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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-09-13
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] A broad–based innovation strategy for the European Union :
Commission calls for action at national and European levels
[02] RTE-T : un premier rapport d'activité des coordonnateurs européens
encourageant
[03] Commission fines 14 companies a total of €266.717 million for price
fixing of road bitumen in the Netherlands
[04] Commission transmits proposals to Council on active substances for
plant protection
[05] Commission approves regional aid maps 2007-2013 for a first group of
Member States
[06] La Commission étend la procédure d'enquête sur l'aide à la
restructuration de la SNCM
[07] Commission approves Austrian aid scheme for combined transport
[08] La Commission autorise la modification d'une aide à caractère social
au bénéfice de la Martinique
[09] Green light for Slovak state aid to the Bana Dolina mining company
[10] Commission authorises Slovak state aid to the Hornonitrianske Bane
Prievidza a.s. mining company
[11] Commission proposes negotiating directives for enhanced agreement with
Ukraine
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[12] Commission clears acquisition of Corona by Macquarie
[13] L'UE envoie une mission d'observation électorale en Mauritanie
[14] Boosting innovations - EU and China to enhance cooperation
[15] Danuta Hübner in Lower Saxony, Germany : "Innovative regions to
benefit most from new Cohesion policy for jobs and growth"
[16] Stavros Dimas at international ministerial consultations
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-09-13
Reference: MEX/06/0913
Date: 13/09/2006
EXME06 / 13.9
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
13/09/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] A broad–based innovation strategy for the European Union :
Commission calls for action at national and European levels
The European Commission has tabled a 10 point programme for action at
national and European levels to foster innovation as a main asset of the EU
economy. This will form the basis for the discussion by European leaders at
the informal Summit due to take place in Lahti, Finland on 20 October 2006.
The programme points the way forward to accompany industry-led innovation
with public policies at all levels as a core element of the renewed Lisbon
strategy for growth and jobs. The Commission seeks to develop the concept
of "lead markets" where public authorities, facilitate industry-led
innovation by creating conditions for a successful market uptake of
innovative products and services in a focussed way. Primary targets are
areas that respond to societal demands (e.g. areas such as transport or
health, internal security, eco-innovation, see example below). The
Commission calls upon Member States to make the structural reforms
necessary to deliver the results required. The Commission underlines that
Europe does not need new commitments from Member States but political
leadership and decisive action.
[02] RTE-T : un premier rapport d'activité des coordonnateurs européens
encourageant
La Commission européenne a adopté la communication du vice-président
Jacques Barrot présentant les principaux résultats de l'activité des
coordonnateurs du réseau transeuropéen de transport (RTE-T). Les six
personnalités désignées en juillet 2005 pour évaluer l'avancement de
certains projets RTE-T ont également formulé des recommandations quant Ã
la mise en Å“uvre efficace de ces projets prioritaires.
[03] Commission fines 14 companies a total of €266.717 million for price
fixing of road bitumen in the Netherlands
The European Commission has found that 8 suppliers and 6 purchasers of road
bitumen in The Netherlands participated in a cartel from 1994 to 2002 to
fix prices in violation of the EC Treaty competition rules' ban on
restrictive business practices (Article 81). These 14 companies have been
fined a total of €266.717 million. Bitumen suppliers (BP, Esha, Klöckner
Bitumen, Kuwait Petroleum, Nynäs, Shell, Total and Wintershall) and
construction companies (Ballast Nedam, Dura Vermeer, Heijmans, Hollandsche
Beton Groep (now part of Koninklijke BAM Groep), Koninklijke BAM Groep and
Koninklijke Volker Wessels Stevin) fixed the gross price of all road
pavement bitumen sold in the Netherlands, and agreed uniform minimum
rebates for the construction companies that were cartel members, and a
smaller maximum rebate for all other road builders. This restricted price
competition and disadvantaged smaller road building companies. Shell and
KWS had their fine increased as they began and led the cartel. Shell's fine
was also increased for being a repeat offender. KWS's fine was also
increased for having tried to obstruct the Commission's investigation.
