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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-12-16
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Trade policy : EU says no final date for ending export subsidies until
others sign up to reform (Hong Kong)
[02] Fisheries : long-awaited agreement concluded on blue whiting fishery
[03] Conférence de Marrakech : un nouveau souffle à la coopération
Transports entre les deux rives de la Méditerranée
[04] Commission approves €25 million in humanitarian aid for South Asia
earthquake victims
[05] TVA : la Commission invite l'Espagne Ă modifier le traitement fiscal
appliqué aux fournitures effectuées en faveur de l'Eglise catholique
[06] Commission refers Sweden to Court over discriminatory rules on capital
gains tax relief on home sales
[07] Commission clears acquisition of SSK by PAI
[08] November 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation down to 2.3% ; EU25 down to
2.2%
[09] Stavros Dimas convoque une réunion à haut niveau sur la dépollution
de la région Méditerranéenne d'ici 2020
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-12-16
Reference: MEX/05/1216
Date: 16/12/2005
EXME05 / 16.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb
Communication
16/12/05
[01] Trade policy : EU says no final date for ending export subsidies until
others sign up to reform (Hong Kong)
The European Union is not willing to discuss dates for the elimination of
export subsidies, until other countries sign up to transparent reform to
their forms of export subsidies. The EU accepted elimination itself in July
2004 on condition that others did the same. Europe's commitment to
eliminating all export subsidies in an unequivocal, transparent way remains
absolute. But every form of export support distorts world markets and the
the need to act applies to all governments engaged in export subsidisation.
[02] Fisheries : long-awaited agreement concluded on blue whiting fishery
"This is very good news for the sustainability of the blue whiting stock.
It took a lot of time and effort to conclude an agreement but it was worth
it. This agreement shows the determination of all the Parties concerned to
put in place the necessary measures to ensure the future of this fishery.
In this regard, I would like to underline the significant role played by
the industry in helping to unlock the negotiations earlier this year. This
is an excellent example of what can be achieved through effective
cooperation between all stakeholders", Joe Borg, European Commissioner for
Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said following the signing of the agreement
between the coastal States, in Oslo, this morning (see IP/05/1572). In
addition to the European Union, the coastal States include Norway, Iceland
and the Faroe Islands. The total allowable catch (TAC) has been set at 2
million tonnes for 2006. The EU share amounts to 30.5%. The Parties have
agreed to reduce the TAC by at least 100,000 tonnes annually until the
fishing mortality (amount of fish taken from the stock by fishing) reaches
0.32 from a much higher level at present.
[03] Conférence de Marrakech : un nouveau souffle à la coopération
Transports entre les deux rives de la Méditerranée
Réunis à Marrakech, les ministres des Transports de l'Union européenne et
des pays méditerranéens ont décidé d'encourager la poursuite de la
réforme du secteur des transports dans la région méditerranéenne et de
renforcer la coopération régionale et sous-régionale dans ce domaine. Un
accord global entre l'UE et le Maroc dans le domaine de l'aviation, le
premier du genre, a également été paraphé en marge de la Conférence.
[04] Commission approves €25 million in humanitarian aid for South Asia
earthquake victims
The European Commission has adopted a €25 million humanitarian aid
decision to provide further relief assistance to victims of the South Asia
earthquake. This raises the amount of humanitarian aid provided by the
Commission to €48.6 million - €43.6 million already announced
(IP/05/1332, 24 October) and an additional €5 million obtained through
resource reallocations in the humanitarian aid budget.
