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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-07-24
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement of Benita Ferrero-Waldner on arrival with the Bulgarian
nurses in Sofia
[02] La Commission adopte un nouveau règlement sur les aides d'Etat dans
le secteur de la pêche
[03] Natural disasters : update on EU civil protection activities
[04] Commission publishes annual crop yield forecasts : heat waves,
droughts and excessive rain across Europe brings mixed results
[05] Industrial property : Commission adopts necessary measures for linking
EU design registration system with WIPO international system
[06] Protection des intérêts financiers : programme communautaire Hercule
II (2007–13) adopté
[07] VAT - postal services : Commission opens second stage of infringement
proceedings against the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden
[08] Direct taxation : Commission sues Sweden for not having fully complied
with a Court judgement regarding the rules on capital gains tax relief on
dwelling sales ("Bostadsrätt")
[09] Fiscalité directe : la Commission engage une procédure d'infraction
à l'encontre de la Suède pour ses règles restrictives en matière
d'impôt sur le revenu appliquées aux contribuables non résidents
[10] Commission assesses impact on agricultural markets of a minimum target
of 10% of biofuel use in the EU 27 in 2020
[11] Call for tender for a synthesis of ex ante evaluations of Rural
Development programmes 2007- 2013
[12] Industrial new orders up by 1.7% in euro area ; EU27 up by 3.2%
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-07-24
Reference: MEX/07/0724
Date: 24/07/2007
EXME07 / 24.7
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
24/07/07
[01] Statement of Benita Ferrero-Waldner on arrival with the Bulgarian
nurses in Sofia
Upon arrival with the five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor in
Sofia, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner made the following statement:
"I heartily welcome the Libyan government's decision to transfer the
Bulgarian medical personnel to Bulgaria. I share the joy of their families
and friends and of the government and people of Bulgaria. For over eight
years, we have never forgotten the suffering of the medical staff who have
shown such dignity and fortitude during their long ordeal. This excellent
outcome is the result of sustained joint efforts by the EU bringing
together the Bulgarian authorities, consecutive EU presidencies, and a
number of other Member States. This demonstrates the value of concerted EU
action. The EU will always work tirelessly for justice for its citizens.
This decision will open the way for a new and enhanced relationship between
the EU and Libya and reinforce our ties with the Mediterranean region and
the whole of Africa. At the same time, my thoughts are also with the
Benghazi children and their families, and I will continue to give my
support to them all."
[02] La Commission adopte un nouveau règlement sur les aides d'Etat dans
le secteur de la pêche
La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui un règlement de la
Commission relevant le plafond de l'aide dite "de mininis" dans le secteur
de la pêche. Les aides de minimis sont des aides nationales censées ne
pas fausser la concurrence. Dans le cadre du nouveau règlement, le plafond
sera fixé à €30.000 par période triennale et par bénéficiaire, Ã
condition que le montant total de ce type d'aide représente moins de 2,5%
de la production nationale annuelle du secteur de la pêche. Aucune de ces
aides ne peut servir à acheter ou construire de nouveaux navires ou Ã
accroître la capacité actuelle de la flotte. Les Etats membres devront
enregistrer toutes les informations pertinentes prouvant que ces conditions
ont été respectées.
[03] Natural disasters : update on EU civil protection activities
Since the end of June, the Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre
(MIC) has received a total of eight requests for assistance from Greece,
Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria and, most recently the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia - to help combat the forest fires raging across Southern Europe.
These requests triggered an immediate response from the MIC. Assistance was
made available through the Community Civil Protection Mechanism by various
Member States, including Italy, France, Spain and Greece. The situation is
now becoming particularly acute, with all Southern EU Member States and
most neighbouring countries combating major fires on their own territory.
The MIC is also monitoring the exceptional weather situation in the UK and
stands ready to facilitate offers of assistance from other EU countries
should the UK need any additional assistance in these difficult
circumstances.
[04] Commission publishes annual crop yield forecasts : heat waves,
droughts and excessive rain across Europe brings mixed results
The European Commission's in-house scientific service, the Joint Research
Centre (JRC), has just released its annual crop yield forecast for Europe.
The central prediction is that the 2007 total cereal harvest will be 276 M
tonnes or 1,6% below the average of the last five years with Central and
Eastern Europe losing out the most.
[05] Industrial property : Commission adopts necessary measures for linking
EU design registration system with WIPO international system
The European Commission adopted two Regulations which are necessary to give
effect to the accession of the European Community to the Geneva Act of the
Hague Agreement concerning the international registration of industrial
designs. The adoption follows the Council's approval of the EC accession to
the international design registration system of the World Intellectual
Property Organisation (WIPO) on 18 December 2006. The EC accession will
allow EU companies, with a single application, to obtain protection of a
design not only throughout the EU with the Community Design, but also in
the countries which are members of the Geneva Act.
[06] Protection des intérêts financiers : programme communautaire Hercule
II (2007–13) adopté
La Commission européenne se félicite de l'adoption par le Parlement
européen du programme Hercule II qui contribue à la protection des
intérêts financiers de la Communauté, y compris la lutte contre la
contrebande et la contrefaçon de cigarettes. Un montant de €98,5
millions y est consacré sur sept ans.
