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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-12-05Midday 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 Communicationb05/12/07[01] I. Résultats de la Commission du 5 décembre 2007 – Outcome of Commission meeting of 5 December 2007[02] EU initiative to strengthen consular protection for citizens outside the European UnionThousands of EU citizens travel, work and study outside the EU each year. According to a Eurobarometer study published in 2006 only 23% of them are aware that they can turn to another Member State for help if their own Member State is not represented in that third country. Crises in recent years, such as the tsunami in 2004 and the Lebanon conflict in 2006, showed the need for action at EU level to improve the protection of Union citizens in the world. The Commission has adopted an Action Plan for the period 2007- 2009 to help to make the right to consular protection a reality for all citizens.[03] Ententes: la Commission inflige des amendes d'un total de 243,2 millions d'euros aux producteurs de caoutchouc chloroprène pour des accords de partage du marché et de fixation des prixLa Commission européenne a infligé des amendes d’un montant total de €243 210 000 aux sociétés Bayer, Denka, DuPont, Dow, ENI et Tosoh pour avoir participé à une entente sur le marché du caoutchouc chloroprène dans l'Espace économique européen (EEE), en violation de l'interdiction des ententes et des pratiques commerciales restrictives prévue par le traité CE (article 81). De 1993 à 2002, ces sociétés se sont partagé le marché et ont fixé les prix du caoutchouc chloroprène qui est utilisé comme adhésif, comme latex pour la production d'équipements de plongée, de préservatifs et de semelles intérieures de chaussures ainsi que dans la fabrication de pièces en caoutchouc pour toute une série de produits industriels.[04] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Lentjes by A-Tec GroupThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the planned acquisition of Lentjes GmbH of Germany by Energy & Environment AG & Co KG (AEE), which forms part of the Austrian A-Tec group. Lentjes and AEE have overlapping activities primarily in the engineering and supply of waste-to-energy plants, used for the burning of municipal waste. The Commission's in-depth investigation (see IP/07/1208), opened on 3 August 2007, has shown that the concentration would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part of it.[05] Mergers: Commission declares part of conditions imposed by Spain on Enel and Acciona to acquire Endesa incompatible with EU law and requires their withdrawalThe European Commission has decided that Spain has violated Article 21 of the EU Merger Regulation in that certain conditions imposed on Enel and Acciona for their acquisition of Endesa are incompatible with EC law and has requested their withdrawal by 10 January 2008. In particular the incompatible conditions concern: a) the obligation to maintain Endesa as an independent company, including its brand, and its decision-making centre in Spain, b) a limitation in Endesa's debt service ratio, c) a limitation with respect to Endesa's dividends distribution policy, d) the obligation for certain of Endesa's generation assets to purchase certain amounts of national coal and e) the obligation to keep the assets of the insular and non-mainland electricity systems within the Endesa Group. These conditions were imposed by the National Energy Commission ("CNE") in its decision of 4 July 2007 and partially modified by the Minister of Industry on 19 October 2007.[06] State aid: Commission approves UK rescue aid package for Northern RockThe European Commission has authorised, under the EC Treaty’s rules on state aid, the UK authorities' package of measures to support Northern Rock, the UK mortgage bank. The Commission received full details of these measures on 26th November 2007. The Commission has concluded that the measures comply with EU rules on rescue aid. The approval of the rescue aid measures has no bearing on whether any future measures taken by the UK authorities to support a restructuring plan would be similarly approved. Any such measures would have to be assessed on their own merits according to the rules on restructuring aid to establish whether aid was involved, and if so whether there was sufficient restructuring to offset any distortion of competition caused by the aid and to ensure the future viability of the company without further state aid.[07] II. Other news - Autres Nouvelles[08] A Strong European Neighbourhood Policy – further efforts are neededFurther efforts from the EU side are necessary to make a reality of the proposals already made to strengthen the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). A new Communication from Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, sets out what actions are needed by the Member States and the Commission, particularly in the fields of trade, mobility and tackling frozen conflicts in the EU’s neighbourhood. A number of actions are foreseen in 2008 to reinforce sectoral reforms in the neighbourhood countries. A further communication next spring will address the performance of the neighbourhood partners, with progress reports on each.