[05] TVA : la Commission invite l'Espagne Ă modifier le traitement fiscal
appliqué aux fournitures effectuées en faveur de l'Eglise catholique
La Commission européenne a décidé d'adresser à l'Espagne une demande
officielle afin qu'elle aligne sur le droit communautaire quelques-uns de
ses engagements fiscaux contractés par la signature, le 3 janvier 1979, de
l'accord économique entre l'Etat espagnol et le Saint-Siège. L'Espagne
argue qu'elle est tenue, en vertu de cet accord, d'accorder une
exonération de TVA à certaines fournitures destinées à l'église
catholique. Or, le régime communautaire de la TVA, défini dans la
sixième directive TVA (77/388/CEE), interdit une telle exonération. La
Commission a déjà clairement indiqué que ce régime n'empêche pas
l'Espagne d'accorder à l'église catholique une compensation financière
pour les taxes qu'elle doit acquitter aux autorités fiscales espagnoles.
La demande se présente sous la forme d'un 'avis motivé' émis en vertu de
l'article 226 du traité CE. Si l'Espagne ne répond pas de manière
satisfaisante à cet avis motivé dans un délai de deux mois, la Commission
pourra saisir la Cour de justice.
[06] Commission refers Sweden to Court over discriminatory rules on capital
gains tax relief on home sales
The European Commission has decided to refer Sweden to the European Court
of Justice because, under Swedish tax law, capital gains from home sales
attract tax relief only if the sold home is situated in Sweden and the
sales proceeds are reinvested in a replacement residence in Sweden. The
unavailability of the tax relief where the sold dwelling is situated
outside Sweden or where the proceeds are used to acquire a replacement home
outside Sweden is contrary to EC Treaty rules, including those on the free
movement of persons. The Commission considers that the tax break should be
applied in a non-discriminatory way to all Swedish taxpayers, irrespective
of whether they purchase a house in Sweden or in another Member State.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of SSK by PAI
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Sydsvenska Kemi AB (SSK)
of Sweden by PAI Partners S.A.S. (PAI) of France. PAI is an independent
investment company. SSK is the holding company of a group producing
speciality chemicals, including Perstorp AB, a 100% subsidiary of SSK,
which produces speciality chemicals; predominantly for the coatings market.
The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[08] November 2005 : Euro-zone annual inflation down to 2.3% ; EU25 down to
2.2%
According to Eurostat, Euro-zone annual inflation was 2.3% in November 2005,
down from 2.5% in October. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%. Monthly
inflation was -0.3% in November. EU25 annual inflation was 2.2% in November
2005, down from 2.4% in October. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%. Monthly
inflation was -0.2% in November. In November 2005, the lowest annual rates
were observed in Finland (1.0%), Poland (1.1%), Sweden (1.2%), the
Netherlands and Austria (both 1.6%), and the highest rates in Latvia (7.5%),
Malta (4.3%), Estonia (4.0%), Luxembourg and Slovakia (both 3.6%). Compared
with October 2005, annual inflation rose in seven Member States, remained
stable in one and fell in seventeen.
[09] Stavros Dimas convoque une réunion à haut niveau sur la dépollution
de la région Méditerranéenne d'ici 2020
Une initiative ambitieuse visant à dépolluer la région de la
Méditerranée d'ici 2020 sera lancée lors d'une réunion à haut niveau du
Partenariat Euro-méditerranéen le 19 décembre à Barcelone. L'initiative
« Horizon 2020 » a été avalisée par les chefs d'Etat et de
gouvernement à l'occasion du sommet du Partenariat Euro-méditerranéen des
27 et 28 novembre à Barcelone. La réunion du 19 décembre, convoquée
par le Commissaire européen à l'Environnement Stavros Dimas, doit initier
une vaste consultation des parties prenantes dans le but d'Ă©tablir un plan
d'action détaillé pour cette initiative d'ici à la fin de l'année
prochaine. Des ministres de l'Environnement de la région Méditerranéenne,
y compris Cristina Narbona la ministre du pays hĂ´te, participeront Ă la
réunion.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Towards a Better Regulated European Capital
Market" at London Stock Exchange Christmas lunch
Speech by Janez PotoÄŤnik : "European Technology Platforms: making the move
to implementation" at Seminar of Industrial Leaders of European Technology
Platforms
Calendrier du 19 au 23 décembre 2005
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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