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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-09-29
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
29/09/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement by Romano Prodi on the Danish Referendum
[02] Conférence intergouvernementale : la Commission propose la création
d'un procureur européen pour lutter efficacement contre la fraude
[03] Commission clears acquisition of Bestfoods by Unilever subject to a
significant package of divestments
[04] La Commission autorise le rachat des activités de Kömmerling dans le
secteur des matières plastiques par HT Troplast, filiale de RAG
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Mallinckrodt by Tyco
[06] Commission approves purchase of Unilever's European Bakery Supplies
unit by Dutch firm CSM nv
[07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Carrefour du contrôle unique
du distributeur belge GB
[08] Merger approved under the simplified procedure : BHP/Mitsubishi/QCT
[09] Fonds structurels : la Commission approuve un train de mesures pour la
formation et l'emploi en Espagne au titre de l'Objectif 3
[10] Structural Funds : Commission agrees euro 747 million education,
training and employment package for Sweden
[11] Commission adopts further rural development programmes
[12] Actions de promotion et de publicité pour les pommes et les agrumes
[13] Commission proposes European strategy for integrated coastal zone
management
[14] Key indicators on the euro area : new Commission website
[15] Flood reconstruction support to Venezuela
[16] Poul Nielson to visit the Horn of Africa from 3 to 9 October
[17] Press conference by Franz Fischler on fisheries cooperation with
Morocco
[01] Statement by Romano Prodi on the Danish Referendum
Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, issued the following
statement on the Danish Referendum : "The Danish people have confirmed that
they do not want to adopt the euro as their currency. The Commission
regrets this decision and I firmly believe that a positive vote would have
been in our common interest. I welcome the fact that the Danish authorities
do not plan to modify the conditions under which the Krone participates in
the Exchange Rate Mechanism. My understanding is also that Denmark will
continue commitment to an economic policy based on macroeconomic stability,
which closely shadows Euro-area policies and objectives. Since 1 January
1999, the euro has been the currency of 11 Member States. Soon there will
be 12. The good results already achieved after 21 months will not be
affected by the Danish decision : the Euro-zone economic fundamentals are
the best in a generation ; employment is growing constantly and the
budgetary situation is increasingly robust ; the euro has established
itself in the financial markets as a global currency and the volume of bond
issues is similar to that of the US dollar. The deepening of economic union
continues to be our main task. The process of economic reform is well under
way. It will be strengthened. The capacity to deal with external shocks,
like the rise in the oil price, has also to be strengthened. I am sure the
Eurogroup will carry on its good work and contribute to the deepening of
the economic and monetary union. The Commission will be active in promoting
this process, while maintaining the cohesion of the Union as a whole."
[02] Conférence intergouvernementale : la Commission propose la création
d'un procureur européen pour lutter efficacement contre la fraude
Comme elle l'avait annoncé dans son avis du 26 janvier 2000, la Commission
européenne a préparé et adopté aujourd'hui une proposition concrète en vue
de la création d'un procureur européen chargé de protéger les intérêts
financiers des Communautés. Elle transmettra cette proposition à la
Conférence intergouvernementale sous forme d'une contribution
complémentaire. La Commission propose à la Conférence intergouvernementale
un nouvel article du Traité qui se limite à prévoir les conditions de
nomination et de démission ainsi que la mission du procureur indépendant.
Elle suggère que le statut et les modalités de fonctionnement du procureur
soient renvoyés au droit dérivé. Avec cette proposition, la Commission
réaffirme la priorité politique de la lutte contre la fraude et répond
aussi aux préoccupations exprimées par le Parlement européen dans sa
résolution sur la CIG du 14 avril.
[03] Commission clears acquisition of Bestfoods by Unilever subject to a
significant package of divestments
The European Commission has granted regulatory clearance to the acquisition
of US company Bestfoods by Anglo/Dutch company Unilever after the parties
made substantial concessions to resolve competition concerns. The two
companies overlap in the production and distribution in a large number of
national markets for food products both for retailing and for food services
across the EEA. The undertakings include the divestment of a significant
number of brands such as Lesieur, Royco and Oxo. The total value of the
divestment package in terms of annual retail sales is estimated at euro 500
million.
