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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-10-31Midday 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 Communicationb31/10/07[01] Commission clears acquisition of Applus by CarlyleThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Applus Servicios Technológicos, S.L. (Applus) of Spain by Carlyle Europe Partners III L.P., belonging to and managed by The Carlyle Group (Carlyle) of the US. Carlyle is a global private equity investment group. Applus carries out vehicle inspections in Spain, engineering testing and certification, technical assistance and consultancy. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[02] Commission clears acquisition of IES by MOLThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Italiana Energia e Servizi S.p.A. (IES) of Italy by MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc. (MOL) of Hungary. MOL is active in the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas and gas products; refining and marketing of crude oil products at both retail and wholesale level, transmission of natural gas, and production and sales of petrochemical products. IES is active in the refining of crude oil and subsequent sales of each derivative oil products, retail sales of fuels, sale of bitumen and provision of catering services along roads. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[03] Commission clears acquisition of Conbipel by OaktreeThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Conbipel S.p.A. of Italy by Oaktree Capital Management L.P. (Oaktree) of the US. Oaktree is an investment management company. Conbipel is a fashion retail outlet. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[04] Commission clears acquisition of Sirti by Euraleo and CapitoloquattroThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Sirti S.p.A. of Italy by Euraleo S.r.l and Capitoloquattro S.p.A., both also of Italy. Euraleo and Capitoloquattro are private equity investment companies. Sirti provides telecommunications networks and systems. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[05] Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: advancing regional co-operation to support peace, progress and inter-cultural dialogueCommissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will attend a ministerial meeting of Euro- Mediterranean Partners in Lisbon on 4/5 November. The meeting will review progress on the implementation of the 5-Year work programme agreed at the Barcelona Summit in 2005 and outline the priorities for 2008. The Foreign Ministers will discuss how to pursue this reform agenda, to bring concrete results, suggest further activities for the Code of Conduct on countering terrorism and discuss the Middle East Peace Process and situation in the region. During the meeting in Lisbon the Commissioner will participate in separate Troikas meetings with the Israeli delegation and the Arab group and take part in bilateral meetings with Euro-Mediterranean partners.[06] EU takes action to promote 'fair globalisation' at ILO forum!! EMBARGO 1er NOVEMBRE 12.00!!The EU is stepping up its efforts to promote 'fair globalisation' by ensuring that the international community takes better account of the effects of globalisation on people's working lives. Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner VladimÃr Å pidla will confirm the EU commitment to promote 'decent work' – meaning more and better jobs with welfare protection, equal opportunities and social dialogue – at an International Labour Organisation (ILO) forum on decent work for a fair globalisation in Lisbon today. To this end the Commission is mobilising trade, development and external policies and will encourage EU Member States to ratify a series of internationally-agreed rules to improve the quality of work around the world. [07] Kimberley Process reviews progress during 2007The European Commission, as current Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) – the international scheme to end trade in conflict diamonds –, is hosting its Annual Conference in Brussels on 5-8 November. Some 300 delegates, including Ministers, officials, industry and civil society representatives, will meet to review efforts in diamond trading, cutting and polishing centres to exclude conflict diamonds, as well as controls in countries with artisanal diamond production. Participants are expected to agree further measures to strengthen the scheme.[08] Concentrations: La Commission autorise le projet de rachat de Numico par Danone, sous réserve du respect de certaines conditionsLa Commission Européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations de l'UE, le projet de rachat de la société néerlandaise Numico par le groupe français Danone, tous deux importants acteurs dans l'alimentation pour bébé et les laits infantiles. La décision de la Commission est subordonnée à la cession des activités de laits et boissons pour bébés de Numico en France, des activités de repas, biscuits, laits et boissons pour bébés de Danone en Belgique et des activités de repas et biscuits pour bébés de Danone aux Pays-Bas. Compte- tenu de ces engagements, la Commission est parvenue à la conclusion que la transaction n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen (EEE) ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.[09] EU and North-Atlantic coastal states agree on 2008 fishing possibilities on 3 major shared stocksSeveral agreements have been concluded in the past few days between the European Commission, on behalf of the EU, and the other coastal states concerned regarding 2008 fishing opportunities on three important shared fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic. The agreements relate to a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 1,250,000 tonnes (a reduction of 32% from 2007) for blue whiting, 1,266,000 tonnes (virtually unchanged) for Atlanto- Scandian herring, and 456,000 tonnes (a reduction of 9%) for mackerel. In each case, these totals will be shared out among the Parties concerned according to an agreed allocation key.[10] Euro area inflation estimated at 2.6%Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 2.6% in October 2007 according to a flash estimate issued by Eurostat. It was 2.1% in September. Euro area inflation is measured by the Monetary Union Index of Consumer Prices (MUICP). To compute the MUICP flash estimates, Eurostat uses early price information relating to the reference month from Member States for which data are available as well as early information about energy prices. The flash estimation procedure for the MUICP combines historical information with partial information on price developments in the most recent months to give a total index for the euro area. No detailed breakdown is available. Experience has shown the procedure to be reliable (17 times exactly anticipating the inflation rate and 7 times differing by 0.1 over the last two years). Further information can be found in Eurostat News Release 113/2001 of 5 November 2001.[11] Euro area unemployment down to 7.3% - EU27 down to 7.0%The euro area (EA13) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.3% in September 2007, compared to 7.4% in August. It was 8.1% in September 2006. The EU271 unemployment rate was 7.0% in September 2007, compared with 7.1% in August. It was 8.0% in September 2006. In September 2007, the lowest rates were registered in the Netherlands (3.1%) and Denmark (3.3% in August 2007), and the highest in Slovakia (11.1%) and Poland (8.8%). These figures are published by Eurostat.