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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-03-05Midday 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 Communicationb05/03/08[01] I. Résultats de la Commission du 5 mars 2008 – Outcome of Commission meeting of 5 March 2008[02] Western Balkans: enhancing the European perspectiveToday, the Commission adopts new initiatives, and enhances existing ones to support the political and economic development in the countries of the Western Balkans[1], thus helping to accelerate their progress on the road towards EU membership. Today's proposals will be presented to the EU member states at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Slovenia on 28-29 March.[03] La Commission propose la création d’une Communauté des transports avec les Balkans occidentaux et prend de nouvelles mesures pour renforcer la coopération avec les pays voisins dans le secteur des transportsLa Commission européenne a adopté aujourd’hui une série de mesures visant à améliorer les liaisons entre l’Union européenne et ses voisins dans le domaine des transports. Elle a proposé un mandat afin de négocier un traité instituant une Communauté des transports avec les Balkans occidentaux et a rendu compte des progrès satisfaisants engrangés lors des discussions exploratoires menées après l’adoption des «lignes directrices concernant les transports en Europe et dans les pays voisins».[04] A Coordinated and Stronger EU Disaster Response at Home & AbroadThe European Commission today adopted a Communication on reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response capacity. In order to rise to the growing challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters, the communication proposes that the European Union strengthens its abilities at home and abroad to provide civil protection and humanitarian assistance. The Commission has undertaken a screening exercise of all its existing resources and puts forward as a first step an action plan of specific measures to be implemented before the end of 2008. As a concrete example, the communication includes a specific focus on how to improve the Union's response to forest fires.[05] Antitrust: Commission calls on Greece to grant fairer access to lignite so as to improve competition in the electricity sectorThe European Commission has adopted a decision finding that Greece has infringed Article 86 of the EC Treaty in combination with Article 82 by maintaining rights giving the state-owned electricity incumbent Public Power Corporation (PPC) quasi-exclusive access to lignite. As a result, despite liberalisation of the electricity wholesale market which started in 2001, PPC continues to enjoy today a virtual monopoly over access to lignite and Greece has protected PPC's dominant position in the electricity market. With this Decision, the Commission calls on Greece to propose and adopt remedies to ensure sufficient access to lignite by competitors of PPC.[06] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of Telelogic by IBMThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Telelogic of Sweden by IBM of the US. Both companies are suppliers of software development tools, that is software used to develop software. The Commission's in-depth investigation, opened on 3 October 2007 (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1443&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/07/1443), has shown that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part of it.[07] II. Other news - Autres Nouvelles[08] Culture: Débats à Bruxelles pour façonner la future stratégie de l'Union européenne en matière de dialogue interculturelTout au long de cette année 2008 proclamée année européenne du dialogue interculturel, la Commission européenne organisera une série de débats thématiques en partenariat avec les parties intéressées de la société civile. Le premier de ces débats, organisé avec le European Policy Centre, aura lieu le 5 mars au Résidence Palace. Il aura pour thème "l'impact des migrations sur le dialogue interculturel" et comportera des discussions de haut niveau destinées à apporter une contribution importante à la future stratégie de l'UE pour le dialogue interculturel au-delà de 2008.[09] EU-Canada Ministerial meeting in Brussels on 5 MarchCommissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will today attend the EU-Canada Ministerial meeting together with Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who currently holds the EU Presidency, and their Canadian Counterpart, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier. On the agenda are the follow up of the last EU-Canada Summit of 2007 in Berlin, such as the ongoing negotiations on an air services agreement, which would open markets in the EU and Canada and allow for the acquisition of airlines in each other´s market. Visa reciprocity is also on the agenda: Canada has just lifted visa requirements for Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary. Furthermore, discussions will cover international relations, focusing on Afghanistan, Kenya, Kosovo, Latin America including Haiti, and the Middle East. <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/canada/intro/index.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/canada/intro/index.htm[10] Volume of retail trade up by 0.4% in euro areaIn January 2008, compared with December 2007, the volume of retail trade grew by 0.4% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.6% in the EU27. In December 2007 retail trade fell by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.In January 2008, compared with January 2007, the retail sales index decreased by 0.1% in the euro area, but rose by 1.8% in the EU27.These first estimates come from Eurostat.[11] Rediffusion[12] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Foseco by Cookson subject to conditionsThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Foseco by Cookson, both located in the UK, subject to commitments to divest Foseco's business of isostatically pressed products ("IPP") and to divest Cookson's foam filter business. In view of the remedies proposed by the parties, the Commission concluded that the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.[13] Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Maxit by Saint-Gobain subject to conditionsThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Maxit Holding AB of Sweden by Compagnie de Saint- Gobain of France, subject to commitments to divest two subsidiaries of Maxit active in the production and sale of gypsum-related products. In view of the remedies proposed by the parties, the Commission concluded that the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.[14] Statement of Commissioner Piebalgs and Minister Vizjak on resolving Russian-Ukrainian gas disputeCommissioner Piebalgs together with Minister Vizjak of the Slovenian Presidency has called for a determined effort to resolve the current disagreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy, and have insisted that supplies to the EU remain uninterrupted. Commissioner Piebalgs has convened a meeting of the EU's Gas Coordination Group.Autre matériel diffusé • Memo on Cooperation on disaster prevention, preparedness and response • Memo on Scholarships to students from the Western Balkans and participation in Community programmes and agencies • Memo on Support to civil society – a new financial facility under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) • Memo on Towards visa-free travel • Memo on Regional cooperation: an overview of main initiatives • Memo on Financial assistance to the Western Balkans – Donor cooperation • Memo on Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID): Frequently Asked Questions • Speech by President Barroso 'Lisbon: a Strategy for all Seasons' A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : FCC/PORR/Autoput AAC / Polaris / BabySam
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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