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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-07-31
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] European Commission launches the Fourth Call for proposals for its
Marco Polo programme
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Stroili Oro by Investindustrial, L
Capital management and Ergon Capital
[03] La Commission autorise l’acquisition de Energie Investimenti par GDF
et Camfin
[04] July 2006: Further improvement of economic sentiment in both the EU
and the euro area
[05] July 2006: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area declines
slightly
[06] Flash estimate - July 2006 - Euro area inflation estimated at 2.5%
[07] Rédiffusion
[08] Mergers: Commission approves Celsa Group’s proposed acquisition of
control over Fundia Reinforcing AS
[09] Mergers: Commission authorises Smithfield’s proposed acquisition of
European processed meat products business of Sara Lee Corporation
[10] Reaction to the attack on city of Qana by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU
Commissioner for External relations and European neighbourhood policy
[11] Commission activates civil protection mechanism to help Lebanon cope
with major oil spill
[12] Déclaration de Louis Michel, Commissaire européen au Développement
et l’aide humanitaire, sur les élections en RDC
Midday Express of 2006-07-31
Reference: MEX/06/0731
Date: 31/07/2006
EXME06 / 31.7
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
31/07/06
[01] European Commission launches the Fourth Call for proposals for its
Marco Polo programme
The European Commission published the fourth call for proposals for the
highly successful Marco Polo programme. Commercial undertakings across the
European Union and fully participating third countries are invited to
submit proposals for the creation of new freight transport services that
fight congestion on European roads and improve the environmental
performance of the freight transport system, two main objectives of the EU
transport policy.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Stroili Oro by Investindustrial, L
Capital management and Ergon Capital
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Stroili Oro SpA of Italy
by Investindustrial III LP (Investindustrial) of Italy, along with Stroili
Oro’s current owners, L Capital management SA of France and Ergon Capital
Partners SA of Belgium. Investindustrial is an investment fund specialising
in small and medium enterprises in Italy and Spain. Stroili Oro is active
in the retail distribution of semi-precious jewellery. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[03] La Commission autorise l’acquisition de Energie Investimenti par GDF
et Camfin
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement
Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de l'entreprise Energie Ivestimenti
par GDFI International Gaz de France S.A. et Camfin S.p.A. (Italie). GDFI
est actif dans la distribution de gaz, la fourniture de gaz et les services
d'énergie. Camfin est actif dans les secteurs de l'huile et de l'énergie,
la distribution de produits de chauffage et de carburant diesel et du
commerce de bitume. Energie Investimenti fournit du gaz naturel. Il ressort
de l'enquête menée par la Commission que l'opération envisagée
n'entravera pas de manière significative la concurrence dans le marché
commun. Cette affaire a été traitée selon la procédure simplifiée.
[04] July 2006: Further improvement of economic sentiment in both the EU
and the euro area
The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in both the EU and the euro area
continued to rise in July, reaching the highest levels since the beginning
of 2001. The indicator rose by 0.6 points in both the EU and the euro area,
up to 109.3 and 107.7, respectively. In both areas, sentiment has improved
by more than 10 points over the last twelve months.
[05] July 2006: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area declines
slightly
After a sharp increase in June, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for
the euro area declined slightly in July. Regardless of this recent
weakening, the BCI remains at a very high level, last achieved in 2000. The
high level of the BCI together with the rebound in industrial production
registered in May, suggests that industrial production growth has
accelerated in the second quarter of 2006 and should remain buoyant in the
third quarter. The decrease in the BCI was mainly due to a drop in industry
managers' assessment of the production trend observed in recent months.
While the assessment of total order books and production expectations for
the months ahead improved, managers' views regarding export order books and
the stocks of finished products remained unchanged.
[06] Flash estimate - July 2006 - Euro area inflation estimated at 2.5%
Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 2.5% in July 2006 according to
a flash estimate issued by Eurostat. It was 2.5% in June. Euro area
inflation is measured by the Monetary Union Index of Consumer Prices
(MUICP). To compute the MUICP flash estimates, Eurostat uses early price
information relating to the reference month from Member States for which
data are available4 as well as early information about energy prices. The
flash estimation procedure for the MUICP combines historical information
with partial information on price developments in the most recent months to
give a total index for the euro area. No detailed breakdown is available.
