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

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

  • [01] L'UE affectera €22 milliards à l'aide à l'Afrique, aux Caraïbes et aux îles du Pacifique
  • [02] Commission provides €5 million humanitarian aid to vulnerable groups in Tajikistan
  • [03] Commission acts to address gaps in the Timeshare Directive
  • [04] Politique portuaire : la Commission lance une réflexion globale et une consultation
  • [05] La Commission se félicite de la suppression progressive des incitations fiscales accordées par l'Espagne aux investissements à l'étranger
  • [06] La Commission autorise le rachat de The Body Shop par L'Oréal
  • [07] Commission clears acquisition of Orefi by Investcorp
  • [08] 2007 commence aujourd'hui avec le feu vert donné à l' "Année européenne de l'égalité des chances pour tous"
  • [09] Quarterly euro-area GDP growth projections in the range of 0.5% to 0.9% for the second and third quarters of 2006 and 0.4% to 1.0% for the fourth quarter
  • [10] April 2006 : Euro area unemployment unchanged at 8.0% ; EU25 stable at 8.3%
  • [11] Premières estimations pour le premier trimestre 2006 : le PIB de la zone euro en hausse de 0,6% et celui de l'UE25 de 0,7% - +1,9% et +2,2% respectivement par rapport au premier trimestre 2005
  • [12] "Cooperation between cities and regions crucial for jobs and growth", Danuta Hübner tells Barcelona conference
  • [13] Joe Borg visits Spain
  • [14] Taxation : Commission welcomes the OECD survey on tax transparency
  • [15] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2006-06-01 Reference: MEX/06/0601 Date: 01/06/2006 EXME06 / 1.6

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    01/06/06


  • [01] L'UE affectera €22 milliards à l'aide à l'Afrique, aux Caraïbes et aux îles du Pacifique

    Le Conseil des ministres ACP-CE tient sa réunion annuelle les 1er et 2 juin à Port Moresby (Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée). Les participants se mettront d'accord sur une enveloppe d'aide d'un montant de €22 milliards octroyée au titre du 10ème Fonds européen de développement (FED) pour la période 2008 à 2013. Ils examineront également les questions des migrations et du développement, du commerce, des changements climatiques ainsi que les stratégies récemment approuvées par l'UE en faveur de l'Afrique, des Caraïbes et des îles du Pacifique.

    [02] Commission provides €5 million humanitarian aid to vulnerable groups in Tajikistan

    The European Commission has granted a €5 million humanitarian aid package to continue meeting the needs of vulnerable groups in Tajikistan. The aid provided will focus on improving the health and living conditions of vulnerable communities and facilitate the establishment and functioning of a national medicine procurement system in order to reinforce local capacities. The emphasis in this final planned funding decision will be on linking relief to rehabilitation and development. The funding is channelled through the Commission's Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel, and distributed to the local population through humanitarian NGOs and international agencies operating in Tajikistan.

    [03] Commission acts to address gaps in the Timeshare Directive

    The European Commission is today launching a wide public consultation on the Timeshare Directive (94/47/EC). Timeshare contracts entitle consumers to spend a period of time (at least one week) in a holiday property for at least three years. The Timeshare Directive sets minimum standards for consumer protection throughout the EU, such as ensuring that consumers receive adequate information on the property. The legislation also seeks to prevent "pressure selling" by allowing for a cooling-off period where withdrawal is possible and money deposits are not allowed. However, some operators have introduced new timeshare-like products which take advantage of regulatory loopholes, leading to a number of complaints by consumers. "Consumers should have every confidence that they will not be taken for a ride if they opt for a timeshare formula or similar products", said Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou. "I want to make sure that unscrupulous traders do not take advantage of potential clients – many of whom sign up to these products after falling in love with a holiday resort."