[04] La Commission autorise le rachat des activités de Kömmerling dans le
secteur des matières plastiques par HT Troplast, filiale de RAG
La Commission européenne a autorisé le rachat des activités dans le secteur
des matières plastiques de la société allemande Kömmerling GmbH & Co KG par
une autre société allemande, HT Troplast AG. Kömmerling exerce des
activités d'extrusion de matières plastiques, de fabrication de colles et
de produits d'étanchéisation, ainsi que de construction de fenêtres. HT
Troplast, qui appartient au groupe RAG, transforme des matières plastiques.
HT Troplast rachète les activités de production et de vente de Kömmerling
dans les profilés et panneaux en matière plastique à l'administrateur de la
faillite. Une procédure d'insolvabilité a en effet été ouverte au sujet du
groupe Kömmerling en décembre.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Mallinckrodt by Tyco
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of US healthcare
company Mallinckrodt, by Bermuda-registered Tyco International. The only
overlap in the companies' activities occurs in the field of medical devices,
but their overall market share does not raise any competition concerns.
[06] Commission approves purchase of Unilever's European Bakery Supplies
unit by Dutch firm CSM nv
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Unilever's European
Bakery Supplies Business by CSM nv of The Netherlands. The deal will have
no significant impact on competition as CSM's share of the relevant markets
will remain low.
[07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Carrefour du contrôle unique
du distributeur belge GB
La Commission européenne a donné son feu vert à l'opération par laquelle le
groupe Carrefour acquiert le contrôle unique du groupe belge GB actif dans
le secteur de la distribution à dominante alimentaire. Carrefour détenait
déjà une participation minoritaire dans GB suite à son absorption de
Promodès. L'enquête menée par la Commission a permis de conclure que la
présente opération n'est pas de nature à créer ou renforcer une position
dominante sur les marchés considérés.
[08] Merger approved under the simplified procedure : BHP/Mitsubishi/QCT
[09] Fonds structurels : la Commission approuve un train de mesures pour la
formation et l'emploi en Espagne au titre de l'Objectif 3
Un programme septennal de promotion de l'éducation, de la formation et de
l'emploi en Espagne, financé par le Fonds social européen, a été approuvé
aujourd'hui par la Commission. Le "Cadre communautaire d'appui Objectif 3"
(CCA) soutiendra toute initiative en faveur des ressources humaines dans
les sept communautés autonomes d'Aragon, des Îles Baléares, de Catalogne,
de Madrid, de Navarre, du Pays basque et de La Rioja au cours de la période
2000-2006. L'enveloppe totale allouée par l'Union européenne pour ces sept
années est de 2 221 millions d'euros. La décision d'aujourd'hui est l'une
des nombreuses décisions prises ces jours-ci par la Commission en faveur de
tous les Etats membres dans le but de lancer la nouvelle période de
programmation des Fonds structurels.
[10] Structural Funds : Commission agrees euro 747 million education,
training and employment package for Sweden
The 'Single Programming Document' to support education, training and
employment in Sweden over the next seven years was approved by the
Commission today. With the exception of the regions covered by the
Objective 1 Sweden is eligible for euro 747 million in EU support under
this Objective 3 programme. Today's decision is one of many currently being
taken by the Commission for all Member States to launch the new Structural
Funds programming period.
