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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-12-19

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] Quarterly report on the euro area: rapid, forceful and coordinated action is key to support the economy
  • [02] State aid: Commission authorises €104 million Italian film production tax incentives
  • [03] Mergers: Commission approves the proposed acquisition of Cominvest, Commerzbank's asset management business, by Allianz
  • [04] Public procurement: Commission recognises need for accelerated procurement procedure
  • [05] L'UE et le Brésil adoptent la feuille de route de leur partenariat stratégique à l'occasion de leur second sommet
  • [06] Let's act now for a better Europe: Danuta Hübner addresses Polish Senate
  • [07] EU27 trade deficit with Brazil at € 7 billion in the first nine months of 2008
  • [08] Commission clears acquisition of Russneft by En+
  • [09] Commission clears acquisition of WSW Energie & Wasser by EBLD and WSW
  • [10] Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes the setting up of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC)
  • [11] Aides d’État: la Commission autorise la recapitalisation du groupe belge KBC
  • [12] State aid: Commission approves state support for BayernLB
  • [13] L'Union européenne approuve le cofinancement d'un programme d'élimination de la viande de porc irlandaise touchée par la crise de la dioxine
  • [14] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2008-12-19 Reference: MEX/08/1219 Date: 19/12/2008 EXME08 / 19.12

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

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

    19/12/08


  • [01] Quarterly report on the euro area: rapid, forceful and coordinated action is key to support the economy

    Swift and coordinated implementation of the European Economic Recovery Plan is key to restore confidence and mitigate the effects of the crisis on the real economy, recalls the Quarterly Report on the Euro Area (QREA). The financial crisis has intensified during the past three months, taking an increasing toll on the real economy. The Report examines to what extent financing costs have increased for the corporate sector since the summer of 2007 and how this is impacting economic activity. It also finds that the current contraction in non-residential investment points to a sharp cyclical correction ahead.

    [02] State aid: Commission authorises €104 million Italian film production tax incentives

    The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules a €104 million Italian tax incentive scheme for film production until 31 December 2010. The Commission found that the scheme was compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty, in line with the Cinema Communication rules concerning aid to film production (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/01/1326&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/01/1326).

    [03] Mergers: Commission approves the proposed acquisition of Cominvest, Commerzbank's asset management business, by Allianz

    The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Cominvest by Allianz, both based in 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.

    [04] Public procurement: Commission recognises need for accelerated procurement procedure

    In its conclusions of 12 December the European Council invited the Commission to adopt a number of measures in response to the financial crisis. One of these measures concerns the use of accelerated procedures in public procurement.

    [05] L'UE et le Brésil adoptent la feuille de route de leur partenariat stratégique à l'occasion de leur second sommet

    L'UE et le Brésil tiendront leur second sommet le 22 décembre prochain à Rio de Janeiro, au Brésil. L'Union y sera représentée par le président français, Nicolas Sarkozy, et le président de la Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso. Le sommet sera organisé par le président brésilien Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Il donnera l'occasion aux trois dirigeants d'échanger leurs vues sur des questions internationales et régionales d'intérêt commun. La crise financière et économique planétaire sera au cœur des discussions. D'autres thèmes importants, parmi lesquels le changement climatique, l'énergie, le multilatéralisme et la situation politique dans la région du cône Sud, seront également débattus. Le sommet débouchera principalement sur l'adoption d'un plan d'action conjoint exposant les priorités politiques et les actions du partenariat stratégique UE-Brésil.

    [06] Let's act now for a better Europe: Danuta Hübner addresses Polish Senate

    Europe will overcome the economic and financial crisis more effectively if it continues to work together and speaks with one voice: this is the message that Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for regional policy, delivered when she addressed the Polish Senate today. The Commissioner was invited to the Senate to discuss the European Commission's legislative and work programme for 2009 and the outcome of the European Council.

    [07] EU27 trade deficit with Brazil at € 7 billion in the first nine months of 2008

    Between 2000 and 2007, the value of EU27 exports to Brazil grew more slowly than imports, leading to an increasing EU27 deficit in trade with Brazil, from 1.8 billion euro in 2000 to 11.5 bn in 2007. In the first nine months of 2008, the value of EU27 exports to Brazil rose to 19.5 bn compared with 15.4 bn in the first nine months of 2007, and imports increased to 26.8 bn from 23.7 bn. As a result, the EU27 trade deficit with Brazil fell slightly, reaching 7.3 bn in the first nine months of 2008, compared with 8.4 bn in the same period of 2007. The share of Brazil in the EU27's total external trade in goods remained around 2% between 2000 and 2007. In the first nine months of 2008, the share of Brazil in the EU27's total trade reached 2.0% of exports and 2.3% of imports. Brazil was the EU27's tenth most important trading partner. On the occasion of the European Union - Brazil summit, which will take place on 22 December in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil issues data on trade and investments between Brazil and the EU.

