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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-09-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Les citoyens, les entreprises et les gouvernements de l'UE donnent
leurs avis sur l'avenir du marché unique
[02] Commission proposes to clarify the use of the sales description 'veal'
[03] Des projets pilotes de la Commission incitent des industriels Ă
prendre l'engagement d'Ă©laborer des produits plus Ă©cologiques
[04] Commission report shows better implementation of environmental
legislation in 2005
[05] Directive sur la vente Ă distance : Ă©tat des lieux et consultation
publique
[06] Key findings of 2005 budget : record execution of payments, benefits
for all Member States
[07] Commission earmarks around €45 million to support third countries in
the field of migration and asylum in 2006
[08] EU Solidarity Fund to pay nearly €15 million to support Austria in
dealing with flooding disaster in 2005
[09] Commission opens in-depth investigation into Glatfelter take-over of
Crompton's Lydney paper mill
[10] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Spectra by Linde
[11] La Commission condamne les attentats contre le Président et le
Parlement en Somalie
[12] Danuta HĂĽbner in Scotland : "Time for action to help new Cohesion
policy deliver more jobs and growth"
[13] Personnel : la Commission nomme le Directeur Général adjoint à la
Recherche
[14] Energy in the EU - first estimates 2005 : EU25 energy consumption
equivalent to more than three and a half tonnes of oil per capita ; EU25
energy dependence rate was 56%
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-09-21
Reference: MEX/06/0921
Date: 21/09/2006
EXME06 / 21.9
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
21/09/06
[01] Les citoyens, les entreprises et les gouvernements de l'UE donnent
leurs avis sur l'avenir du marché unique
Les citoyens, les entreprises et les gouvernements de l'Union européenne
estiment que le marché unique joue un rôle crucial pour relever les
défis auxquels l'Europe est actuellement confrontée, mais également
qu'il peut être amélioré et qu'il lui faut des perspectives d'avenir
claires. C'est ce qu'ont montré les réponses à une consultation de la
Commission européenne sur la future politique du marché unique, qui a
été lancée en avril 2006 (voir IP/06/512). Un rapport de la Commission
donne un aperçu global des 1514 réponses reçues (voir le site <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/strategy/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/strategy/index_en.htm).
Il sera tenu compte de cette consultation dans la poursuite du débat sur
la future politique du marché unique, et notamment dans le rapport de la
Commission sur le marché unique au XXIe siècle, qui sera présenté au
Conseil européen en 2007.
[02] Commission proposes to clarify the use of the sales description 'veal'
The European Commission has tabled a proposal to clarify the marketing
conditions for meat from bovine animals aged twelve months or less. The
proposal would require the use of fixed sales descriptions for these meats
in the various Member States coupled with an indication of the age of the
animals at slaughter. The proposal aims to improve the transparency on the
market and to help consumers to recognise precisely what they are buying.
It follows lengthy discussions with all interested parties, including a
recent internet consultation. It comes in the wake of requests from the
trade and from Member States for clearer rules to reflect the different
production systems in different Member States. Once adopted by Council,
this regulation should enhance the functioning of the Single Market and
provide better information for consumers.
[03] Des projets pilotes de la Commission incitent des industriels Ă
prendre l'engagement d'Ă©laborer des produits plus Ă©cologiques
Deux projets pilotes de la Commission europĂ©enne destinĂ©s Ă
réduire l'incidence environnementale de produits usuels ont amené des
fabricants de tĂ©lĂ©phones portables et de mobilier de jardin en bois Ă
chercher de nouvelles solutions pour réduire les effets de leurs produits
sur l'environnement. Sous la houlette du groupe finlandais Nokia, un grand
nombre de sociétés se sont volontairement engagées à faire des efforts
supplémentaires pour réduire la consommation énergétique des
téléphones portables et la quantité de matériaux dangereux entrant dans
leur composition et pour sensibiliser davantage le consommateur au
recyclage. Le groupe français Carrefour et d'autres parties prenantes se
sont engagés à modifier la conception des chaises de jardin en bois
tropical afin d'en réduire l'incidence environnementale. La Commission,
qui a lancé le projet il y a deux ans, contrôlera le respect de ces
engagements. Elle demande maintenant aux autres industriels de s'inspirer
de ces exemples pour réduire l'incidence environnementale de leurs
produits.
