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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-02-01Midday 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 Communicationb01/02/08[01] Choose the design of a new coin to celebrate the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the euro!To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the creation of the euro, a commemorative €2 coin will be issued in all euro area countries at the beginning of 2009. Five designs have been pre-selected, but the final choice will be for the citizens and residents of the EU. The winner will get a set of gold euro collector coins with a value of several thousand euros. The vote started yesterday on a website designed for this purpose and will close on 22 February. The winner will be announced on 25 February. To see the five pre-selected designs and to vote click here : <a href="http://www.eurodesigncontest.eu">http://www.eurodesigncontest.eu[02] La Commission se félicite de la mise en œuvre en Grèce du cadre communautaire applicable aux services de radiodiffusionLa Commission européenne a décidé de clore la procédure d'infraction qu'elle avait engagée à l'encontre de la Grèce au motif que celle-ci ne s'était pas pleinement conformée à l'arrêt de la Cour de justice européenne du 14 avril 2005. Cet arrêt avait confirmé que la Grèce n’avait pas appliqué la directive relative à la concurrence sur les marchés des communications électroniques pour les services de radiodiffusion. En 2007, la Commission avait en conséquence décidé de renvoyer à nouveau la Grèce devant la Cour pour avoir poursuivi l'infraction après l'arrêt de la Cour d'avril 2005 (voir IP/07/397). En septembre 2007, la Grèce a officiellement notifié à la Commission sa nouvelle "loi sur la concentration des médias". Cette nouvelle loi libéralise les services de radiodiffusion.[03] Commission approves acquisition of Securitas Direct by EQTThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Swedish-based security services company Securitas Direct AB by the private equity fund EQT V Ltd. of the Channel Islands. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.[04] Services postaux : la Commission se félicite de l'adoption de la directive postale de l'UE ; l'ouverture des marchés présente des avantages évidents pour les utilisateursLe Parlement européen a adopté le 31 janvier la nouvelle directive postale, donnant ainsi son approbation finale à la réforme des services postaux de l'UE. Ce vote confirme le large consensus politique sur la voie à suivre en vue de l'ouverture totale des marchés postaux de l'UE à la concurrence. La Commission aidera les Etats membres à mettre en œuvre la nouvelle directive et jouera un rôle actif en suivant de près l'évolution du marché pour s’assurer que les citoyens et les entreprises de l'UE bénéficient des services postaux de grande qualité prévus par la directive.[05] Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner strongly condemns the bomb attacks in Bagdad today"I condemn in the strongest terms the two bomb attacks in Bagdad today which caused the death and injury of so many ordinary Iraqis. My thoughts go out to the families of the victims of these acts of terrorism and I wish a speedy recovery to those injured. We are fully aware of the difficulties Iraq and the Iraqi people are facing on the path towards establishing and strengthening democratic structures in the country and continuing the reconciliation process and maintaining national unity. The Commission will continue to assist Iraq in this very difficult process."[06] László Kovács concluded his visit to China on customs cooperationEuropean Commissioner László Kovács, responsible for Taxation and Customs, visited Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong this week to meet with Chinese authorities to discuss ways in which customs cooperation between the EU and China can be further improved. While in Hong Kong, Commissioner Kovács had the first exploratory talks on taxation of savings with the relevant authorities.[07] Joe Borg participe à la réunion ministérielle du CIHEAM à SaragosseM. Joe Borg, membre de la Commission chargé de la pêche et des affaires maritimes, se rendra dimanche en Espagne pour participer lundi à Saragosse à la 7e réunion ministérielle organisée par le Centre international des hautes études agronomiques méditerranéennes (CIHEAM). Cette réunion a lieu à l'invitation de Mme Elena Espinosa, ministre espagnole de l'agriculture, de la pêche et de l'alimentation, et elle rassemblera les ministres de l'agriculture et de la pêche des pays membres du CIHEAM, parmi lesquels un certain nombre d'Etats membres de l'UE. Le commissaire Borg prendra la parole lors de la séance d'ouverture consacrée à la gestion durable des ressources de pêche en Méditerranée. Il aura également des entretiens bilatéraux avec les ministres de certains pays partenaires de l'UE riverains de la Méditerranée.[08] Troika visit to South Caucasus 4-6 February : Benita Ferrero-Waldner to open full-fledged EC Delegations in Armenia and AzerbaijanEuropean Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will participate in the Ministerial EU Troika visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia on 4-6 February 2008. Together with Dimitrij Rupel, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and EU Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus, Ambassador Peter Semneby, the Commissioner will be holding meetings at the highest level. On the agenda are the implementation of the ENP Action Plans, regional and international issues. In Armenia and Azerbaijan the Commissioner will also open full fledged European Commission Delegations.[09] Household saving rate at 13.8% in the euro area and 10.6% in the EU27Eurostat and the European Central Bank (ECB) release a detailed set of quarterly European sector accounts. This Eurostat News Release focuses on three key indicators : the household saving rate, and the investment rate and profit share of non-financial businesses. In the third quarter of 2007, the seasonally adjusted gross saving rate of households was 13.8% in the euro area (EA13). It was 14.0% in the second quarter of 2007. In the EU27, the household saving rate was 10.6% in the third quarter of 2007, compared with 11.0% in the second quarter of 2007, extending the downward trend that started in 2001.[10] The European Commission's commitment to small enterprises : Small Business ActOn 31st of January, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the content of a European "Small Business Act". Its objective is to put small and medium sized enterprises at the forefront of decision-making in the EU and to introduce concrete measures to unlock the SMEs' growth potential. It will include new initiatives to reduce regulatory burden on SMEs, facilitate access to Single Market/public procurement, help provide necessary financial/human resources for SME development and help SMEs face the challenge of globalization and climate change. The preparation of a "Small Business Act" for Europe is one of the key measures announced in the Commission's package for the next cycle of the Growth and Jobs Strategy adopted last December. The consultation will be open until the end of March. A Public hearing on the Small Business Act will take place on 6 February in Brussels.[11] Autre matériel diffuséJavier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, and Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, deplore the deteriorating situation in Kenya (31/01)Speech by Charlie McCreevy at National Press Club, "Newsmaker" debate (Washington, ! embargo 18h00 !) Speech by Meglena Kuneva : "Launch of new EU consumer investigations" (31/01) Calendrier du 4 au 10 février 2008 Top News de la Commission européenne (du 4 février au 2 mars 2008)
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 |