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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-06-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission provides €2 million in humanitarian aid for flood victims
in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
[02] Commission proposes €61.2 million to eradicate polio in Africa
[03] La Commission approuve une co-entreprise entre Total et Suez dans les
lubrifiants
[04] Commission clears joint control of Cologne Knapsack container terminal
operator
[05] Commission clears joint venture between EADS and UTC
[06] Après la décision de l'OPEP, Loyola de Palacio plaide pour une
approche européenne concertée
[07] April 2004 compared to April 2003 : volume of retail trade up by 1.0%
in euro-zone ; EU25 up by 2.2%
[08] "Wider Europe for Transport" : the enlarged EU and its new neighbours
to discuss improving transport connections
[09] Meeting the challenges of changing consumer demand in fisheries
products
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-06-04
Reference: MEX/04/0604
Date: 04/06/2004
EXME04 / 4.6
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
04/06/04
[01] Commission provides €2 million in humanitarian aid for flood victims
in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
The Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission (ECHO) is providing
€2 million in humanitarian aid for the victims of the floods that struck
Haiti and the Dominican Republic on 24 May. The funds are earmarked mainly
for water/sanitation activities and for emergency supplies of essential
items including shelters, cooking equipment and hygiene products. ECHO
responded promptly to the flooding, immediately sending its expert based in
Santo Domingo to the crisis zone to assess needs and, in liaison with other
main humanitarian organisations, to identify where relief could be provided
speedily and effectively. Despite access problems in the isolated flood-hit
rural areas, ECHO partners have already been able to provide much needed
initial aid for the stricken region, where up to 50,000 highly vulnerable
people have been identified.
[02] Commission proposes €61.2 million to eradicate polio in Africa
The European Commission has today confirmed its firm commitment to world-
wide eradication of polio by announcing its intention to commit a further
€61.2 million from the European Development Fund in support of efforts by
the World Heath Organisation to effectively eradicate polio in 14 African
countries.
[03] La Commission approuve une co-entreprise entre Total et Suez dans les
lubrifiants
La Commission européenne a donné son feu vert à un projet de
concentration par lequel les entreprises françaises Total Lubrifiants,
filiale du groupe Total, et Endel, filiale du groupe Suez, créent une
joint venture appelée Daenerys qui offrira notamment des services en
matière de lubrification et de graissage de sites industriels.
(L'opération, qui a été notifiée le 28 avril 2004, a été examinée
sous une procédure simplifiée).
[04] Commission clears joint control of Cologne Knapsack container terminal
operator
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the acquisition of joint control of Germany's Knapsack Cargo GmbH (KCG)
by Container-Terminal GmbH Rhein-See-Land-Service, itself controlled by
Imperial Holding Ltd. (South Africa), Häfen-und Güterverkehr Köln AG and
InfraServ GmbH&Co. Knapsack KG. KCG operates a container terminal and
handles cargo and related services in the industrial park of Cologne-
Knapsack. It is currently wholly owned by InfraServ Knapsack. (The
operation, notified on 30 April 2004, was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure).
[05] Commission clears joint venture between EADS and UTC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to a proposed joint venture between United Technology Corp of the United
States and French company EADS Revima SA. EADS Revima will transfer its
entire auxiliary power units (APU) maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)
related business used for commercial transport to the venture. EADS Revima
is wholly owned by Sogerma, itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (The operation,
notified on 28 April 2004, was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure).
[06] Après la décision de l'OPEP, Loyola de Palacio plaide pour une
approche européenne concertée
La vice-président de la Commission européenne, en charge des Transports
et de l'Energie, Mme Loyola de Palacio a déclaré le 3 juin : "Face à la
flambée récente des prix du pétrole, j'accueille positivement la
décision de l'OPEP d'augmenter ses quotas de production. Il reste
cependant qu'en raison de l'importance des effets de spéculation et des
risques géopolitiques, la sécurité des approvisionnements pétroliers
de l'Union européenne doit passer avant tout par un renforcement de ses
partenariats énergétiques avec les principaux fournisseurs qui
l'entourent. Confrontés à une situation de crise, je plaide en faveur
d'une approche de l'Union européenne et concertée pour y faire face. De
simples actions unilatérales ne pourront en aucun cas apporter une
réponse adéquate et ne seraient pas acceptées si leur champ d'action
relève des compétences de l'UE."
[07] April 2004 compared to April 2003 : volume of retail trade up by 1.0%
in euro-zone ; EU25 up by 2.2%
In April 2004, compared to April 2003, the volume of retail trade increased
by 1.0% in the euro-zone and by 2.2% in the EU25, according to the first
estimates out today from Eurostat. Compared to March 2004, the sales index
increased by 1.3% in the euro-zone and by 0.7% in the EU25. In April 2004,
compared to April 2003, retail trade of "food, drinks and tobacco"
increased by 0.8% in the euro-zone and by 1.1% in the EU25. The non food
sector gained 0.9% and 2.9% respectively. Among the Member States for which
data are available, total retail trade increased in the United Kingdom
(+5.7%), Spain (+4.3%), Sweden (+3.5%), France (+2.7%) and Portugal
(+2.4%). The only decrease was recorded in Germany (-0.7%).
[08] "Wider Europe for Transport" : the enlarged EU and its new neighbours
to discuss improving transport connections
Transport infrastructure development will be discussed at the high level
seminar "Wider Europe for Transport" that will take place in Santiago de
Compostela, Spain, on 8th June 2004. The seminar, co-hosted by Loyola de
Palacio, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for
transport and energy, and Paolo Costa, Member of the European Parliament
and Chairman of the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport, and Tourism,
will be attended by key figures of the transport sector in Europe including
the transport Ministers of Italy, the Netherlands, Morocco, Russia,
Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine as well as the Vice-President of the European
Investment Bank.
[09] Meeting the challenges of changing consumer demand in fisheries
products
"Tackling the challenges posed by declining fish catches and the changing
needs of consumers is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of fisheries
and the competitiveness of the European fishing industry", European
Commissioner Sandra Kalniete told the 9th North Atlantic Fisheries
Ministers Conference (NAFMC) in Stykkishhólmur, Iceland, today. There was
a move away from fresh fish as well as from traditional smoked and salted
fish products in favour of ready-made meals as fish was increasingly
becoming part of the convenience food products particularly popular among
the younger generations. This presented a number of challenges which had to
be tackled in cooperation with the European Union's international partners,
in particular those from the north Atlantic, Ms Kalniete said. Taking part
in this Conference, held from 3 to 5 June, along with the EU
representatives are fisheries ministers from Canada, Greenland, Faeroe
Islands, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation. Participants are
examining ways and means to increase the value of fisheries products and
the interaction between new and traditional products. Next year's NAFMC
meeting will be held in the Faeroe Islands.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de M. Almunia : "Dépense publique, investissement et épargne :
quel équilibre ?" à la clôture des 13èmes Rencontres parlementaires sur
l'Epargne (03/06, Paris)
Speech by Siim Kallas : "A Business Plan for Modernising the European
Economy" at the European Policy Centre
Speech by Sandra Kalniete : "Consumer attitudes and Fish market prospects"
at North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference (Stykkisholmur, Iceland)
Calendrier du 7 au 13 juin 2004
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