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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-12-20
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] Climate change : Commission proposes bringing air transport into EU
Emissions Trading Scheme
[02] Commission invokes safeguard clause against Bulgaria on aviation
safety
[03] Europol va se transformer en une agence de l'Union plus efficace pour
aider la coopération policière entre les Etats membres
[04] Commission decides that Spanish measures in proposed E.ON/Endesa
takeover violate EC law
[05] Commission approves Glatfelter take-over of Crompton's Lydney paper
mill
[06] Commission re-adopts "alloy surcharge" cartel decision and fines
ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG €3,168,000
[07] Commission endorses €76 million aid to Conergy for production plant
of solar energy modules in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
[08] Commission opens in-depth inquiry into proposed restructuring aid to
Bison-Bial in Poland
[09] Commission authorises under conditions restructuring aid to Polish car
manufacturer FSO
[10] Commission endorses specific economic and fiscal regimes in Canary
Islands worth €7,135 million for period 2007-2013
[11] Commission opens formal investigation into sale of Bank Burgenland to
Grazer Wechselseitige in Austria
[12] Commission approves €2.03 million investment aid for German shipyard
Rolandwerft
[13] La Commission conclut que le régime fiscal français dit des "GIE
fiscaux" constitue une aide d'Etat
[14] Commission launches a formal investigation procedure with regard to
Germany for presumed State aid payments to the firms Bahnen der Stadt
Monheim and Rheinische Bahngesellschaft
[15] Commission approves aid for anti-pollution filters on Danish heavy
duty vehicles
[16] Commission examines the financing of Hessische Staatsweingüter by the
Land Hessen
[17] La Commission prête à accueillir trois nouvelles langues officielles
au 1er janvier 2007
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[18] Markos Kyprianou reaches agreement in principle with Russian
Agriculture Minister
[19] Commission clears acquisition of Access by Avnet
[20] Commission clears acquisition of CTF by Dresdner Bank and Gazprombank
[21] Commission clears acquisition of TECHEM by Macquarie
[22] Réforme de la PAC : la Commission salue l'accord intervenu au Conseil
sur la réforme du régime applicable au secteur de la banane
[23] Commission welcomes decision to prolong simplified aid scheme in new
Member States
[24] Energies renouvelables : la Commission salue la décision du Conseil
d'étendre à tous les Etats membres le régime d'aide aux cultures
énergétiques
[25] Study into the administrative burden for farmers
[26] First success for European Transparency Initiative – annual
disclosure of recipient data for EU funds
[27] Post-Tsunami reconstruction : 2 years on
[28] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-12-20
Reference: MEX/06/1220
Date: 20/12/2006
EXME06 / 20.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
20/12/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Climate change : Commission proposes bringing air transport into EU
Emissions Trading Scheme
The European Commission today underscored its firm commitment to combating
climate change by proposing legislation to bring greenhouse gas emissions
from civil aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). EU
emissions from international air transport are increasing faster than from
any other sector. This growth threatens to undermine the EU's progress in
cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions. Including civil aviation in the
EU ETS is a cost-effective way for the sector to control its emissions and
implements an approach endorsed by the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO). The proposed directive will cover emissions from
flights within the EU from 2011 and all flights to and from EU airports
from 2012. Both EU and foreign aircraft operators would be covered. Like
the industrial companies already covered by the EU ETS, airlines will be
able to sell surplus allowances if they reduce their emissions and will
need to buy additional allowances if their emissions grow. Any increase in
ticket costs resulting from the scheme is expected to be limited, and
significantly lower than rises due to oil price changes in recent years.
[02] Commission invokes safeguard clause against Bulgaria on aviation
safety
The European Commission has decided to partially exclude Bulgaria from the
benefit of the internal aviation market. Following an inspection performed
by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) earlier this month, the
Commission considers that there is a considerable risk that Bulgaria will
not be able to ensure full compliance with the Community rules on aviation
safety and on the internal aviation market. Therefore a safeguard clause
based on the Act of Accession is invoked, in order to ensure the proper
functioning of the EU air transport market and to guarantee the highest
level of safety to EU citizens.
[03] Europol va se transformer en une agence de l'Union plus efficace pour
aider la coopération policière entre les Etats membres
L'Office européen de police (Europol) est en passe de faire peau neuve.
