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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-06-29Midday 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 Communicationb29/06/07[01] Changement climatique : l'Europe doit adopter des mesures d'adaptation afin de réduire les effets du réchauffement présent et à venirLe changement climatique présente un double défi : l'Europe doit non seulement réduire considérablement ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre, mais il lui faut également prendre des mesures d'adaptation au changement climatique actuel et futur, afin d'atténuer les effets néfastes du réchauffement de la planète sur la population, l'économie et l'environnement. Tel est le message clé d'un Livre vert publié aujourd'hui par la Commission européenne, qui propose des possibilités d'action communautaire pour favoriser le processus d'adaptation au changement climatique dans toute l'Europe. Les mesures d'adaptation sont des mesures visant à répondre à l'évolution des conditions climatiques; on peut citer notamment l'utilisation plus rationnelle des ressources en eau limitées ou l'apport de soins appropriés aux personnes vulnérables et aux personnes âgées lors de vagues de chaleur. Le Livre vert vise à susciter un large débat public sur l'adaptation en Europe, dont une grande conférence des parties prenantes, organisée par la Commission le 3 juillet à Bruxelles, marquera l'ouverture.[02] Concurrence : rapport annuel 2006 sur la politique de concurrence, contribution à une politique économique européenne en faveur de la croissance et de l'emploiLa Commission européenne a adopté son rapport annuel 2006 sur la politique de concurrence, qui donne un aperçu des principales évolutions intervenues dans cette politique en 2006. Il résume les modifications apportées aux règles et à la politique de concurrence et montre, à l'aide d'exemples concrets, comment les instruments de la politique de concurrence ont été utilisés pour édifier une économie européenne plus solide et servir les intérêts des consommateurs comme des entreprises.[03] Commission ends block exemption for IATA passenger tariff conferences for routes between the EU and non-EU countriesThe European Commission has decided not to renew a Block Exemption Regulation that exempts IATA passenger tariff conferences concerning air routes between the EU and non-EU countries from the EC Treaty’s ban on restrictive business practices (Article 81). Tariff conferences allow airlines to agree prices for multi-leg flights on the same ticket that use more than one carrier. The exemption expires on 30 June 2007 for routes between the EU and the US or Australia, and on 31 October 2007 for routes between the EU and other third countries (see IP/06/1294 and MEMO/06/359). IATA has not supplied data that would allow the Commission to conclude that an exemption would continue to benefit passengers. IATA is now developing a new interlining system to replace passenger tariff conferences : this will not be covered by a block exemption and, as is the case for other sectors of the economy, it will be for IATA and individual carriers to ensure that their agreements are compatible with the competition rules.[04] Commission clears acquisition of KP by BlackstoneThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of The Klöckner Pentaplast Group (KP) of Germany by The Blackstone Group (Blackstone) of the US. Blackstone is active in private equity and property investment. KP produces packaging materials. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[05] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de RFS par RCILa Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de l'entreprise RFS Limited (RFS) du Royaume-Uni par l'entreprise française RCI Banque (RCI). RCI est active dans le financement de véhicules automobiles et des services automobiles destinés au consommateur final et aux concessionnaires des marques Renault, Nissan et Dacia de plusieurs Etats membres, y compris du Royaume-Uni. RFS est active dans le financement de véhicules automobiles et services automobiles destinés au consommateur final et aux concessionnaires de la marque Renault, au Royaume-Uni uniquement. 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.[06] Commission clears acquisition of TI Automotive by Oaktree and DuquesneThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of TI Automotive Limited of the UK by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC (Oaktree) and Duquesne Capital Management, L.L.C. (Duquesne), both of the US. Oaktree and Duquesne are both investment management companies. TI Automotive manufactures and supplies fuel storage, delivery systems and components to the car industry. