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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-05-10Midday 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 Communicationb10/05/07[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting[01] First-ever European strategy for culture : contributing to economic growth and intercultural understandingThe European Commission has adopted a policy statement on the role of culture in a globalising world. It proposes the first-ever European strategy for culture. The Communication affirms the central role of culture in the process of European integration and proposes a cultural agenda for Europe, and for its relations with third countries. Its adoption follows an extensive consultation process involving decision-makers and interested parties from all over Europe.[02] Le soutien aux familles est indispensable pour réaliser les objectifs de LisbonneLa Commission européenne a adopté une communication intitulée 'Promouvoir la solidarité entre les générations' qui vise à aider les Etats membres à relever le défi démographique. La communication examine comment les Européens peuvent mieux concilier le travail et la vie privée. Elle se penche également sur la question de savoir comment soutenir au mieux les familles afin qu'elles puissent avoir le nombre d'enfants qu'elles désirent. En effet, les taux de natalité très faibles sont sources de préoccupation dans de nombreux Etats membres alors que les études en cours révèlent que les Européens souhaiteraient avoir plus d'enfants. La communication souligne les différences entre les politiques nationales et les domaines où les Etats membres peuvent apprendre les uns des autres, notamment grâce à l'Alliance européenne pour les familles, ainsi que le Conseil européen de printemps en a formé le vœu en mars dernier.[03] Commission approves notified takeover of FIAMM's automotive battery business by VB Autobatterie, subject to remediesThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition by VB Autobatterie GmbH of Germany of the automotive battery business of the Italian FIAMM group. The approval decision is subject to conditions that remedies to competition concerns are also implemented. The Commission’s in-depth market investigation confirmed initial concerns (see IP/06/1674) that the proposed acquisition, as originally notified, would significantly impede competition in the respective markets for car and truck batteries by making VB the dominant player. The Commission concluded that the implementation of the planned merger as modified by the remedies offered, would not significantly impede competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.[04] Liberté d'établissement et libre prestation de services : la Commission demande à la France de mettre fin aux droits spéciaux de distribution des livrets A et bleuLa Commission européenne a demandé à la France, dans un délai de neuf mois, de modifier sa législation afin de supprimer les entraves aux règles du marché intérieur qui résultent des droits spéciaux de distribution des livrets A et bleu octroyés à la Banque Postale, aux Caisses d'Epargne et au Crédit Mutuel. Cette demande, fondée sur l'article 86 paragraphe 3 du Traité, fait suite à l'examen des réponses apportées par la France et l’ensemble des parties intéressées à la lettre de mise en demeure envoyée par la Commission en juin 2006 (voir IP/06/746). La Commission considère que les droits spéciaux de distribution en cause constituent une restriction incompatible avec le droit communautaire et ne sont pas indispensables pour assurer de manière satisfaisante les deux services d’intérêt économique général invoqués par les autorités françaises, à savoir le financement du logement social et l'accessibilité aux services bancaires de base. La modification demandée du mode de distribution des livrets A et bleu ne remet pas en cause les missions d'intérêt général qui y sont attachés et n'implique aucun changement défavorable dans le fonctionnement de ces livrets pour les particuliers.[05] La Commission autorise une aide de €37,6 millions de l'Agence française de l'innovation industrielle en faveur du programme de R&D "Télévision Mobile Sans Limite"La Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas soulever d'objection en vertu des règles du traité CE sur les aides d'Etat à l'égard du soutien financier accordé par la France au programme de recherche-développement (R&D) intitulé "Télévision Mobile Sans Limite" (TVMSL). Alcatel-Lucent est le leader du programme qui associe dix partenaires. Ils développeront une solution combinant satellite et réseau terrestre pour diffuser de la télévision sur les téléphones mobiles. L'aide s'élève à €37,6 millions.[06] Commission approves aid to OTE's early retirement schemeThe European Commission has closed an in-depth investigation concluding that the Greek's government planned contribution to the Hellenic Telecommunication Operator's (OTE) voluntary early retirement scheme (VRS) is compatible with EC Treaty state aid rules. The Greek government's transfer of 4% of its shares in OTE to the OTE pension fund aims at relieving OTE from extra costs resulting mainly from the quasi-civil- servant status of OTE’s employees. The Commission's decision is based on the Greek government's explicit commitment that the value of the shares to be transferred to TAP, the pension fund by which OTE employees are insured, will not exceed the extra costs of the VRS, estimated at €390.4 million.