Experience has shown the procedure to be reliable (14 times exactly
anticipating the inflation rate, 9 times differing by 0.1 and once
differing by 0.2, in January 2005, over the last two years). Further
information can be found in Eurostat News Release 113/2001 of 5 November
2001.
[07] Rédiffusion
[08] Mergers: Commission approves Celsa Group’s proposed acquisition of
control over Fundia Reinforcing AS
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition by Steel Management Services S.L., ultimately
controlled by Celsa Group, of sole control over Fundia Reinforcing AS, both
European companies active in the market of steel products for the
reinforcement of concrete for construction purposes. At the production
level, several large steel suppliers are active in the European Economic
Area (EEA) and consolidation has so far remained limited. At the
distribution level, where markets are national, the two companies are
active in different countries. The Commission has therefore concluded that
the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective
competition in the EEA or a significant part of it.
[09] Mergers: Commission authorises Smithfield’s proposed acquisition of
European processed meat products business of Sara Lee Corporation
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the Dutch company Sara Lee Foods Europe
(“SLFE”) by a joint venture created by the US-based companies
Smithfield Foods Inc. and Oaktree Capital Management LLC. Smithfield and
SLFE are both active in the production and sale of processed meat products
in Europe. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area
(“EEA”) or a substantial part of it.
[10] Reaction to the attack on city of Qana by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU
Commissioner for External relations and European neighbourhood policy
"Israel’s attack on the city of Qana means an escalation of violence that
is unjustifiable at a time when the international community is jointly
working to find a solution to the conflict. Immediate cessation of violence
and hostilities is now more important than ever. The killings of innocent
people, particularly of children, must stop now. We keep supporting UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan in his efforts and approach to peace and call
on all sides to restrain from further violence."
[11] Commission activates civil protection mechanism to help Lebanon cope
with major oil spill
Lebanon has requested urgent help from the EU’s civil protection
mechanism to contain environmental damage caused by a major oil spill off
the coast of Lebanon. The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of
Lebanon has asked for assistance from the European Commission’s
Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) to mobilise the help of EU Member
States in cleaning up the pollution caused by an estimated 10,000 – 35,
000 tons of heavy fuel oil.
[12] Déclaration de Louis Michel, Commissaire européen au Développement
et l’aide humanitaire, sur les élections en RDC
Le 30 juillet 2006 les premières élections démocratiques et pluralistes
depuis 40 ans se sont tenues en République Démocratique du Congo. Il
s’agit de l’aboutissement concret d’un rêve qui pour les Congolais
vient de très loin, une vraie opportunité de renouveau qui est maintenant
portée de main. Je voudrais sincèrement féliciter le peuple congolais
qui a montré une maturité et une appétence pour la démocratie. Je suis
heureux d'avoir misé, depuis 1999, sur le peuple congolais qui était
fatigué de la guerre et des conflits et qui a eu la volonté d'aller vers
la démocratie, un processus irréversible. Dans l’attente de la
publication des résultats de la Mission d’Observation Electorale de
l’Union européenne, qui émettra une évaluation indépendante et
rigoureuse des conditions de tenue du scrutin et de sa fiabilité, nous
sommes heureux de constater que celui-ci s’est déroulé dans tout le
pays sans incidents majeurs qui auraient pu mettre en danger ce long
processus. Nous tenons particulièrement rendre hommage au sens civique,
la retenue et au respect démocratique dont le peuple congolais a fait
preuve pendant tout le déroulement du vote. Il s’agit l d’un acte
démocratique fondamental qui témoigne de l’importance que la population
congolaise attache cet événement historique. Cet engouement et cette
détermination engagent formellement ceux et celles qui seront légitimés
et mandatés par ce processus. A présent nous exhortons la population
congolaise et tous les parties concernées poursuivre leur participation
pacifique ce processus dans un esprit de réconciliation nationale et de
respect de la démocratie et de l’Etat de Droit dans l’intérêt
général du pays. La Commission européenne, premier bailleur de fonds du
processus électoral, continuera d’apporter son soutien au peuple et
l’Etat congolais dans cette nouvelle phase de son
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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