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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-09-27
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Faciliter l'accès des adultes à l'éducation et à la formation! La
Commission demande aux Etats membres de mettre en Å“uvre le plan d'action
sur l'éducation et la formation des adultes
[02] Eurobarometer on culture : Europeans affirm their strong attachment to
culture and expect more from the EU in this area
[03] Globalisation Fund to help 4,000 workers in mobile phone sector
[04] Deux nouveaux coordonnateurs européens pour les réseaux
transeuropéens de transport
[05] La Commission demande à la Pologne de mettre fin aux contrats d'achat
d'électricité à long terme et autorise le mécanisme de compensation
prévu
[06] Commission clears acquisition of by PB and BHW by Talanx
[07] Commission clears acquisition of BvDEP by BC Funds
[08] Commission clears acquisition of Avaya by SLP and TPG V
[09] Commission clears acquisition of GCR and Scapa by Barclays
[10] Sugar reform : Council backs improved sugar restructuring scheme
[11] Céréales : le Conseil approuve un taux de jachère nul pour les
semis de l'automne 2007 et du printemps 2008
[12] Commission to propose suspension of import duties on cereals
[13] Secteur laitier : le Conseil est favorable à une amélioration du
régime de distribution de lait aux écoles et à d'autres simplifications
du marché
[14] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on arrests of Belarus civil society members
[15] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on increased tension in Burma/Myanmar
[16] What regional policy for tomorrow ? Cohesion Forum assesses the
challenges
[17] Cohesion policy 2007-2013 : two new Lithuanian programmes launched
[18] Débuts en fanfare pour l'instrument de financement avec partage des
risques de la CE et de la BEI : déjà €359 millions de financements,
axés en grande partie sur les énergies renouvelables
[19] 3rd European Researchers' Night builds on past success
[20] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-09-27
Reference: MEX/07/0927
Date: 27/09/2007
EXME07 / 27.9
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
27/09/07
[01] Faciliter l'accès des adultes à l'éducation et à la formation! La
Commission demande aux Etats membres de mettre en Å“uvre le plan d'action
sur l'éducation et la formation des adultes
La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui une communication demandant
aux Etats membres de coopérer pour appuyer le plan d'action de l'UE sur
l'éducation et la formation des adultes. Ce plan d'action doit contribuer
à lever les obstacles à l'engagement des adultes dans des activités
d'apprentissage ainsi qu'à améliorer la qualité et l'efficacité dans le
secteur de l'éducation et de la formation des adultes. Il est demandé
également d'assurer des taux d'investissement adéquats dans le secteur de
l'éducation et de la formation des adultes et un meilleur contrôle de
celui-ci.
[02] Eurobarometer on culture : Europeans affirm their strong attachment to
culture and expect more from the EU in this area
A new Europe-wide survey has revealed that two-thirds of Europeans feel
that they share elements of a collective culture. Nearly nine out of ten
Europeans say that culture, cultural exchanges and intercultural dialogue
should have an important place in the EU. These findings emerged from the
recent Eurobarometer survey of people's views on culture, which was carried
out during the spring. The survey covered 26,000 persons from all over
Europe and from all walks of life.
[03] Globalisation Fund to help 4,000 workers in mobile phone sector
The European Commission today announced that it has approved two further
applications for assistance under the European Globalisation Adjustment
Fund (EGF) – from Germany and Finland. These will now be put before the
European Parliament and the Council for decision. They are the third and
fourth applications for EGF support and concern redundancies in two
companies in the mobile phone sector: BenQ in Germany and Perlos in
Finland.
[04] Deux nouveaux coordonnateurs européens pour les réseaux
transeuropéens de transport
La Commission européenne, sur proposition du Vice-président Jacques
Barrot, vient de nommer deux nouveaux coordonnateurs européens dans le
secteur des réseaux transeuropéens de transport: Mme Karla Peijs pour les
voies navigables et M. Luis Valente de Oliveira pour les autoroutes de la
mer. Ces coordonnateurs faciliteront le dialogue entre les Etats concernés
pour mieux synchroniser les travaux et les plans de financement. "Ces
projets sont essentiels pour développer une politique de transport durable,
mais ils doivent également faire face à de significatives difficultés de
mise en œuvre: le choix de ces deux personnalités reconnues dans le monde
des transports est un gage de succès", a déclaré M. Barrot.
