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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-11-03Midday 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 Communicationb03/11/08[01] Autumn economic forecast 2008-2010: GDP growth comes close to a stand- still in the EU and euro areaEuropean Union economic growth should be 1.4% in 2008, half what it was in 2007, and drop even more sharply in 2009 to 0.2% before recovering gradually to 1.1% in 2010 (1.2%, 0.1% and 0.9%, respectively, for the euro area). The Commission's autumn forecasts show that the EU economies are strongly affected by the financial crisis, which is aggravating housing- market correction in several economies at a time when external demand is fading rapidly. While the important measures taken to stabilise financial markets have begun to restore confidence, the situation remains precarious and the risks to the forecasts significant. As a result, employment is set to increase only marginally in 2009-2010, after the 6 million new jobs created in 2007-2008, and unemployment is expected to rise by about 1 pp. over the forecast period after being at its lowest for more than a decade. More positively, inflationary pressures are diminishing as oil prices fall, and the risks of second-round effects fade away. After reaching the best position since 2000, the overall budgetary position is also set to deteriorate while the rescue packages could raise public debt.[02] Danuta Hübner urges leaders of European Regional Legislative Assemblies to back strengthened Cohesion PolicyCommissioner Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will address the 11th Conference of Presidents of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) in Bilbao today. The Commissioner will focus on the recently published Green Paper on territorial cohesion and the future Cohesion Policy. She will also hold talks with Juan José Ibarretxe, President of Spain's Basque Government, on the region's priorities for its Cohesion Policy programme for 2007-2013.[03] Baltic Sea Region Strategy: Commission launches online public consultationDanuta Hübner, the European Commissioner for regional policy, will today announce the launch of a major on-line consultation on the EU's future strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Member States, regional and local authorities, NGOs, inter-governmental bodies and the general public are invited to put forward their views on the strategy between now and 31 December 2008. The main aims of the strategy are to improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea, to support balanced economic development in the region, and to make it more accessible and secure.[04] Avec les partenariats Comenius Regio, la Commission ouvre de nouvelles perspectives de coopération régionale en matière d'enseignementAu cours d'une conférence organisée au Comité des régions, la Commission européenne a lancé ce jour les partenariats Comenius Regio, une nouvelle action qui s'inscrit dans le programme d'éducation et de formation tout au long de la vie. Soutenus par un budget annuel de 16 millions d'euros, les partenariats Comenius Regio sont destinés encourager la coopération entre les autorités locales et régionales, les établissements scolaires et les autres centres de formation en Europe.[05] Plus d'intégration: une nécessité pour la surveillance maritime en EuropeDans un rapport publié ce jour, la Commission européenne entame un processus en faveur de l'élaboration d'une stratégie globale en matière de surveillance maritime intégrée en Europe. Ce rapport, qui prend la forme d'un document de travail des services de la Commission, décrit l'état actuel des systèmes de surveillance, de contrôle, de localisation, d'identification et de déclaration mis en place par les États membres et les différentes agences européennes. Le rapport détermine également quels seront les prochaines mesures requises et les problèmes résoudre avant d'aboutir un réseau de surveillance maritime intégrée l'échelle européenne. Un réseau intégré et intersectoriel de ce type constituerait un apport majeur pour les autorités nationales aux prises notamment avec le trafic de drogues, le trafic d'armes et le trafic d'êtres humains, la pêche illicite, la pollution, la piraterie et le terrorisme. Sans compter qu'une plus grande intégration des systèmes améliorerait l'efficacité des organismes nationaux chargés des opérations de surveillance et réduirait terme leurs frais de fonctionnement.[06] Commission clears acquisition of Rezidor by CarlsonThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Rezidor Hotel Group AB (Rezidor) of Sweden by Carlson Companies Inc. (Carlson) of the US. Carlson operates hotels, travel agencies and restaurants. Rezidor operates and manages hotels. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.Rediffusion [07] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of ExxonMobil's Iberian subsidiaries by GALP, subject to conditionsThe European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation, subject to conditions, the proposed acquisition by Galp Energia of Portugal of Esso Portuguesa, Esso Española and a part of ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical. The Commission found that the proposed transaction as initially notified would have given rise to competition concerns in certain refined oil product markets in Portugal. To address the Commission's concerns, Galp offered to divest certain assets and shareholdings. In light of these commitments, 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.[08] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of N&W Global Vending by Barclays and InvestcorpThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Italian vending machine manufacturer N&W Global Vending by the international investment companies Barclays Private Equity S.p.A and Investcorp Investment Holdings Ltd. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part of it.[09] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of Cherry by ZFThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Cherry Corporation, a US-based manufacturer of electronic components in particular for the automotive industry, by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a German supplier of driveline and chassis technology. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part of it.[10] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of M-real's Graphic Paper Business by SappiThe European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Finnish paper manufacturer M-real's Graphic Paper Business by Sappi, a South-African paper supplier. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part of it.[11] République Démocratique du Congo (RDC): Un Sommet de la Paix proposé par le Commissaire Michel suite la mission diplomatiqueLe Commissaire européen en charge du développement et de l'aide humanitaire, Louis Michel, a lancé aujourd'hui un appel pour un nouveau Sommet de la Paix de "Nairobi" afin de rassembler tous les leaders de la région et tous les organismes internationaux pour tenter de garantir un accord qui vise mettre une fin au conflit et d'amener la stabilité dans la région du Kivu. Le sommet" Nairobi 2" qui se tiendrait dans la capitale kenyane sous les auspices des Nations unies rassemblerait les leaders de la République démocratique du Congo, du Rwanda, d'Ouganda et du Burundi ainsi que de l'Union européenne, les États-Unis et tous les organismes régionaux comprenant l'Union africaine, la CDAA, COMESA et l'EAC.[12] Autre matériel diffusé• Speech by President Barroso 'European Answers to a Global Financial Crisis', Milan• Speech by Commissioner Piebalgs 'The Commission's vision for renewables', London • Speech by Commissioner Potočnik 'Research into alternative approaches: Are we on the right track?', Brussels A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : Greenvision Ambiente/ Itochu / JV Bell/Zimbo BNP Paribas / Fortis
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 |