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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-02-11Midday 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 Communicationb11/02/08[01] Telecoms: EU citizens need to be better informed about Europe's single emergency number 112Only 22% of EU citizens could spontaneously identify 112 as the number to call for emergency services anywhere in the EU. A recent EU-wide survey has found that there is significant room for national authorities to better inform their citizens. The Commission is therefore calling on Member States to boost awareness of 112. Since the EU Telecoms Rules entered into force in 2003, 26 of the 27 Member States have made it possible for citizens to call 112 from fixed and mobile phones. An infringement proceeding against Bulgaria for lack of availability of 112 is still pending (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1530&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr">IP/07/1530). Improving awareness of 112 both inside a country and when going abroad is now the next logical step in ensuring effective implementation of 112, as only informed citizens will be able to make use of 112 in case of accidents. Following a call from the European Parliament in September 2007, the Commission is using today's date, 11 February (11/2), to raise awareness about 112.[02] Commission approves regulatory regime for the Austrian section of the Nabucco gas pipelineThe Commission has approved, last Friday, an exemption of the Austrian section of the Nabucco natural gas pipeline from regulated third party access in line with EU legislation . However, it has requested the Austrian energy regulator to include additional safeguards regarding future capacity allocation, in order to ensure that the planned pipeline will have a positive effect on competition.[03] Directive sur la protection des services utilisant des systèmes d'accès conditionnel: la Commission consulte les personnes intéresséesLa Commission européenne lance une consultation ouverte et demande à toutes les parties intéressées de lui fournir des informations concernant les services utilisant des systèmes d'accès conditionnel, comme la télévision à péage ou la vidéo à la demande. Cette consultation fait suite à une étude sur l'impact de la directive relative aux services d'accès conditionnel. Les informations collectées par le biais de l'étude et de la consultation doivent permettre aux services de la Commission de rédiger le second rapport d'application sur la mise en œuvre de la directive. La consultation est ouverte jusqu'au 4 avril 2008.[04] EU and Arab League meet to discuss prospects of cooperationThe European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will participate in the EU-Arab League Ministerial meeting that will take place in Malta on 11-12 February 2008. The meeting will bring together the 22 Arab League countries and the EU to discuss common challenges and to envisage concrete and pragmatic cooperation activities. It will also be an opportunity to discuss current developments in the region. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: “Arab countries are the neighbourhood of the European Union and we face common challenges ranging from peace and stability in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism, to climate change, trade integration, security of energy supplies, and tp encourage inter-cultural dialogue. The Commission is committed to working with the Arab League secretariat in the promotion of democratic values, the better integration of our markets and the fight against climate change." The cooperation between the EU and the Arab League builds on existing frameworks such as the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Cotonou Agreement, the EU-Africa Partnership, the EU-GCC and the EU-Yemen Cooperation agreements.[05] Commission clears joint venture between Holtzbrinck and SevenOneThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the joint venture between Holtzbrinck eLAB GmbH (eLAB), a subsidiary of Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co. KG (Holtzbrinck) of Germany and SevenOne Intermedia GmbH (SevenOne), a subsidiary of ProSieben-Sat.1 Media AG (P7S1) of Germany, itself controlled by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) of the US and Permira Holdings Limited (Permira) of the Channel Islands. Holtzbrinck is a publishing company producing daily newspapers, political weekly newspapers and providing electronic media and related services. SevenOne is active in video text, Internet, mobile services, telephone value-added services and e-commerce applications. The joint venture will provide an Internet-based travel portal. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.Rediffusion [06] European Commission expresses concern over Japanese scientific whaling and calls on EU Member States to agree on a unified position against all whale huntingThe European Commission expresses once again its concern over Japanese whaling and supports the call for a strong stance against scientific whaling. The images that have been flashing on television screens across the world are a reminder of how some countries continue to flout the international ban on the hunting of whales under the guise of scientific research. The Member States of the European Union must act in unison to protect whales. The European Commission calls on EU Member States to agree on a common position on the protection of whales before the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in June 2008 as proposed by the Commission in December 2007. Such a common position would reinforce greatly the European Union's efforts to protect whales.Autre matériel diffusé • Memo on Preparation of Eurogroup and Economic and Finance Ministers Council, Brussels, 11 and 12 February • Speech by Commissioner Reding "Mobile goes Internet : Key Challenges for Mobile Ubiquity in Europe's Single Market" A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Cookson/Foseco
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 |