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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-12-19

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] I. Résultats de la Commission du 19 décembre 2007 – Outcome of Commission meeting of 19 December 2007
  • [02] Antitrust: Commission prohibits MasterCard's intra-EEA Multilateral Interchange Fees
  • [03] La Commission agit en faveur des véhicules propres et économes en énergie
  • [04] La Commission lance une procédure formelle d'examen sur de nouvelles aides d’État que la Grèce aurait octroyées à Olympic Airways Services et Olympic Airlines
  • [05] M. Herbert Ungerer est nommé directeur général adjoint chargé de la politique des aides d'État
  • [06] Commission proposal to limit the CO2 emissions from cars to help fight climate change, reduce fuel costs and increase European competitiveness
  • [07] II. Other news - Autres Nouvelles
  • [08] European Commission to boost EU support for the peace process in Darfur with € 3 million
  • [09] Construction output up by 0.6% in the euro area
  • [10] Commission clears joint venture between Symantec and Huawei
  • [11] Rediffusion
  • [12] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Actebis by Arques
  • [13] A European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid: working together to help people in need
  • [14] Paiements agricoles: la Commission décide de ne pas appliquer le mécanisme de sauvegarde en Roumanie Midday Express of 2007-12-19 Reference: MEX/07/1219 Date: 19/12/2007 EXME07 / 19.12

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    19/12/07


  • [01] I. Résultats de la Commission du 19 décembre 2007 – Outcome of Commission meeting of 19 December 2007

    [02] Antitrust: Commission prohibits MasterCard's intra-EEA Multilateral Interchange Fees

    The European Commission has decided that MasterCard's multilateral interchange fees (MIF) for cross-border payment card transactions with MasterCard and Maestro branded debit and consumer credit cards in the European Economic Area (EEA) violate EC Treaty rules on restrictive business practices (Article 81). The Commission concluded that MasterCard's MIF, a charge levied on each payment at a retail outlet when the payment is processed, inflated the cost of card acceptance by retailers without leading to proven efficiencies. MasterCard has six months to comply with the Commission's order to withdraw the fees. If MasterCard fails to comply, the Commission may impose daily penalty payments of 3.5% of its daily global turnover in the preceding business year. MIF are not illegal as such. However, a MIF in an open payment card scheme such as MasterCard's is only compatible with EU competition rules if it contributes to technical and economic progress and benefits consumers. In the EU, over 23 billion payments, exceeding a value of €1350 billion, are made every year with payment cards.

    [03] La Commission agit en faveur des véhicules propres et économes en énergie

    La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd’hui une proposition qui vise à réduire la consommation de carburant des véhicules routiers ainsi que leurs émissions de CO2 et de polluants. Une réduction substantielle peut être obtenue si les pouvoirs publics achètent des véhicules propres et économes en énergie pour les intégrer dans leur parc de véhicules de transport public. La population des zones urbaines sera la principale bénéficiaire de ces mesures.

    [04] La Commission lance une procédure formelle d'examen sur de nouvelles aides d’État que la Grèce aurait octroyées à Olympic Airways Services et Olympic Airlines

    La Commission européenne a décidé aujourd’hui de lancer une procédure formelle d'examen portant sur plusieurs flux et transferts financiers susceptibles de constituer des aides d’État en faveur d’Olympic Airways Services SA et d’Olympic Airlines SA. Les contributions qui feront l'objet de l'enquête de la Commission auraient été versées aux deux sociétés après la période couverte par la décision négative de la Commission de septembre 2005, dans laquelle la Commission avait conclu qu’Olympic Airways/Airlines avaient bénéficié d’aides d’État illégales et incompatibles avec le marché commun. La Commission a aussi enjoint la Grèce de lui fournir des informations nécessaires à son enquête.

    [05] M. Herbert Ungerer est nommé directeur général adjoint chargé de la politique des aides d'État

    La Commission européenne a nommé aujourd'hui M. Herbert Ungerer au poste de directeur général adjoint chargé de la politique des aides d'État au sein de la direction générale de la concurrence (DG COMP). Sous l'égide du directeur général, il sera responsable du contrôle des aides d'État et du développement de la politique dans ce domaine.