    [04] Politique portuaire : la Commission lance une réflexion globale et une consultation

    La Commission européenne participera à la conférence de l'Organisation des ports maritimes européens (European Sea Ports Organisation - ESPO), intitulée "A European Policy for Seaports – Suggestions on the way forward", qui se tient à Stockholm les 1er et 2 juin. La Commission désire qu'une réflexion globale et une large consultation soient engagées pour redéfinir les fondements de la future politique portuaire européenne. Cette politique devra prévoir l'achèvement du marché intérieur dans ce domaine, encourager des investissements transparents et non discriminatoires et renforcer le rôle des ports dans la chaîne de transport.

    [05] La Commission se félicite de la suppression progressive des incitations fiscales accordées par l'Espagne aux investissements à l'étranger

    La Commission européenne a salué la notification par le gouvernement espagnol de son acceptation officielle de la recommandation de la Commission du 22 mars 2006 (voir IP/06/355) lui enjoignant d'abolir progressivement, au plus tard avant la fin de l'année 2010, les avantages fiscaux accordés aux sociétés espagnoles qui investissent à l'étranger, parce qu'ils faussent la concurrence et les échanges au sein du Marché unique. L'acceptation de l'Espagne rend l'abolition de ces incitations juridiquement contraignante conformément aux règles du traité CE en matière d'aides d'Etat et mettra fin à un système d'aide au fonctionnement en vigueur de longue date en Espagne.

    [06] La Commission autorise le rachat de The Body Shop par L'Oréal

    La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations le projet d'acquisition de la société britannique The Body Shop International plc par le groupe français L'Oréal SA. Après l'avoir examinée, la Commission a conclu que l'opération n'entraînerait pas de hausse des prix des cosmétiques au détriment des consommateurs européens ni n'entraverait significativement d'une autre manière une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.

    [07] Commission clears acquisition of Orefi by Investcorp

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Orefi Participation (Orefi) of France by Investcorp Investment Holding Limited (Investcorp) of the UK. Investcorp is an international financial institution acting as a principal and as an intermediary in international investment transactions. Orefi is a distributor of industrial supplies, operating 99 sales branches and eight warehouses in France and the Netherlands. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [08] 2007 commence aujourd'hui avec le feu vert donné à l' "Année européenne de l'égalité des chances pour tous"

    La Commission européenne a aujourd'hui accueilli avec satisfaction la décision du Conseil et du Parlement de proclamer 2007 "Année européenne de l'égalité des chances pour tous". Celle-ci aura pour objectif de sensibiliser les Européens à leur droit de ne pas faire l'objet de discriminations, de promouvoir l'égalité des chances dans des domaines tels que l'emploi et les soins de santé, et de montrer à quel point la diversité renforce l'UE. Elle s'articulera autour de quatre thèmes: les droits, la représentation, la reconnaissance et le respect et sera doté d'un budget total de €15 millions pour les douze mois d'activités.

    [09] Quarterly euro-area GDP growth projections in the range of 0.5% to 0.9% for the second and third quarters of 2006 and 0.4% to 1.0% for the fourth quarter

    The dynamic factor model for quarterly GDP growth in the euro area, developed by the European Commission's Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, projects a range of 0.5% to 0.9% for GDP growth in the second and third quarters of 2006, slightly higher than the previous release (12 April). The projected range for GDP growth in the fourth quarter is 0.4% to 1.0%. The projections support the outcome of the Commission's spring economic forecasts published earlier in May.

    [10] April 2006 : Euro area unemployment unchanged at 8.0% ; EU25 stable at 8.3%

    Euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at 8.0% in April 2006, unchanged compared to March 2006. It was 8.7% in April 2005. The EU25 unemployment rate was 8.3% in April 2006, unchanged compared to March. It was 8.9% in April 2005. In April 2006, the lowest rates were registered in the Netherlands (3.8%), Denmark (4.3% in March), Ireland (4.3%), Luxembourg (4.8%) and Austria (4.9%). Unemployment rates were highest in Poland (16.5%), Slovakia (15.5%), Greece (9.6% in the fourth quarter 2005), France (8.9%) and Malta (8.5%). These figures come from Eurostat.

