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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-11-23Midday 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 Communicationb23/11/07[01] Journée Internationale de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes: exposition de dessins d'enfants à BruxellesMore than 10,000 children, aged between 8 and 10, from all corners of the globe, have participated to a drawing competition on the theme of gender equality, launched by the European Commission on March 8, 2007, on the occasion of the Women's International Day. The drawings of the finalists that censured the violence against women will be exhibited in Brussels from November 26 to December, 7 2007. "Protecting women's rights and empowering them as decision-makers are fundamental principles of the European Union's work across the globe" Ms Benita FERRERO WALDNER, European Commissioner External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy. The exhibition will be opened on November 26, 2007 at 17.30 at EuropeAid Cooperation Office in Brussels, by Ms. Luisa MORGANTINI, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and M. Koos RICHELLE, EuropeAid Director General[02] Europe leads the move to a low carbon economyDealing with climate change, care for the environment and the provision of energy can go hand in hand with economic development and offer opportunities to businesses. This will be the main message of the conference "Towards a global low carbon economy" in Brussels on 27th November, chaired by European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen. European leaders have made clear through the 2020 commitment that Europe has recognised the opportunity of early action and intends to pioneer the move to a global low carbon economy. The conference will be a showcase to deliver the most important messages from the High Level Group (HLG) on Competitiveness, Energy and Environment that looked at the three different policy objectives and ways to integrate them. The EU Commissioners Andris Piebalgs for Energy, Neelie Kroes for Competition and Stavros Dimas for Environment will also take part in the event together with Industry Ministers and representatives of leading business organisations, companies and environmental NGOs. The conference will convey an important message to the Bali meeting of UNFCCC, that business is part of the solution to tackle the energy and climate change challenges and that the appropriate market conditions are created in the EU and globally, in support of action by business. Journalists are invited to attend the conference. For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/environment/hlg/conference_nov_2007.htm[03] Commission clears acquisition of LOMO by Goldman SachsThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of LOMO Group (LOMO) of Germany by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Goldman Sachs) of the US. Goldman Sachs is active in investment banking, trading and principal investment, asset management, and investment services. LOMO operates petrol stations and motorway service areas. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[04] Commission clears joint venture between BENTELER and SGLTThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of a newly created company, BENTELER-SGL Automotive Carbon Composites GmbH & Co. KG (the JV) by Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (BENTELER) of Germany and SGL Technologies GmbH (SGLT), also of Germany. BENTELER develops and produces car components, modules and systems. SGLT produces carbon fibres, aerospace and industrial composites, expanded graphite, carbon ceramic brake discs and fuel cell components. The JV will develop, produce and distribute components for the car industry. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[05] Vice-President Frattini looks forward to further cooperation with Russia in the field of justice, freedom and securityVice-President Franco Frattini, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, participated today in the meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) in the Justice and Home Affairs format. The meeting welcomed recent achievements in the EU-Russia cooperation and looked forward to progress in several areas.[06] EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson in China November 23-28Trade Commissioner EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will today begin a six day visit to China. In five days of meetings ahead of the EU-China Summit on November 28, Commissioner Mandelson will meet key Chinese figures and European businesses operating in China. He will urge Chinese leaders to fulfil China's WTO obligations, take concrete measures to improve access for EU exporters and investors to the Chinese market and to protect EU businesses in China from intellectual property theft. Although China has now been in the WTO for six years, EU exporters and investors continue to face persistent problems entering and operating in the Chinese market.[07] VAT: The European Commission suggests ways to improve administrative cooperation in the fight against VAT fraudAs a follow-up of the Communication for a European strategy to combat tax fraud (<a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/697&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/06/697) and on request of the ECOFIN Council in June 2007, the European Commission has adopted a communication containing a number of key elements for improving Member States' capacity to tackle VAT fraud, in particular missing trader fraud (carousel fraud). The purpose of the Communication is to seek political guidance for future work from the ECOFIN Council meeting on 4 December 2007.[08] Territorial cohesion goes to the heart of the EU's political agendaOn 23 and 24 November, at the invitation of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union, Commissioner Danuta Hübner joins EU Ministers responsible for regional and spatial development in Ponta Delgada, Azores for an informal meeting on territorial cohesion and regional development. They will adopt the first action programme for the implementation of the territorial agenda of the EU, as agreed at their previous meeting in Leipzig last May.[09] Commissioner Piebalgs underlines the urgency of the new proposals on the Internal Energy MarketIn recent weeks there has been increasing public debate on the Commission's proposals aimed at guaranteeing real and effective competition for all EU citizens and companies for their gas and electricity needs. In particular, a number of the companies opposing them have raised questions regarding the Commission's Impact Assessment, the document that lays down the facts and evidence why these measures are necessary.Autre matériel diffusé • Memo: Preparation Agriculture/Fisheries Council of November 2007 • Speech by Commissioner Hübner on "Future of Cohesion Policy: towards exploring options" • Speech by Commissioner Hübner on "Territorial Cohesion: towards a clear and common understanding of the concept" • Speech by Commissioner Hübner on "Delivering innovation through Cohesion Policy" • Speech by Commissioner Dimas at the opening of The Second Civil Protection Forum: "Together in the Face of disaster" • Calendrier du 26 au 30 novembre • Top News from the European Commission A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : STX/Aker Enel/EMS
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 |