[07] VAT - postal services : Commission opens second stage of infringement
proceedings against the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden
The European Commission has formally requested the United Kingdom, Germany
and Sweden to change their legislation on the VAT exemption for postal
services which are not compatible with the VAT Directive. The United
Kingdom and Germany exempt from VAT all or most postal services supplied by
their former postal monopolies. Sweden does not exempt postal services. The
requests take the form of a reasoned opinion (second step of the
infringement procedure provided for in article 226 of the EC Treaty). If
the relevant national legislations are not amended in order to comply with
the reasoned opinions, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the
European Court of Justice.
[08] Direct taxation : Commission sues Sweden for not having fully complied
with a Court judgement regarding the rules on capital gains tax relief on
dwelling sales ("Bostadsrätt")
By a letter of formal notice under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, the
European Commission has decided to open a new infringement procedure
against Sweden. Despite some modifications in the law and the recent
European Court of Justice judgement, the Swedish capital gain tax
legislation still continue to favour in practice the acquisition/sale of
apartments located in Sweden, therefore discriminating persons wishing to
buy/sell an apartment elsewhere in Europe. If Sweden fails to comply with
the letter of formal notice, the Commission may address further a reasoned
opinion to Sweden before bringing the matter to the Court of Justice a
second time, seeking the imposition of a penalty payment.
[09] Fiscalité directe : la Commission engage une procédure d'infraction
à l'encontre de la Suède pour ses règles restrictives en matière
d'impôt sur le revenu appliquées aux contribuables non résidents
La Commission européenne a formellement demandé à la Suède de mettre fin
aux règles discriminatoires en matière d'impôt sur le revenu appliquées
aux contribuables non résidents. Elle considère que la disposition
suédoise relative à l'imposition des non-résidents ne respecte pas la
libre circulation des personnes, étant donné qu'elle ne permet pas à un
non résident qui gagne tout ou presque tout son revenu en Suède de
déduire les intérêts hypothécaires dans la même proportion qu'un
résident. Par conséquent, la Commission demande à la Suède d'accorder
aux non-résidents qui gagnent tout ou presque tout leur revenu en Suède
les mêmes droits en matière de déduction que ceux dont bénéficient les
résidents. La demande se présente sous la forme d'un avis motivé
(deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction prévue par l'article 226
du traité CE). Si l'Etat membre concerné ne modifie pas sa
législation dans un délai de deux mois afin de se conformer à cet avis
motivé, la Commission peut décider de saisir la Cour de justice
européenne du dossier.
[10] Commission assesses impact on agricultural markets of a minimum target
of 10% of biofuel use in the EU 27 in 2020
A European Commission study published today shows that bio-energy
production represents one of the major main stream opportunities for
agriculture over the medium to long term in the EU. The 10% incorporation
rate realised over the medium-term together with newly available
technologies would assure a sustainable path in providing the EU with
renewable transport fuels without disrupting the domestic food/feed and non-
food markets. Imports would provide around 20 % of the biofuel consumption.
About half of these would be first generation feedstock and mainly oilseeds
and vegetable oils. The impact assessment is available at
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/markets/biofuel/impact042007/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/markets/biofuel/impact042007/index_en.htm
[11] Call for tender for a synthesis of ex ante evaluations of Rural
Development programmes 2007- 2013
The European Commission has launched a call for tender for a synthesis of
ex ante evaluations of rural development programmes 2007-2013. Following
Council Regulation 1698/2005 on support for Rural Development, ex ante
evaluation is an obligatory task in establishing a rural development
programme for a geographical region concerned. Consequently, 94 ex ante
evaluations of Rural Development programmes have been carried out by the
Member States. The purpose of the synthesis of those ex ante evaluations is
to provide an in depth stocktaking on the expected results and impacts of
Rural Development programmes for the period 2007-2013 with respect to the
Community social, economic and environmental priorities. The synthesis is
expected to analyse identified needs and corresponding objectives by
referring as much as possible to baselines and quantifications of
objectives and target levels. The maximum budget attributed to this study
is €500,000. The deadline for submitting offers expires on the 11th of
September. The Commission intends to award the contract before the end of
2007, following the evaluation of the offers received. The contractor will
have to carry out the study within eight months from the signature of the
contract. For details on the call for tender, see:
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tenderdocs/2007/172516/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tenderdocs/2007/172516/index_en.htm
[12] Industrial new orders up by 1.7% in euro area ; EU27 up by 3.2%
The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index increased by 1.7% in May
2007 compared with April 2007. The index fell by 0.6% in April and rose by
2.9% in March. EU271 new orders gained 3.2% in May 2007, after a decrease
of 1.6% in April and a rise of 2.7% in March. Excluding ships, railway and
aerospace equipment, industrial new orders increased by 1.3% in the euro
area and by 1.5% in the EU27 in May 2007. In May 2007 compared with May
2006, industrial new orders increased by 9.1% in the euro area and by 10.2%
in the EU27. Total industry, excluding ships, railway and aerospace
equipment, grew by 5.5% in the euro area and by 7.1% in the EU27. These
estimates are released by Eurostat.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Release of Bulgarian nurses
Crop yield forecasts for 2007
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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