|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-10-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] RĂ©sultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] New strategy puts EU trade policy at service of European
competitiveness and economic reform
[02] La Commission recommande Ă la France la suppression de la garantie
étatique illimitée en faveur de La Poste
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[03] La Commission adopte son second rapport concernant les situations de
non-réciprocité avec certains pays tiers en matière d'exemption de visa
[04] Commission decides allocation of EU aid under the European Fisheries
Fund
[05] Responsabilité des auditeurs : la Commission publie une étude
indépendante sur l'impact économique des règles en vigueur
[06] Telecommunications : Commission requests more market data before
assessing draft regulatory measures for the German wholesale leased lines
markets
[07] Commission clears acquisition of SADOPORT by MEAS and DSPL
[08] Classical Swine Fever : post-enlargement measures for Bulgaria and
Romania agreed
[09] République démocratique du Congo : la Commission accorde une aide
humanitaire supplémentaire de €5 millions aux populations vulnérables
[10] August 2006 compared to August 2005 : volume of retail trade up by
2.4% in euro area ; up by 3.3% in EU25
[11] Sharing success for growth and jobs : national coordinators to meet in
Lisbon on 6 October
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-10-04
Reference: MEX/06/1004
Date: 04/10/2006
EXME06 / 4.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
04/10/06
[I] RĂ©sultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] New strategy puts EU trade policy at service of European
competitiveness and economic reform
The European Commission has adopted a new strategy to integrate trade
policy into the European Union's competitiveness and economic reform
agenda. The policy review ("Global Europe: competing in the world") sets
out a strategy for opening new markets abroad for EU companies to trade and
ensuring that European companies are able to compete fairly in those
markets. It also commits Europe to ensuring that its own markets remain
open, arguing that in a global market, with global supply chains, Europe
needs to import to export. It cannot argue for openness from others while
sheltering behind barriers of our own.
[02] La Commission recommande Ă la France la suppression de la garantie
étatique illimitée en faveur de La Poste
La Commission européenne a adressé à la France une recommandation
proposant de mettre fin à la garantie illimitée dont bénéficie La Poste
en tant que personne morale de droit public avant la fin de l'année 2008.
Dans le cadre de l'examen permanent des régimes d’aide existants prévu
par les règles du traité CE, la Commission a examiné cette garantie qui
impliquerait la responsabilité de l'Etat pour les obligations encourues
par La Poste. La nature illimitée de cette garantie permet à La Poste de
se financer Ă des conditions plus favorables, ce qui place l'entreprise
dans une position avantageuse par rapport à ses concurrents et crée ainsi
une distorsion de concurrence sur un marché en voie de libéralisation. La
France a un mois pour répondre à la recommandation de la Commission.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[03] La Commission adopte son second rapport concernant les situations de
non-réciprocité avec certains pays tiers en matière d'exemption de visa
La Commission européenne a adopté son second rapport concernant le
maintien de situations de non-réciprocité par certains pays tiers en
matière d'exemption de visa. Ce rapport montre que des progrès ont été
réalisés, puisque la réciprocité a désormais été établie avec un
certain nombre de pays. En revanche, pour les Etats-Unis, l'ouverture d'un
dialogue est encourageante, mais il n'existe aucun progrès tangible Ă
cette heure concernant l'exemption de visa.
[04] Commission decides allocation of EU aid under the European Fisheries
Fund
The European Commission has adopted a decision fixing an annual indicative
allocation, per Member State, of the funds made available under the
European Fisheries Fund (EFF) for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31
December 2013. From the beginning of next year, the EFF will replace the
Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) as the EU's core
instrument for financial support to the fisheries sector and fishing
communities. It will run for seven years with a budget of €3.849 billion.
