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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-02-01

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

[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting

  • [01] Livre blanc de la Commission sur une politique de communication européenne - débattre de l'Europe en impliquant les citoyens
  • [02] La Commission évalue les programmes de stabilité de la Belgique, du Luxembourg et de l'Autriche
  • [03] Commission assesses convergence programmes of Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia
  • [04] Tobacco advertising : Commission takes action against two non- compliant EU Member States
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [05] Changement climatique : la Commission se félicite de l'accord de conciliation sur les gaz à effet de serre fluorés
  • [06] Commission clears Gilde's acquisition of Heiploeg
  • [07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Sanutri par ABN Amro et L Capital
  • [08] Commission clears acquisition of CTS by Magna
  • [09] Commission clears acquisition of LDEHG and LDRM by ConocoPhillips
  • [10] December 2005 : Euro-zone unemployment up to 8.4% ; EU25 unchanged at 8.5%
  • [11] La Commission renforce le programme ECOFAC pour la conservation et gestion durable des forêts d'Afrique Centrale avec €38 millions
  • [12] Avian influenza : EU to send senior expert to assist Iraq in assessing suspect human cases
  • [13] Benita Ferrero-Waldner meets Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk
  • [14] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2006-02-01 Reference: MEX/06/0201 Date: 01/02/2006 EXME06 / 1.2

    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

    01/02/06


  • [I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission meeting

    [01] Livre blanc de la Commission sur une politique de communication européenne - débattre de l'Europe en impliquant les citoyens

    La Commission européenne a adopté un Livre blanc sur une politique de communication européenne. Mme Margot Wallström, vice-présidente de la Commission, s'est exprimée en ces termes : "La communication est d'abord et avant tout une question de démocratie. Les citoyens ont le droit de savoir ce que l'UE fait et ce qu'elle représente. Et ils ont le droit de participer sans réserve au projet européen. La communication sur l'Europe n'est pas uniquement l'affaire de Bruxelles. Les institutions de l'UE et les Etats membres doivent à présent unir leurs efforts. L'Union européenne s'est développée et est devenue un projet politique, mais elle n'a pas trouvé sa place dans le cœur et dans l'esprit des citoyens. Dans son Livre blanc, la Commission formule des propositions afin de relever ce défi, mais aussi de jeter les bases d'une politique de communication de l'UE".

    [02] La Commission évalue les programmes de stabilité de la Belgique, du Luxembourg et de l'Autriche

    Après avoir examiné les versions actualisées de leurs programmes de stabilité respectifs, la Commission européenne estime que l'Autriche, la Belgique et le Luxembourg ont mis en place des stratégies saines pour leurs finances publiques à moyen terme, conformément au pacte de stabilité et de croissance révisé. Cela étant, il serait souhaitable que l'Autriche et le Luxembourg précisent davantage les mesures d'assainissement envisagées, et que le Luxembourg se penche sur les implications budgétaires à long terme du vieillissement de la population. Quant à la Belgique, si elle avait moins recours aux mesures exceptionnelles, cela renforcerait encore sa stratégie exemplaire de réduction de la dette.

    [03] Commission assesses convergence programmes of Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia

    The second update of convergence programmes submitted by Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia since they became members of the European Union are in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. With a budget on balance, the lowest debt in the EU and low age-related expenditure risks, Estonia can be hailed as an example of good fiscal policy. Latvia is also in a comfortable situation overall, but the budgetary adjustment of less than half a percentage point of GDP until 2008 is rather timid when the economy is expected to grow by more than 7% during the period and a bigger effort would be recommended given its inflation rate and external imbalance. Slovenia should also aim at more ambitious budgetary targets and pursue changes to its pension system to improve the long-term sustainability of its public finances.

    [04] Tobacco advertising : Commission takes action against two non- compliant EU Member States

    The European Commission has sent "reasoned opinions" to Germany and Luxembourg for failing to transpose into national law Directive 2003/33/EC of 26 May 2003 on advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products. These countries already received a "letter of formal notice" in October 2005. They now have two months to comply, otherwise the Commission will resort to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to declare that these Member States have failed to fulfil their obligation to transpose EU legislation. In case Member States still do not comply with the judgement of the Court, the ECJ can impose fines following a proposal of the Commission.

    [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

    [05] Changement climatique : la Commission se félicite de l'accord de conciliation sur les gaz à effet de serre fluorés

    La Commission européenne se félicite de l'accord auquel le Parlement européen et le Conseil sont parvenus cette nuit en conciliation pour réduire les émissions des gaz à effet de serre fluorés. Les gaz fluorés sont des gaz à effet de serre très puissants et de longue durée de vie, qui sont utilisés dans les systèmes de réfrigération, de climatisation, de lutte contre les incendies, de transmission électrique, ainsi que dans de nombreux procédés industriels. La réduction de leurs émissions est imposée par le protocole de Kyoto, et les mesures qui ont fait objet de l'accord aideront l'UE et ses Etats membres à atteindre les objectifs qui leur ont été assignés en vertu dudit protocole. Sur la base d'une proposition faite par la Commission en août 2003, les dispositions législatives convenues aujourd'hui sont constituées d’un règlement visant à lutter contre les émissions produites par les applications fixes qui utilisent ces gaz, et interdisant certains produits et équipements qui en contiennent, d'une part, et d’une directive prévoyant l'élimination progressive des gaz fluorés actuellement utilisés dans les systèmes de climatisation des véhicules, d'autre part.