[04] Commission transmits proposals to Council on active substances for
plant protection
The European Commission has decided to transmit to Council amended
proposals on six active substances for use in plant protection products
(see MEX/06/0614). The Commission had initially proposed the authorisation
of these active substances, subject to very stringent safety conditions and
restrictions in use. However, some concerns on the application of the
relevant safety requirements on public health grounds proposed by the
Commission could not be addressed. For two active substances (dinocap and
carbendazim), the Commission will modify its proposals to authorise their
use in plant protection products under very strict safety conditions and
with a precautionary 3 year authorisation period rather than the 7Â year
authorisation initially proposed by the Commission. For the remaining four
substances (fenarimol, flusilazole, metamidophos and procymidone), the
Commission will modify its proposal and grant an authorisation under very
strict safety conditions and with a shorter precautionary 18 months
authorisation period, instead of 7 years initially proposed. The proposals
are linked to the Commission's widescale review of all the active
substances for use in plant protection products which are on the EU market,
as foreseen by the Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EC. The
decision on whether or not to authorise the active substances in question
and include them in the annex of Directive 91/414/EEC must be taken before
the end of 2006 - the deadline set for the first phase of the review. It is
now up to the Council to decide whether or not to agree to the proposals.
[05] Commission approves regional aid maps 2007-2013 for a first group of
Member States
The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules the
regional aid maps covering the period 2007-2013 for Estonia, Greece,
Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. These are the first
regional aid maps approved by the Commission under the new Regional Aid
Guidelines (see IP/05/1653 and MEMO/05/491). These decisions form part of a
wider exercise to review regional aid systems in all Member States. When it
adopted the Regional Aid Guidelines in December 2005, the Commission
emphasised its objective to re-focus regional aid on the most deprived
regions of the enlarged Union, while allowing for the need to improve
competitiveness and to provide for a smooth transition.
[06] La Commission étend la procédure d'enquête sur l'aide à la
restructuration de la SNCM
Suite aux modifications apportées par les autorités françaises au plan
de restructuration initial de la Société Nationale Corse-Méditerranée
(SNCM), la Commission européenne a décidé d'étendre à ces
nouvelles mesures la procédure formelle d'examen entamée le 19 août
2002. Ces mesures comportent l'octroi de nouvelles subventions à la SNCM,
dont la Commission doit examiner la compatibilité avec les règles
européennes sur les aides d'Etat. Elles ont été suivies de la cession
partielle de cette compagnie à des investisseurs privés, Veolia Transport
et Butler Capital Partners.
[07] Commission approves Austrian aid scheme for combined transport
The European Commission has authorised an Austrian scheme which intends to
encourage the development of combined transport in order to achieve a
traffic shift of freight from road to other modes of transport. The aid
covers the period 2006-2012 and has a total budget of €15 million. The
planned measures will help to achieve the national and EU Kyoto target.
[08] La Commission autorise la modification d'une aide à caractère social
au bénéfice de la Martinique
La Commission européenne a décidé d'autoriser la modification d'un
régime d'aide d'Etat à caractère social en faveur de certaines
catégories de passagers qui souhaitent rejoindre la France métropolitaine
à partir de la Martinique. Cette modification permettra de compenser le
désavantage dont souffrent les habitants de cette île qui doivent payer
des coûts de transport bien plus élevés que les habitants de la France
métropolitaine.
[09] Green light for Slovak state aid to the Bana Dolina mining company
The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to the
€5 million aid which Slovakia is proposing to grant to the Bana Dolina
mining company. The aid was found to be compatible with the proper
functioning of the common market.
[10] Commission authorises Slovak state aid to the Hornonitrianske Bane
Prievidza a.s. mining company
The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to the
€965,000 aid which Slovakia is proposing to grant to the Hornonitrianske
Bane Prievidza a.s. mining company. The aid has been found compatible with
the proper functioning of the common market.
