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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-10-26Midday 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 Communicationb26/10/07[01] Emissions trading: Commission approves Romania's national allocation plans for 2007 and 2008-2012The European Commission today adopted the decisions on the proposed Romanian national plans for allocating carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances for 2007 and the 2008-2012 trading period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Having become an EU member earlier this year, Romania is required to draw up a plan for 2007 - the last year of the first trading period - in addition to a plan for the second trading period. The cleared annual allocation for Romania for 2008-2012 is 75.9 million tonnes of CO2 allowances or 20.7% less than proposed. The Commission also approved amendments to the allocation plan of Germany. The Emissions Trading Scheme ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered are cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.[02] Emissions trading: EU-wide cap for 2008-2012 set at 2.08 billion allowances after assessment of national plans for BulgariaThe European Commission today adopted the decisions on the proposed Bulgarian national plans for allocating carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances for 2007 and the 2008-2012 trading period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Having become an EU member earlier this year, Bulgaria is required to draw up a plan for 2007 - the last year of the first trading period - in addition to a plan for the second trading period. The cleared annual allocation for Bulgaria for 2008-2012 is 42.3 million tonnes of CO2 allowances, 37.4% less than proposed. The Emissions Trading Scheme ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered are cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.[03] Emissions trading: Commission announces linkage EU ETS with Norway, Iceland and LiechtensteinThe European Commission announced today that it has come to an agreement with the countries in the European Economic Area on linking their respective Emissions Trading systems, making it the first international agreement of its kind for emissions trading. The newly linked systems will cover 30 countries across the European continent.[04] Antitrust: Commission calls for comments on a draft legislative package to introduce settlement procedure for cartelsThe European Commission has launched a public consultation on a package designed to allow for settlements of cartel cases where the parties not only acknowledge their involvement in the cartel and their liability for it but also agree to a faster and simplified procedure. The package consists of a draft Commission Notice and a draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) Nº 773/2004. Settlements would aim to simplify the administrative proceedings and could reduce litigation in cartel cases, thereby freeing resources to pursue more cases. The draft proposal would allow the Commission to impose a lower fine on parties who agreed to the settlement procedure. This initiative complements the recent review of the Leniency Notice (see IP/06/1705) and the revised fines Guidelines (see IP/06/857). Comments on the package of documents should be made by 21st December 2007). Following these comments a revised proposal will be prepared, in consultation with Member State competition authorities, for final adoption in 2008.[05] State aid: Commission issues guidance to speed up implementation of state aid recovery decisionsThe European Commission has adopted a Notice on the implementation of decisions ordering Member States to recover unlawful and incompatible state aid. The notice provides guidance to Member States as to how to achieve a more immediate and effective execution of recovery decisions. Effective and prompt recovery is essential to ensure that distortions of competition resulting from illegal and incompatible aid are put to an end. The Notice emphasises that improving the enforcement of state aid decisions is a shared responsibility between the Commission and the Member States. It recalls the principles applying to the recovery of state aid as confirmed by the Community Courts' case law and defines the respective roles of the Commission and of the Member States in the recovery procedures.[06] European air traffic management: an important step towards the Single European SkyToday, the European Commission adopted new rules for more interoperability between air traffic management (ATM) systems in Europe. This aims to set common technical and procedural rules and thereby remove barriers to the harmonised use of ATM systems. The new legislation complements three Regulations adopted this year and last year in order to modernise air traffic management systems within the Single European Sky.[07] Commissioner Piebalgs endorses Mario Monti's work programme for France- Spain the electrical link (!embargo 15h00!)Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs endorsed today the work programme of Mario Monti, the coordinator of the electrical interconnection between France and Spain through the Pyrenees. The main objective of Mr Monti's work will be to propose solutions that could satisfy all the actors at national but also at regional and local level while fully addressing the need to strengthen the security of energy supply and power interconnections between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe.[08] EU-funded scientists decode proteins with potential for new medicinesAn EU-funded research team, working with scientists at Stanford University in the US and the European synchrotron radiation facility in Grenoble, is the first to determine the structure of a specific membrane protein, known as "recombinant G protein-coupled receptor". Membrane proteins are potentially very important targets for future medicines, because of their involvement in the development of many diseases within the body. In addition to this exciting discovery, the European Commission is announcing around €22m of funding for two new projects looking into membrane proteins, one of which involves two previous Nobel prize-winners.[09] Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to visit Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and EgyptBenita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, will travel to Israel, the occupied Palestinian Territory and Egypt between 28 and 31 October.