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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-12-17
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Accession boosts farm income in new Member States by more than 50%,
says Eurostat
[02] Financial services : final adoption of Transparency Directive will
help investors and boost trust in markets
[03] Budget 2005 : le premier budget de l'UE arrêté par et pour l'Union
élargie
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Peguform by Cerberus
[05] 233 projets culturels européens subventionnés en 2004 dans le cadre
du programme Culture 2000
[06] October 2004 compared to September 2004 : industrial production down
by 0.5% in euro-zone - EU25 down by 0.3%
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-12-17
Reference: MEX/04/1217
Date: 17/12/2004
EXME04 / 17.12
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
17/12/04
[01] Accession boosts farm income in new Member States by more than 50%,
says Eurostat
The first estimates of agricultural income for 2004 show a year-on-year
increase of 3.3% in the European Union as a whole. This increase was
primarily thanks to the contribution of the new Member States, where
agricultural income increased by an average of 53.8%. This shows the
overwhelmingly positive impact of accession to the EU on the agricultural
sector, through access to the Single Market and implementation of the
Common Agricultural Policy. Income in the "old" 15 Member States also
increased this year, by 0.8%. "These results are excellent news for
European farmers, particularly in the new Member States", said Mariann
Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
"They show that the concerns voiced by some in the lead-up to enlargement
were unfounded. The new Member States' accession to the CAP has brought new
security and new opportunities to their farmers. I'm also delighted that
real farm income in the "old" Member States has returned to its long-term
upward trend. I am certain that all EU farmers will be able to build on
this success as the new CAP reforms come on stream."
[02] Financial services : final adoption of Transparency Directive will
help investors and boost trust in markets
The European Commission has welcomed the definitive adoption of the
Directive on minimum transparency requirements for listed companies. The
Directive will raise the quality of information available to investors on
companies' performance and financial position as well as on changes in
major shareholdings. This should contribute to better investor protection,
enhanced investor confidence and a better functioning of European capital
markets. This adoption is a major step towards integrated European
financial markets that investors and the public can trust. The Directive
must be implemented by Member States within two years of its publication in
the EU's Official Journal, which should take place in the next few weeks.
[03] Budget 2005 : le premier budget de l'UE arrêté par et pour l'Union
élargie
Le Parlement européen a arrêté, le 16 décembre, le budget de l'Union
européenne pour 2005. Il s'agit du premier budget prenant en compte les
priorités politiques et les besoins d'une Union élargie pour un exercice
complet. C'est aussi le premier budget arrêté par un Parlement et un
Conseil représentant l'ensemble des 25 Etats membres.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Peguform by Cerberus
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of German company Peguform
GmbH & Co. KG i.L by Cerberus Group, USA. Peguform Holding is a newly
created holding company established for the acquisition of Peguform.
Peguform has been involved in insolvency proceedings. It is controlled by
Cerberus, a financial investment company with investments in manufacturing,
telecommunications, computer software, and other sectors. Peguform is
active in the production and sale of car components, and supplies car
manufacturers in Europe, Mexico, and Brazil. The notified transaction
involves the acquisition by Peguform Holding of substantially all of the
assets of the insolvent Peguform, including participations in two European
joint ventures, Celulosa Fabril S.A. and Sociedad Portugesa de Pintura e
Modulos para Industria Automovel S.A. The result of the transaction is that
Peguform will be an Operating Entity controlled by Peguform Holding and
thus by Cerberus Group. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[05] 233 projets culturels européens subventionnés en 2004 dans le cadre
du programme Culture 2000
Des subventions ont été accordées à 233 projets, dont la plupart mettent
l'accent sur le patrimoine culturel, domaine prioritaire en 2004. Ces
projets se partageront une aide financière de 32 millions d'€ environ.
Trente pays européens participent au programme Culture 2000 (2000-2006)
qui, cette année, aide plus de 850 opérateurs culturels à mener en
collaboration des projets présentant une dimension européenne.
[06] October 2004 compared to September 2004 : industrial production down
by 0.5% in euro-zone - EU25 down by 0.3%
Seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.5% in the euro-zone in
October 2004 compared to September 2004, Eurostat estimates today.
Production rose by 0.8% in September after a drop of 0.7% in August. Output
in the EU25 declined by 0.3% in October 2004, after a rise of 0.6% in
September and a fall of 0.6% in August. In October 2004 compared to October
2003, industrial production rose by 1.0% in both the euro-zone and the
EU25.
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "The years ahead in the Barroso Commission" at
the Association of European Journalists (Dublin)
Note on the Environment Council (20/12)
Calendrier du 20 au 23 décembre 2004
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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