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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-01-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Avian influenza in Turkey : EU takes further import measures and joint
expert team starts work on the ground
[02] Marché intérieur : la Commission expose son approche concernant les
agences de notation de crédit
[03] Emissions trading : Commission sets out guidance on national
allocations for 2008-2012
[04] Commission approves acquisition of BHI by Reckitt Benckiser
[05] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of Ahlsell by Goldman
Sachs and Cinven
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-01-09
Reference: MEX/06/0109
Date: 09/01/2006
EXME06 / 9.1
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
09/01/06
[01] Avian influenza in Turkey : EU takes further import measures and joint
expert team starts work on the ground
The European Commission will adopt a decision to ban untreated feathers
from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Iran and Iraq, due to the
proximity of these countries to Eastern Turkey where there is currently an
outbreak of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry. This decision
follows a positive opinion by Member States at a meeting of the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) today. The complete
ban on any imports of live birds and poultry products from Turkey, which
was adopted in early October 2005, remains in place. The Member States
experts also discussed the situation with regard to Member States'
surveillance for avian flu in the EU. Since the heightened surveillance
measures were established by the Commission last October, around 25000 wild
birds have been tested for avian influenza in the EU in late 2005. All
samples have tested negative for the virus and there has been no reported
case of H5N1 in the EU to date. With regard to the latest public health
situation in Turkey, the most recent figures from the Turkish authorities
indicate that there are now 9 confirmed human cases of avian flu (6 in
Eastern Turkey and 3 in Ankara) out of a total of 48 suspected cases under
investigation. The joint WHO, European Commission/FAO/OIE and European
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) expert team reached the
outbreak area in Van late last night and started work investigating the
epidemiological situation there this morning. This team of experts will
also provide support for the Turkish authorities in dealing with the
situation, and establish further needs that Turkey might have in terms of
international help.
[02] Marché intérieur : la Commission expose son approche concernant les
agences de notation de crédit
La Commission européenne a adopté une communication exposant son approche
concernant les agences de notation de crédit. Après différents scandales
financiers et compte tenu de la résolution sur les agences de notation de
crédit adoptée par le Parlement européen en février 2004 l'invitant Ã
donner son avis sur le besoin éventuel de propositions législatives dans
ce domaine, la Commission considère que le moment est venu de faire
rapport au Conseil et au Parlement sur cette question. Conformément Ã
l'avis du Comité européen des régulateurs des marchés de valeurs
mobilières (CERVM) de mars 2005, la Commission ne présentera pas de
nouvelles propositions législatives dans le domaine des agences de
notation. Elle est convaincue que les directives existantes sur les
services financiers applicables aux agences de notation – combinées avec
l'autorégulation par les agences de notation sur la base du code
récemment adopté par l'Organisation internationale des commissions de
valeurs (OICV) – apporteront une réponse aux principaux sujets de
préoccupation soulevés par le Parlement européen. La Commission suivra
de près les développements dans ce secteur. Elle pourrait envisager de
présenter de nouvelles propositions s'il apparaît que les règles de l'UE
ou le code de l'OICV ne sont pas respectés ou si de nouveaux événements
l'exigent – notamment en cas de graves défaillances du marché ou de
nouveaux développements dans d'autres régions du monde.
[03] Emissions trading : Commission sets out guidance on national
allocations for 2008-2012
The European Commission has published a Communication setting out guidance
to help Member States when they draw up national plans for allocating
carbon dioxide emission allowances for 2008-2012 under the EU Emissions
Trading Scheme (ETS). This second trading period is significant because it
coincides with the five-year period in which the EU and Member States must
meet their targets for limiting or reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Member States need to ensure
that their emissions strategies, in which allocations under the ETS are an
important element, achieve their targets.
[04] Commission approves acquisition of BHI by Reckitt Benckiser
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Boots Healthcare International (BHI) of the UK by
Reckitt Benckiser plc (Reckitt Benckiser)also of the UK. The Commission has
carefully investigated the markets where the parties' activities overlap
and considers that the operation will not significantly impede effective
competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
[05] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of Ahlsell by Goldman
Sachs and Cinven
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Ahlsell Group (Ahlsell), a wholesale and retail
distributor of plumbing/heating, water and sewage, electrical,
refrigeration and tool products to installation companies, by Goldman Sachs
Group, (Goldman Sachs) and Cinven Group (Cinven). The Commission concluded
that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition
in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions and answers on national allocation plans for 2008-2012
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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