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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-11-18
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-Parole 18/11/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission autorise la création par BT et BBL d'une entreprise
commune en Belgique
[02] Commission authorises 95% acquisition of Burton Coal Joint venture by
RAG
[03] Commission approves acquisition by Illinois Tool Works of Premark
International
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle exclusif de Plate
Glass & Shatterprufe Industries par d'Ieteren
[05] Commission approves acquisition of Andritz by Carlyle and UIAG
[06] Commission to hold conference on future of Information Society
[07] Conference on screening and early detection of cancer Vienna, 18-19
November 1999
[01] La Commission autorise la création par BT et BBL d'une entreprise
commune en Belgique
La Commission européenne a autorisé la création par la société britannique
BT et la banque belge BBL d'une entreprise commune dans le secteur des
télécommunications par l'Internet. Cette entreprise, qui offrira un accès
gratuit à l'Internet et y vendra des espaces publicitaires, ne posera pas
de problème de concurrence sur le marché belge de l'Internet, où les
sociétés-mères ne sont pas présentes actuellement. La Commission a estimé
que l'opération aurait essentiellement pour effet de stimuler la
concurrence, puisqu'elle donnera naissance à un nouvel opérateur sur le
marché de l'Internet, caractérisé par la présence d'un certain nombre de
prestataires solidement implantés.
[02] Commission authorises 95% acquisition of Burton Coal Joint venture by
RAG
The European Commission has authorised, under Article 66 of the European
Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty, the acquisition by German company
RAG Aktiengesellschaft of sole control of the Burton Coal Joint Venture, an
Australian operation producing primarily coking coal. The Commission's
investigations showed that the operation would have significant effects on
the German market for coking coal, but would not have adverse effects on
the competition on this market.
[03] Commission approves acquisition by Illinois Tool Works of Premark
International
The European Commission has decided to approve the operation by which the
US company Illinois Tool Works will acquire sole control of the US company
Premark International. The sector concerned is mainly that of engineered
components and packaging machines. Both parties' activities in the EEA are
almost entirely complementary, so the concentration does not raise any
competition concerns.
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle exclusif de Plate
Glass & Shatterprufe Industries par d'Ieteren
La Commission européenne a autorisé une opération dans le secteur
automobile par laquelle l'entreprise belge s.a. D'Ieteren n.v. acquerra le
contrôle exclusif du groupe sud-africain Plate Glass & Shatterprufe
Industries Limited (PGSI). PGSI est présent au niveau mondial dans la
fabrication, la distribution, la réparation et le remplacement de produits
en verre et en carton. La Commission a estimé que les activités des parties
ne se chevauchaient que dans la réparation et le remplacement du verre pour
automobiles sur le marché belge. Son enquête a cependant permis de conclure
que la concurrence sur ce marché ne serait pas altérée par la
concentration.
[05] Commission approves acquisition of Andritz by Carlyle and UIAG
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of the Austrian based
manufacturer of machines Andritz AG, by the Carlyle Group and UIAG, both
investment funds. The companies involved have no product overlaps. Moreover,
they face strong competition in their respective sectors of activity. In
view of this, the Commission has decided not to oppose the operation and
declare it compatible with the common market and the EEA Agreement.
[06] Commission to hold conference on future of Information Society
From 22 to 24 November 99, main IT leaders, specialists and policy makers
will gather in Helsinki on the invitation of the European Commission
Information Society Directorate-General to share their experience and
visions on the future of the Information Society on Europe. Through its
numerous sessions and workshops, IST 99 opens a window to the various
technological, legal and social aspects of the Information Society. With
its 4000 m2 of exhibition, IST 99 will display the best results of EU
Research & Development Programmes and show how the Information Society
increasingly influences daily life and work and contributes to better
quality of life.
[07] Conference on screening and early detection of cancer Vienna, 18-19
November 1999
A European Conference on screening and early detection of cancer takes
place today in Vienna, Austria, sponsored by the "Europe Against Cancer"
Programme, and organised by the Austrian Cancer Society Vienna. Mr David
Byrne, European Commissioner for health and consumer protection, emphasised
the importance of screening for cancer at an early stage, as it is an
opportunity to interrupt the natural history of the disease thereby
preventing it from progressing further. He also drew attention to the need
to help improve and increase the possibilities of early detection, in
particular through the development and dissemination of effective screening
programmes and appropriate professional practices. Mr Byrne also underlined
that the ultimate goal of the conference was to adopt European guidelines
for implementation of cancer screening programmes as a contribution to the
general setting of priorities on use of health care resources. The
principal feature of the European strategy recommended by the scientific
participants at the Conference is : only screening tests proven to decrease
disease specific mortality or incidence should be offered to healthy
people. At present, these methods are : pap smear screening for cervical
abnormalities starting at the latest by age 30 and definitely not before
age 20 ; mammography screening for breast cancer in women aged 50-69 ;
faecal occult blood screening for colorectal cancer in men and women age 50-
69. No other screening test should be offered to healthy people before
these tests have been shown to decrease the disease specific mortality on
incidence. Mr Byrne confirmed that the Commission services plan to examine
whether to prepare, on the basis of these precise guidelines, a proposal
for a Council recommendation on cancer screening in the EU. He hoped that
the Council and Parliament would support this initiative.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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