[05] La Commission demande à la Pologne de mettre fin aux contrats d'achat
d'électricité à long terme et autorise le mécanisme de compensation
prévu
A la suite d'une enquête ouverte en application des règles du traité CE
relatives aux aides d'Etat, la Commission européenne a demandé à la
Pologne de mettre fin aux contrats d'achat d'électricité à long terme qui
constituent des aides d'Etat illégales et incompatibles. Parallèlement,
elle a autorisé la mise en place d'un système de compensation des coûts
qui découlent de l'annulation de ces contrats et qui ne peuvent être
récupérés par le producteur d'électricité ("coûts échoués"). La
Commission est parvenue à la conclusion que cette compensation
n'excéderait pas ce qui est nécessaire pour compenser le manque de retour
sur investissement pendant la durée de vie des actifs, compte tenu le cas
échéant d'une marge bénéficiaire raisonnable.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of by PB and BHW by Talanx
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of German insurance companies
Postbank Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft (PB-V), PostbankLebensversicherung
Aktiengesellschaft (PB-L), BHW Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft (BHW-
L) and BHW Pensionkasse Aktiengesellschaft (BHW-P) by Talanx
Aktiengesellschaft (Talanx), also of Germany. PB-L, BHW-L and BHW-P are all
life insurance companies, whilst PB-V is active in non-life insurance.
Talanx is active in life insurance, non-life insurance, reinsurance and
financial services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of BvDEP by BC Funds
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Bureau van Dijk Electronic
Publishing BV (BvDEP) of The Netherlands by BC Funds, acting through CIE
Management II Ltd of Guernsey, the Channel Islands. BC Funds are financial
investors. BvDEP is an electronic publisher of company information. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[08] Commission clears acquisition of Avaya by SLP and TPG V
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Avaya Inc. ('Avaya',
U.S.A.) by TPG Partners V L.P. ('TPG', U.S.A.) and Silver Lake Partners
('SLP', U.S.A.). TPG and SLP are both active in the private equity
investment fund. Avaya deals with communications systems and applications
for enterprises. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[09] Commission clears acquisition of GCR and Scapa by Barclays
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Gemeaz Cusin Ristorazione
S.r.l. (GCR) and Scapa Italia S.r.l. (Scapa), both of Italy, by Barclays
Industrial Investments Limited (BIIL), controlled by Barclays of the UK.
BIIL is an investment company. Barclays is a global financial services
provider. GCR supplies contract catering services in Italy. Scapa is active
in food distribution to caterers. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[10] Sugar reform : Council backs improved sugar restructuring scheme
European Union agriculture ministers backed on 26 September changes to the
sugar restructuring scheme which will make it more effective and thus
reduce European Union sugar production to sustainable levels. The
restructuring scheme was a key element of the 2006 reform of the Common
Market Organisation for sugar, offering producers who would be
uncompetitive at the new lower price a financial incentive to leave the
sector. Unfortunately, much less quota was renounced during the first two
years of the scheme than anticipated and changes therefore had to be made
to make it more attractive. The main changes agreed are that the percentage
of the aid given to growers and machinery contractors should be fixed at 10
percent, but growers who renounce quota will get an additional payment.
Retroactive payments are foreseen, to avoid penalising those who have
already given up their quotas. A new element is that beet growers may apply
directly for aid from the restructuring fund, up to a certain limit. As an
additional incentive for companies to participate, those which renounce a
certain amount of their quota in 2008/09 will be exempted from paying the
restructuring levy on the part of their quota which was subject to
preventive withdrawal in the 2007/2008 marketing year. A two step
application for renouncing quota for 2008/09 is introduced, where the first
step (deadline 31/1/08) as a minimum has to correspond to the preventive
withdrawal decided in March this year in order to be able to participate in
the second step (deadline 31/3/08). The Commission will let companies know
after the first step to what extent they risk an uncompensated cut in 2010
if they do not participate in the second step. The Commission believes that
the changes should allow the renunciation of about 3.8 million tonnes of
sugar quota in addition to the 2.2 million tonnes given up so far. If
insufficient quota has been renounced by 2010, the Commission will make
compulsory quota cuts. The level of these cuts will vary depending on how
much quota each Member State had renounced under the restructuring scheme.