    [06] Commission clears Gilde's acquisition of Heiploeg

    The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Heiploeg Beheer B.V. by Gilde Buy-Out Management Holding B.V. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.

    [07] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Sanutri par ABN Amro et L Capital

    La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement UE sur les concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de Sanutri AG (Sanutri), filiale du groupe suisse Novartis AG, par ABN Amro Capital France (ABN Amro), et le fond L Capital 2 FCPR, représenté à cet effet par sa société de gestion L Capital Management (L Capital). La Commission a conclu que cette opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen ou dans une partie substantielle de celui-ci.

    [08] Commission clears acquisition of CTS by Magna

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of CTS Fahrzeug-Dachsysteme GmbH (CTS) of Germany by Magna International Inc. (Magna) of Canada. Magna designs, develops and manufactures vehicle components, assemblies, modules and systems, and engineers and assembles complete vehicles. CTS designs, manufactures and distributes convertible roof systems for the car industry. Its product range comprises soft top, hard top, retractable hard top and module roofs which are sold to major manufacturers of passenger cars in Europe and North America. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [09] Commission clears acquisition of LDEHG and LDRM by ConocoPhillips

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Louis Dreyfus Energy Holding GmbH (LDEHG) of Germany and Louis Dreyfus Refining & Marketing Ltd (LDRM) of the UK, both currently owned by Louis Dreyfus Energy Holdings Ltd (LDEH) of the UK, by ConocoPhillips of the US. ConocoPhillips is active in the exploration and production of oil and gas ; refining of petroleum, production and distribution of petrochemicals and plastics ; and related activities. LDEHG is active in oil refining through an oil refinery near Wilhelmshaven on Germany's northern coast and in fuel sales in Germany through its subsidiary Louis Dreyfus & Cie Mineralöl GmbH (LDMO). LDRM is responsible for purchasing crude oil and feedstock for the refinery and for marketing the refined products. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [10] December 2005 : Euro-zone unemployment up to 8.4% ; EU25 unchanged at 8.5%

    Euro-zone seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at 8.4% in December 2005, compared to 8.3% in November. It was 8.8% in December 2004. The EU25 unemployment rate was 8.5% in December 2005, unchanged compared to November. It was 9.0% in December 2004. In December 2005, the lowest rates were registered in Ireland (4.3%), Denmark (4.4%), the Netherlands (4.7%), the United Kingdom (4.9% in October) and Austria (5.2%). Unemployment rates were highest in Poland (17.2%), Slovakia (16.1%), Greece (10.1% in the third quarter 2005), Germany (9.5%) and France (9.2%). These figures come from Eurostat.

    [11] La Commission renforce le programme ECOFAC pour la conservation et gestion durable des forêts d'Afrique Centrale avec €38 millions

    La Commission européenne va intensifier son appui à la conservation des forêts tropicales humides de l'Afrique Centrale avec le nouveau programme ECOFAC IV doté de €38 millions. L'objectif est de garantir à long terme la conservation et la gestion durable des ressources naturelles de huit pays d'Afrique Centrale – Cameroun, Centrafrique, Congo, Gabon, Guinée équatoriale, République démocratique du Congo et São Tomé et Príncipe. Avec le retour dans le programme de la RDC, qui représente la moitié des surfaces boisées de la région, ce programme couvrira 180.000 km² d'écosystèmes de forêts tropicales et de savanes.

    [12] Avian influenza : EU to send senior expert to assist Iraq in assessing suspect human cases

    The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is to send its senior disease outbreak investigator to Iraq, following the provisional confirmation on 30 January that a 15 year old girl who died in Sulaimanaya, Rania, Iraq on 17 January was infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Dr. Denis Coulombier, who heads ECDC's Preparedness and Response Unit, will go to Iraq as part of a joint international team assembled at the request of the WHO. Dr. Coulombier has extensive experience as a field epidemiologist and was formerly Head of the Department of Public Health Information Systems at the National Public Health Surveillance Centre in France. The international team will assist the Iraqi authorities in assessing possible infection routes of the 15 year old girl, and also help assess two other cases that are being investigated as possible human cases of avian influenza. Laboratory tests on samples from the 15 year old girl were carried out by the US Naval Medical Research Unit in Cairo. Samples from the 15Â year old girl, as well as samples from the two other human cases under investigation, are being sent to the WHO Reference Laboratory in London for further testing. One of these cases is the girl's 33 year old uncle, who died on 27Â January, and the other is a 54 year old woman who has been hospitalised in northern Iraq. For further information : Ben Duncan (ECDC spokesman) +46 830 0056 <a href="mailto:ben.duncan@ecdc.eu.int">ben.duncan@ecdc.eu.int

    [13] Benita Ferrero-Waldner meets Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk

    Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, will meet today with Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk. They will take stock of the EU-Ukraine relationship in 2005, the implementation of the EU-Ukraine action plan and common plans for 2006. They will exchange views on the on-going negotiations of the readmission and visa facilitation agreements, the recent Ukraine-Russia gas dispute and cooperation on energy matters, progress in the adoption of legislation required for WTO accession and the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine in March. The meeting will be followed by a VIP press corner at 14h15 in the Berlaymont Building.

    [14] Autre matériel diffusé

    Discours du Président José Manuel Barroso : "Les parlements en route vers Lisbonne" à la rencontre Parlement européen avec les parlements nationaux

    Speech by Charlie McCreevy at European Parliament's hearing on Cross-border Consolidation (31/01) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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