|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-05-22
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission propose un nouveau plan communautaire pour préserver la
biodiversité
[02] Iraq : Commission prepares new €200 million assistance package
[03] Commission launches public consultation on reform of fruit and
vegetables market
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Graub by Agravis and BayWa
[05] La Commission autorise le rachat de GTECH par Lottomatica
[06] Commission clears, subject to conditions, takeover of Gemplus by
Axalto
[07] La Commission autorise Charterhouse et Robert Zolade à prendre le
contrôle en commun de Elior
[08] March 2006 : Euro area external trade surplus €1.2 billion ; €12.1
billion deficit for EU25
[09] Le marché de l'électricité de l'UE : la capacité de production
d'électricité d'origine éolienne a progressé de plus de 150% dans
l'UE25 depuis 2000
[10] Europe's regions are the key to more growth and jobs, says Danuta
Hübner during a visit to South West England
[11] Insurance : public hearing on 'Solvency II'
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-05-22
Reference: MEX/06/0522
Date: 22/05/2006
EXME06 / 22.5
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
22/05/06
[01] La Commission propose un nouveau plan communautaire pour préserver la
biodiversité
La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui une communication
définissant une ambitieuse stratégie politique visant à enrayer
l'appauvrissement de la biodiversité d'ici 2010. Elle prévoit en
particulier un plan d'action communautaire proposant des mesures concrètes
tout en précisant les compétences respectives des organes de l'UE et des
Etats membres. La communication comporte également des indicateurs de
suivi des progrès enregistrés et un calendrier d'évaluations. Les
mesures qui s’imposent pour mettre un terme à la perte de biodiversité
dans l'UE et répondre aux engagements internationaux dans ce domaine sont
clairement énoncées. Un nouveau mécanisme consultatif est créé afin
d'aider les décideurs à mieux exploiter les connaissances disponibles.
[02] Iraq : Commission prepares new €200 million assistance package
Following the nomination of the new Iraqi government on Saturday, the
European Commission will make available of €200 million to continue
supporting the reconstruction of the country in 2006. This new contribution
comes on top of the already allocated €518 million provided between 2003
and 2005 and demonstrates the Commission's determination to support the
country, the new Iraqi government and the Iraqi people. The Commission will
also soon step up its presence in Baghdad and will nominate a Head of
Delegation. With the new government in place the Commission expects to
launch negotiations for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement in the near
future.
[03] Commission launches public consultation on reform of fruit and
vegetables market
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural
Development has today launched a consultation on the future of the Common
Market Organisation for fresh and processed fruit and vegetables. Following
the reforms of 2003/04/05, the Commission is now embarking on reforms of
the three sectors not yet covered - wine, fruit and vegetables and bananas.
The Commission is currently awaiting the finalisation of impact assessments
into the functioning of the current fruit and vegetable regime. To
complement this and ensure it gathers the views of all interested parties,
the Commission has today also launched a public consultation. The
Commission's reform proposal on fruit and vegetables is due to be published
in November this year. The consultation runs until 13 July and the paper is
available at the following web address:
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/consultations/fruitveg/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/consultations/fruitveg/index_en.htm
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Graub by Agravis and BayWa
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Dr. E. Gräub AG (Gräub)
of Switzerland by Agravis Raiffeisen AG (AGRAVIS) and BayWa AG (BayWa),
both of Germany. Agravis and BayWa both distribute agricultural products,
such as seeds, pesticides and fodder. Gräub produces and sells animal
pharmaceuticals. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[05] La Commission autorise le rachat de GTECH par Lottomatica
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les
concentrations, le projet d'acquisition, par la société italienne
Lottomatica, de son concurrent GTECH, société américaine active dans le
secteur des jeux et des paris. La Commission a conclu que l'opération
n’entraverait pas significativement une concurrence effective dans
l'Espace économique européen ou une part importante de celui-ci.
[06] Commission clears, subject to conditions, takeover of Gemplus by
Axalto
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
planned acquisition by the Dutch company Axalto of Gemplus, established in
Luxemburg. Both companies produce and sell smart cards used for mobile
phones, payments and identification, and related products and services. The
parties have provided commitments to license the combined entity's patent
portfolio and provide third parties with interoperability information
necessary to ensure the compatibility of their mobile phone SIM (Subscriber
Identity Module) cards with the combined entity's technology. In light of
these commitments, the Commission has concluded that the transaction would
not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic
Area or a significant part of it.