[09] Commissioner launches Stakeholder Conference and kicks off Internet Debate on the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, is inviting stakeholders to a web-streamed general hearing on the Health Check of the CAP on 6 December 2007 and asking farmers, environmentalists, consumers and NGOs to share their opinion on her blog.[10] Cohesion policy 2007-2013: Launch of eight programmes for Czech regionsDanuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, announced the adoption of eight operational programmes to be implemented in the Czech Republic over the 2007-2013 programming period. Together, they represent more than € 7.6 billion of investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). A further six ERDF and Cohesion Fund programmes will be approved shortly, making a total of €23 billion to improve conditions for economic growth and welfare.[11] Aide humanitaire: La Commission accorde 2 millions € aux populations les plus vulnérables d'Abkhazie (Géorgie)La Commission européenne a approuvé l'octroi de 2 millions € pour un ensemble d'actions d'aide humanitaire en faveur des populations les plus touchées par le conflit non réglé entre l'Abkhasie et la Géorgie. Les bénéficiaires incluront les rapatriés et les groupes vulnérables en Abkhazie. L'aide sera consacrée à de petits projets générateurs de revenus et à la remise en état des maisons détruites. Les fonds sont alloués par l’intermédiaire de la Direction générale de l'aide humanitaire de la Commission (ECHO), sous la responsabilité du commissaire européen Louis Michel.[12] Commission: Court of Auditors report strengthens the case for a reform of fisheries controlThe European Commission today welcomed the report published by the Court of Auditors on data collection, control and enforcement under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Commission had already decided that the review of the CFP control legal framework would be a strategic priority of it 2008 Work Programme, and the Court’s report strengthens the case for a major reform of control policy under the CFP. The Court conducted an extensive audit in these areas, which covered both the Commission's own functions, and the way in which CFP rules are implemented by the fisheries management authorities in six Member States (Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom).[13] Inland navigation on the right course: Commission presents the progress of 'NAIADES'The European Commission presented today the first report on the progress that has been made in implementing the so-called 'NAIADES' programme which is aimed at promoting inland waterway transport in Europe. This first report registers progress in a broad range of areas, including initiatives that have been launched to improve market conditions, to modernise the fleet, to make the profession more attractive, and to improve waterway infrastructure.[14] Volume of retail trade down by 0.7% in euro areaIn October 2007, compared to September 2007, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.7% in the euro area (EA13) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In September retail trade increased by 0.2% and 0.3% respectively. In October 2007, compared with October 2006, the retail sales index gained 0.2% in the euro area and 1.9% in the EU27. These first estimates come from Eurostat.[15] Commissioner Piebalgs and Romanian Energy Minister Vosganian have agreed on the need for ambitious renewable targets and a well functioning internal energy marketEnergy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and Romanian Energy Minister Varujan Vosganian have met today to discuss future developments of European Energy Policy. Minister Vosganian informed the Commissioner about the latest evolution in the Romanian energy sector and the adoption of a new energy strategy, including the creation of a competitive energy market and the key role played by independent Transmission System Operators. Commissioner Piebalgs welcomed the support Romania's support towards the Internal Market Package and discussed with Minister Vosganian the future developments of European Energy policy, and in particular the Renewables directive to be adopted at the end of January for which Romania has agreed to the need for ambitious targets.Autre matériel diffusé • Memo on Competition: Commission action against cartels – Questions and answers • Memo on State aid: Commission approves UK rescue aid package for Northern Rock – frequently asked questions • Memo on Commission proposes enhancing openness and transparency in EU defence markets - Embargo 13h00 - • Memo on The European Neighbourhood Policy – How the EU is making a difference in partner countries • Memo on Court of Auditors' Report on the control, inspection and sanction systems of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) • Memo on Inland navigation on the right course: the progress of 'NAIADES' • Rediffusion Speech by Commisionner McCreevy on Challenges to the further integration of EU financial markets • Rediffusion Speech by Commisioner McCreevy on Sovereign Wealth Funds A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :
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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