[07] Commission refers Italy to Court of Justice for failure to recover illegal aidThe European Commission has decided to initiate proceedings before the European Court of Justice in view of Italy's failure to comply with the Commission's decision of 25 November 1999 ordering Italy to recover illegal and incompatible state aid granted to companies in Venice and Chioggia (see IP/99/887). More than seven years after the Commission adopted this decision, Italy has only recovered a small part - about 1% - of the total aid amount to be recovered.[08] La Commission autorise l'octroi d'un prêt à Chupa Chups, producteur espagnol de sucettes, mais oppose son veto aux subventionsLa Commission européenne a clôturé, au titre des règles du traité CE concernant les aides d'Etat (article 87), une enquête approfondie, au terme de laquelle il a été établi qu'un ensemble de mesures octroyées en faveur du producteur espagnol de produits de confiserie Chupa Chups S.A., et en particulier l'attribution d'un prêt de €35 millions par un organisme financier appartenant à la région de Catalogne en 2003, ne constituaient pas une aide d'Etat dans la mesure où ces mesures étaient subordonnées à des conditions qu'un investisseur en économie de marché aurait acceptées. La Commission a toutefois constaté que l'entreprise en cause a bénéficié d'aides d'Etat illégales d'un montant de €900.000, dont €100.000 devront être remboursés.[09] La Commission autorise la Belgique à soutenir le transport intermodal sur les voies navigables flamandesLa Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas soulever d'objections à une aide allouée par l'Etat belge pour des installations de transbordement de conteneurs de la route vers la voie navigable. Dans le cadre du nouveau régime, une subvention sera accordée pour chaque conteneur transbordé vers un terminal à conteneurs intérieur ou vers un bateau de navigation intérieure.[10] Commission authorises Czech State aid to support purchase of new railway rolling stockThe European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to the aid scheme proposed by the Czech Republic to support its railway activities. The measure would contribute to the development of railway transport and is compatible with the proper functioning of the common market.[11] La Commission donne le feu vert pour des aides d'Etat destinées à protéger la région du lac Majeur dans le PiémontLa Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas soulever d'objections à l’égard du régime d'aides proposé par les autorités italiennes pour compenser le coût des péages autoroutiers imposé aux transporteurs routiers. La mesure résulte de la déviation obligatoire du trafic sur la route nationale du lac Majeur vers l’autoroute.[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles[12] Les ports de l'Atlantique Nord fermés aux produits de la pêche illégaleLa Commission européenne s'est félicitée de l'entrée en vigueur le 1er mai du nouveau régime de contrôle par l'État du port adopté en novembre dernier par la Commission des pêcheries de l'Atlantique du Nord-Est (CPANE) afin de lutter contre la pêche illégale. Désormais les navires de pêche étrangers ne seront plus autorisés à débarquer des produits congelés de la pêche dans les ports des Etats membres de la CPANE si l'Etat dans lequel le navire en question est enregistré n'a pas préalablement donné son feu vert à l'Etat du port. Ce régime constitue une avancée importante permettant de garantir que l'ensemble du poisson commercialisé à l'intérieur de l'Union européenne a été capturé légalement dans le cadre d'une activité durable et réglementée. L'application pratique du régime a été précédée au cours des dernières semaines de tests concluants des systèmes de contrôle et de communication correspondants.[13] Renforcer l'approche européenne en matière d'intégration des ressortissants de pays tiers dans les Etats membres de l'UELe vice-président de la Commission européenne Franco Frattini présente aujourd'hui la deuxième édition du manuel sur l'intégration à la réunion informelle des ministres de l'Union européenne chargés de l'intégration, organisée à Potsdam. A la veille de la conférence, la Commission a sélectionné douze projets qui seront financés par des subventions, pour un montant total de €4 millions, dans le cadre du programme INTI.