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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-03-28Midday 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[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb28/03/07[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting[01] La Commission lance un débat sur la promotion de l'utilisation des instruments fondés sur le marché pour soutenir les fins de politique de l'environnement et de l'énergieJuste après le Conseil européen de printemps qui a été couronné de succès et au cours duquel ont été fixés des objectifs très ambitieux dans les domaines de l'énergie et du changement climatique, la Commission européenne a adopté un livre vert sur l'utilisation des instruments fondés sur le marché à des fins de politique environnementale et énergétique. Etant donné que les instruments fondés sur le marché se sont révélés aptes à réaliser les objectifs stratégiques au moindre coût, le document vise à susciter un large débat public sur la façon dont les taxes, les droits d'émission négociables et autres instruments fondés sur le marché peuvent être utilisés plus largement et plus efficacement à des fins de politique environnementale et énergétique, aux niveaux communautaire et national.[02] Commission proposes to end waste of fisheries resourcesThe European Commission has adopted a communication on reducing unwanted catches and eliminating discards in European fisheries. Discarding is the practice of dumping overboard unwanted fish or other marine organisms which have been caught unintentionally. Discard rates in European fisheries vary widely, from negligible in some small-scale coastal fisheries, to up to 70- 90% of the catches in some trawl fisheries. The proposed approach represents an innovation for the Common Fisheries Policy. It involves the adoption of a progressive fishery-by-fishery discard ban and the setting of standards for maximum acceptable by-catch. This will provide an incentive to industry to devise ways to meeting the by-catch targets, rather than through series of measures to regulate landings. In short, the incentive would be for fishers to take from the sea only what can be marketed. The debate on achieving these aims will continue till the end of 2007 and the first proposed measures could be tabled in 2008.[03] La Commission renvoie l'Espagne devant la Cour de justice pour n'avoir pas supprimé les conditions illégales imposées en ce qui concerne l'offre de rachat d'Endesa par E.ONLa Commission européenne a décidé de traduire l'Espagne devant la Cour de justice européenne pour n'avoir pas respecté ses décisions lui faisant obligation de retirer certaines conditions relatives à l'offre de rachat d'Endesa par E.ON. Certaines de ces conditions ont été imposées en juillet 2006 par le régulateur espagnol du secteur de l'énergie (CNE), d'autres par une décision ministérielle du 3 novembre 2006. Les conditions en question ont été déclarées illégales en vertu de l'article 21 du règlement sur les concentrations de l'UE par les décisions de la Commission du 26 septembre 2006 et du 20 décembre 2006 (voir IP/06/1265 et IP/06/1853). Ces décisions avaient un effet contraignant immédiat.[04] Commission initiates infringement proceedings against Greece over ban on certain animal importsThe European Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to Greece for imposing a national ban on imports of fattening lambs and kids from Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, and from all third countries. As intra- Community trade and rules for imports of animals and animal products are harmonised, such unilateral bans are contrary to EU law.[05] De nouvelles règles financières facilitent l'utilisation des fonds de l'UEUn travail intensif de deux ans a fini par porter ses fruits : l'Union européenne dispose d'une nouvelle série de règles financières en vue d'une meilleure utilisation de ses fonds pour le cadre financier 2007-2013. Ces nouvelles règles vont simplifier l'accès aux financements tout en réduisant les procédures administratives à un strict minimum. Pour la première fois, les noms des bénéficiaires de tous les fonds de l'UE seront rendus publics.[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[06] Environment : Commission welcomes final political agreement on LIFE+European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed the final political agreement reached by the Council and the European Parliament last night on the new 'LIFE+' Financial Instrument for the Environment. The overall budget foreseen for LIFE+ is just under €1.9 billion for the period 2007-2013 (in 2004 prices), i.e. very close to the amount initially proposed by the Commission. 78% of the budget is dedicated to project action grants and at least 50% of this has been reserved for spending on the "nature and biodiversity" part of the Programme.[07] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition du fabricant français de roulements SNR par le japonais NTNLa Commission européenne a donné son aval, en vertu du règlement communautaire sur les concentrations, au projet d'acquisition de SNR, fabricant français de roulements, par le japonais NTN. Elle a conclu que l'opération n'entraverait pas significativement l'exercice d'une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.[08] Commission approves proposed acquisition of joint control of Mölnlycke Healthcare Group by Investor AB and Morgan Stanley GroupThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of joint control of Mölnlycke Healthcare Care UK Ltd (Mölnlycke) of Sweden, a provider of surgical and wound care products, by Investor AB, a Swedish industrial holding company, and Morgan Stanley Principal Investments Inc. belonging to the Morgan Stanley group of the US. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[09] Commission clears acquisition of AZ by Vestar and CarlyleThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of AZ Electronic Materials (AZ) of Luxembourg by Vestar Capital Fund V, a fund managed by Vestar Capital Partners (Vestar) of the US and Carlyle Europe Partners II, a fund managed by the Carlyle Group (Carlyle), also of the US. Vestar and Carlyle are private equity investment funds. AZ produces specialty chemicals for semi-conductors, flat panel displays and offset printing. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[10] La Commission autorise la création d'une entreprise commune entre Sagard et CognetasLa Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de Saint-Gobain Desjoncquerès (comportant Saint-Gobain Desjoncquères S.A. (France), SG la Granja (Espagne) et les activités brésiliennes de SG Vidros (Brésil)) par Sagard II A FCPR et Sagard II B FCPR, sociétés de capital-investissement gérées par Sagard SAS (Sagard) de France, et les entreprises FCPR Cognetas II A et FCPR Cognetas II B, sociétés de capital-investissement gérées par Cognetas SA (Cognetas) de France, par achat d'actions dans une société nouvellement créée constituant une entreprise commune. PCC, Sagard et Cognetas sont des compagnies privées de capitaux propres. Saint- Gobain Desjoncquerès est active dans la production et la commercialisation de flacons en verre principalement pour les industries de la parfumerie et de la pharmacie. Il ressort de l'enquête menée par la Commission que l'opération envisagée n'entravera pas de manière significative la concurrence dans le marché commun. Cette affaire a été traitée selon la procédure simplifiée.