|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-06-16
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Mergers: Commission approves planned acquisition of Endesa by Enel and
Acciona
[02] The European Commission appoints Head of Representation in Denmark
[03] Services financiers: la Commission lance un appel aux candidatures
pour le nouveau groupe d'experts sur les historiques de crédit
[04] Les chercheurs européens au Japon se connectent!
[05] Euro area annual inflation up to 3.7%
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Neochimiki by Carlyle
[07] Commission clears acquisition of SUNCoat by Renolit and Evonik Degussa
[08] Environment: Survey reveals widespread backing for EU action on
invasive alien species
[09] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Scania by
Volkswagen
[10] Commercial road transport: Commission welcomes Council's endorsement
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-06-16
Reference: MEX/08/0616
Date: 16/06/2008
EXME08 / 16.06
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
16/06/08
[01] Mergers: Commission approves planned acquisition of Endesa by Enel and
Acciona
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
acquisition of sole control through a public takeover bid for Endesa S.A.,
a Spanish energy company mainly active in the electricity sector, by ENEL
S.p.A., based in Italy, and Acciona S.A., based in Spain. After examining
the operation, the Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would
not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic
Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[02] The European Commission appoints Head of Representation in Denmark
The European Commission has announced today that Jan Høst Schmidt will be
the new Head of Representation in Denmark.
[03] Services financiers: la Commission lance un appel aux candidatures
pour le nouveau groupe d'experts sur les historiques de crédit
La Commission européenne va créer un groupe d'experts sur les historiques
de crédit. Ce groupe, qui sera composé d'experts dans le domaine des
données sur le crédit, aura pour mission de trouver des solutions
permettant de favoriser au maximum la circulation des données sur le
crédit au sein de l'UE. Il présentera ses recommandations sous la forme
d'un rapport soumettre pour le 1er mai 2009 au plus tard. Les personnes
intéressées sont invitées envoyer leur candidature la Commission
avant le 14 juillet 2008.
[04] Les chercheurs européens au Japon se connectent!
Aujourd'hui, M. Janez Potočnik, membre de la Commission européenne
chargé de la science et de la recherche, a officiellement inauguré le
réseau des chercheurs européens au Japon. Consultés au moyen d'une
enquête en ligne, les chercheurs européens travaillant au Japon se sont
déclarés très favorables ce réseau (74 % des personnes interrogées)
et ont fait part de leurs besoins spécifiques: étoffer leurs contacts et
avoir accès aux informations relatives l'évolution de carrière, aux
financements disponibles pour la recherche et aux possibilités de
coopération entre l'Europe et le Japon. La Commission européenne
répondra ces besoins grâce des outils interactifs d'information et de
mise en réseau.
[05] Euro area annual inflation up to 3.7%
Euro area annual inflation was 3.7% in May 2008, up from 3.3% in April. A
year earlier the rate was 1.9%. Monthly inflation was 0.6% in May 2008. EU
annual inflation was 3.9% in May 2008, up from 3.6% in April. A year
earlier the rate was 2.1%. Monthly inflation was 0.6% in May 2008. These
figures come from Eurostat. In May 2008, the lowest annual rates were
observed in the Netherlands (2.1%), Portugal (2.8%) and Germany (3.1%), and
the highest in Latvia (17.7%), Bulgaria (14.0%) and Lithuania (12.3%).
Compared with April 2008, annual inflation rose in twenty-one Member States,
remained stable in three and fell in two. The lowest 12-month averages up
to May 2008 were registered in the Netherlands (1.7%), Denmark and Malta
(both 2.3%), and the highest in Latvia (13.8%), Bulgaria (10.9%) and
Estonia (9.3%).
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Neochimiki by Carlyle
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Neochimiki L.V.
Lavrentiadis SA (Neochimiki) of Greece by The Carlyle Group (Carlyle) of
the US. Carlyle is a private equity investment group. Neochimiki
distributes and produces chemicals. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of SUNCoat by Renolit and Evonik Degussa
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of SUNCoat GmbH of Germany
by Renolit AG of Germany and Evonik Degussa GmbH, also of Germany. Renolit
manufactures thermoplastic films. Evonik Degussa manufactures chemical
products. SUNCoat produces technical films. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[08] Environment: Survey reveals widespread backing for EU action on
invasive alien species
The Commission recently held a public consultation on Invasive Alien
Species (IAS) and the problems they cause for biodiversity and nature
across the EU. The consultation ran from March until May, attracted 880
replies, three quarters of them from individuals. Some 91% of respondents
agreed on the urgent need to bring in new measures to prevent the spread of
such organisms, with 85% agreeing on the importance of preventing the
introduction of IAS in the wild. An EU-wide early warning system would be
welcomed by 90% of respondents, and 86% thought that Member States should
be legally obliged to take action against the most harmful IAS. Most
respondents (90%) considered that the lack of public awareness would
constitute a barrier to launching more stringent policies, and that it was
therefore important to raise the profile of the issue (77%). Invasive alien
species are non-indigenous species (plants and animals) which disrupt
ecosystems and pose a serious threat to biodiversity, and their eradication
costs European taxpayers millions of euros each year. Scientific evidence
has found them to be a rapidly growing problem in Europe. The results of
the consultation will now be used to help develop EU policy in this area,
and inform the Communication from the Commission to be presented at the end
of this year. Further information: Nature and Biodiversity website –
Invasive Alien Species: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm
Press release on launch of Public Consultation: <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/373&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/373&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Rediffusion
[09] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Scania by
Volkswagen
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Swedish truck and bus manufacturer Scania by
Volkswagen group of Germany. 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.
[10] Commercial road transport: Commission welcomes Council's endorsement
The European Commission has welcomed the political agreement on the road
package that has been reached today in the Transport Council. The road
package consists of three proposals for regulations aimed at modernising
and simplifying the rules governing admission to the occupation of road
transport operator and access to the road transport market for both
passengers and goods.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on State aid: Competition Commissioner Kroes and Polish Treasury
Minister Grad discuss Polish shipyards
• Speech by Commissioner Vassiliou "Together for Mental Health and Well-
being", Brussels
• Speech by Commissioner Dimas 'Winning the Fight against Climate Change:
an EU Perspective', Cambridge
• Speech by Commissioner McCreevy 'Regulating in a Global Market', Dublin
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|