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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-12-17
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission co-chairs Palestinian Donors Conference and announces
€440 million ($650 million) to the Palestinians for 2008
[02] Albania joins EU research programme - EMBARGO 16.30 -
[03] EU Network of Energy Security Correspondents meets in Brussels
[04] Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes adoption of the new Energy Star
programme
[05] GDP per inhabitant in the Member States ranged from 37% to 280% of the
EU27 average in 2006
[06] Commission clears acquisition of part of IBM by AT&T
[07] Commission clears acquisition of Mark IV by Sun Capital Funds
[08] Statement by Joe Borg on the Conclusions of the European Council on an
Integrated Maritime Policy for the Union
[09] Rediffusion
[10] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of RSDB by Quebecor
[11] Climate change: EU welcomes agreement to launch formal negotiations on
a global climate regime for post-2012
Midday Express of 2007-12-17
Reference: MEX/07/1217
Date: 17/12/2007
EXME07 / 17.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
17/12/07
[01] Commission co-chairs Palestinian Donors Conference and announces
€440 million ($650 million) to the Palestinians for 2008
European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner unveiled today a pledge of
€440 million ($650 million) to the Palestinian people for 2008 at the
Paris Donors Conference. The Conference is co-chaired by France, the
European Commission, Norway and Quartet Special Representative Blair and
will also be attended by Palestinian President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad,
Israel Foreign Minister Livni and representatives of all international
donors to the Palestinians attended this meeting. Commissioner Ferrero-
Waldner will also announce the launching in February 2008 of PEGASE, a new
financial mechanism to provide assistance to the Palestinians which will
cooperate closely with the Palestinian Authority and will contribute to the
Palestinian Reform and Development Plan. Furthermore, Benita Ferrero-
Waldner will also participate in the first Quartet meeting after the
Annapolis Conference.
[02] Albania joins EU research programme - EMBARGO 16.30 -
Today, Albania will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the
European Commission allowing it full participation in the EU's Seventh
Research Framework Programme (FP7). "Associated status" allows Albania to
participate in all calls for proposals and compete on an equal footing with
the EU Member States for research co-operation and support actions funded
by FP7, as of 1 January 2008. As such, this agreement is an important part
of the process of applying to join the EU, allowing scientists,
universities and companies to create links with their counterparts across
Europe and build up their scientific expertise, including in scientific
fields crucial to implementing the body of EU legislation. Albania is now
added to other countries in the Western Balkans regions that are associated
to FP7 – Serbia, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
[03] EU Network of Energy Security Correspondents meets in Brussels
The European Commission is hosting today the second meeting of the EU
Network of Energy Security Correspondents (NESCO) in Brussels. The Network
correspondents from the European Commission, the Council Secretariat and
the EU Member States will discuss a report on the functioning of the
Network since its establishment in May 2007.
[04] Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes adoption of the new Energy Star
programme
The Council adopted today the new Regulation for implementing the EU-US
Energy Star programme in the EU. This Regulation requires EU institutions
and central Member State government authorities to use energy efficiency
criteria no less demanding than those defined in the Energy Star programme
when purchasing office equipment. Energy Star is part of the Community
strategy to better manage energy demand, contribute to security of energy
supply and mitigate climate change.
[05] GDP per inhabitant in the Member States ranged from 37% to 280% of the
EU27 average in 2006
GDP per inhabitant in Luxembourg, expressed in terms of purchasing power
standards (PPS), was more than two-and-a-half times the EU27 average in
2006, while Ireland was nearly 50% above the average. The Netherlands,
Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium were between around 20% and 30% above
the average. The United Kingdom, Finland, Germany and France recorded
figures between 10% and 20% above the EU27 average, while Spain, Italy and
Greece were around the average.Cyprus and Slovenia were about 10% below the
EU27 average, while the Czech Republic, Malta and Portugal were between 20%
and 25% below. Estonia, Hungary and Slovakia were about 35% below the
average, while Lithuania, Latvia and Poland were between 40% and 50% below
the average. Romania and Bulgaria were around 60% below the EU27 average.
These data for 2006, 2005 and 2004, published by Eurostat are based on
revised purchasing power parities, and the latest GDP and population
figures. They cover the 27 EU Member States, the three candidate countries,
three EFTA countries and four Western Balkan countries.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of part of IBM by AT&T
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of control of much of the global
telecommunications services operations of International Business Machines
Inc. (IBM) of the US by AT&T Corp. (AT&T) of the US. AT&T provides
international voice and data communication services. IBM supplies
Information Technology (IT): services and equipment, computer software and
related services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of Mark IV by Sun Capital Funds
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Mark IV Industries, Inc.
(Mark IV) of the US by Sun Capital Partners V, L.P. and Sun Capital
Partners IV, L.P. (together Sun Capital Funds) of the US. Sun Capital Funds
is a private investment group. Mark IV manufactures engineered systems and
components. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[08] Statement by Joe Borg on the Conclusions of the European Council on an
Integrated Maritime Policy for the Union
"Over the past two years, a large consensus has been developing within the
European Union and its institutions in favour of the development of an
Integrated Maritime Policy for the Union. In this context, the Commission
adopted, on 10 October 2007, its vision for such a policy and proposed
specific actions aimed at increasing economic benefit from the seas in an
environmentally sustainable manner. I am therefore extremely pleased that,
in its conclusions today, the European Council unreservedly welcomed both
this vision and the actions that we proposed. The call on future
Presidencies of the Union to work on the establishment of the Integrated
Maritime Policy is an invitation to Member States to join forces with the
Commission in implementing this new, emerging European policy. I am also
pleased that Heads of States and Governments have acknowledged that this
new Policy is a tool to address the challenges of sustainable development
and competitiveness. By doing so, the European Council recognises the
intrinsic links between Maritime Policy and Europe's main priorities such
as making the most of globalisation, fighting climate change and adapting
to its impacts, achieving energy sustainability and tapping into the
potential of our oceans and seas in a sustainable manner." <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/">http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/
[09] Rediffusion
[10] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of RSDB by Quebecor
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of sole control of RSDB of the Netherlands by Quebecor
of Canada. Both companies provide printing services for publications
(magazines, catalogues/advertisements) and service activities related to
printing (pre-press and after-press). The Commission concluded that the
operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area (EEA) or in any substantial part of it.
[11] Climate change: EU welcomes agreement to launch formal negotiations on
a global climate regime for post-2012
Commission President José Manuel Barroso: “There is only one planet.
Together, developed and developing countries can reach success.”
Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on How is the European Commission responding to the needs of the
Palestinians
• Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner at the Paris Donors Conference
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/
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