[04] Commission report shows better implementation of environmental
legislation in 2005
A new report shows that the number of infringement cases opened by the
European Commission for breaches of EU environmental legislation went down
significantly in 2005. This is due to a more efficient way of handling
complaints and infringement proceedings on the part of the Commission,
together with swifter action by Member States to comply with their
obligations. The Commission has adopted a more strategic approach, grouping
together cases which concern the same issue and focusing on general cases
which cut across several policy areas. It has also stepped up its
assistance to the Member States, meeting the national authorities more
often and providing them with guidance documents. By the end of 2005, the
Commission had 489 infringement cases open in the environment field as
compared to 570 at the end of 2004. This represents a reduction of 14%.
[05] Directive sur la vente Ă distance : Ă©tat des lieux et consultation
publique
La Commission europĂ©enne a adoptĂ© une communication relative Ă
l'application de la directive 1997/7/CE concernant la vente Ă distance et
lancé une consultation en vue d'évaluer la nécessité d'actualiser
ladite directive. Tous les Etats membres de l'Union européenne l'ont
transposée, mais certains problèmes sont apparus dans son application
pratique. Par exemple, l'utilisation de nouvelles technologies, telles que
le "commerce mobile" par SMS, et la popularité de certaines méthodes
commerciales, comme les ventes aux enchères en ligne, soulignent la
nécessité de se pencher sur l'efficacité de la réglementation de la
vente Ă distance. Par ailleurs, le recours Ă la "clause minimale", en vertu
de laquelle les Etats membres peuvent adopter des dispositions plus
strictes pour assurer au consommateur un niveau de protection plus élevé,
a entraîné une variation du degré de protection selon les Etats membres,
ce qui peut avoir donné lieu à des divergences et des distorsions dans le
marché intérieur.
[06] Key findings of 2005 budget : record execution of payments, benefits
for all Member States
(! embargo 12h30 !) The European Union budget increased only narrowly in
2005, by 0.01% of EU Gross National Income (GNI), while benefits were
shared by all 25 Member States. The biggest Member States got nearly 2/3 of
total allocated expenditure, similarly to last year. The ten new Member
States are still gradually catching up ; the relative impact of financial
transfers, however, is becoming more and more important, reaching 9.5% of
the EU total in 2005, compared to 6.6% in 2004. Presenting the main
findings of the 'Report on the allocation of 2005 EU expenditure by Member
State', Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaité commented: "It was a positive year
for the EU budget: execution was higher than in recent years due to better
advance planning and enhanced monitoring throughout the year; we managed to
focus more resources on EU competitiveness, research, growth and jobs".
Nevertheless, according to Ms Grybauskaité, "amounts for economic
progress should be further increased. A profound revision of European
finances in 2008/2009 remains a vital necessity".
[07] Commission earmarks around €45 million to support third countries in
the field of migration and asylum in 2006
The European Commission has adopted the Aeneas 2006 Work Programme for co-
financing of actions to support to third countries in their efforts to
ensure more effective management of all aspects of migration flows. Aeneas
has a total budget of €120 million for the 2004-2006 period of which
€75 million were allocated for 2004 and 2005 actions and the remaining
€45 million in 2006. This year, Aeneas will support the dialogue and the
cooperation on migration and asylum issues with the countries bordering on
the enlarged European Union and also with the countries, in other regions
of the world (ACP, North Africa, Asia and Latin America) where asylum
issues are particularly acute.
[08] EU Solidarity Fund to pay nearly €15 million to support Austria in
dealing with flooding disaster in 2005
Danuta HĂĽbner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy and the
Solidarity Fund, and Austrian Interior Minister Liese Prokop signed an
agreement to pay €14,798,589 to Austria to reimburse emergency costs
incurred after the severe flooding that hit the Austria's western Länder
Vorarlberg and Tyrol at the end of August 2005. The grant is being made
available through the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF). It will
reimburse public funds spent on the immediate emergency response, in
particular on the restoration of transport infrastructures and protective
river engineering in the affected area.