[11] Céréales : le Conseil approuve un taux de jachère nul pour les
semis de l'automne 2007 et du printemps 2008
Les ministres de l’agriculture de l’Union européenne ont approuvé le
26 septembre la proposition de la Commission européenne visant à fixer Ã
0% le taux de mise en jachère obligatoire pour les semis de l’automne
2007 et ceux du printemps 2008. Cette mesure intervient en réaction à la
situation de plus en plus tendue sur le marché des céréales. Elle
devrait permettre d'accroître la récolte de céréales d'au moins 10
millions de tonnes l'année prochaine. Dans les vingt-sept Etats membres de
l'Union, une récolte 2006 moins importante que prévu (265,5 millions de
tonnes) a entraîné des tensions dans l'approvisionnement vers la fin de
la campagne de commercialisation 2006/2007 et une hausse historique des
prix. Les stocks d'intervention ont fondu, passant de 14 millions de tonnes
au début de la campagne 2006/2007 à environ 1 million de tonnes
aujourd'hui. L'avenir du système de mise en jachère obligatoire fera
partie du débat qui sera lancé le 20 novembre par la communication sur le
"bilan de santé de la PAC". Il s'agira notamment de voir comment
préserver les effets positifs de ce système sur l'environnement. La
fixation d'un taux nul n'oblige pas les agriculteurs à cultiver leurs
terres. Ils peuvent, s'ils le souhaitent, les maintenir en jachère et
continuer de mettre en Å“uvre des programmes en faveur de l'environnement.
[12] Commission to propose suspension of import duties on cereals
Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development,
today announced that she will propose in the coming days the total
suspension of cereal import duties for the current marketing year - which
ends on June 30, 2008 – unless market conditions justify their
reintroduction before that date. The proposal, which was put to EU
agriculture ministers, is a reaction to the exceptionally tight situation
on the cereals markets and the record price levels. Although the actual
levels of border protection for cereals are rather low, import duties are
still applied for certain types of grains that are relevant for the balance
of the EU market. At the same time, there are no export refunds on cereal
exports. The proposal would have to be approved by the Council of
Ministers.
[13] Secteur laitier : le Conseil est favorable à une amélioration du
régime de distribution de lait aux écoles et à d'autres simplifications
du marché
Les ministres de l'agriculture de l'Union européenne ont approuvé le 26Â
septembre un ensemble de mesures visant à une meilleure gestion du secteur
laitier, y compris une amélioration importante du régime de lait
distribué aux écoles. Un taux d'aide unique sera fixé pour toutes les
catégories de lait distribué dans les écoles. Le régime précédent
prévoyait un taux d'aide plus élevé pour le lait à teneur élevée en
matière grasse. Cela n'a plus de sens à une époque où l'obésité
devient un problème de santé publique majeur et où il convient de
réduire la consommation de matières grasses dans les produits laitiers,
notamment par les écoliers. En fixant un taux forfaitaire, indépendant de
la teneur en matière grasse, l'UE encouragera à l'avenir de facto les
écoliers à consommer des produits laitiers à faible teneur en matière
grasse. D'autres mesures adoptées ce jour contribueront fortement Ã
simplifier l'organisation commune des marchés dans le secteur du lait et
des produits laitiers. Il s'agit notamment de libéraliser le marché du
lait de consommation, afin de permettre la vente au détail de laits de
différentes teneurs en matière grasse. Les catégories actuelles (lait
entier, lait demi-écrémé et lait écrémé) seront maintenues,
mais il sera désormais possible de commercialiser du lait présentant
d'autres teneurs en matière grasse, pour autant que celles-ci soient
clairement indiquées sur l'emballage. D'autres modifications prévues
portent sur le stockage privé, le système d'intervention applicable au
beurre, les certificats d'importation et la standardisation de la teneur en
protéines du lait de conserve.
[14] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on arrests of Belarus civil society members
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said: "I welcome the initiative taken by
Belarusian civil society to organise a European March in Minsk on 14
October in order to express the support of the Belarusian people for closer
relations between Belarus and the EU. It is good to see that Belarusian
civil society has taken up the EU's offer to Belarus to enter a full
partnership, provided that Belarus would take convincing steps towards
democratisation. In this context, I am concerned by reports that a number
of organisers of this peaceful march have been arrested. I would expect the
Belarusian authorities to act in accordance with their recently reconfirmed
position of getting closer to the EU. These actions are in contrast to this
position. I urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all
those detained on political grounds and to respect the basic human right of
the Belarusian people to express themselves and to assemble, including on
the 14th October."