[05] Responsabilité des auditeurs : la Commission publie une étude
indépendante sur l'impact économique des règles en vigueur
La Commission européenne a publié une étude indépendante sur l'impact
économique des règles communautaires actuelles concernant les régimes de
responsabilité des auditeurs et les conditions d'assurance dans les Etats
membres. L'étude analyse la structure du marché de l'audit et son
évolution future possible, décrit les limites existantes sur le marché
des assurances pour les audits internationaux, Ă©tudie les facteurs
économiques qui requièrent une limitation de la responsabilité des
auditeurs et compare plusieurs méthodes envisageables de limitation de
responsabilité. C'est la première étude économique sur ce sujet
effectuée à l'échelle de l'UE. La préparation de l'étude s'est
accompagnée de la création d'un Forum sur la responsabilité des
auditeurs composé d'experts du marché (voir IP/05/1420).
[06] Telecommunications : Commission requests more market data before
assessing draft regulatory measures for the German wholesale leased lines
markets
In a letter dated 29 September 2006, the Commission has informed the German
telecom regulator Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA”) that at this stage it has
serious doubts as regards the compatibility of the notified draft measures
for the German wholesale leased lines markets with Community law. In the
Commission’s view, BNetzA has so far provided insufficient evidence to
support its definition of the wholesale leased lines markets in Germany and
the conclusions on the competitive situation in certain market segments,
says the Commission. The wholesale leased lines markets are crucial markets
for business customers. During the next two months, it will call for and
assess further market data from BNetzA and market players. On the basis of
the additional data received, the Commission will decide whether BNetzA
will need to withdraw or whether it can adopt the proposed regulatory
measure.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of SADOPORT by MEAS and DSPL
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Sadoport Terminal
MarĂtimo do Sado S.A. (SADOPORT) of Portugal by Mota-Engil-Ambiente e
Serviços, SGPS, S.A. (MEAS) of Portugal, belonging to the Monta-Engil
group of Portugal, and Dragrados Servicios Portuarios y LogĂsticos, S.L.
(DSPL) of Spain, belonging to the ACS group of Spain. MEAS is a holding
company active in environmental services such as solid waste and waste
water disposal and water concessions, building maintenance and recycling.
DSPL is active in construction, industrial services and port terminal
operations including logistics. SADOPORT operates terminal services in the
port of SetĂşbal in Portugal. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[08] Classical Swine Fever : post-enlargement measures for Bulgaria and
Romania agreed
A Commission proposal to approve Romania's eradication plan and emergency
vaccination programme for classical swine fever was endorsed by the
Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health yesterday. The
Bulgarian eradication plan and emergency vaccination programme (for wild
boars) had already been approved by the Standing Committee in mid-
September. These programmes will be eligible for co-financing once the two
countries join the EU, and it has also been agreed that the EU will provide
Romania with vaccines to effectively carry out its vaccination programmes.
The provision of these vaccines will be funded through the EU Veterinary
Fund. The proposal voted on yesterday is part of a series of Commission
Decisions on post-Enlargement transitional measures for Romania and
Bulgaria linked to classical swine fever, which have been backed by Member
States over the past weeks. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and
Animal Health has already agreed that the current EU import bans on live
pigs and pig meat from Romania and Bulgaria, which are in place due to
outbreaks of the contagious swine disease, should be prolonged for a
transitional period of 9 months after the two countries join the EU. It was
decided that such measures are necessary in view of the fact that outbreaks
of classical swine disease are still occurring in both countries. Bulgaria
has reported 7 outbreaks so far in 2006, while in Romania the situation is
more serious, with over 500 outbreaks reported this year. Therefore, in
order to protect animal health elsewhere in the EU, it was decided that
transitional measures should be taken, as provided for in Article 42 of the
Accession Treaty. Romania will not be allowed to trade pigs or pig products
to other Member States after Enlargement, except for certain heat-treated
products. Pig meat and pig products will have to be marked with a special
stamp, to allow full traceability and ensure that they are only consumed
within Romania. Similar provisions will also be in place for Bulgaria.
However, due to the lesser disease situation there, the Standing Committee
agreed that the measures for Bulgaria will be integrated in the Community
legislation already applicable to parts of Germany, Slovakia and France,
where the disease is only present in the wild boar. Now that all of these
draft Commission Decisions related to classical swine fever in Bulgaria and
Romania have been agreed in the Standing Committee, they will be formally
adopted by the Commission before the end of the year.
