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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-06-13
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] La Commission simplifie les formalités administratives pour le
secteur des services tout en garantissant la protection des travailleurs
détachés
[02] Preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact needs to be made more
effective
[03] La Commission évalue l'action engagée par la Hongrie pour corriger
son déficit excessif en 2009 au plus tard
[04] Commission calls for a European consensus to boost impact of
humanitarian aid
[05] La Commission ouvre une enquête sur les tarifs réglementés de
l'électricité en France
[06] Commission maintains current rules for film and TV production
[07] La Commission approuve une aide au démarrage pour le développement
de l'aéroport d'Anvers
[08] Commission approves social aid for European seafarers on Estonian
ships
[09] La Commission approuve les aides belges en faveur de l'emploi de
marins dans les secteurs du transport et du dragage maritimes
[10] Commission proposes public-private partnership for greening Europe's
aeronautics industry
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[11] Le Conseil adopte une position commune sur le règlement instituant
une procédure européenne de règlement des petits litiges
[12] Commission clears acquisition of Vitus by Deutsche Bank, Aviva and
Blackstone
[13] CAP reform : fruit and vegetable reform will raise competitiveness,
promote consumption, ease market crises and improve environmental
protection
[14] Commission welcomes Council decisions strengthening shift to long-term
fisheries management
[15] Commission resumes negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement with Serbia
[16] Three Western Balkans countries and Turkey join EU research programme
[17] Danuta Hübner visit to Noord-Brabant marks kick off for 2007-2013
programmes in The Netherlands
[18] Andris Piebalgs launches pioneer underground CO² storage facility in
Germany
[19] Capitales européennes de la Culture 2011 : Turku et Tallinn
approuvés par le Jury
[20] Euro area employment up by 0.4% and EU27 up by 0.3% ; +1.4% and +1.2%
respectively compared to the first quarter of 2006
[21] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-06-13
Reference: MEX/07/0613
Date: 13/06/2007
EXME07 / 13.6
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
13/06/07
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] La Commission simplifie les formalités administratives pour le
secteur des services tout en garantissant la protection des travailleurs
détachés
La Commission européenne a présenté son évaluation des mesures
nationales appliquées par les Etats membres en vue de contrôler le
détachement des travailleurs, et de la situation en matière de
coopération administrative. L'objectif recherché est l'élimination des
obstacles inutiles la libre prestation des services au sein du marché
intérieur, tout en continuant garantir une protection adéquate des
travailleurs détachés. Cette démarche équilibrée doit
être appuyée, entre autres, par un comité d'experts gouvernementaux
haut niveau, auquel participent les partenaires sociaux, afin de faciliter
l'échange de bonnes pratiques. La Commission propose également de
renforcer la coopération administrative en utilisant le système
d'information du marché intérieur (IMI). Elle engagera en outre, le cas
échéant, des procédures d'infraction pour garantir la conformité avec
le droit communautaire.
[02] Preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact needs to be made more
effective
As the number of countries running excessive budgetary deficits diminishes,
it is of the utmost importance that national governments in the European
Union take advantage of the good economic times to progress rapidly towards
the objective of sound and sustainable budgetary positions. Under current
policies, only 10 of the 27 EU countries will have reached their medium-
term budgetary objective (MTO) in 2008 despite three consecutive years of
above-trend economic growth. To improve the functioning of the 'preventive
arm' of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), therefore, the European
Commission today makes a number of proposals which build on the 2005 SGP
reform. They deal with the way governments formulate and implement their
budgetary strategies over the medium term and the strengthening of
surveillance and coordination of economic and budgetary policies at EU
level. The aim is to achieve sustainable budgetary policies that contribute
to higher growth and employment.
[03] La Commission évalue l'action engagée par la Hongrie pour corriger
son déficit excessif en 2009 au plus tard
La Commission européenne estime que la Hongrie est en voie de corriger son
déficit excessif en 2009 au plus tard, conformément la recommandation
émise par le Conseil en octobre 2006, pour autant qu'elle continue de
mener une stratégie d'assainissement budgétaire rigoureux et qu'elle
applique intégralement ses vastes projets de réforme structurelle. Au
stade actuel, il n'apparaît pas nécessaire de recommander des mesures
supplémentaires dans le cadre de la procédure concernant les déficits
excessifs. La Commission continuera suivre la situation de près.
[04] Commission calls for a European consensus to boost impact of
humanitarian aid
The European Commission has adopted a Communication paving the way for
greater efficiency and coherence in delivering humanitarian aid. The
Commission is calling for the European Union to work more closely together
on a consensus that would boost its collective response to humanitarian
crises. This includes advocating full respect for international
humanitarian law, so that aid and aid workers can reach people in need.