    [06] Commission proposal to limit the CO2 emissions from cars to help fight climate change, reduce fuel costs and increase European competitiveness

    The European Commission today proposed legislation to reduce the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometre by 2012. The proposed legislation is the cornerstone of the EU's strategy to improve the fuel economy of cars, which account for about 12% of the European Union's carbon emissions. The proposal further underlines the EU's leadership and determination to deliver on its greenhouse gas commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond.

    [07] II. Other news - Autres Nouvelles

    [08] European Commission to boost EU support for the peace process in Darfur with € 3 million

    The European Commission will provide € 3 million under the Instrument for Stability to support the current peace process which is seeking a resolution of the ongoing Darfur crisis. The negotiation work is led by a joint UN and African Union team of mediators. This new EC contribution, combined with bilateral allocations from EU Member States, will make the EU by far the biggest donor to the peace process in Darfur, with an expected total contribution of € 9 million. While the AU-UN led efforts to broker a peaceful resolution to this crisis are ongoing, the EC´s humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable people affected by the ongoing crisis is of course continuing as is its leading support to AMIS (the current AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur). The Commission will continue to meet its responsibilities as a major donor during the post-crisis recovery period.

    [09] Construction output up by 0.6% in the euro area

    In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 0.6% in the euro area (EA13) and by 0.3% in the EU27 in October 2007, compared with the previous month. In September, production decreased by 0.1% in the euro area, but increased by 0.3% in the EU27.Compared with October 2006, output in October 2007 gained 2.4% in the euro area and 2.7% in the EU27. In September the annual growth was 0.9% and 2.9% respectively. These first estimates are released by Eurostat.

    [10] Commission clears joint venture between Symantec and Huawei

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the joint venture between Symantec Corporation (Symantec) of the US and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) of P.R.China. Symantec is a global supplier of software and appliance solutions and related products and services. Huawei is a global supplier of telecommunications networking solutions and related services. The joint venture will develop and sell storage appliance solutions and security appliance solutions. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [11] Rediffusion

    [12] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Actebis by Arques

    The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Scandinavian part of the Actebis group, which is mainly active in the wholesale of information technology products, by Arques Industries 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.

    [13] A European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid: working together to help people in need

    The Presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union on behalf of the 27 EU Member States today signed a 'European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid'. The Consensus sets out a common EU vision and a practical approach for reaching out effectively to millions of people worldwide suffering as a result of conflicts and natural disasters.

    [14] Paiements agricoles: la Commission décide de ne pas appliquer le mécanisme de sauvegarde en Roumanie

    À la suite des progrès rapides accomplis par les autorités roumaines dans la mise en place des contrôles nécessaires en matière de dépenses agricoles, la Commission européenne a décidé aujourd'hui de ne pas appliquer en Roumanie le mécanisme dit «de sauvegarde». En novembre la Commission avait demandé à la Roumanie de poursuivre les améliorations du module logiciel destiné à garantir la mise en œuvre correcte des paiements afin d'éviter une réduction provisoire à hauteur de 25 % des paiements agricoles communautaires. Un nouveau rapport du bureau d'experts indépendants Deloitte conclut que ce module informatique ne présente désormais plus de déficiences majeures. Le déclenchement du mécanisme de sauvegarde n'est par conséquent plus justifié. Cette décision d'y renoncer n'implique pas pour autant que tout soit réglé. Comme pour tout nouveau système, il se peut que certains problèmes n'apparaissent que quand les paiements auront débuté. La Roumanie doit en outre encore augmenter son taux de contrôle et il subsiste quelques carences au niveau informatique. La Commission continuera de suivre la situation de très près et effectuera des contrôles en Roumanie au début de 2008. Elle conserve la possibilité de recourir à tout moment à la sauvegarde si de graves insuffisances étaient constatées. De plus, la Roumanie sera comme tous les autres États membres soumise aux procédures normales d'audit appliquées dans tous les États membres et permettant le recouvrement des montants dépensés de façon irrégulière.

    Autre matériel diffusé

    • Memo on Antitrust: Commission prohibits MasterCard's intra-EEA Multilateral Interchange Fees – frequently asked questions (see also IP/07/1959)

    • Memo on Sustainable economics with clean and energy efficient vehicles

    • Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on The European Neighbourhood Policy and the Regions

    • Speech by Commissioner Kroes "Commission Prohibits MasterCard's intra- EEA Multilateral Interchange Fees"

    • Speech by Commissioner Borg on the Council agreement on fishing possibilities for 2008

    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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