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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-11-08
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] "Regions For Economic Change" - Commission strengthens exchange of
best practices in innovation among European regions
[02] La Commission réadopte la décision relative à l'entente sur les
poutrelles en acier et inflige une amende de €10 millions à Arcelor
[03] Commission approves regional aid map 2007-2013 for Germany
[04] Commission investigates proposed new Swedish CO² tax reductions
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] Transparence : la Commission facilite l'accès aux informations des
Etats membres sur les bénéficiaires des paiements de la PAC
[06] Telecommunications : Commission welcomes readiness of German regulator
for deeper analysis of the wholesale leased lines markets
[07] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Mazeikiu refinery by PKN
Orlen
[08] Commission approves planned acquisition of Intermagnetics by Philips
[09] La Commission approuve le projet de rachat par Thales des activités
d'Alcatel dans les secteurs ferroviaire et de l'intégration de systèmes
[10] Commission clears acquisition of Discount24 by Otto and Cdiscount
[11] Neelie Kroes welcomes withdrawal of obstacles to Abertis-Autostrade
merger and offer of full cooperation
[12] Pour des règles plus simples : rencontre avec les professionnels du
secteur du transport par route
[13] High-level group set up to advise Commission on the future of aviation
regulation
[14] Margot Wallström in Rome to discuss the institutional issues
[15] EU-US Informal Economic Ministerial meeting Washington DC (09/11)
[16] Public hearing on future single market policy (29/11)
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-11-08
Reference: MEX/06/1108
Date: 08/11/2006
EXME06 / 8.11
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
08/11/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] "Regions For Economic Change" - Commission strengthens exchange of
best practices in innovation among European regions
The European Commission has presented plans to boost innovation by bringing
European regions together into strong partnerships and to help them take
advantage of experience and best practice. This new initiative "Regions For
Economic Change" was adopted today by the Commission under the "Territorial
Cooperation" objective. It introduces new ways to dynamise regional and
urban networks to help them work closely with the Commission to have
innovative ideas tested and rapidly disseminated into the mainstream
programmes. An annual 'Regions For Economic Change' conference featuring
innovation awards is foreseen to coincide with the Spring European Council
to further enhance communication and dissemination of best practice results
in line with the EU agenda for growth and jobs.
[02] La Commission réadopte la décision relative à l'entente sur les
poutrelles en acier et inflige une amende de €10 millions à Arcelor
La Commission européenne a réadopté une décision sur une entente dans
le secteur des poutrelles en acier et a infligé à Arcelor Luxembourg SA
(anciennement Arbed SA), Ã Arcelor International SA (anciennement
TradeArbed SA) et à Arcelor Profil Luxembourg SA (anciennement ProfilArbed
SA) des amendes d'un montant total de €10 millions pour avoir pris part Ã
une entente dans le secteur des poutrelles en acier, en violation de
l'article 65 du traité instituant la Communauté européenne du charbon et
de l'acier (CECA) et de l'article 81 du traité CE. Entre 1988 et 1991, les
entreprises en question ont fixé des prix, réparti des quotas et
échangé des informations confidentielles dans le secteur des poutrelles
en acier pour l'ensemble du marché unique. Cette réadoption fait suite Ã
un arrêt rendu le 2 octobre 2003 par la Cour de justice, qui annulait
l'arrêt du Tribunal de première instance (T-137/94) et, pour vice de
procédure, la décision de la Commission en ce qu'elle concernait Arbed
SA.
[03] Commission approves regional aid map 2007-2013 for Germany
The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules the
regional aid map covering the period 2007-2013 for Germany. This decision
forms part of a wider exercise to review regional aid systems in all Member
States in accordance with the new Regional Aid Guidelines (see IP/05/1653
and MEMO/05/491) adopted in December 2005. The new guidelines aim at re-
focussing regional aid on the most deprived regions of the enlarged EU,
while allowing to improve competitiveness and to provide for a smooth
transition. The maps of twelve other Member States have already been
approved by the Commission (Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Malta, Czech Republic, Ireland and
Lithuania - see IP/06/1176, IP/06/1393 and IP/06/1451).
