gestion durable des forêts d'Afrique Centrale avec €38 millions
La Commission européenne va intensifier son appui à la conservation des
forêts tropicales humides de l'Afrique Centrale avec le nouveau programme
ECOFAC IV doté de €38 millions. L'objectif est de garantir à long terme
la conservation et la gestion durable des ressources naturelles de huit
pays d'Afrique Centrale – Cameroun, Centrafrique, Congo, Gabon, Guinée
équatoriale, République démocratique du Congo et São Tomé et
PrÃncipe. Avec le retour dans le programme de la RDC, qui représente la
moitié des surfaces boisées de la région, ce programme couvrira 180.000
km² d'écosystèmes de forêts tropicales et de savanes.
[12] Avian influenza : EU to send senior expert to assist Iraq in assessing
suspect human cases
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is to send
its senior disease outbreak investigator to Iraq, following the provisional
confirmation on 30 January that a 15 year old girl who died in Sulaimanaya,
Rania, Iraq on 17 January was infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
Dr. Denis Coulombier, who heads ECDC's Preparedness and Response Unit, will
go to Iraq as part of a joint international team assembled at the request
of the WHO. Dr. Coulombier has extensive experience as a field
epidemiologist and was formerly Head of the Department of Public Health
Information Systems at the National Public Health Surveillance Centre in
France. The international team will assist the Iraqi authorities in
assessing possible infection routes of the 15 year old girl, and also help
assess two other cases that are being investigated as possible human cases
of avian influenza. Laboratory tests on samples from the 15 year old girl
were carried out by the US Naval Medical Research Unit in Cairo. Samples
from the 15Â year old girl, as well as samples from the two other human
cases under investigation, are being sent to the WHO Reference Laboratory
in London for further testing. One of these cases is the girl's 33 year old
uncle, who died on 27Â January, and the other is a 54 year old woman who
has been hospitalised in northern Iraq. For further information : Ben
Duncan (ECDC spokesman) +46 830 0056 <a href="mailto:ben.duncan@ecdc.eu.int">ben.duncan@ecdc.eu.int
[13] Benita Ferrero-Waldner meets Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and
Neighbourhood Policy, will meet today with Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys
Tarasyuk. They will take stock of the EU-Ukraine relationship in 2005, the
implementation of the EU-Ukraine action plan and common plans for 2006.
They will exchange views on the on-going negotiations of the readmission
and visa facilitation agreements, the recent Ukraine-Russia gas dispute and
cooperation on energy matters, progress in the adoption of legislation
required for WTO accession and the forthcoming parliamentary elections in
Ukraine in March. The meeting will be followed by a VIP press corner at
14h15 in the Berlaymont Building.
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours du Président José Manuel Barroso : "Les parlements en route vers
Lisbonne" à la rencontre Parlement européen avec les parlements nationaux
Speech by Charlie McCreevy at European Parliament's hearing on Cross-border
Consolidation (31/01)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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