[09] Commission opens in-depth investigation into Glatfelter take-over of
Crompton's Lydney paper mill
The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU
Merger Regulation into the acquisition by US-specialty paper manufacturer
P.H. Glatfelter Company of a paper mill and related assets at Lydney
(Gloucestershire, UK). Glatfelter has acquired the mill from J.R. Crompton
Ltd., a UK-based manufacturer of wetlaid fibre products, which on 7
February 2006 was placed in court-ordered administration as part of UK
insolvency proceedings. The wetlaid fibre materials produced at Lydney are
used for products such as tea bags, coffee filters, wall paper, adhesive
tapes, and as battery components. The Commission's initial market
investigation has found that the proposed acquisition may create a dominant
supplier with the ability to restrict production and drive up prices in the
industry. The Commission now has 90 working days (until 6Â February 2007)
to take a final decision on whether the concentration would significantly
impede effective competition within the European Economic Area. The opening
of an in-depth investigation does not prejudge the final result of the
investigation.
[10] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Spectra by Linde
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed takeover of the US-based Spectra by the German company Linde. Both
companies are active in specialty gases with Linde having further
activities in industrial gases. The Commission concluded that the envisaged
operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area or any substantial part of it, as the parties will
continue to face effective competition from other big gas companies and
entry from neighbouring markets is relatively easy.
[11] La Commission condamne les attentats contre le Président et le
Parlement en Somalie
Le Commissaire européen au Développement et à l'Aide Humanitaire, Louis
Michel, a condamné hier l'attentat perpétré le 18 septembre à Baidoa,
siège des institutions fédérales de transition en Somalie, contre le
Président Abdullahi Yusuf et le Parlement somalien. De toute évidence,
cet attentat visait, au-delà des institutions fédérales de transition
somaliennes, Ă saboter l'ensemble du processus de paix.
[12] Danuta HĂĽbner in Scotland : "Time for action to help new Cohesion
policy deliver more jobs and growth"
The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta HĂĽbner, is visiting
Scotland, where she is discussing the future of European Union co-funding
of Scottish programmes during the new programming period 2007-2013. During
her two-day visit, the Commissioner will also visit a series of projects in
the Highlands and Islands. Today, the Commissioner will hold discussions
with the First Minister Jack McConnell, with the Convenor and Deputy
Convenor of the Scottish Parliament European and External Relations
Committee who have just completed a report on EU regional policy in
Scotland in the period 2007-2013, and with the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities.
[13] Personnel : la Commission nomme le Directeur Général adjoint à la
Recherche
M. Daniel Jacob a été nommé hier Directeur Général adjoint à la
Direction Générale Recherche et Développement de la Commission
européenne.
[14] Energy in the EU - first estimates 2005 : EU25 energy consumption
equivalent to more than three and a half tonnes of oil per capita ; EU25
energy dependence rate was 56%
The total amount of energy required to meet the demand of the EU25 in 2005
remained stable compared to 2004, at 1 637 million tonnes of oil equivalent
(toe). However, EU25 production of all sources of energy fell by 4.2% in
2005, resulting in an increase in net imports of 4.5%. As a consequence,
the first estimate for 2005 shows that the EU25 depended on imports for 56%
of its energy needs, up from 54% in 2004. Seen over a longer time period,
between 1995 and 2004 energy consumption in the EU25 rose by 11%,
production fell by 2%, and net imports rose by 29%. In 1995 the energy
dependence rate stood at 44%. These figures are published by Eurostat.
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions and answers on Distance Selling
Speech by Neelie Kroes : "The refined economic approach in state aid law: a
policy perspective" at GCLC/College of Europe Conference
Speech by Joe Borg : "The Green Paper on a European Maritime Policy – A
Starting Point for a new European Policy" at Maritime Policy Conference of
the Baltic Sea Area (Kiel)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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