[11] Commission adopts further rural development programmes
The European Commission has adopted the following Rural Development
Programmes for the period 2000-2006 : Germany, Brandenburg (total public
cost euro 364 million ; EU contribution euro 273 million) ; Thuringen
(total public cost euro 325 million ; EU contribution euro 243 million) ;
Niedersachsen (total public cost euro 1,2 billion ; EU contribution euro
544 million) ; Saarland (total public cost euro 79, million ; EU
contribution euro 36,800 million) ; Hessen (total public cost euro 638,
million ; EU contribution euro 278,800 million) ; Rheinland-Pfalz (total
public cost euro 590 million ; EU contribution euro 279 million) ;
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (total public cost euro 209 million ; EU
contribution euro 156 million) ; - Italy, Valle d'Aosta (total public cost
euro 119,41 million ; EU contribution euro 43,77 million) ; Friuli-Venezia
Giulia (total public cost euro 212,984 million ; EU contribution euro 99,
740 million) ; Veneto (total public cost euro 666,65 million ; EU
contribution euro 297,35 million) - Luxembourg (total public cost euro 275,
million ; EU contribution euro 91 million) - Denmark (total public cost
euro 944,5 million ; EU contribution euro 348,8 million).
[12] Actions de promotion et de publicité pour les pommes et les agrumes
La Commission européenne a approuvé dix programmes d'action dans huit Etats
membres (Belgique, Danemark, Allemagne, Espagne, France, Pays-Bas, Autriche
et Royaume-Uni) en vue de promouvoir la consommation de pommes et d'agrumes
dans l'Union européenne. Le coût total des mesures retenues est de 9,75
millions d'euros dont 60% (5,85 millions d'euros) sont financés par la
Commission.
[13] Commission proposes European strategy for integrated coastal zone
management
The European Commission has adopted two texts related to Integrated Coastal
Zone Management (ICZM). The first sets out a European strategy to address
the deterioration of conditions in coastal zones. The strategy underlines
the need for informed, coordinated and complementary action by all levels
of administration, and the involvement of all of the stakeholders who use
or manage a coastal zone. As a component of this strategy, the Commission
also adopted a proposal for a Recommendation encouraging the Member States
to develop their own national strategies for ICZM. The Commission's action
in this field comes as a response to the increased pressure on coastal
zones from activities such as tourism, industry, fishing etc.
[14] Key indicators on the euro area : new Commission website
As of today key information on the economic development of the euro area
will be made available on the internet pages of the European Commission.
The purpose is to disseminate on a timely basis key information on economic
and financial variables of the euro area in order to help the interested
public to monitor and assess the performance of this, increasingly
integrated, economic entity. The information will be up-dated regularly two
days ahead of EuroGroup meetings. http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/document/euro/keyindicators/main_en.htm
[15] Flood reconstruction support to Venezuela
Following the catastrophic floods in December 1999 the European Commission
had set up an important emergency aid scheme (worth euro 7.15 million) to
the victims. Today the Commission adopted a long term programme worth euro
30 million, aimed at the support for Venezuela for reconstruction as well
as natural risk prevention on the Caribbean Coast.
[16] Poul Nielson to visit the Horn of Africa from 3 to 9 October
Mr Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation and
Humanitarian Aid, will undertake a mission to the Horn of Africa from 3 to
9 October. Mr Nielson will use this visit to gather first hand information
about the impact and need of EU aid in particular in the context of
increased humanitarian needs due to conflict and drought. He will visit
Kenya on 3-4 October, Ethiopia on 5-6 October, Djibouti on 7 October and
Eritrea 8-9 October. As well as assessing for himself the situation in the
region, Mr Nielson will seek to raise public awareness of the efforts
undertaken by the Commission in providing support by means of humanitarian
aid, food aid and development cooperation. In this context, he will stress
the importance of a coherent food security policy as the most promising way
out of a situation of structural food deficit.
[17] Press conference by Franz Fischler on fisheries cooperation with
Morocco
Following a meeting with with the Spanish and Portugese fishing sector
European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries,
Franz Fischler, Fisheries Ministers Arias Canete and Copulas Santos, will
hold a press conference (Monday, 2 October at 18 hours, Centre Borschette,
Rue Froissart 37 ). At the meeting Mr Fischler will inform the sector
affected by the expiry of the fisheries agreement about negotiations with
Morocco. "I am looking forward to a frank dialogue with the affected
fishermen, vessel owners and the industry", Mr Fischler said.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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