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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-05-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] L'Union européenne à votre portée : une nouvelle génération de
relais d'information est née
[02] Réseau transeuropéen : €14,8 millions pour des infrastructures de
transport
[03] Commission approves the acquisition of RAC by Aviva
[04] Commission approves acquisition of Creo by Kodak
[05] Commission approves joint venture between Rautaruukki, Wärtsilä and
SKF
[06] Commission clears acquisition of ISS by EQT and GSCP
[07] Austria failed to implement EU race anti-discrimination law
[08] Marché intérieur de l'énergie : Andris Piebalgs rappelle
l'importance des interconnections Ă©lectriques
[09] Commission puts women's reproductive health and child rights at the
heart of Development policy
[10] Margot Wallström to visit Hungary and Czech Republic
[11] March 2005 compared to March 2004 : volume of retail trade up by 1.4%
in euro-zone ; up by 2.1% in EU25
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-05-04
Reference: MEX/05/0504
Date: 04/05/2005
EXME05 / 4.5
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
04/05/05
[01] L'Union européenne à votre portée : une nouvelle génération de
relais d'information est née
A partir du 1er mai 2005, toute personne désireuse de s'informer sur
l'Union européenne pourra s'adresser à un nouveau réseau de centres
locaux appelé le "réseau d'information EUROPE DIRECT". Ce dispositif,
déployé à travers toute l'Union, remplace les Info-Points Europe et les
Carrefours, qui mettaient traditionnellement Ă la disposition du public des
données sur des sujets ayant trait à l'UE, respectivement dans les zones
urbaines et rurales.
[02] Réseau transeuropéen : €14,8 millions pour des infrastructures de
transport
La Commission européenne vient d’allouer quelque €15 millions à neuf
projets d'intérêt commun du réseau transeuropéen de transport (RTE-T).
Ces décisions de financement constituent la dernière tranche de
l'allocation des €625 millions disponibles au titre du budget 2004 (voir
IP/05/50). Le soutien Ă ces neufs projets porte notamment sur des Ă©tudes
techniques et des travaux visant à développer les systèmes de transport
intelligents dans les secteurs ferroviaire, aérien et de la navigation
intérieure. Il porte aussi sur l'installation d'un système de gestion du
trafic routier dans les nouveaux Etats membres harmonisé avec celui des
anciens Etats membres. "Le soutien de l'Union europĂ©enne contribue Ă
rendre la mobilité européenne plus sûre et plus efficace. Il faut
supprimer les barrières techniques au trafic transfrontalier", a rappelé
M. Jacques Barrot, vice-président de la Commission responsable du
transport.
[03] Commission approves the acquisition of RAC by Aviva
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition by public bid of RAC plc (RAC), a roadside assistance
provider, by the UK insurance group Aviva plc (Aviva). After examining the
operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial
part of it.
[04] Commission approves acquisition of Creo by Kodak
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Creo Inc. (Creo) of Canada by the Eastman Kodak
Company (Kodak) of the United States. After examining the operation, the
Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede
effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it and has
therefore approved the concentration.
[05] Commission approves joint venture between Rautaruukki, Wärtsilä and
SKF
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed joint venture for the production of steel products between the
Finnish companies Rautaruukki and Wärtsilä, and SKF of Sweden. The
Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede
effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it and has
therefore approved the concentration.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of ISS by EQT and GSCP
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of ISS A/S (ISS) of Denmark
by the undertakings EQT III and EQT IV, belonging to the EQT group of funds
(EQT) of Denmark and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners (GSCP) of the UK. EQT
Group is a private equity portfolio company ultimately controlled by
Investor AB. GSCP is an equity investment fund controlled by investment
banker Goldman Sachs. ISS provides a wide range of facility services and
services related to damage control, food hygiene and health care. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[07] Austria failed to implement EU race anti-discrimination law
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) today ruled that Austria had breached
EU law by failing to transpose fully a European Directive prohibiting
discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (Directive
2000/43/EC). The deadline for EU Member States to transpose this Directive
was 19 July 2003 - except for the 10 new Member States, who had to ensure
that their legislation complied with the Directives by their accession to
the EU on 1 May 2004.
[08] Marché intérieur de l'énergie : Andris Piebalgs rappelle
l'importance des interconnections Ă©lectriques
En visite à Templeuve, à la frontière franco-belge, le Commissaire
européen à l'Energie Andris Piebalgs s'est félicité de la réalisation
prochaine de nouvelles interconnexions Ă©lectriques entre la France et la
Belgique. Bénéficiant du soutien financier des réseaux transeuropéens
d'énergie, celles-ci devraient permettre de développer les échanges et
la concurrence sur les marchés de l'électricité et de renforcer la
sécurité d'approvisionnement dans les deux pays. Le Commissaire a
toutefois souligné l'importance de veiller à ce que ces nouvelles
capacités soient allouées de manière transparente et non discriminatoire,
au bĂ©nĂ©fice de tous les consommateurs, et a tenu Ă rappeler Ă
cet égard le rôle fondamental des régulateurs. "Les gestionnaires de
réseaux français et belge coopèrent étroitement tant pour le
développement de ces interconnexions que dans la gestion journalière des
flux transfrontaliers et il s'agit là d'un très bon exemple au niveau
européen", a conclu le Commissaire.
[09] Commission puts women's reproductive health and child rights at the
heart of Development policy
The European Commission and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are hosting
today an international conference on Women, Children and Newborn Health at
the Albert Borschette Conference Centre in Brussels. By hosting this
conference, the Commission intends to enhance the EU's response to the
unacceptable state of women's and children's health, particularly in
Africa.
[10] Margot Wallström to visit Hungary and Czech Republic
Ms Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible
for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, will be in Budapest
from 5Â to 7 of May to attend for the first time the conference of Speakers
of the EU Parliaments. She will also meet President of the Republic of
Hungary Mr Ferenc Mádl, Prime Minister Mr Ferenc Gyurcsány and Minister
for European Affairs Mr Etele Baráth. On Sunday 8 May, Ms Wallström will
take part in the ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the
liberation of the Terezin concentration camp. On the 9th of May, on the
occasion of the Europe Day, she will meet the students at the Charles
University in Prague, and address them on the topic: "The future of Europe -
superstate or more democratic Union". On the same day she will meet the
Prime Minister Mr JiĹ™í Paroubek, and meet Czech NGO's.
[11] March 2005 compared to March 2004 : volume of retail trade up by 1.4%
in euro-zone ; up by 2.1% in EU25
In March 2005, compared to March 2004, the volume of retail trade grew by
1.4% in the euro-zone and by 2.1% in the EU25, according to first estimates
released by Eurostat. Compared to February 2005, the retail sales index
rose by 0.3% in both the euro-zone and the EU25. In March 2005, compared to
March 2004, retail trade of "food, drinks and tobacco" gained 1.3% in the
euro-zone and 2.0% in the EU25. The non food sector increased by 1.3% and
2.0% respectively.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Preparation of the Competitiveness Council (11/05)
Documentation de référence sur Europe Direct contact centre
The new Europe Direct information network: Europe on your doorstep
Speaking points by Mariann Fischer Boel on WTO agricultural negotiations at
meeting with FIPs (03/05, Paris)
Calendrier du 5 au 13 mai 2005
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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