Visit the Cyprus Press & Information Office (CYPIO) Archive Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-12-14

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>

MIDDAY EXPRESS

News from the Spokesman's midday briefing

Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb

14/12/98


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Strengthened EU environment standards as a result of the enlargement with Austria, Finland and Sweden
  • [02] Commission clears BP/Amoco merger
  • [03] Commission approves acquisition of Glacier Vandervell (US) by Dana Corporation (US)
  • [04] Commission considers DEO (Germany) outside the scope of Merger Regulation
  • [05] Commission decides Court action against United Kingdom for failure to implement environmental legislation in Gibraltar
  • [06] La Commission prend des mesures à l'encontre de la Belgique, du Luxembourg, des Pays-Bas, de la Grèce et de l'Espagne pour obtenir l'exécution d'arrêts de la Cour de justice concernant la législation environnementale
  • [07] Aide humanitaire en Asie
  • [08] Humanitarian aid news : Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • [09] Commission proposes Maritime Charter to encourage the global adoption of Quality Shipping Standards

  • [01] Strengthened EU environment standards as a result of the enlargement with Austria, Finland and Sweden

    The European Commission has adopted a Communication demonstrating that the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union (EU) has resulted in strengthened EU environment protection standards. When Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU a special provision - the Review Clause - in the Act of Accession allowed these three new Member States to keep certain different national health and environmental provisions for four years. This period will end on 31 December 1998. During this time the EU reviewed its own health and environmental standards accordingly, in close cooperation with the three new Member States. In almost all cases the Review Process resulted in the adoption of strengthened environmental standards throughout the EU, for example on sulphur in petrol, mercury in batteries and labelling of dangerous substances. In other cases the new Member States will keep their standards for a longer period of time. This time is needed to continue the review and to find EU wide solutions. A survey shows that the review proved to be a success in protecting the environment and human health.

    [02] Commission clears BP/Amoco merger

    The European Commission has cleared the full merger between British Petroleum Company (BP) and Amoco Corporation in the oil and petrochemicals sector. This merger considerably strengthens the parties' position on the market, where they now rank as the world's third largest integrated oil company. Given the limited market shares of the combined entity on the market of the European Economic Area in most product markets and the largely complementary character of the operation on a geographic basis, the Commission found only a limited number of affected markets in the petrochemicals sector. Of these, only the parties' combined position on the market for polyisobutylene (PIB) raised concern, which Amoco addressed by divesting of its European PIB business to a third party.

    [03] Commission approves acquisition of Glacier Vandervell (US) by Dana Corporation (US)

    The European Commission has decided to approuve an operation by which Dana Corporation will acquire sole control over the Glacier Vandervell Bearings Group. Dana is active in the production of components and systems for vehicle and industrial manufacturers and Glacier Vanderbell produces thinwall and dry bearings. The Commission has not found any substantial overlaps in the activities of the parties.

    [04] Commission considers DEO (Germany) outside the scope of Merger Regulation

    The European Commission has decided that Deutsche Energy One Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (DEO), a joint venture between four German companies Wintershall AG, a gas and oil refiner and seller, EnBW Energie- Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, an electricity seller and distributor, Stadtwerke Manheim AG, active in the sectors of electricity, gas, water and heat supply and Wirtschaftliche Vereinigung Deutscher Versorgungs- unternehmen AG, engaged in the trade of general commercial supplies and petrol based products, does not fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. DEO will be active in the sale of electricity and gas as well as in the provision of energy linked consultency and other services. DEO is not a concentration within the meaning of the Merger Regulation, as it will not be controlled by one of its shareholders alone or two or more shareholders jointly. The transaction will now be assessed under articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation n° 17.

    [05] Commission decides Court action against United Kingdom for failure to implement environmental legislation in Gibraltar

    The European Commission has decided to make an application to the European Court of Justice against the United Kingdom for failure to adopt and communicate to the Commission implementing legislation covering Gibraltar in respect of a number of environmental Directives.

    [06] La Commission prend des mesures à l'encontre de la Belgique, du Luxembourg, des Pays-Bas, de la Grèce et de l'Espagne pour obtenir l'exécution d'arrêts de la Cour de justice concernant la législation environnementale

    La Commission européenne a décidé de prendre des mesures, au titre de l'article 171 du traité sur l'Union européenne, à l'encontre de la Belgique, du Luxembourg, des Pays-Bas, de la Grèce et de l'Espagne qui ne se sont pas conformés à de précédents arrêts de la Cour de justice européenne concernant la législation environnementale.

    [07] Aide humanitaire en Asie

    La Commission européenne a débloqué une aide humanitaire pour des projets en Corée du Nord (2 millions d'Ecus), en Indonésie (1,5 million d'Ecus), au Laos (890.000 Ecus), aux Philippines (700.000 Ecus), en Birmanie (695.000 Ecus) et en Polynésie française (105.000 Ecus). Cette aide, gérée par l'Office humanitaire de la Communauté européenne (ECHO), permettra à des organisations internationales et à des organisations non gouvernementales de réaliser des projets au cours des mois à venir (entre trois et six mois).

    [08] Humanitarian aid news : Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina

    The European Commission has cleared humanitarian aid worth a total of ECU 11.597 million for projects to assist victims of conflict in Kosovo (ECU 10 million) and Bosnia Herzegovina (ECU 1.597 million). The aid, managed by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable international and non-governmental organisations to carry out projects over the winter.

    [09] Commission proposes Maritime Charter to encourage the global adoption of Quality Shipping Standards

    Neil Kinnock, the European Commissioner responsible for Transport Policy, told the shipping industry today that the elimination of sub-standard shipping requires action by the shipping industry itself as well as by public authorities. Speaking at a Quality Shipping Seminar in London, Mr Kinnock told shipping industry representatives that ways must be found to mobilise industry support against rogue operators. He presented a draft of the Commission's "Maritime Charter on Quality" laying down the basic principles of the Quality Shipping campaign which the Commission hopes will be formally signed at the Mare Forum Conference in Amsterdam in June. The Charter can then form the basis for more specific Codes of Conduct which specific sectors of the shipping industry can develop individually.

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    midex2html v1.04 run on Monday, 14 December 1998 - 12:30:09 UTC