[10] CAP: Call for tender for technical assistance contract on European Network for Rural DevelopmentThe Commission has launched a call for tender to provide technical assistance for the new European Network for Rural Development (EN RD). The network will offer support to rural development stakeholders in implementing the EU's rural development policy and will follow up its implementation. This activity will be organised mainly via exchange of information and good practice as well as support to national networks. The contractor will assist the Commission in running the EN RD via a Contact Point which will deliver a series of services described in the tender specifications. The maximum annual budget attributed to the first year contract is €4,168,000. The contract may be renewed up to six times. As from the second contractual year, the maximum allocated annual budget will be €3,968,000. The deadline for submitting offers expires on 21 January 2008. Tendering documents can be obtained at the addresses mentioned in the contract notice 2007/S 203-245856 and can be downloaded at the following address: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tender_en.htm#rurdev">http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tender_en.htm#rurdev.[11] Financial services: call for evidence on substitute investment productsThe European Commission has published a call for evidence on the impact of the fragmented regulatory landscape for retail investment products on the protection of retail investors. Input from all interested stakeholders is invited by 18 January 2008. Responses to this consultation will contribute to the Commission's assessment of whether existing rules are sufficient to protect retail investors and, if not, whether corrective action is needed.[12] Commission to postpone and amend electromagnetic fields legislation to protect MRIThe European Commission has today proposed to postpone for four years – until 30 April 2012 – the deadline for introducing legislation on workers' exposure to electromagnetic fields, which could have affected the use of technologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This will allow enough time to prepare a substantive amendment to the Directive in order to take account of recent research findings on the possible impact of the exposure limits on MRI.[13] Rédiffusion[14] Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said "I take note of President Nazarbayev's decision to sign a law that amends and changes the Subsoil Legislation."The Commission is currently examining the proposed new legislation. It has already raised the issue in the framework of the EU - Kazakhstan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, in concrete, in the last meeting of the Sub-committee on Trade, Investment, Energy and Transport, that took place in Astana on 17 and 18 October and will continue to raise the issue in the various structures of the EU-Kazakhstan energy dialogue. The Commission will continue to examine how the new legislation would affect the investments EU companies have made in Kazakhstan, including the compliance of the new legislation with the Energy Charter Treaty, notably its Investment Promotion and Protection provisions. In order to ensure that companies are willing to invest in large scale energy projects, a secure and predictable investment climate is a key pre-condition. Successful energy partnerships with third countries should be based on mutual respect of transparency, predictability and non-discrimination". Commissioner Piebalgs added: "Kazakhstan is an important energy cooperation partner for the EU with whom we have concluded a MoU of cooperation in the field of energy. For that reason, any new legal amendment requires thorough analysis by both sides".[15] Toy safety – Mattel recall on lead paint toysSpeaking today following the announcement of a recall by Mattel of Go Diego Go (Animal Rescue Boat) toys of their Fisher-Price brand, sold in the UK, Ireland, US and Canada due to excessive levels of lead in paint, EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva made it clear that recalling goods from the market is a last resort for industry. With effective controls all along the supply chain, dangerous goods should not be reaching supermarket shelves or arrive in the hands of children at home. Commissioner Kuneva said the fact that the European Commission had, on this occasion, received prior notice before the recall from Mattel is a sign that some of the intensive work with industry in recent months is starting to pay off. In this way, the European Commission is able to provide advice to companies on the recall process if necessary and to circulate to all EU Member Sates authorities full information through the EU RAPEX (Rapid Alert System) system for dangerous consumer goods. This fourth Mattel recall comes as the European Commission is in the final stages of a 2 month review of the consumer product safety mechanisms in place in Europe. Commissioner Kuneva will present the results of this stocktaking and analysis on the EU China (RAPEX) report on Chinese enforcement actions, on 22 November 2007 in Brussels.[16] Mergers: Commission clears planned acquisition of Dade Behring by SiemensThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Dade Behring of the US, by Siemens AG of Germany. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.[17] Autre matériel diffuséSpeech by Mariann Fischer Boel "Rural Development in the European Union" at the International LEADER Conference in HungarySpeech by Mariann Fischer Boel "Reflections on the future of the CAP" at the meeting with members of the Hungarian Agricltural Council in Budapest Speech by Mariann Fischer Boel "The medium term outlook for the Common Agricultural Policy" at the Audition in the Assemblée nationale in Paris Speech by Sim Kallas "50 Years of the European Adventure" at the Inauguration of the Exhibition: "C'est notre histoire ! – 50 ans d'aventure européénne Discours du Président José Manuel Durão Barroso "A enjeux exceptionnels, mobilisation exceptionnelle" à la présentation des conclusions du "Grenelle de l'environnement" à Paris Speech by Danuta Hübner "Les programmes opérationnels français dans la politique de cohésion et les défis de l'avenir" à la Clôture du séminaire innovation et anticipation des mutations économiques et sociales à Bordeaux Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner "Iran" at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Speech by Franco Frattini "Emergin issues of access to justice for vulnerable groups, in particular migrants and asylum seekers, children, including – children perpetrators of crime" at the Council of Europe 28th Conference of the European Ministers of Justice Speech by Charlie McCreevy "Time for regulators to be humble" at tha Wachovia Bank International – Official opening Memo "Antitrust: Commission calls for comments on a draft legislative
package to introduce settlement procedure for cartels – FAQ
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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