[15] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on increased tension in Burma/Myanmar
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said on 26 September : "I am very concerned
by reports about increased tension in Burma/Myanmar. I firmly condemn the
use of force by the Burmese authorities against peaceful demonstrators and
urge the Burmese authorities to immediately stop any use of force. I
support the process started at the UN by having a discussion on the
situation in Burma/Myanmar at the UN Security Council today – we need to
mobilize Myanmar's immediate neighbours to join our call for restraint of
the regime and for a genuine political dialogue, including full respect for
human rights. The EU and the US have agreed to consider further steps
against the regime in Burma/Myanmar including sanctions if deemed
necessary."
[16] What regional policy for tomorrow ? Cohesion Forum assesses the
challenges
A major consultation on the shape of tomorrow's regional policy will be
launched at the Cohesion Forum in Brussels on 27-28 September. The Forum,
which takes place every three years, brings together high-level policy-
makers from all over Europe. This major political event will open
discussion on the shape of Cohesion Policy after 2013, at the start of a
new budgetary period. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European
Commission, and Commissioners Danuta Hübner (Regional Policy) and Vladimir
Å pidla (Employment and Social Affairs) will be at the launch of the Forum.
They will be joined by Mr José Sócrates, Prime Minister of Portugal,
which holds the EU Presidency. The debates will be based on the issues
raised and conclusions reached in the Fourth Economic and Social Cohesion
report adopted by the Commission last May.
[17] Cohesion policy 2007-2013 : two new Lithuanian programmes launched
(! embargo 18h00 !) Lithuania's cohesion programmes for the next seven
years are being launched today at a ceremony in Brussels. European Regional
Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Lithuania's Minister for Finance, Mr
Rimantas Šadžius, sign the two Operational Programmes that frame actions
under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund,
with investment worth €5.7 billion.
[18] Débuts en fanfare pour l'instrument de financement avec partage des
risques de la CE et de la BEI : déjà €359 millions de financements,
axés en grande partie sur les énergies renouvelables
(! embargo 16h00 !) A l'occasion du forum annuel de la Banque européenne
d'investissement (BEI) intitulé "Investir dans les énergies, maîtriser
les changements climatiques" qui se déroule à Ljubljana, en Slovénie, la
Commission européenne et la BEI ont annoncé aujourd'hui le succès du
lancement de l'instrument de financement avec partage des risques (IFPR),
la dernière en date d'une série d'initiatives communes de la BEI et de la
Commission. Cette solution de financement innovante vise à apporter un
appui supplémentaire conséquent aux projets de recherche, de
développement et d'innovation en Europe. Les premières opérations de
financement de l'IFPR concernent principalement des projets dans le domaine
des sources d'énergies renouvelables, qui sont l'une des priorités de la
BEI en matière de financement pour 2007.
[19] 3rd European Researchers' Night builds on past success
Following very successful events in 2006 and 2005, the 3rd European
Researchers' Night will take place on 28 September 2007. With 150 locations
across 29 countries, 2007 will be the biggest yet. From Riga to Naples,
Bucharest to Santa Maria de Feira, Izmir to Reykjavik, universities,
research institutions and museums will be opening their doors to unveil the
hidden treasures within. Aimed at making researchers' work understandable
and accessible, no matter what your level of scientific knowledge, European
Researchers' Night is an opportunity to meet researchers both in their
working environments and in more unexpected situations – on a sport field,
or in a rock band, perhaps! Many of the planned events will use advanced
technologies to spectacular effect, or allow the public the chance to use
sophisticated research instruments. In Brussels researchers will model
recycled clothes. In Budapest you can experience the sensation of crashing
a plane, in total safety. In Stockholm you can drive a racing car. In
Zurich you can have a drink with the scientists on the lake. Across Europe
there will be interactive experiments, drawing competitions, concerts,
dinners, parties, exhibitions, quizzes, puzzles, films and much more. To
access the full list of events near you, click on :
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/researchersineurope/events/ern07_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/research/researchersineurope/events/ern07_en.htm
[20] Autre matériel diffusé
Commission calls on Member States to implement the Action Plan on Adult
Learning - FAQ
Lithuania - Operational Programme 2007-2013: Economic Growth (! embargo
18h00Â !)
Opening speech by Danuta Hübner at 4th Cohesion Forum
Speech by Markos Kyprianou : "Improving the health of migrants in Europe"
at Portuguese Presidency Conference on 'Health and Migration' (Lisbon)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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