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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-03-23Midday 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 Communicationb23/03/07[01] La Commission assigne l'Espagne devant la Cour européenne pour son interdiction des importations de produits à base d'herbesLa Commission européenne a décidé de mener l'Espagne devant la Cour de justice européenne de justice en raison de son interdiction systématique des importations de produits à base d'herbes en provenance des autres Etats membres. Selon la Commission, la réglementation actuelle de l'Espagne est un obstacle à la libre circulation des biens sur le marché intérieur. La Commission prend cette initiative à la suite d'une multitude de plaintes émanant de sociétés d'importation et après que des démarches juridiques officielles préalables aient échoué à ouvrir le marché espagnol des produits à base d'herbes.[02] Commission closes procedure against German deposit system for cans and bottlesThe European Commission has closed an infringement procedure against Germany relating to the deposit system for one-way drinks packaging, such as cans and plastic bottles. The Commission considers that the rules applied are now in line with the requirements concerning the free movement of goods and Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.[03] TVA : procédures d'infraction à l'encontre de l'Italie et de la SuèdeLa Commission européenne a décidé de traduire l'Italie devant la Cour de Justice pour avoir étendu à 2002 le volet TVA de l'amnistie fiscale italienne ("condono"). La Commission a également invité formellement la Suède à modifier ses règles relatives au taux réduit de TVA appliqué par la Suède aux importations et aux livraisons intracommunautaires de livres audio. Actuellement, la Suède applique aux livraisons de livres audio un taux de 6%, au lieu du taux normal de 25%. La Commission est, toutefois, d'avis qu'il n'existe aucun fondement juridique à l'application d'un tel taux réduit. Cette demande est faite sous la forme d'un avis motivé, qui constitue la seconde étape de la procédure d’infraction prévue à l'article 226 du traité CE.[04] Taxation of electricity : infringement procedure against PolandThe European Commission has sent Poland a formal request to align its electricity taxation system on the Community framework. Under EU law, excise duty on electricity is chargeable at the time of supply by the distributor or redistributor, making them liable to pay the tax. In Poland, however, excise duty on electricity is charged to the producer at the time of supply. The request from the Commission takes the form of a "reasoned opinion", the second stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If Poland fails to comply, the Commission, as Guardian of the Treaty, may take action against Poland before the European Court of Justice.[05] Commission invites comments on four carmakers' commitments to give adequate access to technical informationThe European Commission has invited comments from interested parties on commitments proposed by four carmakers - DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, General Motors and Fiat - to give independent repair shops adequate access to technical information. Following an in-depth Commission investigation, the four carmakers proposed commitments to address the Commission's preliminary concern that they appeared not to have provided independent repairers with adequate access to technical information. Lack of such access makes it more difficult for independent workshops to compete, thereby potentially limiting European consumers' choice of local repair shops. If the results of this market test are positive, the Commission intends to adopt decisions under Article 9(1) of Regulation 1/2003 declaring the four sets of commitments to be binding. These decisions would bring the proceedings in the four cases to an end.[06] Commission requests Ireland to end discriminatory rules on tax treatment of patent royaltiesBy a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, the European Commission has formally requested Ireland to change its tax law provision by which patent royalties are tax exempt only if research leading to the patent was carried out in Ireland. The provision is incompatible with the freedom of establishment and the free movement of services. If there is no satisfactory reaction to the reasoned opinion within two months, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.[07] Commission requests Czech Republic to bring Czech Competition Act into conformity with EU lawThe European Commission has formally requested the Czech Republic to amend a provision of the Czech Competition Act that limits the Czech Competition Authority's power to apply Articles 81 (prohibiting cartels and other restrictive business practices) and 82 (prohibiting abuses of dominant position) of the EC Treaty to anticompetitive behaviour in the electronic communications sector. The request takes the form of a reasoned opinion, the second step of EC Treaty infringement procedures (Article 226). Unless the Czech Republic brings its legislation into compliance within two months of receipt of the reasoned opinion, the Commission may decide to refer this case to the European Court of Justice.[08] La Commission cite l'Espagne devant la Cour de justice européenne et demande que la Slovénie applique pleinement la directive sur la transparence financièreLa Commission européenne a décidé de traduire l'Espagne devant la Cour de justice européenne pour défaut d'application complète de la directive de la Commission sur la transparence des relations financières entre les États membres et les entreprises publiques (2000/52/CE, modifiant la directive 80/723/CE, voir IP/00/763). L'Espagne a été préalablement sommée officiellement, par un avis motivé envoyé en mars 2005 (voir IP/05/345 ), d'appliquer intégralement la directive dans un délai de deux mois. L'Espagne n'a toujours pas obtempéré à cette requête. La Commission a aussi adressé à la Slovénie une demande formelle l’invitant à transposer entièrement la directive initiale sur la transparence financière 80/723/CEE et les trois directives qui la modifient (85/413/CEE, 93/84/CEE et 2000/52/CE). La demande prend la forme d'un avis motivé, deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction prévue à l'article 226 du traité CE. Si la Slovénie ne prend pas les mesures nécessaires pour se conformer à l'avis motivé dans un délai de deux mois à compter de sa réception, la Commission peut décider de la traduire devant la Cour de justice.