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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-27
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to visit Kaliningrad 28th February 2006
[02] EU and Switzerland to sign Memorandum on Swiss financial contribution
to the new Member States
[03] EU and Japan agree on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy
[04] Accounting: Commissioner McCreevy welcomes work programme for
convergence between EU and US standards
[05] Travellers’ allowances: Commission proposes changes to the benefit
of citizens
[06] Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Turkey: Commission sends vaccine supplies
[07] Commissioner Kyprianou visits Nigeria
[08] Statement by Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, on the adoption
of the Aid Regulation for the Turkish Cypriot community by the Council
[09] Commission clears acquisition of AVR and NV AVR by CVC and KKR
[10] Commission clears acquisition of Sanyo by Goldman Sachs, Daiwa and
SMBC
[11] Commission clears acquisition of Frans Maas by DSV
[12] Commission clears acquisition of the EOSH and EDF Swiss assets by ATEL
[13] Rédiffusion
[14] Commission opens in-depth investigation into merger of Canadian mining
companies Inco and Falconbridge
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-02-27
Reference: MEX/06/0227
Date: 27/02/2006
EXME06 / 27.2
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
27/02/06
[01] Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to visit Kaliningrad 28th February 2006
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Kaliningrad on 28th February 2006. Her
visit to this region of the Russian Federation, which is physically
separate from Russia and which borders Poland and Lithuania, demonstrates
the European Commission’s commitment to supporting Kaliningrad’s
development. During the visit, the Commissioner will meet Presidential Aide
Sergei Yastrzhembsky and Governor Georgy Boos to discuss Kaliningrad’s
prospects, transit between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad, and future EU
support to the region. During the visit the Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner
will also make a speech at the Kant Russian State University.
[02] EU and Switzerland to sign Memorandum on Swiss financial contribution
to the new Member States
The European Union and Switzerland will sign today a Memorandum of
Understanding setting up the arrangements by which Switzerland will finance
projects in the new EU Member States for a total amount of one billion
Swiss Francs (about €645 million) over a period of five years. The
projects will start in 2006 and will cover support for public
administration reforms, environment and infrastructure, promotion of the
private sector, and human and social development. This financial
contribution being made in connection with Switzerland benefiting from
access to the enlarged Internal Market and to a number of EU programmes and
activities, some of which will be ratified by the Council today. EU-
Switzerland contacts will take another step forward when the Commission
opens a delegation in Berne in the coming months.
[03] EU and Japan agree on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy
The European Commission and Japan signed today an Agreement for Cooperation
in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. The Agreement will provide a stable
framework for the development of nuclear trade between the two parties and
facilitate co-operation in areas of common interest, such as safeguards.
[04] Accounting: Commissioner McCreevy welcomes work programme for
convergence between EU and US standards
Charlie McCreevy, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services,
has welcomed the publication of a Memorandum of Understanding between the
United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that outlines a work
programme for convergence between US Generally Accepted Accounting
Practices (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
This convergence programme is an important step in bringing about mutual
recognition of accounting standards between the EU and the US, and reflects
comments made by Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR)
concerning equivalence between GAAP and IFRS. The convergence work covers
those areas that the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has identified in
its Roadmap as important for lifting the GAAP reconciliation requirement in
2009, at the latest.
[05] Travellers’ allowances: Commission proposes changes to the benefit
of citizens
The Commission has adopted a proposal renewing the provisions on
travellers' allowances as from 1/1/2007. Traveller's allowances are the
monetary thresholds or the quantitative limits which travellers entering
the EU from third countries are allowed to import duty free. The main
component of the proposal is to increase the benefit current monetary
threshold of € 175 to € 500 for air travellers and to € 220 for other
travellers. For the citizen, this proposal will not only provide benefits
in terms of increased monetary thresholds but will also avoid inconvenience
in declaring goods of relatively limited value. At the same time, it will
reduce the administrative burdens for Member States in collecting
relatively small amounts of duty. The proposal also contains other
adjustments to reflect the position today.
[06] Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Turkey: Commission sends vaccine supplies
The European Commission has sent 2.5 million doses of trivalent vaccine
against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to Turkey, to help control an outbreak
of FMD in bovine animals in the region of Thrace. The Commission decided to
supply vaccines containing all three antigens required for the spring
vaccination campaign in Thrace. Turkey notified the World Organisation on
Animal Health (OIE) and the Commission of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD) in Thrace in early February, despite reported vaccination of
over 90% of the bovine population in this area against the disease last
autumn. Following a visit to Thrace by experts from the FAO based European
Commission for the Control of FMD (EUFMD), it was confirmed that the
outbreak has been caused by a re-emerging strain of the FMD virus, against
which vaccination was stopped many years ago. The vaccines sent by the
Commission are due to arrive in Turkey today, and vaccination will begin
immediately. The vaccination campaign will be closely followed by EUFMD
experts on the ground and a first progress report should be available in
time for the Tripartite meeting between the neighbouring countries, FAO, EC
and OIE in Paris at the end of February.
[07] Commissioner Kyprianou visits Nigeria
Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, will
visit Nigeria from 1-4 March, in what will be his first trip to Africa as
European Commissioner. During his time there, he will meet with Nigerian
President Olusegun Obasanjo, Health Minister Eyitayo Lambo, Agriculture and
Rural Development Minister Alhaji Adamu Bello, and Minister for Information
and National Orientation Chukwuemeka Chikelu, amongst others. Avian
influenza will be high on the agenda during the Commissioner’s visit, in
view of the current outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in birds
and poultry in Nigeria. Mr Kyprianou will receive an update on the avian
influenza situation from the national authorities and discuss ways in which
the EU could assist the Nigerians in their efforts to tackle the disease.