Afin de doter l'Office d'un cadre plus souple, la Commission européenne
propose une décision du Conseil en remplacement de la convention du 26
juillet 1995, qui l'avait créé. Europol va ainsi être plus souple et
efficace dans sa mission d'assistance aux Etats membres dans la lutte
contre le terrorisme, le crime organisé et toute forme de criminalité
grave.
[04] Commission decides that Spanish measures in proposed E.ON/Endesa
takeover violate EC law
The European Commission has decided that Spain has violated Article 21 of
the EU Merger Regulation, which gives the Commission exclusive competence
over mergers of a European dimension, in that certain conditions imposed on
E.ON for its proposed acquisition of control over Endesa are incompatible
with EC law and are therefore illegal. The Commission decision refers in
particular to new conditions imposed in a decision of 3 November 2006,
adopted in the framework of an administrative appeal against a previous
decision of the Spanish Energy Regulator, CNE, on the proposed transaction.
The Commission decision requires Spain to withdraw the illegal conditions
by 19 January 2007.
[05] Commission approves Glatfelter take-over of Crompton's Lydney paper
mill
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed takeover of Crompton's Lydney paper mill by Glatfelter of the US.
The Commission undertook an in-depth investigation to verify whether the
proposed acquisition would create a dominant market player with the ability
to restrict production of so called 'wetlaid fibre materials' (used inter
alia to make tea bags) and drive up prices in the industry (see
IP/06/1228). However, the market investigation has shown that several
competitors are active in the relevant market for wetlaid fibre for tea and
coffee filtration, which is still growing. The Commission has therefore
concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective
competition in the European Economic Area or a significant part of it.
[06] Commission re-adopts "alloy surcharge" cartel decision and fines
ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG €3,168,000
The European Commission has re-adopted a decision on a cartel in the
stainless steel sector and fined ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG (formerly Krupp
Nirosta GmbH) a total of €3,168,000. The infringement consisted in the
participation of Thyssen Stahl GmbH (formerly Thyssen Stahl AG) in a cartel
fixing an important part of the price of stainless steel ("the alloy
surcharge") between 1993 and 1994 in violation of Article 65 of the (now
lapsed) ECSC Treaty. The re-adoption follows a judgement of the Court of
Justice of 14 July 2005, confirming the Court of First Instance's partial
annulment, on procedural grounds, of the Commission decision of 21 January
1998 insofar as the fine imposed on ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG for the
infringement committed by Thyssen Stahl GmbH was concerned.
[07] Commission endorses €76 million aid to Conergy for production plant
of solar energy modules in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
The European Commission has authorised, under EC Treaty state aid rules,
€76 million of aid which the German Government intends to grant to
Conergy over three years for the creation of a new production plant for
solar energy modules in Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg. The Commission
considered the aid to be compatible with the rules on regional state aid to
large investment projects.
[08] Commission opens in-depth inquiry into proposed restructuring aid to
Bison-Bial in Poland
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to establish
whether the €8 million aid the Polish authorities intend to grant for the
restructuring of machine-tool manufacturer Bison-Bial is compatible with
the EC Treaty rules on state aid. On the basis of the information currently
at its disposal, the Commission doubts whether the notified restructuring
plan is sufficient to restore the firm's long term viability and has
concerns that the aid would create undue distortions of competition in the
machine tool sector,which already suffers from overcapacity. The opening of
an in-depth investigation allows interested parties to comment on the
proposed measures. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure.
[09] Commission authorises under conditions restructuring aid to Polish car
manufacturer FSO
Following an in-depth investigation, the European Commission has concluded
that restructuring aid to Fabryka Samochodow Osobowych ("FSO"), Poland, is
compatible with EC Treaty state aid rules provided that certain conditions
are respected. The Commission found that the aid is limited to the minimum
necessary and that the restructuring plan of FSO is sufficient to restore
the firm's long term viability. However, the Commission also considers that,
without appropriate safeguards, the aid could lead to undue distortion of
competition. The car manufacturing sector has excess capacity and the aid
risks shifting the difficulties and the burden of adjustment to other firms
and workers in other Member States. In this context, FSO must limit its
annual car production to 150000 units until February 2011.
