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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-12-01Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb01/12/06[01] Une économie européenne en meilleure forme a besoin de plus de réformes structurellesLes performances de l'économie européenne se sont nettement améliorées en 2006. La croissance économique et la productivité augmentent. Les évolutions les plus récentes indiquent une croissance de l'économie passant de 1,7% en 2005 à 2,8% en 2006, alors que la tendance générale du chômage est à la baisse. Le rapport 2006 de la Commission européenne sur la compétitivité, qui sera examiné lors du prochain Conseil Compétitivité, inventorie les bénéfices supplémentaires que des réformes pourraient apporter dans une série de domaines politiques. Le rapport met également en évidence les importants déficits relevés en matière de performances économiques, comme la faible croissance de la productivité de la main-d'œuvre depuis 1995. Il souligne qu'il est urgent d'accélérer la mise en œuvre de réformes structurelles dans le cadre de la stratégie en faveur de la croissance et de l'emploi.[02] The European Enterprise Awards : European Regions at their Entrepreneurial BestThirteen finalists will be competing for the first edition of European Enterprise Awards (EEA) which recognise and reward initiatives taken by local authorities to support entrepreneurship at regional level. They represent a wide variety of projects, that successfully promote entrepreneurship throughout Europe. A high level jury selected the best entries from 51 national nominees. The finalists come from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Sweden and the United Kingdom (see IP/06/1446). Winners will be announced on 7 December 2006 in Brussels at an Awards Ceremony which is co-sponsored by the European Commission, the Committee of Regions and the Finnish Presidency.[03] Fonds de solidarité de l'UE : la Commission propose une aide de €15 millions pour les régions hongroises frappées par de graves inondationsAujourd'hui, la Commission européenne a proposé d'octroyer une aide du Fonds de solidarité de l'Union européenne d'un montant total de €15,06 millions pour faire face aux conséquences des inondations catastrophiques qui ont touché la Hongrie au printemps 2006. Les fonds serviront à rembourser une partie du coût des mesures d'urgence (services de secours, nettoyage des zones inondées et remise en état des infrastructures de base).[04] Commission clears joint venture between MLIB and ILPThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to a joint venture in Ireland between Merrill Lynch International Bank Limited (MLIB) of Ireland and Irish Life and Permanent plc (ILP). MLIB is primarily involved in the general markets banking sector. ILP provides personal financial services in the Irish market. The joint venture will provide specialist mortgage loans in Ireland. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[05] Commission clears acquisition of Moconta by Bertelsmann and Vodafone D2The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Moconta GmbH Co. KG (Moconta) of Germany by Bertelsmann Aktiengesellschaft (Bertelsmann) of Germany, through its 100% subsidiary Arvato Mobile GmbH (Arvato) of Germany, and Vodafone D2 GmbH (Vodafone D2) also of Germany. Bertelsmann is a media company active in the areas of television/radio, print media publishing, music, printing and other services. Arvato and Moconta provide conceptual design and services in the area of mobile telecommunication marketing and customer loyalty. Vodafone D2 is a mobile telecommunications network operator in Germany and also provides direct internet access, mobile fax and data communication and picture messages (MMS). The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[06] Commission approves proposed acquisition of GE Advanced Materials by the Apollo GroupThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the specialty chemicals part of General Electrics - GE Advanced Materials - of the US by the American private investment group Apollo. The Apollo Group will acquire the whole of GE Advanced Materials, including all the shares in the joint ventures GE Toshiba Silicones and GE Bayer Silicones (together GEAM). The Commission concluded that the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[07] Commission approves proposed acquisition of joint control of F Group by DSG International and FR InvestThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of joint control of F Group of Denmark by DSG International plc of the UK and FR Invest A/S of Denmark. F Group and DSG International are retailers of electrical and electronic goods. FR Invest is an investment vehicle. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or in any substantial part of it.[08] Les conteneurs de 45 pieds peuvent continuer à circuler sur les routes européennesLes Etats membres peuvent continuer à autoriser la circulation de conteneurs de 45 pieds dans le transport routier national. Une directive du Conseil de 1996, qui fixe les règles en matière de poids et de dimensions dans le transport routier, prévoit une période transitoire de 10 ans au cours de laquelle le transport de conteneurs de 45 pieds est autorisé. Cette période transitoire s'achève à la fin de cette année et les parties concernées craignent que les conteneurs de 45 pieds seront totalement interdits sur les routes. Cette crainte n'est cependant pas justifiée, car les conteneurs de 45 pieds pourront continuer à être utilisés en particulier pour les tronçons routiers des opérations de transport intermodal.