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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-06-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Sommet UE – Etats-Unis: signature d'un nouvel accord pour stimuler
la coopération dans l'enseignement supérieur et la formation
professionnelle
[02] Commission assesses Portuguese action to correct excessive deficit by
2008
[03] Commission recommends abrogation of excessive deficit procedure
against Cyprus
[04] Danuta Hübner in Sofia: "Bulgaria needs to stay in the fast lane of
reforms to join in 2007"
[05] Reducing animal testing: Industry commits to action programme,
Commission tables guidelines for labelling cosmetics as “not tested on
animals”
[06] European Union signs aviation agreement with New Zealand
[07] Commission clears acquisition of Sanitas by CVCI and Amber
[08] Commission clears acquisition of Solvicare by Solvay and Umicore
[09] La Commission autorise l’acquisition d’Alstom par Bouygues
[10] Rédiffusion
[11] Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Dow’s superabsorbent
polymers business by Degussa
[12] Competition: Commissioner Kroes discusses introduction of Chinese
competition law with Chinese Government
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-06-21
Reference: MEX/06/0621
Date: 21/06/2006
EXME06 / 21.6
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
21/06/06
[01] Sommet UE – Etats-Unis: signature d'un nouvel accord pour stimuler
la coopération dans l'enseignement supérieur et la formation
professionnelle
Lors du sommet bilatéral qui s'est tenu aujourd'hui Vienne, l’Union
européenne et les Etats-Unis ont signé un nouvel accord d'une durée de
huit ans en matière d'éducation, renouvelant ainsi leur ancien programme
de coopération dans le domaine de l'enseignement supérieur et de la
formation professionnelle. Le nouvel accord instaurera des programmes
novateurs donnant lieu des diplômes transatlantiques, favorisera les
échanges d'étudiants, d'enseignants et d'autres professionnels,
renforcera le programme Schuman-Fulbright et encouragera une collaboration
institutionnelle plus étroite dans l'enseignement supérieur.
[02] Commission assesses Portuguese action to correct excessive deficit by
2008
The European Commission considers that Portugal is on track to correct its
excessive deficit by 2008 as recommended by the Council in September 2005,
provided it strictly implements the 2006 budget and pursues a rigorous
budgetary consolidation strategy in 2007 and following years. At present it
does not appear necessary to recommend any further steps under the
excessive deficit procedure. The Commission will continue to monitor the
situation closely, particularly in light of the significant risks and
uncertainties surrounding the evolution of the budget.
[03] Commission recommends abrogation of excessive deficit procedure
against Cyprus
The European Commission today has decided to recommend that the Council
abrogates the excessive deficit procedure (EDP) against Cyprus after the
deficit fell to 2.4% of GDP in 2005 and is projected to decrease further in
2006 and 2007. Cyprus’s debt to GDP ratio also dropped to 70¼%, in 2005
and is seen at 68% in 2007. Cyprus would be the first of the six new Member
States that were put into the EDP upon European Union membership, to see
the procedure abrogated. It would also be the first procedure to be closed
since the Netherlands, in June 2005. In total, there remain 11 countries in
excessive deficit procedure, five of which are in the euro area.
[04] Danuta Hübner in Sofia: "Bulgaria needs to stay in the fast lane of
reforms to join in 2007"
Bulgaria has made significant progress but needs to take decisive action in
certain key policy fields to be able to join the European Union in 2007,
said Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner visiting Sofia, today. She
noted that Bulgaria can take full advantage of the benefits that come
together with the accession only if the Bulgarian authorities manage to
complete their reforms and preparations in time. The Commissioner is
meeting with the President Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev,
Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski, European Affairs Minister Meglena
Kuneva and members of the Bulgarian government concerned with Structural
Funds. During her visit, Commissioner Hübner will also participate at the
signing ceremony of two Solidarity Fund agreements granting € 20.35
million of EU aid to the regions of Bulgaria devastated by the flooding
disasters in 2005.