[14] EU launches major new initiative to protect biodiversity in EU's tropical regionsThe European Commission launched today NET-BIOME a major new research initiative to help preserve the extraordinary biodiversity of the EU's tropical and subtropical regions. The EU's outermost regions and overseas territories are among the richest reservoirs of species and ecosystems in the world, encompassing 5 of the 34 biodiversity "hotspots" of the planet and spanning three different oceans. As elsewhere, these unique ecosystems are often at risk from increased interactions with human activities. The objective of this ERA-NET action, which brings together 11 research organisations and regional authorities from the tropical and subtropical regions of 5 Member States (France, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK), is to improve the collection and sharing of information, identify strategic research priorities, develop common policies, and launch joint research activities among these regions. Providing an effective collaboration mechanism between continental Europe, outlying regions, and international organisations, NET-BIOME will play a key role in ensuring that European research fully meets its responsibilities towards global biodiversity.[15] EU to take part in global database of all life on earthThe European Union will contribute to a global effort, announced today in Washington, to create a Global Species Information System. Information about species is important for researchers, policy-makers, land managers, farmers, conservationists and many other groups in society, as well as the general public. Knowing what species exist, where and how they live, how they grow and interact helps us understand patterns of change, and provides better knowledge of how to change our behaviour to support our fragile biodiversity. The EU will take part with the SpeciesBase project, in collaboration with scientists from the US, Australia, Brazil, India and South Africa. This initiative is part of the follow-up to the G8 Ministerial meeting on Biodiversity, held in Potsdam in March 2007.[16] Commission welcomes Court of Justice judgment in specialty graphite cartel caseThe European Commission welcomes today's judgment by the European Court of Justice (case C-328/05) dismissing the action by the German specialty graphite producer SGL Carbon AG against the judgment of the European Court of First Instance of 15 June 2005 (case T-91/03). In this latter judgement, the Court of First Instance had dismissed most of the action brought by SGL against the Commission decision of 17 December 2002 setting fines on the company (although the Court of First Instance also reduced in part the amount of SGL's fine). The Court of Justice has now confirmed the original findings of the Court of First Instance, and dismissed the appeal in its entirety. Following today's judgment, 83.7% of the fines imposed by the Commission in the original decision have now been definitively upheld.[17] Commission clears acquisition of ista by CharterhouseThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of ista International GmbH (ista) of Germany by Charterhouse Capital Limited (Charterhouse) of the UK. Charterhouse is a private equity company. ista provides consumption based measurement and invoicing of electricity, gas, heat and water. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[18] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Novelis by HindalcoThe European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of the US based aluminium company Novelis by Asia's largest integrated aluminium producer, Hindalco. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[19] Anti-trust : Commission confirms issuing a Statement of Objections against alleged participants in a cartel for chloroprene rubberThe European Commission confirmed that it recently sent a Statement of Objections to a number of undertakings regarding their alleged role in a cartel for chloroprene rubber.[20] "Strong regions - building bridges for Europe": Danuta Hübner and Michael Glos launch in Hof the new Cohesion Policy programmesEuropean Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner and German Minister for Economy and Technology, Michael Glos and addressed on 9 May in Hof, Germany, a conference organised by the German Presidency, marking the adoption of a certain number of Cohesion Policy programmes for the 2007- 2013 period. Under the title "Strong Regions - Building Bridges for Europe", the event marks a turning point in the new Cohesion policy as there is now agreement between the European Commission and 10 Member States on their National Strategic Reference Framework Programmes representing around €160 billion of investment in European regions and cities over the next seven years. The adopted programmes correspond to approximately 46% of the total amount allocated for all 27 EU Member States (€347 billion). Commissioner Hübner signed the plans and priorities agreed between the Commission and Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Cyprus. The Commission has already agreed on the plans and priorities of Malta, Greece, Austria, Lithuania and Denmark while the procedure regarding the remaining 17 countries will be completed soon.[21] Cohesion policy 2007-2013 : Austrian regions first to have programmes approved by the CommissionThe Austrian regions became on 9 May the first in the European Union to start drawing benefits from the new Cohesion policy 2007-2013 as the European Commission approved the first group of regional operational programmes. The Commission decision on the eight Austrian operational programmes opens the way for Austrian regions to start implementing the new policy in the framework of the strategic plans and priorities agreed between Austria and the Commission on 4th April 2007. Today's first package of adopted operational programmes includes one "Convergence (Phasing Out)" programme for Burgenland and seven "Regional competitiveness and employment" programmes for Carinthia, Lower and Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Austria submitted the first official versions of its operational programmes electronically to the Commission on 30th October 2006.