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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-03-21

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Compensation et règlement livraison : résultat de la consultation
  • [02] Copyright in libraries : Commission acts to ensure that authors are remunerated
  • [03] Commission requests Sweden to end broadcasting services monopoly
  • [04] Commission opens in-depth inquiry into proposed subsidy for Bavarian ethylene pipeline
  • [05] La Commission invite le Portugal et l'Espagne à mettre pleinement en Å“uvre la directive sur la transparence financière
  • [06] Taxation of interest and royalty payments : infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom over Gibraltar
  • [07] Imposition du capital des entreprises : la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de justice d'un recours contre la Grèce
  • [08] Commission approves UTC/Kidde merger in the fire protection sector
  • [09] Commission welcomes G8 commitment to put Africa and Development high on its agenda Midday Express of 2005-03-21 Reference: MEX/05/0321 Date: 21/03/2005 EXME05 / 21.3

    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

    21/03/05


  • [01] Compensation et règlement livraison : résultat de la consultation

    Les 82 réponses, publiées ce jour, à la deuxième consultation organisée par la Commission européenne sur la compensation et le règlement livraison de titres dans l'Union européenne sont généralement favorables. La consultation, lancée en avril 2004 (voir IP/04/551), visait à recueillir des avis sur les objectifs généraux et la nature spécifique des actions destinées à promouvoir la création d'un marché transfrontalier efficace de la compensation et du règlement livraison, indispensable au bon fonctionnement d'un marché financier communautaire intégré. Les intervenants ont largement soutenu les propositions de la Commission concernant l'élaboration d'une directive sur la compensation et le règlement livraison de titres, la création d'un "groupe consultatif et de suivi sur la compensation et le règlement-livraison" composé d'experts en la matière et la création de deux autres groupes d'experts chargés d'étudier les différences juridiques et fiscales entre régimes nationaux. Ils ont également approuvé la volonté de la Commission de continuer à assurer la bonne application du droit de la concurrence. Une synthèse des réponses peut être consultée sur le site web EUROPA, à l'adresse suivante :

    <a href="http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/financial- markets/clearing/index_en.htm">http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/financial- markets/clearing/index_en.htm

    [02] Copyright in libraries : Commission acts to ensure that authors are remunerated

    The European Commission has decided to refer Italy and Luxembourg to the European Court of Justice for failure to implement fully into national legislation the "public lending right" provided for by a 1992 Directive. By introducing a "public lending right" the EU is aiming to ensure that creative effort is protected and encouraged throughout the European Union. In a related development, the Commission has also launched infringement proceedings against Belgium, Finland and Sweden because these Member States have not complied with the 2004 rulings of the Court requiring them to implement the 2001 Copyright Directive (see IP/01/528). Should they continue in not complying with the Copyright Directive, the Commission, after issuing a "reasoned opinion" formally requesting them to do so, may ultimately ask the Court for fines to be imposed on these Member States.

    [03] Commission requests Sweden to end broadcasting services monopoly

    The European Commission has formally requested Sweden to implement the Directive on competition in the markets for electronic communications networks and services (Commission Directive 2002/77/EC), and in particular to abolish the monopoly of state-owned company Teracom AB as regards analogue terrestrial broadcasting and transmission services. The Commission request takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion', the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If Sweden fails to comply within two months of receipt, the Commission may refer the case to the European Court of Justice.

    [04] Commission opens in-depth inquiry into proposed subsidy for Bavarian ethylene pipeline

    The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation to establish whether the €70 million grant the Land of Bavaria intends to give for the construction of an ethylene pipeline is compatible with the EU Treaty rules on state aid (Article 87). The Commission considers that there is a risk that the grant may distort competition, even if the pipeline may be of strategic importance for the chemical industry in the region. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments within one month of publication in the EU’s Official Journal of the decision.

    [05] La Commission invite le Portugal et l'Espagne à mettre pleinement en œuvre la directive sur la transparence financière

    La Commission européenne a adressé au Portugal et à l'Espagne une demande formelle les invitant à transposer pleinement dans leur législation nationale la directive de la Commission relative à la transparence des relations financières entre les Etats membres et les entreprises publiques (directive 2000/52/CE, modifiant la directive 80/723/CEE). Cette demande formelle prend la forme d'un avis motivé, qui constitue la deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction au titre de l'article 226 du traité CE. Si le Portugal et l'Espagne ne prennent pas les mesures nécessaires pour se conformer à l'avis motivé dans un délai de deux moins à compter de sa réception, la Commission peut décider de traduire ces deux Etats membres devant la Cour de justice européenne.

    [06] Taxation of interest and royalty payments : infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom over Gibraltar

    The European Commission has decided to send a formal request to the United Kingdom for information on the measures that the United Kingdom has adopted to implement Council Directive 2003/49/EC of 3 June 2003 in Gibraltar. That Directive, on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different Member States, should have been implemented in all Member States by 1 January 2004. The request is in the form of a reasoned opinion, the second stage of infringement proceedings provided for in the Treaty (Article 226). If the United Kingdom fails to notify the requested measure within two months of receiving the reasoned opinion, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.

    [07] Imposition du capital des entreprises : la Commission décide de saisir la Cour de justice d'un recours contre la Grèce

    La Commission européenne a décidé de saisir la Cour de justice européenne d'un recours contre la Grèce parce que sa législation fiscale applicable aux rassemblements de capitaux n'est pas conforme au droit communautaire. La Grèce perçoit un droit d'apport lorsqu'une entreprise transfère son siège statutaire ou celui de sa direction effective en Grèce, et applique une exonération générale du droit d'apport aux sociétés agricoles et maritimes. La Commission estime que ces règles sont contraires aux dispositions de la directive concernant les impôts indirects frappant les rassemblements de capitaux (69/335/CEE), qui autorise les Etats membres à soumettre au droit d'apport uniquement la constitution d'une société de capitaux, non son transfert, et n'autorise pas la Grèce à exonérer de ce droit des secteurs économiques particuliers. La Grèce n'a pas apporté les modifications nécessaires à sa législation, en dépit de la demande formelle adressée par la Commission en décembre 2004 (voir IP/05/38). Les règles grecques définies dans la loi 1676/86 prévoient que les entreprises qui transfèrent leur siège statutaire ou leur siège de direction effective d'un autre Etat membre vers la Grèce sont soumises à un droit d'apport lorsque ce transfert ne donne pas lieu à la perception du droit dans un autre Etat membre de l'UE. En outre, la Grèce exonère de ce droit toutes les sociétés agricoles et maritimes, sans exception.

    [08] Commission approves UTC/Kidde merger in the fire protection sector

    The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Kidde plc. (Kidde) by the US technology company United Technologies Corporation (UTC). Both UTC, active in the fire protection sector through its subsidiary Chubb, and Kidde are leading players on various markets for fire protection products. The Commission looked in particular at the markets for portable fire extinguishers and for pre-installed fire extinguishing systems. Although the merged entity will hold a strong position on these product markets in Europe, the Commission's investigation has shown that the parties will still face competition from a wide number of other manufacturers from inside- and outside Europe. It is therefore unlikely that the transaction will allow the parties to use their market power to distort competition. Hence, the Commission concluded that the operation will not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

    [09] Commission welcomes G8 commitment to put Africa and Development high on its agenda

    The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, welcomed on 18 March the clear commitment of the G8 members to put Africa high on its agenda and to coordinate its efforts to increase the international support for development. Louis Michel took part in the G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire, UK. From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/

    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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