[09] République démocratique du Congo : la Commission accorde une aide
humanitaire supplémentaire de €5 millions aux populations vulnérables
La Commission européenne a débloqué €5 millions pour venir en aide aux
populations les plus vulnérables touchées par le récent conflit entre
l'armée et les forces irrégulières au Katanga, dans le sud-est de la
République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Le conflit a de lourdes
conséquences sur le plan humanitaire. Il a touché 300.000 personnes. Dans
le centre du Katanga, la plupart des villages et des cultures ont été
pillés ou détruits. La moitié de la population a pris la fuite pour
s'installer dans des camps, se cacher au fond des forêts ou des marécages
ou chercher refuge en Zambie ou en Tanzanie. La Commission a déjà financé
des opérations de secours au Katanga et à travers la RDC pour un montant
de €45 millions cette annĂ©e. Les fonds supplĂ©mentaires serviront Ă
apporter une aide directe aux plus vulnérables - populations déplacées
au Katanga, personnes de retour et communautés d'accueil. En février, la
Commission a lancé, avec les Nations unies, un plan d'action humanitaire
global en faveur de la RDC qui rassemble tous les acteurs clés qui
contribuent Ă soulager les souffrances du peuple congolais (voir
IP/06/153).
[10] August 2006 compared to August 2005 : volume of retail trade up by
2.4% in euro area ; up by 3.3% in EU25
In August 2006, compared to August 2005, the volume of retail trade grew by
2.4% in the euro area and by 3.3% in the EU25. Compared to July 20063, the
retail sales index rose by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU25.
In August 2006, compared to August 2005, retail trade of "food, drinks and
tobacco" gained 0.7% in the euro area and 1.5% in the EU25. The non food
sector increased by 3.8% and by 4.7% respectively. Among the Member States
for which data are available, total retail trade rose in Latvia (+20.6%),
Estonia (+17.6%), Lithuania (+8.7%), Slovakia (+8.3%), Sweden (+8.0%),
Poland (+6.6%), Finland (+5.5%), the United Kingdom (+4.2%), Spain (+4.1%),
France (+3.6%), Denmark (+3.1%), Portugal (+2.6%), Luxembourg (+2.3%),
Austria (+1.8%) and Germany (+0.5%), while falls were recorded in Slovenia
(-2.7%) and Belgium (-1.6%). These first estimates come from Eurostat.
[11] Sharing success for growth and jobs : national coordinators to meet in
Lisbon on 6 October
European Commission President José-Manuel Barroso, Portuguese Prime
Minister José Socrates and Finnish Presidency Trade and Industry Minister
Mauri Pekkarinen will lead in Lisbon on 6 October a one-day seminar of
national coordinators responsible in Member States for implementing the
EU's Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. Commission Vice-President Gunther
Verheugen will also take part. The seminar will focus on practical ways to
create the right policy environment for making Europe a world-class
innovation performer, an objective at the heart of the renewed Lisbon
Strategy for Growth and Jobs. It will be a chance for Member States to
learn from each other's successes and for policy makers to exchange views
with business leaders and technological experts from the academic world.
Entitled "Excellence and Partnerships for an Innovative Europe", the
seminar is the first in a series on practical issues identified by EU
leaders as priorities under the EU's ongoing drive for Growth and Jobs.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Second Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the
Council on cases where visa waiver non-reciprocity is maintained with
certain third countries
Speech by Olli Rehn : "Europe's Next Frontiers" at Bilkent University
(Ankara, ! embargo 13h00 !)
Speech by Günter Verheugen : "Meinungsaustausch zwischen Vizepräsident
Verheugen und dem Rechtsausschuss (JURI) des Europäischen Parlaments"
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "A European or Transatlantic Global Capital
Market?" at Finance Foundation Conference (03/10)
Strengthening administrative cooperation between the European Commission
and the United Nations to better face common challenges
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