[22] Commission launches translation contest for schoolsToday the European Commission launched a contest designed to give 17-year- olds in schools throughout Europe a chance to experience at first hand what it is like to be a translator. As many as 2760 pupils, from up to 345 schools, will be given this opportunity in a contest called "Juvenes Translatores" (young translators), organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). The contest is one of the events to mark the 50th anniversary of the European Union this year. Students nominated by their schools will be challenged to translate a short text and the event will take place on the same day - 14 November 2007 - in all 27 Member States of the EU.[23] "Journées RTE-T" : les réseaux transeuropéens de transport se dévoilentLa Commission européenne organise deux journées d'information pour présenter le nouveau programme portant sur le réseau transeuropéen de transport pour la période 2007-2013. Les "Journées RTE-T", qui débutent aujourd'hui, accueillent environ 400 participants venus de toute l'Europe. C'est pour eux l'occasion unique d'échanger sur les résultats accomplis jusqu'à présent et de s'informer sur les perspectives et sur les possibilités offertes par le nouveau programme.[24] Commission to launch EU Network of Energy Security CorrespondentsToday, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will host the first meeting of the Network of Energy Security Correspondents (NESCO) in Brussels. The Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs will also participate in this event. This new network was endorsed by the European Council in December 2006, as a new instrument to step up the Union's capacity to collect information and provide early warning of potential threats to the security of energy supply. The network, which consists of representatives of the European Commission, Council Secretariat and EU Member States, will also be a forum which can provide shared assessments of external factors impacting on Europe's energy supply.[25] Autre matériel diffuséCulture & the European Union – Frequently asked questions"Europe for Citizens" – Frequently asked questions Promoting solidarity between generations Speech by Franco Frattini : "A common approach for European policy on the integration of migrants – European debate" at informal meeting of EU Integration Ministers (Postdam) Speech by Olli Rehn : "New steps forward for regional cooperation" at meeting of the stability Pact regional table Speech by President José Manuel Barroso : "Europe: an open society in a globalised world" at Bocconi University (08/05, Milan) Cohesion policy 2007-2013 : Commission approves the national strategy and priorities for Cyprus Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Poland, the biggest beneficiary, has plan and priorities agreed with the Commission Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Spain has its plan and priorities agreed with the Commission Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Commission approves the national strategy and priorities for Hungary EU-Kommission kündigt Genehmigung der ersten deutschen Strukturfondsprogramme an Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Germany has its plan and priorities agreed with the Commission Operational Programme Phasing Out Burgenland 2007-2013 ERDF Programme under Convergence objective co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Regional Competitiveness Kärnten 2007-2013" Programme under Regional competitiveness and employment objective, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Strengthening Regional Competitiveness of Lower Austria 2007-2013" Programme under Regional competitiveness and employment objective, co- funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Strengthening Competitiveness of Salzburg Region 2007-2013" Programme under Regional competitiveness and employment objective, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Regional competitiveness Styria 2007-2013" Programme under Regional competitiveness and employment objective, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Strengthening of the regional Competitiveness Tyrol 2007-2013" Programme under Regional competitiveness and employment objective, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Regional Competitiveness Upper Austria 2007-2013" Programme under Regional competitiveness and employment objective, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "Regional Competitiveness Vorarlberg 2007-2013" Programme under Regional
competitiveness and employment objective, co-funded by European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF)
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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