[09] Common problems, shared solutions : development of the transport network in South-East EuropeThe second annual ministerial meeting for the development of the principal South-East Europe regional transport network has taken place in Brussels, attended by Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, and the Transport Ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (UNMIK). The purpose of today's meeting was to promote regional cooperation in developing the transport networks and thereby to contribute to the regional integration of the partners. The high-level participants signed a political resolution as well as a more specific declaration dealing with cooperation in the rail sector.[10] Commission proposes new import arrangements for New Zealand butterThe European Commission has proposed new arrangements for the import into the European Union of butter from New Zealand. The new system respects the judgment of the European Court of Justice - which in July ruled the previous system to be discriminatory - and also meets the concerns raised by New Zealand. The new regime, which was drawn up following lengthy consultations with Wellington, will attribute 55% of import licences to traditional importers of New Zealand butter and 45% to newcomers. It will be proposed to the Council to reduce the in-quota tariff by 19.43% and to modify slightly the butterfat specifications. In a case brought by a German dairy company, the European Court in July ruled the existing arrangements discriminatory, as import licences for New Zealand butter were only issued to subsidiaries of the Fonterra company, which enjoys an export monopoly in New Zealand.[11] October 2006 : Euro area unemployment down to 7.7% ; EU25 unchanged at 7.9%Euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at 7.7% in October 2006, compared to 7.8% in September. It was 8.5% in October 2005. The EU25 unemployment rate was 7.9% in October 2006, the same as September. It was 8.6% in October 2005. In October 2006, the lowest rates were registered in Denmark (3.5% in September), the Netherlands (3.9%), Estonia and Ireland (both 4.2%), and Austria (4.7%). Unemployment rates were highest in Poland (14.0%), Slovakia (12.7%), Greece (9.0% in the second quarter of 2006), France (8.8%) and Spain (8.4%). These figures come from Eurostat.[12] Danuta Hübner in North NetherlandsRegional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner is visiting the three northern Dutch provinces Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen and meeting the Governors of the three provinces, Relus Ter Beek, Ed Nijpels, and Hans Alders, respectively. The visit brings Commissioner Hübner to three locations providing good examples of innovation and development of the region's key sectors: the Wetsus water technology institute in Leeuwarden, the University Medical Centre in Groningen, and the sensor-technology of Astron/Lofar in Dwingeloo.[13] World AIDS Day : Markos Kyprianou presents award for best European HIV/AIDS commercial to 'Dance4Life' - the Netherlands'Dance4Life' from the Netherlands received the 'AIDS - Remember Me?' award for the best European HIV/AIDS awareness television commercial from European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou last night. The award was presented at the 'Night of the HIV/AIDS TV Commercials' at the Kinepolis cinema in Brussels, where a compilation of the best AIDS awareness campaigns from across the EU and the world were screened. Thousands of votes were cast on the web site, <a href="http://www.aids- remember-me.eu">www.aids-remember-me.eu and from this vote, the top 5 were submitted to an audience SMS vote last night which was won by 'Dance4Life'. Commissioner Kyprianou said: "One the eve of World AIDS Day we watched a unique screening of the best European AIDS awareness TV clips from the past 25 years. Many of the AIDS awareness clips screened last night used humour, others were hard-hitting, but all were memorable and spoke frankly to young people. The 'Dance4Life' campaign is a worthy winner as it sends a message of hope, that by acting together in partnership around the world we can protect ourselves and beat AIDS." For further information on the Commission campaign see IP/06/1565 and on the winner see <a href="http://www.dance4life.nl">www.dance4life.nl[14] Communicating Europe : Commission and Finnish Presidency to host a major conference on the EU, the media and new technologiesKey opinion formers from Europe's media will be joined in Helsinki next week, by European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström, for a stakeholders' conference, to be held on Monday and Tuesday, 4 and 5 December. Speaking ahead of the Conference, Ms Wallström said: "We need to present EU affairs in a way that sparks more emotion. The EU does not usually affect people's lives in sensational ways that grab headlines. But it affects people's lives in important ways and they have a right to know about it. They also want to know how people in other EU countries see the same issues."[15] Autre matériel diffuséNote on the Competitiveness CouncilThe short listed candidates for the European Enterprise Awards Speech by Olli Rehn : "Challenges and opportunities on the path to the EU" - lecture at the University (Faculty of Economy) of Osijek, Croatia Speech by Rehn : "Croatian challenges in reforming the judiciary and fighting against corruption" at Seminar organised by the Supreme Court of Croatia (30/11, Zagreb) Speech by Stavros Dimas : "Nairobi: prospects for the future" at European Voice Comment Forum debate on climate change (30/11) Calendrier du 4 au 8 décembre 2006
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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