|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-09-20
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] Réforme de la PAC : la Commission propose un nouveau régime pour le
secteur de la banane
[02] Providing better training for safer food : Commission looks at options
for the future
[03] La Commission soumet consultation une nouvelle proposition relative
aux règles sur les subventions de minimis
[04] Commission fines copper fittings producers €314.7 million for price
fixing cartel
[05] Commission sees the United Kingdom as just on track to correct its
excessive deficit by end of the 2006/2007 financial year
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] First meeting of Commission's Task Force on Migration produces a
comprehensive overview of European activities to address immigration crises
[07] Commission will allow Member States to grant advance payments of
direct aid to farmers
[08] La Commission approuve le projet de création d'une entreprise commune
par Lactalis et Nestlé
[09] Commission clears Toshiba's planned acquisition of Westinghouse
Electric UK and BNFL USA Group subject to conditions
[10] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition de Profilafroid et de
Société Automatique de Profilage par voestalpine
[11] High Level Group on Multilingualism launched by Jan Figel'
[12] Une conférence de haut niveau sur l'avenir de la réglementation de
l'aviation
[13] Commission welcomes the launch of the new hospitals' sectoral social
dialogue committee
[14] Danuta Hübner rencontre les représentants économiques et sociaux
des régions ultrapériphériques dans le cadre de partenariat de la
Commission avec ces régions
[15] Joe Borg opens maritime policy conference in Kiel
[16] Where Science meets Art... UMBOT NORDUNG exhibition in the offices of
the Commissioner for Science and Research
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-09-20
Reference: MEX/06/0920
Date: 20/09/2006
EXME06 / 20.9
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
20/09/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Réforme de la PAC : la Commission propose un nouveau régime pour le
secteur de la banane
La Commission européenne a proposé une réforme en profondeur du régime
d'aide aux producteurs de bananes. Cette réforme a pour objet d'adapter le
système selon les grands principes des réformes menées dans les autres
secteurs agricoles, tout en garantissant un niveau de vie équitable aux
producteurs communautaires de bananes et en tenant compte des
particularités des régions productrices. La proposition est le fruit d'un
débat approfondi avec l'ensemble des parties intéressées et d'une
évaluation détaillée des conséquences de la réforme. La Commission
s'est prononcée sans ambiguïté pour l'abolition du régime actuel d'aide
compensatoire aux producteurs de bananes et pour l’adoption de l'option
"POSEI" : les fonds consacrés au soutien des producteurs de bananes
viendraient s'ajouter la dotation du programme POSEI, programme d'aide
la production agricole dans les régions ultrapériphériques de l'Union.
En ce qui concerne les bananes produites en dehors de ces régions, les
crédits seraient transférés vers le régime de paiement unique, mis en
œuvre pour les produits agricoles visés par les précédentes
réformes. La Commission souhaite que les nouvelles règles, une fois
adoptées par le Conseil, s'appliquent compter de la campagne de
commercialisation 2007.
[02] Providing better training for safer food : Commission looks at options
for the future
The European Commission has adopted a Communication entitled "Better
training for safer food", which addresses the issue of training EU and
third country officials responsible for carrying out the necessary controls
to ensure food safety and consumer protection in the EU. A solid body of
food safety legislation is laid down at EU level, designed to protect human,
animal and plant health, and allow the smooth operation of the internal
market. The Commission is now focused on ensuring the full and proper
implementation of these laws. This requires well-trained, competent
authorities who fully understand the legislation and are capable of
checking that it is being complied with. Training those responsible
officials is therefore an essential aspect in maintaining the high standard
of food safety that Europeans have come to expect. The Communication
adopted today lays out options for the future organisation of this training
and looks at how EU training programmes should be carried out in order to
achieve optimal results.
[03] La Commission soumet consultation une nouvelle proposition relative
aux règles sur les subventions de minimis
La Commission européenne a présenté une version modifiée de la
nouvelle proposition concernant les règles "de minimis", qui envisage
d'exempter les subventions de faible montant de l'obligation de
notification prévue par les règles sur les aides d'Etat du traité CE.
Cette nouvelle version tient compte des observations formulées au cours de
la consultation publique sur la proposition initiale présentée en mars
2006 (voir IP/06/283). La Commission propose que l'on considère que les
subventions d'un montant inférieur ou égal €200.000 ne constituent
pas des aides d'Etat. Cette exemption se limite aux mesures pour lesquelles
l'élément d'aide d'Etat peut être calculé l'avance, de façon
précise. La proposition modifiée prévoit que les garanties seront
couvertes pour autant que le montant du prêt sous-jacent n'excède pas
€1,7 million. Les Etats membres et les autres acteurs intéressés auront
présent une deuxième chance de s'exprimer sur cette proposition avant
son adoption définitive par la Commission plus tard dans l'année. La
révision des règles de minimis représente une des pierres angulaires du
plan d'action dans le domaine des aides d'Etat (voir IP/05/680 et
MEMO/05/195), qui vise simplifier les règles en la matière, affiner
l'analyse économique des subventions et permettre la Commission de
concentrer son action en matière d'application des règles sur les cas qui
faussent le plus la concurrence.