The Commissioner will also take the opportunity, while in Nigeria, to meet
with Mohamad Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS). Commissioner Kyprianou said, “I am very
glad to have the opportunity to visit Nigeria and discuss first hand the
avian influenza situation there. The Commission is very concerned about the
impact that avian influenza could have on developing countries where people
often live in close proximity with poultry and rely on poultry for their
subsistence. In addition, as the spring migratory season approaches, many
birds will be returning from Africa to their summer nesting grounds in or
via Europe. We cannot predict what this will mean for the EU in terms of
avian influenza outbreaks. What we can do is support and help countries
which are battling against this disease in their flocks, while continuously
looking to strengthen the EU’s own defences against this virulent
virus.” The Commissioner is also planning to visit Egypt on 25-26 March
[08] Statement by Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, on the adoption
of the Aid Regulation for the Turkish Cypriot community by the Council
The Commission welcomes today’s decision of the General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) to adopt the Regulation establishing an
instrument of financial support for encouraging the economic development of
the Turkish Cypriot community. Adopting this Regulation enables the EU to
bring assistance where it is urgently needed in fields such as energy and
environment. Many concrete projects can now be realised which bring the
Turkish Cypriot community closer to the European Union. The Aid Regulation
will also allow the Commission to prepare the Turkish Cypriot community for
the future application of EU Law following a comprehensive settlement of
the Cyprus problem. The adoption of the aid package should be seen as a
first step by the EU towards putting an end to the isolation of the Turkish
Cypriot community and facilitating the reunification of Cyprus as laid down
in the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on
26 April 2004. The Commission encourages the Council to move towards
adoption of the proposal made in 2004 on trade between the EU and the
Turkish Cypriot community. In line with its long-standing position, the
Commission remains fully committed to supporting a resumption of UN-led
talks for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue as soon as
possible.
[09] Commission clears acquisition of AVR and NV AVR by CVC and KKR
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of AVR-Bedrijven NV (AVR)
and NV Afvalverwerking Rijnmond (NV AVR), both of the Netherlands, by CVC
Capital Partners Group SARL (CVC) of Luxembourg and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
& Co. L.P (KKR) of the US. CVC and KKR are private equity firms with
interests in a range of different businesses. AVR and NV AVR are active in
the collection, processing and management of hazardous and non-hazardous
waste. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure..
[10] Commission clears acquisition of Sanyo by Goldman Sachs, Daiwa and
SMBC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.
(Sanyo) of Japan by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Goldman Sachs) of the US,
Daiwa Securities SMBC Principal Investments Co. Ltd. (Daiwa) of Japan and
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) of Japan. Goldman Sachs is
active in global investment banking, securities and investment management.
Daiwa is active in investment, asset management and consulting. SMBC is a
banking and financial services company. Sanyo manufactures electric and
electronic products (home appliances, audiovisual equipment, cameras, air
conditioning products, etc.).The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[11] Commission clears acquisition of Frans Maas by DSV
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Koninklijke Frans Maas
Groep N.V. (Frans Maas) of the Netherlands by DFDS Transport Group A/S
(DFDS Transport) of Denmark, controlled by DSV A/S of Denmark. DFDS
Transport is active in freight forwarding by road, sea and air and in
contract logistics services. Frans Maas provides freight forwarding and
logistics services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure
[12] Commission clears acquisition of the EOSH and EDF Swiss assets by ATEL
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of EOS Holding (EOSH assets)
of Switzerland, as well as specifically identified electricity assets
currently belonging to the EDF group (EDF Swiss assets) by the undertaking
NewCo. The latter results from the restructuring of the undertakings Motor-
Columbus AG (MC) of Switzerland and Aare-Tessin AG (ATEL) also of
Switzerland. MC is a holding company whose main activity is to hold a
controlling participation in ATEL. ATEL is active in the electricity
sector. In Switzerland, ATEL is active in all segments of the electricity
value chain. In the EU, ATEL is active in the generation of electricity in
the Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy and in the supply of electricity to
wholesalers/traders, retailers and/or large final industrial customers in
other EU countries. The EOSH assets are active in electricity generation,
transmission, and trading. In the EU, the EOSH Assets are only active in
France, Germany, and Italy. EDF Swiss assets are active in the electricity
generation and supply in Switzerland and France. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[13] Rédiffusion
[14] Commission opens in-depth investigation into merger of Canadian mining
companies Inco and Falconbridge
The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU
Merger Regulation into Inco's acquisition of Falconbridge. Both companies
are Canadian and both are active in the mining, processing and refining of
various metals. The Commission's initial market investigation has found
that the proposed transaction gives rise to competition concerns on certain
nickel and cobalt markets. A decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not
prejudge the final result of the investigation. The Commission now has 90
working days (until 12 July 2006) to take a final decision on whether the
concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the
European Economic Area or a significant part of it.
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de Louis Michel Gaborone – Botswana – « Setting a new
course in co-operation between Europe and Africa »
Speech by P. Mandelson at the NFU Annual Conference in Brimingham on “EU
agriculture and the world trade talks”
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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