[09] Commission approves proposed creation of scrap metal joint venture between Scholz and voestalpineThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed creation of a joint venture between Scholz AG of Germany and voestalpine AG of Austria in the collection and processing of scrap metal. The Commission concluded that the notified operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[10] Commission clears acquisition of DSS by BMW INTECThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of DEKRA Südleasing Services GmbH (DSS) of Germany, which controls the undertakings Leasing- und Handelsgesellschaft Deutschland mbH (LHS) and DSL Fleetservices GmbH (DSL) by BMW INTEC Beteiligungs GmbH (BMW INTEC) also of Germany, controlled by Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMW AG). BMW INTEC and DSS are holding companies. LHS is active in the leasing of cars and fleet management. DSL is active in fleet management. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[11] Decisions on National Allocation Plans for Czech Republic, Poland and FranceOn Monday 26 March, the European Commission is scheduled to take its decisions on the national allocation plans submitted by the Czech Republic, Poland and France under Directive 2003/87/EC, which establishes the EU emissions trading scheme for greenhouse gases. The decisions will be communicated at 12h00 Central European Time (CET) via press releases.The announcements will also be displayed simultaneously on both the href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/">http://europa.eu.int/rapid/) and the DG Environment website at: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.htm and <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm. The legal decisions will be posted on the DG Environment emissions trading website at the time of the announcement being made: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm [12] Commission agrees €12 million of humanitarian assistance for victims of the internal conflict in ColombiaThe European Commission has agreed a Global Plan to grant €12 million of humanitarian aid to support people who are displaced from their homes, blocked in their area or who flee to neighbouring countries as a result of the longstanding internal conflict in Colombia. The assistance is targeted to provide help to 197,000 people. The aid will be targeted at the most urgent needs, principally water and sanitation, shelter, health care, food and livelihood support, psychosocial support and protection. The aid will be channelled through the Commission's Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel and will be distributed by humanitarian NGOs and international agencies operating in the region.[13] European Union signs aviation agreement with MalaysiaYesterday, the EU signed an aviation agreement with Malaysia, which removes nationality restrictions in the bilateral air services agreements and thereby allows European airlines to operate flights between any EU Member State and Malaysia. The agreement was signed in Brussels by Commission Vice- President Jacques Barrot in charge of transport, Germany's Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Wolfgang Tiefensee, and the Malaysian Minister of Transport Y. B. Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. The agreement demonstrates that there is an external dimension to the single European market for air transport.[14] 24-25 March : Youth Summit in Rome - Young Europeans through statisticsWhat is the proportion of young people in the EU27 population? What share of young people have completed secondary education? In what fields do they graduate from tertiary education? Where is the youth unemployment rate highest? How does young peoples' use of the Internet differ from the total population? In conjunction with the Youth Summit, which is being organised on 24-25 March 2007 by the European Commission and European Parliament, in collaboration with the Youth Forum Jeunesse, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, Eurostat publishes some statistical data on the situation of young people in the European Union.[15] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by President José Manuel Barroso : "50 years of Europe: Honouring the past, inspiring the future" at Italian Senate (Rome)Discours du Président José Manuel Barroso : "50ème anniversaire du Traité de Rome – de nos succès historiques à la relance institutionnelle" au Comité des Régions (Rome) Speech by President José Manuel Barroso : "Europe's new humanism" at the De Gasperi Conference (Rome, ! embargo 17h15 !) Speech by Neelie Kroes : "Improving Europe's energy markets through more competition" at Tischgespräch - Industrie-Club e.V. Düsseldorf (! embargo 13h30!) Discours de M. Leonard Orban : "Il ruolo del multilinguismo nella comunicazione con i cittadini dell’Unione europea" à la Accademia di Romania/Università 'La Sapienza' (Rome) Opening speech by Stavros Dimas at the European Water Conference (23/03) Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Priorities in the Internal Market" to British- American Business Inc. and European-American Business Council (22/03, London) Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Asset Management: Delivering on Industry & Market Needs" at annual dinner Institutional Money Market Funds Association (22/03, London) Speech by Danuta Hübner : "The Leverage effect of Structural Funds" at ANCI-IDEALI (22/03) Calendrier du 26 au 31 mars 2007 Top News from the European Commission du 26 mars au 29 avril 2007
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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