[04] Commission investigates proposed new Swedish CO² tax reductions
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to examine
whether Swedish plans to grant CO² tax exemptions to companies covered by
the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) are compatible with EC Treaty
state aid rules. The Commission is concerned that the measure might distort
competition by increasing tax differentiation in an area where the EU has
harmonised taxes in order to create a level playing field between
companies. Furthermore, the Swedish measure might run against the "polluter-
pays" principle, a leading principle of the EU's environmental policy, as
companies participating in the EU ETS have received the emission allowances
for free. The opening of a formal investigation gives interested parties
the opportunity to comment on the intended measures. It does not prejudge
the outcome of the procedure.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] Transparence : la Commission facilite l'accès aux informations des
Etats membres sur les bénéficiaires des paiements de la PAC
Afin de continuer à améliorer la transparence et l'accès à l'information,
la Commission européenne affiche sur son site EUROPA une page comportant
des liens vers les sites Internet des Etats membres contenant des
informations au sujet des bénéficiaires finaux des paiements effectués
au titre de la politique agricole commune (PAC). Cette action s'inscrit
dans le cadre de l'Initiative européenne pour la transparence (IET). La
publication de la liste de l'ensemble des bénéficiaires des paiements de
la PAC conformément aux propositions de la Commission figurant dans le
règlement financier devrait garantir une transparence totale. Le Conseil a
approuvé le lancement de ce processus à compter de 2009 et les discussions
se poursuivent à ce sujet au Parlement européen.
[06] Telecommunications : Commission welcomes readiness of German regulator
for deeper analysis of the wholesale leased lines markets
Today, the German telecom regulator, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), informed
the European Commission that it will continue assessing the German
wholesale leased lines markets. BNetzA is therefore withdrawing its earlier
draft decision (see IP/2006/1304). It now plans to seek additional data and
further analyse recent market developments, in particular relating to new
technologies for providing wholesale leased lines in Germany.
[07] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Mazeikiu refinery by PKN
Orlen
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the Lithuanian oil refinery Mazeikiu Nafta by the
Polish petroleum company PKN Orlen. The Commission concluded that the
operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
[08] Commission approves planned acquisition of Intermagnetics by Philips
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition by the Dutch company Philips of the US-based company
Intermagnetics. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded
that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition
in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
[09] La Commission approuve le projet de rachat par Thales des activités
d'Alcatel dans les secteurs ferroviaire et de l'intégration de systèmes
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en application du règlement CE sur
les concentrations, le projet de rachat des activités du groupe français
de télécommunications Alcatel en matière de signalisation et de
contrôle ferroviaires, ainsi que d'intégration de systèmes (Divisions
Transport et Systèmes d'Alcatel) par la société française Thales.
Après avoir examiné l'opération envisagée, la Commission en a conclu
qu'elle n'entraverait pas de manière significative l'exercice d'une
concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou dans une
partie substantielle de celui-ci.
[10] Commission clears acquisition of Discount24 by Otto and Cdiscount
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Discount24 GmbH & Co KG
(Discount24) of Germany by Otto GmbH & Co KG (Otto) of Germany and
Cdiscount SA of France, belonging to the Rallye group. Otto sells non-food
products by mail order and via the Internet. Cdiscount and Discount24 both
sell non-food products via the Internet. The operation was examined under
the simplified merger review procedure.
[11] Neelie Kroes welcomes withdrawal of obstacles to Abertis-Autostrade
merger and offer of full cooperation
Following her meeting in Brussels on 7th November with Antonio Di Pietro,
Italy's Minister for Public Works, European Commissioner for Competition
Neelie Kroes expressed her satisfaction that the Italian authorities have
removed what the Commission considered to be unjustified obstacles to a
merger between Abertis of Spain and Autostrade of Italy. Commissioner Kroes
also welcomed Mr Di Pietro's undertaking to respect in full the EU Merger
Regulation and that any further authorisation measures concerning the
merger would not be implemented without first obtaining the authorisation
of the Commission in accordance with Article 21 of the EU Merger
Regulation.