[05] La Commission ouvre une enquête sur les tarifs réglementés de
l'électricité en France
La Commission européenne a ouvert une procédure formelle d'examen, en
vertu des règles sur les aides d'Etat du traité CE, au sujet d'aides
présumées en faveur de grandes et moyennes entreprises en France, sous
forme de tarifs industriels d'électricité réglementés un niveau
artificiellement bas, financés directement ou indirectement par l'Etat. La
Commission examinera si les tarifs réglementés constituaient des
subventions publiques aux grandes et moyennes entreprises et, dans
l'affirmative, si ces aides pourraient entraîner des distorsions
disproportionnées des échanges et de la concurrence dans le marché
unique de l'Union européenne. L'enquête ouverte par la Commission sur les
aides d'Etat ne porte toutefois pas sur les tarifs réglementés
applicables aux consommateurs résidentiels et aux petites entreprises. La
décision d'ouvrir une enquête donne aux parties intéressées l'occasion
de présenter leurs observations sur la mesure proposée. Elle ne
préjuge pas l'issue de l'enquête.
[06] Commission maintains current rules for film and TV production
The European Commission adopted a Communication extending until 31st
December 2009 at the latest the application of the current rules on state
aid to cinematographic and other audiovisual works. This Cinema
Communication extends the rules laid down in the previous Communications of
2001 and 2004. This continuity should further encourage Europe's
audiovisual industry by maintaining the current conditions and thereby
helping the industry to face future challenges in a highly competitive
market.
[07] La Commission approuve une aide au démarrage pour le développement
de l'aéroport d'Anvers
La Commission européenne a approuvé une aide au démarrage accordée en
Belgique pour favoriser le développement de l'aéroport d'Anvers en tant
qu'aéroport régional. Dans le but d'accroître la fréquentation de
l'aéroport d'Anvers, une aide est accordée aux transporteurs aériens qui
ouvrent de nouvelles liaisons ou exploitent des rotations supplémentaires
au départ de cet aéroport régional.
[08] Commission approves social aid for European seafarers on Estonian
ships
The European Commission has approved an Estonian social aid for European
seafarers working on board of internationally operated cargo ships. The
eligible ships must be entered in the Estonian shipping register and fly
the Estonian flag. The measure will benefit shipping companies established
in Estonia that either own such cargo ships or operated them under a
charter party. The aid is aimed at increasing the international
competitiveness of Estonia's shipping sector.
[09] La Commission approuve les aides belges en faveur de l'emploi de
marins dans les secteurs du transport et du dragage maritimes
La Commission européenne a décidé d'accepter la prolongation des
exemptions de charges sociales que la Belgique a mises en œuvre, pour
certaines depuis début 2000, et pour les autres depuis 2003, dans les
secteurs du transport maritime et du dragage. Cette prolongation devrait
permettre aux armateurs belges de mieux affronter la concurrence de navires
enregistrés sous des pavillons de complaisance.
[10] Commission proposes public-private partnership for greening Europe's
aeronautics industry
The European Commission has today put forward a proposal to create a Joint
Technology Initiative (JTI) in the area of "Clean Sky". The JTI will pool
industry and Commission resources into targeted research programmes, moving
away from the traditional case-by-case public funding of projects approach
towards large scale research programmes dedicated to common strategic
research targets. This new approach will create critical mass for European
research and innovation, consolidate the European research community in key
strategic areas and streamline project funding to bring research results on
stream quicker. The Clean Sky JTI has the objective of the reduction of
CO² emissions by around 40%, NOx emissions by 60% and noise by 50%.
Technology breakthroughs are hoped for in time for major fleet renewal in
2015 and will apply to three main aircraft categories (long range, regional,
rotorcraft) and overall to engines and "systems". The Seventh Research
Framework Programme will contribute €800 million, a sum that will be
matched by industry. A press briefing on the Clean Sky Joint Technology
Initiative will be given by EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez
Potočnik with representatives of industry during the Paris Air Show at Le
Bourget on 20 June.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[11] Le Conseil adopte une position commune sur le règlement instituant
une procédure européenne de règlement des petits litiges
Le Conseil a adopté aujourd'hui sa position commune concernant une
proposition de règlement du Parlement européen et du Conseil instituant
une procédure européenne de règlement des petits litiges. Celui-ci a
pour objet de simplifier et d'accélérer le règlement des petits litiges
et d'en réduire les coûts, en instituant une procédure européenne en la
matière, laquelle les justiciables pourront recourir parallèlement aux
procédures prévues par les législations des Etats membres.
[12] Commission clears acquisition of Vitus by Deutsche Bank, Aviva and
Blackstone
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Vitus Group (Vitus) of
Germany, currently solely controlled by Blackstone, by Deutsche Bank AG of
Germany, Aviva plc of the UK and the Blackstone Group (Blackstone) of the
US. Deutsche Bank is a global investment bank. Aviva is a holding company
of an insurance group. Blackstone is mainly active in financial advisory
services, private equity investing and property investment. Vitus comprises
seven German real estate companies managing and letting both residential
and commercial properties. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[13] CAP reform : fruit and vegetable reform will raise competitiveness,
promote consumption, ease market crises and improve environmental
protection
On 12 June, European Union agriculture ministers reached on political
agreement on wide-ranging reforms to the Common Market Organisation for
fruit and vegetables to bring this sector into closer line with the rest of
the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. The reforms will improve the
competitiveness and market orientation of the F&V sector, reduce income
fluctuations resulting from crises, promote consumption and thus contribute
to improved public health, and enhance environmental protection. The
changes aim to encourage more growers to join Producer Organisations; offer
POs a wider range of tools for crisis management; integrate the F&V sector
into the Single Payment Scheme; require a minimum level of spending on
environmental measures; increase EU funding of organic production and
promotional measures; and abolish export subsidies for F&V. The reform will
enter into force in 2008.
