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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-09-04

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Financial services: Commission nominates members of Expert Group on Credit Histories
  • [02] A European research and innovation strategy for ICT: time horizon 2020
  • [03] Cut red tape to attract venture capital to cutting edge high-tech research, Commission tells Parliament and Council
  • [04] Hübner to highlight role of innovation in Cohesion Policy investment for Northern Germany
  • [05] Payments: Commission and ECB support launch of pan-European SEPA Direct Debit; provide guidance to industry
  • [06] Commission and stakeholders discuss water scarcity and droughts at Zaragoza World Expo
  • [07] "European Civic Days" strengthen civil dialogue in Europe
  • [08] First International Energy Agency (IEA) Review of the EU's Energy Policy now published
  • [09] Commissioner Fischer Boel wins International Wine Challenge 'Wine Personality of the Year 2008'
  • [10] Commission clears acquisition of Colbison SAS by Abenex Capital and Natixis Private Equity
  • [11] Commission clears acquisition of Ranbaxy by Daiichi Sankyo Midday Express of 2008-09-04 Reference: MEX/08/0904 Date: 04/09/2008 EXME08 / 04.09

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    04/09/08


  • [01] Financial services: Commission nominates members of Expert Group on Credit Histories

    The European Commission has appointed the members of its Expert Group on Credit Histories (EGCH). The group is composed of experts in the field of credit data. The group's objective is to identify solutions that will maximise the circulation of credit data within the EU. The experts will present their report with recommendations by 1st May 2009.

    [02] A European research and innovation strategy for ICT: time horizon 2020

    In search of the best strategies to boost Europe's leadership in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) research and innovation in the next decade, the European Commission today launched a public consultation. Contributions from industry, ICT experts, policy-makers and the wider public will be fed into a new strategy for ICT research and innovation, to be unveiled next year. The aim is to put European ICT industry, especially SMEs, to the fore of the race for global competitiveness. The public consultation is open until 7 November 2008.

    [03] Cut red tape to attract venture capital to cutting edge high-tech research, Commission tells Parliament and Council

    The Commission today called on the Parliament and Council to support a new drive to cut red tape and allow greater flexibility to make European high- tech research more effective. It was responding to the 'Aho report', the most comprehensive evaluation of EU ICT research yet, looking beyond the management of research to evaluate its impact on innovation. The report highlighted that EU research could be of greater benefit for European competitiveness by involving and supporting high growth companies and providing better links between research and venture capital. The Commission, which has launched several initiatives to involve leading companies in research (IP/08/910, IP/08/824, IP/08/785), is committed to making the information and communications technology (ICT) research it supports more effective in terms of delivering business opportunities. It is also launching a public consultation that will feed into proposals to this end in early 2009.

    [04] Hübner to highlight role of innovation in Cohesion Policy investment for Northern Germany

    Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will highlight the role of innovation in regional development on her visit to Northern Germany, 4-5 September. She will visit Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig- Holstein to meet regional authorities and see recent achievements, to discuss current priorities, and to speak at a symposium on globalisation.

    [05] Payments: Commission and ECB support launch of pan-European SEPA Direct Debit; provide guidance to industry

    The European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) have encouraged the European Payments Council ('EPC') to move ahead with the launch of the SEPA Direct Debit scheme. Under this scheme, bank customers would be able to arrange direct debits to pay companies with bank accounts in any of the 31 European countries participating in SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area). The Commission and ECB recognise the potential advantages of the SEPA Direct Debit scheme, in terms of economies of scale and increased competition liable to drive efficiency and innovation in the area of payments to the benefit of European consumers and companies. The Commission and the ECB have indicated to the EPC that they would be prepared to support the idea of a 'multilateral interchange fee' for cross border direct debits within the framework of the SEPA scheme on condition that such fees were objectively justified and transitional (applicable only for a limited period).

    [06] Commission and stakeholders discuss water scarcity and droughts at Zaragoza World Expo

    At a one-day conference in Zaragoza stakeholders will discuss ways to use water more efficiently in the European Union. The conference follows the Communication on water scarcity and droughts presented by the European Commission in July 2007 and contributions will feed into the report the Commission is due to publish at the end of 2008 as a follow-up to its Communication. The report will tackle implementation and monitoring aspects of the policy options presented in the Communication.

    [07] "European Civic Days" strengthen civil dialogue in Europe

    The European Commission is launching a new series of events concentrating on European citizenship. The first will be the "European Civic Days", taking place in La Rochelle, France, from 4 to 6 September 2008. More than 1,500 people are expected to participate in this event, which will discuss European citizenship and strengthening civil dialogue in Europe. It will bring together a wide range of interested parties from associations and non- governmental organisations, officials from local, regional, national and European institutions as well as specialists on European citizenship. Focussing on mobility, the programme includes exchanges, discussions, workshops and examples of concrete initiatives and best practices.

    [08] First International Energy Agency (IEA) Review of the EU's Energy Policy now published

    President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs today received the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Nobuo Tanaka who presented the main findings of IEA Review of the EU's Energy Policy. This is the first time that the IEA has made an in-depth analysis of European Energy Policy. The Review strongly endorses the broad outlines of the Commission's energy proposals tabled during the last year. EMBARGO 12h30

    [09] Commissioner Fischer Boel wins International Wine Challenge 'Wine Personality of the Year 2008'

    Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, was yesterday awarded the Wine Personality of the Year 2008 award by the International Wine Challenge. The IWC has been running for more than 25 years and is an internationally renowned wine competition (www.internationalwinechallenge.com). Every year, the IWC names a Wine Personality of the Year. In giving the award, the IWC said: "In years to come, European wine producers may tell their children stories about Mariann Fischer Boel. Of how the family vineyards might have been pulled up and the family winemaking tradition lost had it not been for the intrepid heroine from the north. She has dragged the European wine industry into the 21st century, after loud protests and long arguments. Against huge opposition, she has persuaded country after country to accept the sometimes bitter medicine of reform. There have been a few compromises, but the European wine industry is now prepared to meet the competition from outside Europe leaner and fitter than it has been for decades. Mariann Fischer Boel has cajoled and persuaded, argued and negotiated, for two long years. Her reform programme was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers in April 2008, and came into force on 1st August. It is a heroic achievement, and she richly deserves to be named the IWC Wine Personality of the Year 2008.

    [10] Commission clears acquisition of Colbison SAS by Abenex Capital and Natixis Private Equity

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Colbison SAS of France by French companies Abenex Capital and Natixis Private Equity. Abenex Capital is an investment fund management company. Natixis Private Equity is responsible for all the venture capital activities of the Natixis group; specialised in SME-related investments. Colbison SAS is active in commercial catering under the trade name ‘Buffalo Grill’, related activities and hotels. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [11] Commission clears acquisition of Ranbaxy by Daiichi Sankyo

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited of India by Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (DS) of Japan. Both are pharmaceutical companies. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315):

    Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :

    Deutsche Telekom/OTE

    Tata / Mubadala / Lochmore / Piaggio From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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