[11] Commission proposes negotiating directives for enhanced agreement with
Ukraine
The European Commission has proposed negotiating directives for a new
enhanced agreement with Ukraine to replace the existing Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement. The enhanced agreement should take a comprehensive
and ambitious approach and include a Free Trade Area. The proposed
negotiating directives will now go the Council of Ministers for approval,
with a view to beginning negotiations early in 2007. The decision comes on
the eve of the first visit of the new Ukrainian Prime Minister to Brussels.
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovitch will meet Vice President Guenther
Verheugen and Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and will take part in the EU-
Ukraine Cooperation Council.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[12] Commission clears acquisition of Corona by Macquarie
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Corona Energy Holdings
Limited (Corona) of the UK by Macquarie Internationale Investments Limited,
a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank Limited (Macquarie) of Australia. Corona is
active in the supply of natural gas to non-domestic customers in Great
Britain. Macquarie is not currently active in the supply of gas to end-
users (domestic or non-domestic) in the UK but owns a regional gas
distribution network in Wales and the West country and also jointly owns a
gas metering business. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[13] L'UE envoie une mission d'observation électorale en Mauritanie
Faisant suite à l'invitation du gouvernement de Mauritanie, la Commission
européenne a décidé de déployer dans le pays une mission d'observation
électorale de l'Union européenne pour les élections législatives et
municipales, qui doivent avoir lieu les 19 et 26 novembre 2006. Cette
mission sera conduite par Mme Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin, membre française du
Parlement européen, en tant que chef observateur des élections.
[14] Boosting innovations - EU and China to enhance cooperation
Entrepreneurs and industry sectors received on 12 September high-level
support for business relations in China. Commission Vice-President Günter
Verheugen participated in the third EU-China Business Summit in Helsinki.
Its overriding theme was "Boosting Innovations – the New Era of the EU-
China Economic Cooperation" by putting innovations at the forefront of
enhancing the competitiveness of both Chinese and European enterprises in
the increasingly globalised environment. The Summit was attended by
political and business leaders including Premier of the State Council of
the People's Republic of China, Wen Jiabao, and the Prime Minister of
Finland and EU President-in-Office, Matti Vanhanen.
[15] Danuta Hübner in Lower Saxony, Germany : "Innovative regions to
benefit most from new Cohesion policy for jobs and growth"
European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner has visited Lower
Saxony, Germany, to discuss ways to create quality jobs and growth through
innovative projects co-funded by the European Union in 2007-2013. The
Commissioner met Lower Saxony Prime Minister Christian Wulff and the
members of his Cabinet as well as businessmen and investors. She also
visited two sites in Cuxhaven where projects are currently planned in the
old fishing port and the Lehfeld district. These urban renewal projects
will be realised under the future "Convergence" Operational Programme in
the framework of the new Cohesion policy.
[16] Stavros Dimas at international ministerial consultations
European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will participate in
informal international ministerial consultations on climate change in
Rüschlikon, Switzerland, on 14-15 September. These consultations, among
more than 30 countries, form part of preparations for the next annual
United Nations conference on climate change, to take place in Nairobi in
November. The informal meeting is being hosted by Kenya, which will chair
the November conference, and Switzerland. Discussions will focus on the key
issues for the Nairobi conference: priorities for Africa and developing
countries, adaptation to the negative impacts of climate change, technology
transfer, the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism and the
elaboration of a global climate regime for the period after 2012, when the
Protocol's targets expire. Commissioner Dimas said: "Our meeting in Nairobi
in November not only provides an important next step in our discussions on
the development of an ambitious global action plan to tackle climate change,
it will also allow us to focus on the priorities of Africa, one of the
regions most vulnerable to climate change. I welcome this initiative by
Kenya and Switzerland, as an important contribution to securing an
ambitious outcome in Nairobi."
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Ten priority actions to achieve a broad-based innovation strategy for the
European Union
Commission fines companies for road bitumen cartel in The Netherlands –
frequently asked questions
Commission action against cartels – questions and answers
Discours de M. Vladimir Špidla : "L'échange transatlantique pour faire
progresser les soins de longue durée" (! embargo 16h00 !)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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