[04] Commission fines copper fittings producers €314.7 million for price
fixing cartel
The European Commission has fined 30 companies a total of €314.7 million
for participating in a copper fittings cartel, in violation of the EC
Treaty’s ban on restrictive business practices (Article 81). The 11
groups to which these companies belong are Aalberts, IMI, Delta, Advanced
Fluid Connections, Legris, Frabo, Mueller, Tomkins, Flowflex, Viegener and
Sanha Kaimer. Between 1988 and 2004, the companies fixed prices, discounts
and rebates, agreed on mechanisms to coordinate price increases, allocated
customers and exchanged commercially important and confidential
information. Four of these groups, namely Aalberts, Delta, Advanced Fluid
Connections and Legris had their fines increased by 60% because they
continued their illegal arrangements after the Commission's initial
inspections. Advanced Fluid Connections' fine was increased by a further
50% for providing the Commission with misleading information. Mueller
received full immunity from fines under the Commission's leniency programme,
as it was the first company to come forward with information about the
cartel.
[05] Commission sees the United Kingdom as just on track to correct its
excessive deficit by end of the 2006/2007 financial year
The United Kingdom seems just on track to correct its excessive deficit by
the end of 2006/07, although the actual adjustment may fall short of that
recommended by the Council. In its assessment of the follow-up to the
January Council recommendation concluding that an excessive deficit exists
in the UK, the European Commission notes that while GDP growth is expected
to be better than originally envisaged, the deficit correction remains
vulnerable to negative surprises, given the lack of a safety margin against
exceeding the 3% reference value again. The Commission will continue to
monitor the situation, particularly in the light of the significant risks
surrounding the outlook for the public finances.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[06] First meeting of Commission's Task Force on Migration produces a
comprehensive overview of European activities to address immigration crises
Migration is a cross-border issue that requires a comprehensive, balanced
and integrated approach involving various policy areas and all the affected
regions (origin, transit and destination). The European Commission is
working along such an approach for a few years now and has reinforced its
efforts for coherence by deciding, on 30 August 2006, to establish a
Commissioners' Task Force on Migration, under the coordination of Vice
President Franco Frattini. This temporary Task Force brings together all
European Commissioners with relevant responsibilities as regards migration,
including Louis Michel (Development and Humanitarian Aid), Benita Ferrero-
Waldner (External Relations), Vladimir Spidla (Employment), Jan Figel'
(Education and training), Danuta Hübner (Regional policy), Joaquin Almunia
(Economic and monetary issues) and Markos Kyprianou (Health and consumer
protection).
[07] Commission will allow Member States to grant advance payments of
direct aid to farmers
The management committee for direct payments backed on 19 September a
European Commission draft Regulation allowing Member States to bring
forward payments of direct aids to farmers to 16 October from the usual
date of 1 December. The proposal followed requests from a number of Member
States following the difficult weather conditions this summer. It will be
up to the Member States themselves to decide whether or not to use this
possibility, once the Commission has formally adopted the Regulation in the
days to come. Advances paid between 16 October and 1 December may be up to
50 percent of the direct payments to be paid to the farmers in respect of
the year 2006.
[08] La Commission approuve le projet de création d'une entreprise commune
par Lactalis et Nestlé
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les
concentrations de l'UE, le projet de création d'une entreprise commune par
le groupe français Lactalis et le groupe suisse Nestlé. Après examen, la
Commission est parvenue 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.
[09] Commission clears Toshiba's planned acquisition of Westinghouse
Electric UK and BNFL USA Group subject to conditions
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition by the Japanese conglomerate Toshiba of Westinghouse
Electric UK and the BNFL USA Group, both active in the nuclear sector. The
Commission concluded that, subject to Toshiba's compliance with a
commitment to modify its contractual arrangements with other shareholders
in its joint venture Global Nuclear Fuels, the proposed transaction would
not significantly impede competition in the European Economic Area or any
substantial part of it.
[10] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition de Profilafroid et de
Société Automatique de Profilage par voestalpine
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les
concentrations de l'UE, le projet d'acquisition de Profilafroid et
Société Automatique de Profilage, deux sociétés françaises actives
dans la production de profilés froid en acier, par la société
autrichienne voestalpine Profilform. L'enquête de la Commission a montré
que l'opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative la concurrence
effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou dans une partie
substantielle de celui-ci.
[11] High Level Group on Multilingualism launched by Jan Figel'
Today, the European Commission adopted a decision to establish a High Level
Group on Multilingualism. The Group, comprising 11 experts from across
Europe, will meet formally for the first time on 3 October 2006. It has
been set up in response to the 2005 Communication "A new framework strategy
for multilingualism", which called for a high level group to advise the
Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism on the
"development of initiatives, as well as fresh impetus and ideas for a
comprehensive approach to multilingualism in the European Union".