[12] Taux d'épargne des ménages de 14,3% dans la zone euro et de 11,1% dans l'UE27Eurostat et la Banque centrale européenne (BCE) publient des données détaillées sur les comptes européens trimestriels par secteur institutionnel. Le présent communiqué de presse d'Eurostat se concentre sur trois indicateurs clés: le taux d'épargne des ménages, le taux d'investissement des entreprises non-financières ainsi que la part de leurs profits dans la valeur ajoutée.[13] October 2007: Further moderate drop in economic sentiment in both the EU and the euro areaIn October, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) weakened further in both the EU and the euro area. Following last month's sizeable drops, the ESI decreased more moderately by 1.1 points in the EU and by 1 point in the euro area, to 109.5 and 105.9 respectively. However, the indicator still remains well above its long-term average in both areas.[14] World experts gather in Brussels to promote sustainable developmentThis year's Global Jean Monnet Conference is to be held in Brussels on 5-6 November. It will address "The European Union and Sustainable Development". Organised under the auspices of the Education and Culture Directorate General, it will bring together 450 top academics, policy makers and representatives of civil society from around the world, in the presence of Commission President José Manuel Barroso.[15] EU meets its southern energy partners in EgyptOn 1 November 2007, the European Commission and the Arab Republic of Egypt will bring together for the first time key energy players from the EU and the South to debate common challenges and policies in the field of energy security. The EU-Africa-Middle East Energy Conference will be held in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) and will be hosted by the External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab republic of Egypt, Ahmed Aboul Gheit with the participation of Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. It is an opportunity for participants from the EU, Africa and the Middle East to discuss co-operation in enhancing regional energy security, addressing climate change and improving access to energy services. By identifying issues of common interest and areas for trans-regional co-operation in the energy sector for hydrocarbons and renewables, as well as energy efficiency, the Conference will provide an added value to the existing Euro- Mediterranean energy cooperation and the EU-GCC energy cooperation.[16] October 2007: Business Climate Indicator for the euro area declines further in OctoberFollowing a marked decrease in September, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area continued to decline in October. However, in combination with the pick-up in industrial production growth in July and August, the still high level of the indicator suggests that economic activity in the industry sector is continuing to grow at a solid pace.The decrease in the BCI is largely due to a sharp worsening of industry managers' assessment of the production trend observed in recent months. Managers' assessments of both total and export order books and their views of the stocks of finished products also deteriorated somewhat, while their production expectations remained unchanged. [17] European Union and Israel to launch business dialogueTwenty European and Israeli business leaders, VP EU Commission and Israel's trade, industry and labour minister to kick off dialogue at Prime Minister's Conference on November 1. Some twenty business leaders from Europe and Israel, together with the Vice President of the European Commission Günter Verheugen and Israel's Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour, Eliyahu Yishai will, on November 1, launch the EU-Israel Business Dialogue. The goal of the dialogue, which follows the format of similar 'business-to business' dialogues between the EU and Russia, Japan, the United States and India, is to strengthen EU-Israel economic relations, remove barriers to trade and investment and enhance cooperation and joint ventures.[18] Joe Borg welcomes Lisbon's Conference ministerial Declaration on combating international trade of fisheries products from illegal fishing"Many international meetings on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing have been held in the past. Many of them have been useful because they have raised awareness of the burning need for the international community to tackle this scourge together. But the Lisbon's Conference has gone further than that: it has brought both a real commitment to action, and a pragmatic emphasis on identifying and using the best means at our disposal. By underlining the importance of specific instruments to address the trade dimension, the Declaration reinforces the Commission's recent proposal for new measures to eliminate pirate fishing that can really deliver. It also assures us that we have the backing of international partners, including several developing countries with major fisheries interests, not just in our goals, but also in the means that we intend to deploy. There must be zero tolerance for illegal fishing activities that deplete fish stocks, damage marine ecosystems and rob honest fishermen and coastal communities of food and income. For its part, the Commission will continue its work with all like-minded partners at all levels of interaction to ensure that such criminal activities are brought to an end." The high-level Conference on eradicating IUU fishing was hosted jointly by the Commission and the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union. It brought together EU Fisheries Ministers and Representatives with their counterparts from around a dozen of the most important of the EU's international fisheries partners, mainly in Africa and the North Atlantic (see IP/07/1623).Declaration: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/external_relations/illegal_fishing/pdf/Lisbon_declaration_311007.pdf">http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/external_relations/illegal_fishing/pdf/Lisbon_declaration_311007.pdf <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_75_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/com07_75_en.htm <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/speeches/speech07_09_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/speeches/speech07_09_en.htm [19] Commission clears joint venture between Mondadori and SanomaThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to joint control of a newly created company Mondadori Independent Media LLC (MIM) of Russia by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. (Mondadori) of Italy and Sanoma Magazines B.V. (Sanoma) of Finland. Mondadori and Sanoma publish, print and distribute magazines and books. MIM publishes and distributes magazines in Russia. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[20] Autre matériel diffuséDiscours du Commissaire Å pidla sur La promotion de la dimension sociale de la mondialisation et du travail décent à Lisbonne.!! EMBARGO 1er NOVEMBRE 12.00!Memo on the Kimberley process
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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