[11] Charlie McCreevy welcomes progress made in ECOFIN Council on Payment Services DirectiveOn 27 March, finance ministers in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) unanimously adopted a general approach on a compromise text for the Payment Services Directive (PSD). The aim of the PSD is to make cross-border payments within the EU – by credit card, debit card, electronic bank transfer, direct debit or any other means – as easy, cheap and secure as domestic payments within one Member State, and to provide the necessary legal foundation to make the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) possible. It will greatly reinforce the rights and protection of all the users of payment services (consumers, retailers, SMEs...). The compromise text for the PSD will now be considered by the European Parliament.[12] José Manuel Barroso in Lithuania (29-30/03)European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will visit Lithuania on 29-30 March for his first official visit. He will be accompanied by Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite. While in Vilnius, President Barroso will meet Lithuania's President Valdas Adamkus, Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, and Parliamentary Speaker Victoras Muntianas. On 29 March, President Barroso will give a speech at a commemorative session of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas), in the context of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. As part of the celebrations, and in the presence of President Adamkus, President Barroso will also open an exhibition of drawings by the Lithuanian artist Mstislavas Dobuzinskis entitled "Old Lithuania". On 30 March, in the spirit of Plan D, President Barroso will give a speech at a symposium on the Treaty of Rome. The meeting with Prime Minister Kirkilas will be followed by a press conference, at 12.00 on 30 March (Gedimino av 11).[13] Margot Wallström to visit GreeceVice president of the European Commission responsible for Institutional relations and communication strategy Margot Wallström will visit Greece on 29 March. On this occasion she will meet Greek Prime Minister Mr Kostas Karamanlis, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Dora Bakoyanni, and Mr Yannis Valinakis Deputy Minister responsible for European Affairs. She will also debate with Greek students (11.30, 24 Stadious str) and address the Greek Parliament together with Vice President responsible for transports Jacques Barrot (16.00). A press conference will be held at 12.45 in bookshop "Ianos", 24 Stadiou str.[14] Commission grants €2.5 million to WHO for seven projects under Public Health ProgrammeThe European Commission and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will sign today contracts for seven new joint projects worth a total of €4,242,963, 60% of which is funded by the Commission's Public Health Programme. The contracts cover EU health policy priorities on environment and health, injuries, equity in health, health security, health services, alcohol and emergency services. The projects will be implemented by WHO Europe over the next three years. Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health said: "We are WHO's third biggest donor, and there are hundreds of EC/WHO collaborative projects around the world. Today the Commission is allocating a substantial grant from its Public Health Programme to the WHO for seven important projects over the next three years. These seven projects will benefit EU citizens by advancing health policy knowledge in important areas, including alcohol related harm, injury prevention and disparities in health systems performance. They will also benefit non-EU citizens by assessing health crisis preparedness plans in neighbouring countries." The Commission's Director for Public Health, Andrzej Rys, and WHO's Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Nata Menabde, will sign the contracts this afternoon at WHO's EU office in Brussels. With contributions totalling $102million (over €75million) in 2006, the Commission is the third largest extra-budgetary contributor to WHO. For more information see:<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_international/int_organisations/who_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_international/int_organisations/who_en.htm <a href="http://www.who.int/bfi/ExtraBud/acg060b.pdf">http://www.who.int/bfi/ExtraBud/acg060b.pdf [15] Joe Borg to attend meeting of Baltic Fisheries MinistersEuropean Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, will be travelling to Copenhagen this afternoon to attend a Ministerial Meeting on Control and Compliance in the Baltic Sea. This meeting is being hosted by the Danish Fisheries Ministry, in parallel with a conference on the same theme organised by the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (RAC). Control and compliance are important issues in the Baltic Sea, in particular with respect to cod fisheries. There are two cod stocks in the Baltic: one in the East, the other in the West. Both are currently overexploited, and scientists have been warning for some time that the Eastern cod stock, in particular, is vulnerable to collapse. Control is a major challenge in this fishery. For a number of years, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has estimated that 35-45% of landings of Eastern Baltic cod have not been reported. A multi-annual plan covering both cod stocks is due to be adopted by Council in June. Commissioner Borg has welcomed the initiatives of both the RAC and the Danish authorities on this vital issue. In his speech to the Ministerial Meeting, Mr Borg will emphasise the need for creative solutions and strong collaboration to restore the Baltic cod fisheries to long-term sustainability. Improved compliance will not be enough in itself to resolve the crisis, but it is vital first step if the new multi-annual plan is to bear fruit. The meetings which open today show the determination of all the parties in the region to address the situation. It also demonstrates how through the RACs, stakeholders can take a lead in formulating new ideas to achieve sustainable fisheries which is the fundamental aim of the Common Fisheries Policy.[16] Autre matériel diffuséEliminating discards in EU fisheries: Questions and AnswersSpeech by Markos Kyprianou : "Prospects for an EU animal welfare labelling scheme" at the Conference 'Animal Welfare: improving by labelling?' (! embargo 17h30 !) Speech by Stavros Dimas : "Climate change: European leadership and the role of the European Parliament" at European Parliament Environment Committee (27/03) Speech by Charlie McCreevy at the European Parliament's Economic and
Monetary Committee (27/03)
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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