|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-04-05
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement of the President of the Commission concerning the speech of
President Bush
[02] Crackdown on drug cultivation: the European Commission supports new
measures announced by Afghan Interim Administration
[03] Chris Patten Commissioner for External Relations welcomes statement
from President Bush on the Middle East
[04] La Commission informe l'Autriche de sa position quant aux garanties
accordées aux banques publiques
[05] Commission clears take-over by Scottish & Newcastle of Hartwall
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Fiditalia by Société Générale
[07] Autre matériel diffusé:
[08] Disponible dans le sécretariat de Amelia Torres et Michael Tscherny
6/80:
Midday Express 05/04/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 05/04/2002
[01] Statement of the President of the Commission concerning the speech of
President Bush
"I warmly welcome the statement of President Bush. It is an expression of
determination and leadership . We offer our full co-operation to the United
States and to all other parties determined to secure full and immediate
compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions - notably Resolution 1402,
which calls for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including
all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction. As I have said,
to this end, all of us, the United States, the United Nations, the European
Union, Russia, moderate Arab states, Israel and Palestinians must work
closely together. The Israeli government must act immediately to withdraw
its forces from all Palestinian cities. The presence of Israeli military
forces in these cities, and especially in the holy places, is inevitably
exciting emotional reactions which are deepening the crisis and threaten to
destabilise the whole region. The Palestinian Authority and Chairman Arafat
must do everything in their power to put an end to terrorist attacks
against innocent people. There is no military solution to the crisis.
Negotiation is the only way forward."
[02] Crackdown on drug cultivation: the European Commission supports new
measures announced by Afghan Interim Administration
The European Commission welcomes new measures to eradicate cultivation of
opium poppies in Afghanistan, and promises to support the fight against
illegal drugs in the country. The Commission is ready to provide swift
assistance to the regions dependent on poppy production. The Commissioner
for External Relations Chris Patten said "We will fully support the Afghan
Interim Administration in its fight against drugs. In recent years the
overwhelming majority of the opium-related drugs found on Europe's streets
has come from Afghanistan, where they devastate young lives and fund
organised crime. These drugs are a menace to Europe and a menace to
Afghanistan. It is profoundly in the interests of both Europe and
Afghanistan, that farmers should know they do not have to choose between
poverty and poppy production. We will play our part in ensuring they have
an alternative. Beating drugs helps beat terrorism, and will help Afghans
and Afghanistan a brighter future."
[03] Chris Patten Commissioner for External Relations welcomes statement
from President Bush on the Middle East
Commissioner Patten, speaking in Singapore, gave this reaction to the
latest US declaration. I warmly welcome the statement from President Bush.
I am pleased that the US has intervened so forcefully. I will be meeting
Secretary of State Colin Powell with my colleagues High Representative
Javier Solana and Foreign Minister Josep Pique at the EU/US ministerial in
Madrid ext week. We will be setting out in terms our support for what he is
now charged to accomplish. What is important is that the whole
international community should work together solidly to achieve unqualified
support for UN Security Council Resolutions 1409 and 1397. There must be an
end to violence, and Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories,
and a return to the Mitchell Recommendations. No ifs and no buts".
[04] La Commission informe l'Autriche de sa position quant aux garanties
accordées aux banques publiques
La Commission européenne a informé, par lettre, le gouvernement autrichien
qu'elle considère que les garanties actuellement accordées par les
collectivités territoriales autrichiennes à certains établissements de
crédit de droit public autrichien (en particulier, les banques régionales
de crédit hypothécaire et certaines caisses d'épargne) constituent, dans la
mesure où elles influent sur la position concurrentielle desdits
établissements et sur les échanges entre les États membres, des aides
d'État incompatibles avec le marché commun. Le gouvernement autrichien est
invité à présenter des observations sur cette conclusion provisoire de la
Commission dans un délai d'un mois. La lettre susmentionnée constitue la
première étape de la procédure prévoyant l'adoption des mesures utiles
propres à assurer le démantèlement des régimes d'aides incompatibles avec
le marché commun.
[05] Commission clears take-over by Scottish & Newcastle of Hartwall
The European Commission has given the go-ahead for Scottish & Newcastle plc,
a company registered in Scotland, to acquire sole control of the Finnish
company Oyj Hartwall Abp. Scottish & Newcastle is a public limited company
registered in Scotland and listed on the London Stock Exchange, active in
brewing beer and wholesaling of beer and other beverages in the UK, Ireland,
France and Belgium. It also has joint control over the Portuguese brewer
Centralcer. Hartwall is active in the manufacture and wholesaling of
alcoholic beverages, including beer, cider and "long drinks" (mixed
beverages with low alcohol levels), mineral water and soft drinks mainly in
Finland. The parties' businesses are complementary and there are no
substantial overlaps. This allowed the Commission to clear the take-over.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Fiditalia by Société Générale
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the acquisition of full control of the Italian consumer credit group
Fiditalia Spa, by the French undertaking Société Générale SA active in the
full-service banking of international dimension. (The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure)
[07] Autre matériel diffusé:
Speech by President Romano Prodi "The Shaping of tomorrow's Union" -
European Parliament, Brussels - 4 April 2002 Calendrier du 8 au 12 avril
[08] Disponible dans le sécretariat de Amelia Torres et Michael Tscherny
6/80:
TPS HDW/Ferrostaal/Hellenic Shipyards
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