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[07] Commission clears Logistics Park joint venture between Deutsche Bank and AIGThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of logistics properties and land in Moscow commonly known as Pushkino Logistics Park 1 (PLP 1), Pushkino Logistics Park 2 (PLP 2) and Domodedovo Logistics Park (DLP) by Deutsche Bank AG of Germany and American International Group Inc. (AIG) of the US. Deutsche Bank is active in deposit and lending operations, issuing business, asset management, investment banking and financial services. AIG provides insurance and financial services. PLP1, PLP2, DLP are logistics properties and land located in Moscow. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[08] The European Community and Denmark further judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters as two agreements enter into forceToday two agreements between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark enter into force extending to Denmark the provisions of two existing regulations, namely, regulation 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters and regulation 1348/2000 on the service of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters.[09] La France renvoyée devant la Cour de justice à propos de l'interdiction des importations parallèles de produits phytosanitairesLa Commission européenne a décidé de renvoyer la France devant la Cour de justice européenne pour son interdiction des importations parallèles de produits phytosanitaires. La Commission estime que plusieurs dispositions du droit français créent des obstacles aux échanges transfrontaliers. Les importations parallèles sont un mode licite d'échange de produits quasiment identiques commercialisés dans des Etats membres différents, mais à des prix variables. Par exemple, certains produits phytosanitaires vendus moins chers dans d'autres Etats membres qu'en France. Les agriculteurs souhaitant acheter des produits phytosanitaires moins chers, mais identiques, doivent surmonter un certain nombre d'obstacles bureaucratiques lorsqu'ils les importent en France. Les principaux bénéficiaires du commerce parallèle de produits phytosanitaires sont les agriculteurs car ils peuvent profiter d'occasions sur les prix au sein du marché intérieur. La Commission surveille régulièrement la compatibilité du droit national sur les importations parallèles avec les dispositions communautaires.[10] Environment : Commission welcomes Council agreementsEuropean Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed the agreements reached by Environment Council on 28 June. The Council reached political agreement on revising the EU's basic waste legislation, limiting emissions of hazardous substances to water and banning exports of mercury from the EU. Commissioner Dimas also welcomed the Council's conclusions on giving a new impetus to EU environment policy, and on reducing CO² emissions from cars.[11] EU responds swiftly to combat forest fires in GreeceWithin minutes of receiving an assistance request from Greece for help in fighting forest fires the European Commission activated its civil protection network. Within two hours of the request Italy, France and Portugal had offered a total of 5 Canadair fire-fighting aircraft.[12] Un groupe d'intellectuels est invité à conseiller la Commission sur l'apport du multilinguisme au dialogue interculturelUn groupe d'intellectuels et d'experts du multilinguisme chargé par la Commission européenne de lui faire des propositions et recommandations sur la manière dont les langues peuvent favoriser le dialogue interculturel et la compréhension mutuelle a tenu sa première réunion à Bruxelles aujourd'hui, sous la présidence du commissaire Leonard Orban. Le groupe est invité à formuler des conseils sur une contribution à la prochaine "Année européenne du dialogue interculturel 2008". Il se compose de 10 personnalités indépendantes qui jouissent d'une expérience dans le domaine multiculturel et/ou littéraire ou ont accompli des travaux universitaires dans un contexte multilingue et multiculturel. Font ainsi partie de ce groupe: Amin Maalouf, président (écrivain, Liban), Jens Christian Grondahl (écrivain, Danemark), Jutta Limbach (présidente du Goethe Institut, Allemagne) Jan Sokol (philosophe, République tchèque), David Green (ancien directeur du British Council, Royaume-Uni), Jacques de Decker (écrivain, journaliste, secrétaire perpétuel de l'Académie royale de langue et de littérature françaises de Belgique, Belgique), Sandra Pralong (experte en communication, Roumanie), Jorge Semprun (écrivain, Espagne), Tahar Ben Jelloun, (écrivain, poète, Maroc) et Eduardo Lourenço (écrivain, philosophe, Portugal).[13] Energy Community's Ministerial Council meetingEnergy Ministers from the Parties to the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community met in Bechichi, Montenegro, on 29 June 2007. This was the second meeting since the entering into force of the Treaty. The meeting was co- chaired by EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and the Montenegrin Minister of Economic Development Branimir Gvozdenovic.