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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-01-08
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Animal Welfare: Commission report confirms the potential benefits of
banning conventional battery cages for laying hens
[02] Comptabilité: la Commission adopte un mécanisme d’équivalence
pour les normes comptables de pays tiers
[03] Commission clears acquisition of TSMB by TDF
[04] Commission clears acquisition of AS Lathouwers by Lion Capital
[05] Volume of retail trade down by 0.5% in euro area
[06] Rediffusion
[07] EU makes substantial contribution to UN's relief effort in Kyrgyzstan
[08] Close to 3/4 of all payments by Cypriot and Maltese citizens now in
euro
Midday Express of 2008-01-08
Reference: MEX/08/0108
Date: 08/01/2008
EXME08 / 08.01
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
08/01/08
[01] Animal Welfare: Commission report confirms the potential benefits of
banning conventional battery cages for laying hens
There is substantial evidence that banning the use of conventional battery
cages for laying hens could considerably improve the health and welfare of
these birds, according to a report published by the Commission today. An EU
ban on conventional battery cages is due to enter into force from 2012, in
line with Directive 1999/74/EC on minimum standards for laying hens, and
the report concludes that the 2012 deadline should be maintained. Today's
report details a number of independent scientific and socio-economic
studies which lend support to this measure by outlining the clear benefits
of changing to so-called 'enriched' cages or alternative (free range or
barn) rearing systems for laying hens. The report also lists a number of
recommended actions for the period leading up to the ban, including
campaigns to promote public awareness of the way hens are reared, in order
to provide competitive opportunities for EU producers.
[02] Comptabilité: la Commission adopte un mécanisme d’équivalence
pour les normes comptables de pays tiers
M. Charlie McCreevy, membre de la Commission chargé du marché intérieur
et des services, a salué l’adoption par la Commission d’un
règlement de grande importance le 21 décembre 2007, suite à un avis
favorable du Parlement européen. Sur la base de ce règlement, il sera
possible de prendre des décisions quant à l’équivalence de principes
comptables de pays tiers avec les normes comptables IFRS adoptées par
l’UE.
[03] Commission clears acquisition of TSMB by TDF
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of T-Systems Media &
Broadcast GmbH (TSMB) of Germany by TDF SAS (TDF) of France. TDF: provides
over-the-air and wireless B2B services to broadcasters and telecom
operators, and owns and operates terrestrial infrastructure used for the
transmission of TV, radio and telecom signals. TSMB provides analogue and
digital TV and radio broadcasting services in Germany. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of AS Lathouwers by Lion Capital
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Amerikaanse Stockhuizen
Lathouwers NV (AS Lathouwers) of Belgium by Lion Capital LLP (Lion Capital)
of the UK. Lion Capital is a capital investment company. AS Lathouwers is
active in retail sales of outdoor goods. The operation was examined under
the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Volume of retail trade down by 0.5% in euro area
In November 2007, compared with October 2007, the volume of retail trade
fell by 0.5% in the euro area (EA13) and by 0.2% in the EU27. In October
retail trade fell by 0.7% and 0.4% respectively. In November 2007, compared
with November 2006, the retail sales index fell by 1.4% in the euro area,
but rose by 0.9% in the EU27. These first estimates come from Eurostat.
[06] Rediffusion
[07] EU makes substantial contribution to UN's relief effort in Kyrgyzstan
The European Union is providing urgent shelter assistance to Kyrgyzstan
through the EC Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), which is
responsible for the mobilisation and coordination of EU Member States'
civil protection assistance in the event of major emergencies. A request
for assistance circulated by the MIC on 3 January 2008 triggered generous
reactions from States participating in the Community Civil Protection
Mechanism. Help was forthcoming in particular from Sweden, Austria,
Slovakia and Bulgaria.
[08] Close to 3/4 of all payments by Cypriot and Maltese citizens now in
euro
The euro changeover has proved to be a success in Cyprus and Malta in the
first week of January. The changeover of all cash and non-cash transactions
to the euro appears to be going swiftly and without noteworthy problems.
After only a few days, the euro had already largely replaced the Cyprus
pound and the Maltese lira in people's wallets and purses. On 5 January,
almost three out of four cash payments in shops were made in euro. While
there were some queues in banks and shops on the first days of the new year
and after a busy first week which also included the start of the winter
sales in Malta, the situation seems to be progressively getting back to
normal.
Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on Italy: Operational Programme for the Italian fisheries and
aquaculture sector (Programma Operativo FEP per il settore pesca in Italia)
co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund
• Memo on Romania: Operational Programme for Fisheries 2007 – 2013
(Program operaţional pentru pescuit) co-funded by the European Fisheries
fund
• Memo on Estonia: Operational Programme for the Estonian Fisheries
Industry (Euroopa Kalandusfondi rakenduskava Eestis 2007-2013) co-funded by
the European Fisheries Fund
• Memo on Portugal: Operational Programme for the Portuguese Fisheries
Industry (Programa Operacional Pesca 2007-2013) co-funded by the European
Fisheries Fund
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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