[10] Commission endorses specific economic and fiscal regimes in Canary
Islands worth €7,135 million for period 2007-2013
The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules, two
regional aid schemes for the Canary Islands, the Economic and Fiscal Regime
(REF) and the Special Economic Zone (ZEC). The measures are intended to
promote regional development in the Canary Islands by enabling companies
established in this outlying region to overcome their natural structural
handicaps. The fiscal measures, with a combined planned budget of €7,135
million for the period 2007-2013, offer incentives for investment, job
creation and the diversification of the regional economic structure.
[11] Commission opens formal investigation into sale of Bank Burgenland to
Grazer Wechselseitige in Austria
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation under EC Treaty
state aid rules into the sale of Bank Burgenland. Land Burgenland decided
to sell the bank in March 2006 to the Austrian insurance company Grazer
Wechselseitige Versicherung AG (GRAWE) for €100.3 million, although the
tender procedure had also produced an offer of €155 million by an
Ukrainian/Austrian Consortium. The Commission has to make sure that the
tender was conducted in a non-discriminatory manner and that the sale did
not involve incompatible state aid. The opening of an investigation
procedure gives interested parties the possibility to comment on the
measures under scrutiny. It does not prejudge the outcome of the
investigation.
[12] Commission approves €2.03 million investment aid for German shipyard
Rolandwerft
The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules
regional investment aid totalling €2.03 million for the German shipyard
Rolandwerft. After an in-depth investigation initiated in February 2006
concerning a first set of investments worth €1.56 million (see IP/06/203),
the Commission has concluded that the investment is limited to a
modernisation of the yard which will improve its productivity. It will not
result in a disproportionate capacity increase. Simultaneously, the
Commission has approved further investment aid to Rolandwerft worth €0.47
million notified in August 2006.
[13] La Commission conclut que le régime fiscal français dit des "GIE
fiscaux" constitue une aide d'Etat
A l'issue d'une enquête approfondie ouverte en décembre 2004 (voir
IP/04/1484), la Commission européenne a conclu que le dispositif fiscal de
financement de biens mis en location par des groupements d'intérêt
économique (GIE) constitue une aide d'Etat en vertu des règles du traité
CE relatives aux aides d'Etat. Ce régime, qui a principalement
bénéficié au secteur du transport maritime, est une aide d'Etat en
raison de l'avantage sélectif qu'il procure à certains secteurs et du
caractère discrétionnaire de ses conditions d'octroi. Ce régime est
incompatible avec le marché commun, à l'exception des aides visant Ã
faciliter le développement du transport ferroviaire (article 87,
paragraphe 3, point c, du traité) et des autres aides éventuellement
compatibles en application de règles sectorielles ou régionales. La
récupération des aides illégales et incompatibles est limitée à celles
octroyées depuis l'ouverture de la procédure formelle d'examen pour des
raisons tenant au respect du principe de sécurité juridique. La France
doit désormais modifier le régime des "GIE fiscaux", dans les limites de
son incompatibilité, afin de le rendre conforme aux règles du traité CE
relatives aux aides d'Etat.
[14] Commission launches a formal investigation procedure with regard to
Germany for presumed State aid payments to the firms Bahnen der Stadt
Monheim and Rheinische Bahngesellschaft
In today's decision, the European Commission has doubts as to the
classification of payments made to the firms Bahnen der Stadt Monheim and
Rheinische Bahngesellschaft by the Verkerhrsverbund Rhein Ruhr and by the
firms Monheimer Verkehrs- und Versorgungswerke and Düsseldorfer Stadtwerke
Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH as public service compensation within the
meaning of the Altmark ruling.
[15] Commission approves aid for anti-pollution filters on Danish heavy
duty vehicles
The European Commission has approved aid to alleviate the cost of
retrofitting Danish lorries and passenger buses with particulate filters.
Such filters will especially reduce the pollution level of elderly heavy
duty lorries and buses and thus contribute to the protection of human
health and the environment, particularly in urban area.
[16] Commission examines the financing of Hessische Staatsweingüter by the
Land Hessen
The European Commission has decided to open a formal investigation in
respect of the financing of the Hessische Staatsweingüter by the Land
Hessen. The Commission expresses its doubts as to the compatibility of
different support measures with State aid rules. Hessische Staatweingüter
is the biggest vineyard in Germany, with a cultivated area of some 190
hectares. It is 100% owned by the Land Hessen.