[05] Reducing animal testing: Industry commits to action programme,
Commission tables guidelines for labelling cosmetics as “not tested on
animals”
The fight against animal testing gets more concrete. Initiated by the
European Commission, the new “European Partnership on Alternative
Approaches to Animal Testing” published today an action programme. It
follows the so-called “3 Rs” concept, aimed at refining, reducing and
replacing animal use to meet regulatory safety requirements. The
partnership on alternative approaches to animal testing between the
Commission, industry associations and major companies in the area of
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, crop protection and cosmetics
was initiated a year ago. In addition, the Commission has published
guidelines for labelling cosmetic products as “not tested on animals”.
They will enable industry to indicate that no animal tests have been
carried out by the manufacturer and his suppliers in relation to the
product development. Common criteria are applied for the use of such claims,
in particular to ensure that they do not mislead the consumer or lead to
unfair competition. Moreover, industry that chose to have this labelling
must be able to prove the reality of the absence of animal testing.
[06] European Union signs aviation agreement with New Zealand
Today the EU and New Zealand signed an aviation agreement which allows
European airlines to fly between New Zealand and any EU Member State. The
agreement removes nationality restrictions in the bilateral air services
agreements between EU Member States and New Zealand and therefore allows
any EU airline to operate flights between any EU Member State where it is
established and New Zealand. It acknowledges the existence of the single
market for air transport in the relations between the EU and New Zealand
and demonstrates that there is an external dimension of the single market
for air transport.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of Sanitas by CVCI and Amber
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of AB Sanitas (Sanitas).of
Lithuania by Citigroup Venture Capital International Jersey Limited (CVCI)
of Jersey, the Channel Islands, and Amber Trust II SCA (Amber) of
Luxembourg. Sanitas produces and sells pharmaceuticals. Amber is a buy
out/private equity fund investing primarily in the Baltic States. CVCI is a
private equity investments company. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[08] Commission clears acquisition of Solvicare by Solvay and Umicore
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Solvicore of Germany by
Solvay SA and Umicore SA, both of Belgium. Solvay is a chemicals, plastics
and pharmaceuticals group. Umicore is active in materials technology.
Solvicore produces membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for fuel cell
applications. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[09] La Commission autorise l’acquisition d’Alstom par Bouygues
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement
Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition par lequel l'entreprise française
Bouygues S.A. (Bouygues) acquiert le contrôle de l'entreprise Alstom,
française également. Bouygues est actif dans la construction, les
télécommunications et les médias. Alstom est actif dans la fabrication
d'équipement de production d'électricité et services associés, la
fabrication d'équipement de transport ferroviaire et les services
associés. Il ressort de l'enquête menée par la Commission européenne
que l'opération envisagée n'entravera pas de manière significative la
concurrence dans le marché commun. Cette affaire a été examinée dans le
cadre de la procédure simplifiée.
[10] Rédiffusion
[11] Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Dow’s superabsorbent
polymers business by Degussa
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the superabsorbent polymers business of the US
company Dow by Degussa of Germany. Both Dow and Degussa are active in the
production of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) used in particular in hygienic
and personal care products. The Commission concluded that the proposed
transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[12] Competition: Commissioner Kroes discusses introduction of Chinese
competition law with Chinese Government
European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes met Ma Xiuhong, the
Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce in charge of competition, in Brussels on
20th June to discuss the draft Anti-Monopoly Law which was recently
endorsed by the Chinese State Council. The visit took place in the
framework of the EU-China Competition Policy Dialogue and is the latest in
a range of EU-China contacts to discuss competition policy matters that
began in 2003.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Charlie McCreevy “Annual Policy Strategy“ at the European
Parliament IMCO Committee
Speech by Olli Rehn “Turkey: state of play of the accession process” at
the European Parliament, AFET committee – Exchange of Views Commissioner
Rehn
Speech by Stavros Dimas “Political priorities in environment policy
2007” at the Environment Committee at the European Parliament
Speech by Neelie Kroes “Competition Policy: Achievements in 2005, Work in
2006, Priorities in 2007” at the meeting of European Parliament’s
Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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