[07] La Commission autorise Charterhouse et Robert Zolade à prendre le
contrôle en commun de Elior
La Commission européenne vient d'autoriser, en vertu du règlement CE sur
les concentrations, le projet de rachat du contrôle en commun de Holding
Bercy Investissement (HBI), la société qui contrôle le traiteur
français Elior, par Robert Zolade, un citoyen français, et Charterhouse,
un fournisseur de capitaux propres et de services de gestion de fonds. La
Commission est parvenue à la conclusion que l'opération n'entraverait pas
de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace
économique européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.
[08] March 2006 : Euro area external trade surplus €1.2 billion ; €12.1
billion deficit for EU25
According to Eurostat, the first estimate for the euro area trade balance
with the rest of the world in March 2006 gave a €1.2 billion surplus
compared with +4.0Â billion in March 2005. The February 2006 balance was -
3.1 billion, compared with +3.4 billion in February 2005. In March 2006
compared with February 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 1.2%
while imports fell by 1.5%. The first estimate for March 2006 extra-EU25
trade was a €12.1 billion deficit, compared with -6.5 billion in March
2005. In February 2006, the balance was -15.2 billion, compared with -6.8
billion in February 2005. In March 2006 compared with February 2006,
exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 0.7% while imports fell by 1.7%.
[09] Le marché de l'électricité de l'UE : la capacité de production
d'électricité d'origine éolienne a progressé de plus de 150% dans
l'UE25 depuis 2000
Selon des chiffres publiés aujourd'hui par Eurostat, en 2004, la capacité
totale de production d'électricité de l'UE25 a atteint pratiquement 704
GW1, soit 6% de plus qu'en 2000. La puissance installée des éoliennes a
augmenté de 154% depuis 2000. Elle représente plus de la moitié de la
puissance nouvellement créée, le reste provenant essentiellement des
centrales thermiques classiques.
[10] Europe's regions are the key to more growth and jobs, says Danuta
Hübner during a visit to South West England
The role of local and regional partners is crucial in Europe's bid to
become more competitive in the global economy, says Danuta Hübner,
European Commissioner for Regional Policy. Commissioner Hübner visits
Cornwall today, where she will inaugurate the GBP 53m second phase of the
Combined Universities in Cornwall project and visit the famous Eden Project
which has been co-financed by the EU regional development fund. On Tuesday,
she will participate in the launch of South West England's Regional
Economic Strategy and visit two further projects in Plymouth: the Royal
William Yard and the Biomedical Exploitation Facility at the Peninsula
Medical School. The Commissioner's visit will highlight the excellent use
of the EU funds in the South West and their contribution to the development
of the region.
[11] Insurance : public hearing on 'Solvency II'
The European Commission is organising a public hearing on 21 June 2006 to
give all stakeholders the opportunity to express their views on the
'Solvency II' insurance project, which aims to bring about a radical
revision of current EU law on insurance and is at a critical stage in its
development. The Commission intends to put forward a proposal for a
Directive in 2007, which means that fundamental decisions on the way
forward will have to be taken in the next few months. Speakers and
panellists from the Commission, the Committee of European Insurance and
Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS), the insurance industry and
other stakeholders will set the scene and consider how Solvency II may
affect the European insurance market. Ongoing international developments,
for example in relation to the International Association of Insurance
Supervisors and the International Accounting Standards Board, will also be
considered. The registration form and programme are available at: <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/insurance/solvency2/hearing_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/insurance/solvency2/hearing_en.htm
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions and answers about EU biodiversity policy
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Intercultural dialogue: the media's
role" at seminar on Racism, Xenophobia and the Media 'Towards respect and
understanding of all religions and cultures' (Vienna)
Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Europe cannot fail to inspire" at the St.
Gallen Symposium 2006 (20/05)
Speech by Stavros Dimas : "European policy responses to floods" at European
Conference on Flood Risk Management (19/05, Vienna)
Speech by Margot Wallström : "Europe: which way forward ?" at the occasion
of Plan D visit to Denmark (19/05, Copenhagen)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|