[17] La Commission prête à accueillir trois nouvelles langues officielles
au 1er janvier 2007
Dans moins de deux semaines, l'Union européenne aura 23 langues
officielles, lorsque la Bulgarie et la Roumanie adhéreront et que
l'irlandais deviendra une langue officielle. Pour se préparer à ce nouveau
défi, la Commission européenne a adopté une stratégie destinée Ã
orienter sa traduction de textes écrits en 2007 et au-delà . Cette
stratégie vise à mieux identifier les besoins et fournisseurs de
traductions et consacre le multilinguisme comme un élément essentiel dans
l'élaboration des politiques et la planification par la Commission. Les
démarches entreprises en Bulgarie et en Roumanie pour fournir des
traducteurs et des interprètes aux institutions de l'UE ont bien avancé.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[18] Markos Kyprianou reaches agreement in principle with Russian
Agriculture Minister
In Moscow on 19 December, European Health and Consumer Protection
Commissioner Markos Kyprianou reached an agreement in principle with
Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev to secure the continuation of
EU exports of animal products to Russia after the accession of Bulgaria and
Romania on 1Â January 2007. The verbal agreement remains subject to
finalisation by experts with a view to a Memorandum of Understanding being
signed by the services of the Commission and the Russian Ministry of
Agriculture at the 'Green Week' in Berlin on 18 January. Mr Kyprianou
stressed the importance of meeting this deadline and if possible signing
the Memorandum even earlier. Commissioner Kyprianou and Minister Gordeyev
agreed that their meeting was a good opportunity for an exchange of views
on similar concerns and that their services would start to work together
already tomorrow morning in Moscow on the Memorandum of Understanding.
Commissioner Kyprianou said: "We managed to resolve this issue because we
share the same concerns and have the same target, which is to reduce risks
but at the same time maintain trade. We appreciate the confidence that the
Russian authorities have shown in our high veterinary and food safety
standards, which while protecting ourselves also protect Russia."
[19] Commission clears acquisition of Access by Avnet
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of MRA Systems Inc. dba
Access Distribution (Access) of the US by Avnet Inc. (Avnet) of the US.
Avnet distributes electronic components, computer products and technology
services, information technology (IT) products, solutions and services.
Access distributes IT products, solutions and services. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[20] Commission clears acquisition of CTF by Dresdner Bank and Gazprombank
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Carbon Trade & Finance
S.A (CTF) of Luxembourg by Dresdner Bank AG of Germany, part of the German
Allianz group, and Joint-Stock Bank of the Gas Industry (Gazprombank) of
Russia, part of the Russian Gazprom group. Dresdner Bank is active in a
full range of banking and financial services, including the trading of EU
CO2 emission credits under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Gazprombank
provides universal banking and financial services to non-corporate and
corporate customer in Russia. The Carbon Trade & Finance joint venture will
invest in "primary" projects generating Kyoto CO² emission credits and
repackage the credits for resale at a "secondary" level. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[21] Commission clears acquisition of TECHEM by Macquarie
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Techem AG (TECHEM) of
Germany by MEIF II Energie Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG (MEIF II KG) of
Germany, owned, by the Macquarie Bank Limited (Macquarie) of Australia.
MEIF II KG is a German limited partnership, active in the acquisition and
sale of companies or their assets and all related actions and legal
transactions. Macquarie provides specialist financial and investment
banking services. TECHEM is active in sub-metering utilities consumption
and the market for energy contracting. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[22] Réforme de la PAC : la Commission salue l'accord intervenu au Conseil
sur la réforme du régime applicable au secteur de la banane
La Commission européenne se félicite de l'accord intervenu le 19
décembre entre les ministres de l'agriculture de l'Union au sujet d'une
réforme radicale du régime d'aide aux producteurs de bananes. Cette
réforme permettra 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. Fondée sur
une proposition de la Commission, elle abolira le régime actuel d'aide
compensatoire aux producteurs de bananes. Les fonds jusqu'ici consacrés au
soutien des producteurs de bananes viendront s'ajouter à la dotation du
programme POSEI, programme d'aide à la production agricole dans les
régions ultrapériphériques de l'Union. En ce qui concerne les bananes
produites en dehors de ces régions, les crédits seront transférés vers
le régime de paiement unique, mis en œuvre pour les produits agricoles
visés par les précédentes réformes. Les nouvelles dispositions
entreront en vigueur au début de l'année 2007.
