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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-06-25Midday 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[I] Résultats de la Commission du 25 juin 2008 – Outcome of Commission meeting of 25 June 2008
[II] Other news - Autres Nouvelles
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb25/06/08[I] Résultats de la Commission du 25 juin 2008 – Outcome of Commission meeting of 25 June 2008[01] Transport aérien: la Commission inaugure le Ciel unique européen II pour des vols plus sûrs, plus écologiques et plus ponctuelsLa Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui le second paquet législatif relatif au Ciel unique européen II. Les propositions qui le composent visent à accroître la sécurité, réduire les coûts et écourter les retards. Les économies de carburant qui en découleront devraient permettre aux compagnies aériennes de réduire leurs émissions de CO2 de seize millions de tonnes et leurs coûts annuels de deux à trois milliards d'euros. Cette réforme complète du système européen de gestion du trafic aérien sera capitale pour prendre en charge le doublement du trafic prévu d'ici à 2020. En bénéficieront non seulement les passagers des compagnies aériennes, mais aussi les transitaires, les militaires et l'aviation privée. Le paquet législatif permettra de créer de nouveaux emplois dans le transport aérien. Entre-temps, l'industrie aéronautique européenne tirera profit de son avance en matière de technologies innovantes de gestion du trafic aérien (systèmes par satellite, Galileo, liaison de données) et jouira donc d'un avantage concurrentiel sur les marchés mondiaux.[02] "Think Small First": A Small Business Act for EuropeMost jobs in the EU are provided for by Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), companies of 250 employees or less. They have a crucial importance for the future development, but very often face enormous bureaucratic hurdles and obstacles. European SMEs deserve to be better assisted to fully unlock their potential of long term sustainable growth and of more job creation. To achieve this goal, the European Commission has unveiled today the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA), based on ten guiding principles and proposes policy actions to be undertaken by both the Commission and Member States.[03] State aid: Commission endorses €48.3 million aid to Sharp for LCD plant in PolandThe European Commission has authorised, under EC Treaty state aid rules, €48.3 million of aid which the Polish authorities intend to grant to Sharp Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o., belonging to the Japanese Sharp Corporation, for the setting up of a production plant for the assembly of liquid crystal display (LCD) TV modules and LCD TV sets. The investment of Sharp Poland is part of a cluster Crystal Park involving Sharp Poland and eight other companies, all of which will be located in the Pomorskie Special Economic Zone. The Commission's assessment found the measure to be compatible with the requirements of the Regional Aid Guidelines 2007-2013 (see IP/05/1653) because both the market share of the beneficiary and the production capacity created by the investment remain well below the critical thresholds. The investment project of €163.4 million in the high- tech sector will significantly contribute to the regional development of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region by creating at least 3000 direct jobs and attracting further investment to the region from component suppliers and subcontractors.[04] Antitrust: Commission fines aluminium fluoride producers € 4.97 million for price fixing cartelThe European Commission has imposed fines of €4 970 000 on aluminium fluoride producers for colluding to fix prices in violation of the ban on cartels and restrictive business practices in the EC Treaty (Article 81) and the EEA Agreement (Article 53). Aluminium fluoride is a chemical used to lower the smelting temperature of aluminium. It thereby reduces energy consumption in the smelting process. Fines were imposed on Fluorsid S.p.A. (Italy), Minmet Financing Company S.A. (Switzerland), Société des Industries Chimique du Fluor (Tunisia), Industrial Quimica de Mexico S.A. de C.V. and Q.B. Industrias S.A.B. de C.V. (both Mexico). During the second half of 2000, the companies agreed worldwide target prices and divided markets. The company Boliden Odda (Norway) received full immunity from fines under the Commission’s 2002 Leniency Programme (see IP/02/247 and MEMO/02/23), as they were first to provide information about the cartel.[05] Commission launches debate on relations with Overseas Countries and TerritoriesThe Commission today tabled a Green Paper on the future relation with Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT), aimed at launching a broad debate on the EU–OCT relations. Following the public consultation, the Commission will propose a new partnership that takes better account of the special characteristics and present economic situation in the 21 islands.