[14] Commission welcomes Council decisions strengthening shift to long-term
fisheries management
The European Commission welcomed on 12 June the political agreement reached
in Council on two important fisheries proposals. Ministers resolved
outstanding differences on the multi-annual plan for Baltic Cod, thus
avoiding the automatic quota cuts laid down by Council last December if the
plan were not set up by 30 June 2007. They also agreed on a mechanism for
redistributing non-utilised fishing opportunities paid for in advance by
the EU under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Greenland, so
as to ensure that the best possible value for money is obtained. This
follows on the adoption yesterday of a range of significant measures,
including multi-annual recovery plans for eel and bluefin tuna, and a multi-
annual plan for flatfish in the North Sea (see IP 07/788).
[15] Commission resumes negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement with Serbia
European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and Serbian Deputy Prime
Minister and Chief Negotiator Bozidar Djelic today resumed negotiations on
a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia in Brussels.
This official round of the negotiations will consolidate the results
achieved so far and advance the Justice and Home Affairs part of the
Agreement.
[16] Three Western Balkans countries and Turkey join EU research programme
(! embargo 17h00 !) Today, the Republic of Croatia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia will sign Memoranda of
Understanding (MoUs) with the European Commission to enable them to
participate fully in the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7).
"Associated status" allows these countries, as well as Turkey, which signed
a similar MoU on 1 June, to participate in all calls for proposals and
compete on an equal footing with the EU Member States for research co-
operation and support actions funded by FP7. As such, this agreement is an
important part of the process of applying to join the EU, allowing
scientists, universities and companies to create links with their
counterparts across Europe and build up their scientific expertise,
including in scientific fields crucial to implementing the body of EU
legislation. Croatia and Turkey had already participated as associated
countries in the Sixth Framework Programme; for Serbia and FYR Macedonia
this is the first time they will participate in the programme in this way.
[17] Danuta Hübner visit to Noord-Brabant marks kick off for 2007-2013
programmes in The Netherlands
European Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner is visiting the High
Tech Campus Eindhoven, the heart of one of the most innovative regions in
Europe, Noord-Brabant at the invitation by the Governor of Noord-Brabant,
and former MEP Ms Hanja Maij-Weggen. She will deliver a key-note speech at
the Conference of the Innovation Alliance in the province's capital,
Hertogenbosch. The Commissioner will also meet Ms Maria Van der Hoeven, the
Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs.
[18] Andris Piebalgs launches pioneer underground CO² storage facility in
Germany
European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs took part today in the
official launch of a test CO² storage facility in Ketzin, Germany. This
pilot installation – the first of its kind onshore in Europe – will
provide valuable knowledge on the practical aspects of underground storage
of CO² from power generation. As CO² emissions from power generation are
a major source of greenhouse gases, the project is an important step in the
EU's fight against climate change.
[19] Capitales européennes de la Culture 2011 : Turku et Tallinn
approuvés par le Jury
Le Jury européen ayant auditionné le 4 juin dernier les 2 villes
candidates au titre de "Capitales européennes de la Culture 2011" rend
aujourd'hui public son rapport. Ce dernier recommande que Turku (Finlande)
et Tallinn (Estonie) se voient attribuer le titre. La décision sera prise
par le Conseil Culture, probablement au cours du 2ème semestre 2007, sous
présidence portugaise de l'Union.
[20] Euro area employment up by 0.4% and EU27 up by 0.3% ; +1.4% and +1.2%
respectively compared to the first quarter of 2006
The seasonally adjusted number of persons employed in the euro area (EA13)
rose by 0.4% (533,000 persons) during the first quarter of 2007, according
to provisional national accounts estimates published by Eurostat. During
the same period, the number of persons employed in the EU27 grew by 0.3%
(612,000 persons). In the fourth quarter of 2006, growth rates were +0.3%
in the euro area and +0.2% in the EU27.
[21] Autre matériel diffusé
Humanitarian Aid: Frequently asked questions
Communication relative au détachement de travailleurs dans le cadre de la
prestation de services - en tirer les avantages et les potentialités
maximum tout en garantissant la protection des travailleurs
Frequently asked questions on the Stabilisation and Association Agreements
EU to assist the Palestinian Minister of Finance to build up its capacity
Speech by Andris Piebalgs : "European Energy Policy and the Baltic Region"
at the Baltic Regional Energy Forum (12/06, Riga)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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