    [11] Premières estimations pour le premier trimestre 2006 : le PIB de la zone euro en hausse de 0,6% et celui de l'UE25 de 0,7% - +1,9% et +2,2% respectivement par rapport au premier trimestre 2005

    Au cours du premier trimestre 2006, le PIB de la zone euro a augmenté de 0, 6% et celui de l'UE25 de 0,7% par rapport au trimestre précédent, selon les premières estimations publiées par Eurostat. Au cours du quatrième trimestre 2005, les taux avaient été de +0,3% pour la zone euro et de +0,4% pour l'UE25. En comparaison avec le premier trimestre 2005, le PIB de la zone euro a enregistré une croissance de 1,9% et celui de l'UE25 de 2,2%, contre respectivement +1,7% et +1,9% au trimestre précédent.

    [12] "Cooperation between cities and regions crucial for jobs and growth", Danuta Hübner tells Barcelona conference

    The new Cohesion policy means growth and quality jobs for those towns and cities which will establish partnerships with their regions, said European Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner, today, at the Conference "Preparing Urban Actions in the Future Structural Fund Programmes 2007- 2013", in Barcelona. During her opening speech the Commissioner noted that new tools and new funding methods will become available for towns and cities in the coming days and urged them to take full advantage of the opportunity. The Commissioner is also meeting with Pascual Maragall, President of the government of Catalonia, Joan Clos i Mathe, mayor of Barcelona, and visiting La Mina district, the urban regeneration plan of which is benefiting from EU funding.

    [13] Joe Borg visits Spain

    Today, Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, begins a three-day visit to Spain. His first engagement will be to address the 14th High Level Conference of the Alliance of Maritime Regional Interests in Europe (AMRIE) which is being held in Gijon. Mr Borg will outline the approach adopted by the Commission in its Green Paper on a European Maritime Policy due to be published next Wednesday. Commissioner Borg will then go to Barcelona, where he will meet with the Catalonian authorities before meeting with representatives of the fishing industry from Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. On Friday, he Borg will travel to Murcia where he will have meetings with industry representatives from Murcia and Valencia before travelling to Almeria where he will meet with local stakeholders. Topics to be discussed during the various meetings will include the proposed Mediterranean regulation, the economic difficulties of the fleets, the proposed European Fisheries Fund on which Council failed to reach agreement recently, tuna fisheries and the fisheries agreement with Morocco. On Saturday morning, the Spanish fisheries minister Ms Elena Espinosa Mangana will join the Commissioner on a tour of the Maritime Reserve at Cabo de Gata. Later, their discussions will cover issues of concern to the Spanish fishing industry - those raised during the Commissioner's visit as well as others such as the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay and long distance fisheries. Throughout his meetings with the sector, Commissioner Borg will encourage stakeholders to take part in the setting up of the Mediterranean Regional Advisory Council (RAC). RACs enable stakeholders to participate in the management of the fisheries of interest to them.

    [14] Taxation : Commission welcomes the OECD survey on tax transparency

    European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union László Kovács welcomes the OECD progress report on international tax cooperation issued on 29 May. This report is in line with Commission's policy to promote good governance in tax matters by enhancing transparency of tax systems and exchange of information. The Commission is of the opinion that cooperation must take place on a geographical basis as wide as possible with third countries and in particular with significant financial centres. The OECD survey includes 82 OECD and non-OECD countries and jurisdictions. It shows that many countries have enhanced transparency by introducing rules on customer due diligence, information gathering powers and the immobilisation of bearer shares. Many countries have also entered into tax information exchange agreements. It shows, at the same time, that further progress is still needed in a number of countries. Online survey :

    <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/28/0,2340,en_2649_37427_36789980_1_1_1_37427, 00.html">http://www.oecd.org/document/28/0,2340,en_2649_37427_36789980_1_1_1_37427, 00.html

    [15] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Jacques Barrot : "Keep Europe Moving" at Conference of the European Sea Ports Organisation (Stockholm, ! embargo 02/06, 10h00 !)

    Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Situation of prisoners in Guantanamo" at European Parliament's plenary session (31/05) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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