[23] Commission welcomes decision to prolong simplified aid scheme in new
Member States
The European Commission welcomes decision on 19 December by the Agriculture
Council to extend until 2010 the simplified direct aid scheme applicable in
eight of the Member States which joined the EU in 2004. In the interests of
simplifying the management of the CAP, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus,
Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia will be allowed to
continue operating the Single Area Payment Scheme (SAPS) for a further two
years until the end of 2010. Under SAPS, uniform per-hectare entitlements
are granted within any one region from regional financial envelopes.
[24] Energies renouvelables : la Commission salue la décision du Conseil
d'étendre à tous les Etats membres le régime d'aide aux cultures
énergétiques
La Commission européenne se félicite de la décision prise le 19
décembre par les ministres de l'agriculture de l'Union d'étendre aux
nouveaux Etats membres qui actuellement n'y ont pas droit le bénéfice de
la prime aux cultures énergétiques, introduite dans le cadre de la
réforme de la PAC de 2003. Grâce à cette décision, les agriculteurs de
Bulgarie, de République tchèque, d'Estonie, de Chypre, de Lettonie, de
Lituanie, de Hongrie, de Pologne, de Roumanie et de Slovaquie auront la
possibilité de toucher €45 par hectare consacré aux cultures
énergétiques. Cette mesure portera de 1,5 à 2 millions d'hectares la
superficie totale admissible au bénéfice de l'aide. Afin d'encourager
davantage la production de matières premières destinées à la production
d'énergie renouvelable, le Conseil a également autorisé les Etats
membres à octroyer une aide pouvant représenter jusqu'à 50% des dépenses
afférentes à l'établissement de cultures permanentes sur des superficies
ayant fait l'objet d'une demande d'aide aux cultures énergétiques.
[25] Study into the administrative burden for farmers
Today the European Commission signed a contract to conduct a study into the
administrative burden imposed on farmers by the direct payment rules
introduced in the 2003 CAP reform. In the framework of simplification, the
Commission is seeking to identify and to assess the administrative burden
resulting from CAP-related measures. This study will be a big step forward
in identifying what can be and should be simplified. It forms part of DG
Agriculture and Rural Development's contribution to promoting Better
Regulation and therefore contributing towards the Lisbon Strategy. To cover
the different ways in which the direct payments could be implemented after
the 2003 CAP reform, the study will measure the actual burden in five
Member States: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland and Italy. The study also
covers the administrative burden related to the cross compliance
obligations that are a part of the direct payments system. First results of
the study are expected mid-2007. The measurement of administrative burdens
is a key element in identifying policy areas in which simplification would
have the biggest economic impact. To ensure comparability of results the
contractor will follow the EU methodology for assessing administrative
costs as set out in COM (2005) 518 final.
[26] First success for European Transparency Initiative – annual
disclosure of recipient data for EU funds
With adoption of the revised Financial Regulation the EU has committed
itself to full transparency about who receives monies from the EU budget.
There will be annual ex-post publication of beneficiaries of money received
from the Structural Funds as from 2008 and of money received under the
Common Agricultural Policy as of 2009. The Commission has itself already
started publishing information on beneficiaries under the programmes it
manages directly. With this, the European Commission's ambitious
Transparency Initiative launched end 2005 has achieved its first objective.
The European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee is today debating a
working document on the Transparency Initiative.
[27] Post-Tsunami reconstruction : 2 years on
Two years after the tsunami hit South East Asia, the European Union and the
international community have successfully made the transition from
providing immediate humanitarian aid to reconstruction aid: helping local
authorities and communities re-establish their lives within a longer term
vision – re-building homes, livelihoods and infrastructure 100% of the
€123 million humanitarian aid and 96% of the €350 million in medium and
long-term reconstruction pledged by the European Commission has been
contracted. The first concrete results are now being seen.
[28] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions & answers on aviation & climate change
Commission invokes safeguard clause against Bulgaria on aviation safety
Europol: une organisation européenne destinée à assurer la coordination
transfrontalière entre les autorités répressives des Etats membres de
l'UE
Competition: Commission action against cartels – Questions and answers
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