[14] EU and Central America Community start negotiations for new Association AgreementThe negotiations between the EU and the Central America Community for a comprehensive Association Agreement have started today in Brussels on the occasion of a high level meeting between the European Commission and Central America. The Association Agreement is envisaged as a comprehensive agreement, embracing the whole array of the multifaceted relations of the EU with Central America. Its objective is to enhance the political dialogue between both regions, intensify and improve their cooperation in a vast variety of areas, as well as to enhance and facilitate bi-regional economic links, including trade and investments. The Agreement will be negotiated with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. As soon as Panama takes the decision to join the economic integration process SIECA in Central America, it will be fully involved in the negotiations. The Commission recently adopted an aid package of some €840 million for the period 2007-2013 to assist the region and its countries to address the most important challenges.[15] June 2007 : Business Climate Indicator for the euro area picks up slightly in JuneAfter a slight decline in May, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area edged up in June. The sustained record level of the indicator points to robust economic activity in the industry sector in the second quarter of 2007, notwithstanding the deceleration of industrial production growth in April 2007. The marginal improvement of the BCI in June is the net effect of minor diverging changes in its five underlying components. Industry managers' assessment of their stocks of finished products and production expectations for the months ahead improved somewhat, while their views of both total order books and export order books deteriorated slightly. The assessment of the production trend observed in recent months remained unchanged.[16] June 2007 : Economic sentiment stabilises at a high level in both the EU and the euro areaThe Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) showed signs of stabilisation in both the EU and the euro area in June, after hitting a fresh six-year high in May. The indicator remained practically unchanged in the EU at 114.9 points after 115 in May, and edged down slightly by 0.4 of a point in the euro area, to 111.7.[17] L'inflation de la zone euro estimée à 1,9%Selon une estimation rapide publiée par Eurostat, le taux d'inflation annuel de la zone euro s'établirait à 1,9% en juin 2007. En mai, le taux était de 1,9%. L'inflation de la zone euro est mesurée par l'Indice des Prix à la Consommation de l'Union Monétaire (IPCUM).[18] Number of nights spent by non-residents in hotels up by 4.7% ; nights spent by residents stableDuring the summer holiday season 2006 – from June to September – 710 million nights were spent in hotels and similar establishments in the EU27, 2.3% more than in the summer season of 2005. This increase was almost entirely due to nights spent by non-residents, which were up by 4.7% to 340 million, while the number of nights spent by residents in their own country was virtually unchanged at 370 million. In summer 2005 compared to summer 2004, total nights spent in hotels increased by 5.3%, resulting from an increase of 4.3% for non-residents and 6.2% for residents. These figures come from a publication from Eurostat.[19] EU Tube – Sharing the sights and sounds of Europe on YouTubeThe European Commission has launched a dedicated channel on YouTube to make its audiovisual material more widely available to the public. "This initiative reflects the Commission's commitment to better explain its policies and actions on issues which concern citizens across the EU – such as climate change, energy or immigration" said Margot Wallström, Vice- President for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy.[20] Autre matériel diffuséStatement by European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner JoaquÃn Almunia, to the presentation of the Italian five-year economic and budgetary plan (DPEF)Operational programme in Malta Q&A on the opening of the energy markets and the European Energy Consumers' Charter Speech by Leonard Orban : "Languages are a bridge for intercultural dialogue" at meeting of 'The Group of Intellectuals for Intercultural Dialogue' Speech by Mariann Fischer Boel : "Towards a strong CAP for the future" at meeting with Parliamentary Agriculture Committee (Nicosia) Speech by Margot Wallström : "Reflections on hope" at Tällberg forum (27/06, Leksands Kyrka) Speech by Jacques Barrot : "Urban logistics" at the EFIP Seminar (European Federation of Inland Ports) (28/06, Stuttgart) Calendrier du 2 au 8 juillet 2007 Top News from the European Commission (02 July – 29 July 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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