[12] Une conférence de haut niveau sur l'avenir de la réglementation de
l'aviation
Le système de réglementation de l'aviation reste confronté au problème
de la fragmentation. Des représentants de haut niveau des administrations
nationales de l'aviation civile, de l'industrie de l'aviation et de la
Commission européenne se sont réunis aujourd'hui Bruxelles pour
examiner les possibilités d'améliorer l'efficacité du système, de
réduire les coûts et de combler les éventuelles lacunes en matière de
sécurité. La conférence a rassemblé les cadres de plus haut rang des
instances de réglementation et des parties concernées de l'industrie pour
formuler des politiques nouvelles et plus efficaces.
[13] Commission welcomes the launch of the new hospitals' sectoral social
dialogue committee
Workers' and employers' representatives from the hospital sector - the
European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European
Hospital Employers' Association (HOSPEEM) - have launched the 33rd sectoral
social dialogue committee with the backing of the European Commission. A
growing number of sectors are involved in this partnership approach,
contributing to better governance at European level. Over the past five
years, EPSU and HOSPEEM have been working - with the support of the
Commission - to formalise this sectoral social dialogue at European level.
The new committee will monitor the social, economic and employment
consequences of EU policies in the Health sector. It will also examine how
demographic, technological and structural changes within hospitals in
Europe affect employment. Concretely, it will enable the social partners to
have a direct formal input to EU policies affecting the hospital sector,
allowing them to contribute to consultations launched by the Commission on
social policy. This could lead to European agreements, bringing real
benefits to the 3,000,000 workers they represent. The social partners are
committed to promoting quality hospital services based on values of social
responsibility and realistic active ageing measures. At the inaugural
meeting, they will adopt the rules of procedure of their committee and
their first work programme for 2006-2007 which will cover the areas of
recruitment and retention of personnel in the hospital sector, the age
profile of the hospital workforce and the new skill requirements for the
workforce in the sector.
[14] Danuta Hübner rencontre les représentants économiques et sociaux
des régions ultrapériphériques dans le cadre de partenariat de la
Commission avec ces régions
La Commissaire européenne en charge de la Politique régionale, Danuta
Hübner, rencontre les représentants des secteurs économiques et sociaux
des régions ultrapériphériques l'occasion de la réunion
Bruxelles les 19 et 20 septembre par la Commission et l'association
EURODOM dans le cadre du partenariat avec les régions ultrapériphériques
(RUP).
[15] Joe Borg opens maritime policy conference in Kiel
This afternoon, Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime
Affairs, travels to Kiel, Germany, where he will attend the Conference of
the Baltic Sea Areas on the Commission's Green Paper on a future European
Maritime Policy (IP/06/739). The event is being hosted by the Federal State
of Schleswig-Holstein in conjunction with the City of Hamburg and the
Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation (BSSSC), as part of the 2006
BSSSC annual conference which runs until Friday. Schleswig-Holstein is one
of Europe's premier maritime regions, and a pioneer both in the adoption of
a more integrated approach to the management of the oceans, and in
international maritime cooperation. Tonight, Commissioner Borg will launch
the conference proceedings by participating alongside experts from the
region in an informal debate on the Green Paper. He will then join Minister
for Science, Economy and Transport, Dietrich Austermann, for the inaugural
ceremony of the newly-established Elisabeth Mann-Borgese Prize. Founded by
Schleswig-Holstein, the prize honours individuals who have made an
outstanding contribution to the promotion of responsibility in dealings
with the oceans and their resources. Tomorrow morning, the Commissioner
will deliver a speech on "The Green Paper on Maritime Policy – the
starting point for a new European Maritime Policy". Commissioner Borg will
underline the importance of both regional subsidiarity and international
collaboration in elaborating a truly holistic approach to Europe's oceans.
He will encourage all those present to contribute to the fullest possible
extent to the year-long consultation process on the Green Paper. After the
morning's debates, Mr Borg will give a press conference, at 12h15, on board
the MS Beaufort, along with Uwe Döring, Minister for Justice, Labour, and
European Affairs.
[16] Where Science meets Art... UMBOT NORDUNG exhibition in the offices of
the Commissioner for Science and Research
On Wednesday, 20 September the European Commissioner for Science and
Research Janez Potočnik will open an exhibition entitled UMBOT NOORDUNG,
by Dunja Zupančič and Dragan Živadinov in collaboration with Miha
Turšič. The exhibition is dedicated to the astronautics pioneer, Slovene
scientist Dr Herman Potočnik Noordung. This is the first of a series of
events organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Slovenia and the Kapelica Gallery from Ljubljana. The objective
of these presentations is to illustrate the links between science and art,
and single out some renowned Slovene artists in this field. The artistic
force and aspiration of such projects can often serve as an inspiring
example for our own endeavours.
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
La réforme de l'organisation commune du marché de la banane
POSEI : la voie privilégiée pour le secteur de la banane
Speech by Mariann Fischer Boel : "A sustainable EU banana sector"
Better Training for Safer Food - questions and answers
Competition: Commission action against cartels - questions and answers
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
