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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-01-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Marchés de valeurs mobilières : la Commission propose d'élargir le
champ d'application de la directive concernant les contrats de garantie
financière
[02] New Commission report looks at the myths surrounding world
agricultural trade
[03] Commission proposes to open aviation negotiations with Canada
[04] Imposition des paiements d'intérêts et de redevances : la Commission
demande à l'Italie d'appliquer correctement la directive communautaire
[05] Direct taxes : Commission requests Portugal to end discrimination
against non-Portuguese service providers
[06] Fiscalité directe : la Commission clôture deux procédures
d'infraction à l'encontre de l'Espagne et de l'Italie
[07] Commission decides to refer Sweden to Court concerning discrimination
against foreign pension funds
[08] Direct taxation : Commission requests Italy to end the application of
a withholding tax on dividends paid to parent companies in the Netherlands
[09] Commission clears proposed acquisition of Symbol by Motorola
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-01-09
Reference: MEX/07/0109
Date: 09/01/2007
EXME07 / 9.1
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
09/01/07
[01] Marchés de valeurs mobilières : la Commission propose d'élargir le
champ d'application de la directive concernant les contrats de garantie
financière
La Commission européenne a remis son rapport d'évaluation sur la
directive 2002/47/CE concernant les contrats de garantie financière. Il
conclut que la directive a rendu l'usage des garanties et l'exécution des
obligations de garantie financière à la fois plus simple et plus efficace.
Dans l'ensemble, les Etats membres ont correctement transposé la
directive. La Commission propose d'élargir le champ d'application de la
directive à certaines créances qui, à compter du 1er janvier 2007, seront
des garanties éligibles pour les opérations de crédit de l'Eurosystème.
[02] New Commission report looks at the myths surrounding world
agricultural trade
The best outcome for the world trade talks in agriculture is a balanced
approach, with the greatest benefits for agricultural trade liberalisation
coming from the cumulative effects of cuts in domestic support, export
subsidies and tariffs. That is the conclusion of the latest MAP (Monitoring
Agri-trade Policy) report, published by the Commission's Directorate-
General for Agriculture and Rural Development. The current debate on the
Doha Round often appears polarised around two competing approaches. Some
claim the potential benefits from trade liberalisation come almost
exclusively from tariff cuts, while others argue the debate should be
exclusively about subsidies. The latest MAP looks at the gap between
rhetoric and reality, and attempts to get to the bottom of some common
misunderstandings about the impact of policies on trade. It looks at the
trade patterns of some key players in the Doha Round and assesses the EU
offer. The report is available at <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/map/03_06.pdf">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/map/03_06.pdf
[03] Commission proposes to open aviation negotiations with Canada
The European Commission has proposed today to open negotiations with Canada
on a comprehensive aviation agreement. The aim is to establish an open
aviation area between the EU and Canada, to open market restrictions and to
achieve a high level of regulatory convergence.
[04] Imposition des paiements d'intérêts et de redevances : la Commission
demande à l'Italie d'appliquer correctement la directive communautaire
La Commission européenne a demandé officiellement à l'Italie de mettre
correctement en Å“uvre la directive 2003/49/CE du Conseil du 3 juin 2003
concernant un régime fiscal commun applicable aux paiements d'intérêts
et de redevances effectués entre des sociétés associées d'Etats membres
différents. La demande a été adressée sous la forme d'un avis motivé,
ce qui correspond à la deuxième étape de la procédure
d'infraction prévue à l'article 226 du traité CE. En l'absence d'une
réponse satisfaisante de l'Italie à l'avis motivé dans un délai de deux
mois, la Commission peut décider de saisir la Cour européenne de justice.
[05] Direct taxes : Commission requests Portugal to end discrimination
against non-Portuguese service providers
The European Commission has sent Portugal a formal request to amend its
legislation concerning the tax rules according to which non-resident
entities providing services in Portugal are subject to a withholding tax
based on the gross amount of their income, whereas domestic providers are
taxed only on their net profits. The Commission considers that these rules
are incompatible with the EC Treaty, which guarantees the free provision of
services. The request is in the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under Article
226 of the EC Treaty. If Portugal does not reply satisfactorily to the
reasoned opinion within two months the Commission may refer the matter to
the Court.
[06] Fiscalité directe : la Commission clôture deux procédures
d'infraction à l'encontre de l'Espagne et de l'Italie
La Commission européenne a clôturé la procédure visant l'Espagne en ce
qui concerne les règles fiscales espagnoles relatives aux cotisations de
retraite versées à des fonds étrangers. Elle considère que les
modifications apportées à la législation espagnole qui permettent de
déduire les cotisations versées à des fonds de pension établis dans
d'autres Etats membres sont conformes aux modifications exigées dans son
avis motivé. La Commission a également clôturé une procédure Ã
l'encontre de l'Italie, qui portait sur la manière dont ce pays notifiait
les actes fiscaux aux non-résidents. La Commission se félicite de ces
modifications.
[07] Commission decides to refer Sweden to Court concerning discrimination
against foreign pension funds
The European Commission has decided to refer Sweden to the European Court
of Justice for its discriminatory pension tax legislation. Premiums paid by
employers for pension insurance taken with insurers established in other EU
Member States or in countries in the European Economic Area are treated
less favourably than contributions to domestic schemes.
[08] Direct taxation : Commission requests Italy to end the application of
a withholding tax on dividends paid to parent companies in the Netherlands
The European Commission has sent Italy a formal request to end the
application of a withholding tax on the distribution of dividends to parent
companies established in the Netherlands. The request is in the form of a
'reasoned opinion', the second step of the procedure under Article 226 of
the EC Treaty, Italy having failed to react to the letter of formal notice
sent by the Commission on the matter. If Italy does not reply
satisfactorily to the reasoned opinion within two months the Commission may
refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.
[09] Commission clears proposed acquisition of Symbol by Motorola
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Symbol Technologies INC. (Symbol), an American
company producing so-called 'ruggedised' mobile computers (i.e. with a
rugged body designed for use in harsh, dirty or extreme environments or
ways which might easily damage a standard mobile computer), by Motorola Inc
(Motorola) of the US, active in wireless and broadband technology. The
Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede
effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part
of it.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Statement of Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs after the interruption of
oil supplies from Belarus to the European Union (08/01)
Discours de M. Franco Frattini : "L'Europe par le droit" Ã la Cour de
Cassation (08/01, Paris)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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