[II] Other news - Autres Nouvelles[06] Quality of public finances is key to improving sustainability, increasing economic growth and the smooth functioning of EMURaising the quality of public finances, in other words getting value for taxpayers' money, is key to improving the sustainability of public finances. It should also help raise the growth potential of the European Union by enabling resources to be freed to reduce debt, lower taxes and invest more, including in human capital. The Commission Communication accompanying the 2008 Public Finances Report identifies a number of areas for action regarding the way governments formulate, implement, and assess their budgetary strategies as well as how the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact can be more effective in supporting the achievement of sustainable finances while contributing to higher growth and employment and a better functioning Economic and Monetary Union. The proposals build on the 2005 SGP reform and the May 2008 Commission Communication on EMU@10.[07] Boosting Small and Medium Enterprises' investment in research: European Commission welcomes the Council agreement on the "Eurostars" ProgrammeOn Monday 23rd of June, the Council of Ministers agreed to provide EUR 100 million from the EU's 7th Framework Programme (FP7) budget to Eurostars, a Research and Development (R&D) programme jointly set up by 31 countries to boost research capacities of Small and Medium-Sized companies (SMEs) in Europe. The EUR 100 million from FP7 will leverage at least EUR 300 million in public funding from the participating countries, resulting in a package of EUR 400 million for financing trans-national research partnerships driven research-performing SMEs in Europe.[08] EU-Russia Summit on 26-27 June in Khanty Mansiisk to launch negotiations of the new framework agreementThis year’s EU-Russia Summit, the first with President Dmitri Medvedev, will take place in Khanty-Mansiisk, Siberia, on 26 and 27 June. One of the centrepieces of this Summit will be the official launch of negotiations on the new agreement with Russia. This new agreement presents an opportunity to update the legal framework underpinning the EU-Russia relationship, to reflect the substantial changes that both Russia and the EU have undergone since concluding the first Partnership Cooperation Agreement in the early 1990s. As an important global player, Russia is a vital partner for the EU in addressing global challenges and therefore topics such as Food Security, Energy Security, Climate Change, as well as the development of the world economy, are high on the agenda. Foreign policy issues will also be discussed during the Summit, such as the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Georgia and the Common neighbourhood. Participants from the side of the Commission will be the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso and Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner (External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy) and Peter Mandelson (Trade).[09] Commission clears acquisition of D + S by ApaxThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of D + S europe AG (D + S) of Germany by Apax Partners Worldwide LLP (Apax) of the UK. Apax is a private equity fund. D + S provides e-commerce and telecommunications services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[10] Commissioner Dimas visits PolandEnvironment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will visit Warsaw on 26 and 27 June for talks with Polish government representatives focusing on climate change, energy and nature protection. Commissioner Dimas will give a speech on climate change and energy to a joint meeting of the EU, economic and environment committees of the Sejm (parliament) and the Senate. He will hold talks with Waldemar Pawlak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economics; Environment Minister Maciej Nowicki; the Speaker of the Senate, Bogdan Borusewicz; and the Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, Jaroslaw Kalinowski. Minister Nowicki and Commissioner Dimas will give a joint press conference on 26 June at 17.00 at the Ministry of Envirement (Ministerstwo Środowiska, address: ul. Wawelska 52/54 (entrance ul. Reja 3/5)[11] Industrial new orders up by 2.5% in euro areaIn April 2008 compared with March 2008, the euro area (EA15) industrial new orders index rose by 2.5%. In March the index fell by 1.2%. In the EU271 new orders grew by 3.6% in April 2008 after declining by 1.0% in March. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment industrial new orders increased by 2.2% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27. In April 2008 compared with April 2007, industrial new orders increased by 11.7% in the euro area and by 14.2% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment grew by 11.8% in the euro area and by 12.4% in the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat.Rediffusion [12] Further steps in the constructive EU-OPEC Energy DialogueThe fifth ministerial-level meeting of the Energy Dialogue between the European Union (EU) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) took place in Brussels, today.[13] Autre matériel diffusé• Memo on Single European Sky Second Package (SES II) – Q&A• Memo on Competition: Commission action against cartels – Questions and answers • Memo on Commission proposal for a Regulation on a Statute for a European Private Company: Frequently Asked Questions • Memo on Small Business Act: Commission publishes new practical guidelines for Member States on how to make public procurement more SME- friendly • Memo on State aid: Competition Commissioner Kroes meets Polish trade unions to discuss shipyards • Speech by President Barroso 'Debate on the European Council Report at the European Parliament', Brussels A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Danisco/Abitec Arsenal/DSP
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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