[12] Pour des règles plus simples : rencontre avec les professionnels du
secteur du transport par route
Hier le 7 novembre, la Commission européenne a organisé une audition des
principales associations au niveau européen représentant les
transporteurs routiers, leurs syndicats et leurs clients. La journée
visait à préparer la revue des règles communautaires actuelles sur
l'accès à la profession et sur l'accès au marché, constituant les
piliers du marché intérieur du transport routier. Les participants ont
abordé les questions liées au cabotage dans le transport de marchandises,
aux critères d'établissement des entreprises, à l'intégration des
systèmes de contrôles entre Etats membres, à l'amélioration de la
capacité financière et de la qualification professionnelle ainsi que la
simplification de procédures.
[13] High-level group set up to advise Commission on the future of aviation
regulation
Two years after the adoption of the Single European Sky regulations the
Commission wishes to further pursue the simplification of the organisation
of the sector. In September the European Commission invited representatives
of the national civil aviation administrations, aviation industry and
Eurocontrol to a conference in Brussels to find ways to improve the
efficiency and performance of the system, while ensuring the highest safety
standards. The conference made some radical conclusions, which are now
being followed-up by the creation of a "high-level group".
[14] Margot Wallström in Rome to discuss the institutional issues
On 9 November Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission,
responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, will be
in Rome. She will meet the President of the Italian republic Mr Giorgio
Napolitano, the Italian Prime Minister Mr Romano Prodi, the Italian
Minister for European Policies and International Trade Ms Emma Bonino, and
the Mayor of Rome Mr Walter Veltroni. She will also participate in the
Rome Erasmus day. The focus of her talks with the Italian leaders will be
on the process of institutional reform of the European Union, the
celebrations of the 50 anniversary of the treaty of Rome and the
consultation process on the White Paper on European Communication Policy.
[15] EU-US Informal Economic Ministerial meeting Washington DC (09/11)
An EU delegation, led by Vice-President of the European Commission, Günter
Verheugen, and Finnish Minister for Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen,
will meet with a US delegation led by Secretary of Commerce Carlos
Gutierrez for the second informal EU-US Economic Ministerial meeting. The
meeting will be held in Washington on 9 November and will be hosted by
Secretary Gutierrez. The purpose of the meeting is to review progress,
under a joint Work Program, agreed last year, to tackle the most
significant areas of the transatlantic economy, including innovation,
intellectual property rights (IPR), and regulatory cooperation. The meeting
follows on commitments made in the 2005 EU-US Summit, confirmed at the 2006
Summit, which called for further transatlantic economic integration.
Business organisations, including UNICE, the American Chamber of Commerce
and the Trans-Atlantic Business and Consumer Dialogues have renewed calls
to keep transatlantic cooperation as a top priority. The next EU-US Summit
is due to take place in the first half of 2007.
[16] Public hearing on future single market policy (29/11)
The European Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Future Single Market
Policy on 29 November 2006. The hearing's primary purpose is to look at how
Single Market policy should be modernised. In particular it will focus on :
how to consult better and to reach out to all stakeholders in the Single
Market ; which alternative tools to use, apart from legislation, to shape a
modern Single Market policy ; how to grant citizens and businesses
effective Single Market rights through better enforcement ; and what is
needed for effective communication on the Single Market. The hearing draws
on a recent public consultation on future Single Market policy and will
feed into the Commission's work on the Single Market Review. Further
information about the hearing is available at: <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/strategy/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/strategy/index_en.htm
and registration for the event is open until 20 November.
[17] Autre matériel diffusé
Commission action against cartels – Questions and answers
Commission Guidelines on National Regional Aid for 2007-2013, Germany -
frequently asked questions
Speech by Markos Kyprianou : "Towards a new Community Animal Health
Strategy 2007-2013" at Animal Health Conference (07/11)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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