    [08] Commission clears acquisition of Russneft by En+

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of OAO NK Russneft (Russneft) of Russia by En+ Group Limited of Jersey, the Channel Islands. En+ has different business activities in oil, energy, aluminium, coal and magnesium. Russneft is active in crude oil extraction, refining and retailing. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [09] Commission clears acquisition of WSW Energie & Wasser by EBLD and WSW

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of WSW Energie & Wasser AG (WSW AG) of Germany by Electrabel Deutschland AG (EBLD) of Germany, belonging to the GdF Suez group, and WSW Wuppertaler Stadtwerke GmbH (WSW), also of Germany. EBLD generates and supplies electricity and natural gas and provides energy-related services. WSW is a municipal utility company. WSW AG generates and supplies electricity, natural gas and district heat in Wuppertal. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [10] Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes the setting up of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC)

    Commissioner Piebalgs met yesterday in London with the Energy Ministers from the major energy consuming countries, including the G8, Brazil, China, India, the Republic of Korea and Mexico, as well as the IEA Executive Director, to foster the implementation of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (the IPEEC). "I am extremely pleased with the agreement we reached yesterday in London on the IPEEC implementation. Altogether, the IPEEC members represent almost 70% of total energy consumption in the world. The EU and the other IPEEC partner countries are in a privileged position to influence world energy trends and, together with the International Energy Agency, our collective work can really make a difference to improve energy efficiency worldwide", said Commissioner Piebalgs.

    Rediffusion

    [11] Aides d’État: la Commission autorise la recapitalisation du groupe belge KBC

    La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu des règles du traité CE relatives aux aides d'État, une recapitalisation d’urgence de KBC Group N.V. par les autorités belges, pour un montant de 3,5 milliards €. Elle a pu constater que la mesure était conforme à ses communications relatives aux aides d'État dans le contexte de la crise financière actuelle (voir IP/08/1495 et IP/08/1901). Cette mesure constitue un moyen adéquat de remédier à une perturbation grave de l'économie belge tout en évitant des distorsions de concurrence indues et est donc compatible avec l'article 87, paragraphe 3, point b), du traité CE. Elle est en particulier d’une portée limitée, appelle le versement d’une rémunération adéquate et prévoit des garde-fous afin de réduire au minimum les distorsions de concurrence.

    [12] State aid: Commission approves state support for BayernLB

    The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a capital injection and a risk shield that the Freistaat Bayern, a German region, intends to grant to BayernLB. The support aims at reinforcing the core capital basis of BayernLB and to ensure the refinancing capability of BayernLB. The Commission found the measures appropriate to stabilise the bank, in line with its Guidance Communications on state aid in the financial crisis (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1495&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/08/1495 and <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1901&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">IP/08/1901). The aid is necessary to avoid a serious disturbance in the German economy. The measures are limited in time and scope to the minimum necessary to restore the financing, require an adequate fee level and provide safeguards to minimise distortions of competition. They are therefore compatible with Article 87.3.b. of the EC Treaty. Germany has committed itself to submitting a preliminary comprehensive restructuring plan for BayernLB within four months and the final plan within six months.

    [13] L'Union européenne approuve le cofinancement d'un programme d'élimination de la viande de porc irlandaise touchée par la crise de la dioxine

    Les États membres ont approuvé aujourd'hui de nouvelles mesures exceptionnelles de soutien en faveur du marché irlandais de la viande de porc, dans le droit fil des conclusions de la présidence du Conseil européen de Bruxelles (11 et 12 décembre 2008). La semaine dernière, la Commission avait déjà introduit, à titre de mesure d'aide d'urgence, un régime d'aide au stockage privé pour une quantité maximale de 30 000 tonnes de viande porcine. Ce régime de stockage financé par l'UE, officiellement adopté par la Commission aujourd'hui, concerne la viande obtenue à partir de porcs élevés en Irlande dans des exploitations qui n'ont pas utilisé d'aliments pour animaux contaminés. Compte tenu de la situation particulièrement difficile du marché en Irlande, la Commission propose maintenant une nouvelle mesure exceptionnelle de soutien du marché sous la forme d'un programme d'élimination des animaux bloqués dans les exploitations qui ont utilisé des aliments contaminés, ainsi que de certains stocks de viande de porc détenus dans les abattoirs ou appartenant encore à ces derniers. L'UE cofinancera les achats à un taux moyen de cinquante pour cent. De plus, le comité de gestion qui s'est réuni aujourd'hui a approuvé un régime d'aide au stockage privé pour l'Irlande du Nord. Ce régime prévoit qu'une quantité maximale de 15 000 tonnes de viande de porc peut être stockée pour une période maximale de six mois en Irlande du Nord. Le régime suit la même approche que celle établie la semaine dernière pour l'Irlande.

    [14] Autre matériel diffusé

    • Discours du Vice président Barrot 'Une politique visant à assurer l'effectivité des droits fondamentaux sur le terrain', Strasbourg

    • Top News from the European Commission

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

    Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :

    Samsung SDI/Samsung Electronics/SMD From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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