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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-02-16
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Economic growth in the European Union continues at a brisk pace
[02] Commission launches consultation on carbon dioxide capture and
geological storage
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Lafarge Roofing par PAI
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Skandia Vida par CNP
[05] Commission approves planned acquisition of Scottish Power by Iberdrola
[06] Benita Ferrero-Waldner proposes €470 million package for India
[07] Danuta Hübner en visite dans la région d'Opole en Pologne
[08] First estimate for 2006 : Euro area external trade deficit €8.2
billion ; €172.6 billion deficit for EU25
[09] Protection des intérêts financiers - programme communautaire Hercule
II (2007- 2013) adopté par le Parlement européen
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-02-16
Reference: MEX/07/0216
Date: 16/02/2007
EXME07 / 16.2
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
16/02/07
[01] Economic growth in the European Union continues at a brisk pace
Economic growth in the European Union is set to stay at a brisk pace in
2007 with growth seen at 2.7% in the EU and 2.4% in the euro area in the
European Commission's interim forecast. This is +0.3 percentage point above
the autumn forecast for both areas. 2006 was a remarkable year, with growth
driven by domestic demand thanks to an improved labour market situation (3
million jobs created of which 2 million in the euro area). This allowed the
EU economy to weather energy prices that reached record levels in the
summer, tighter monetary conditions and a slowdown in the United States.
Such developments bode well for 2007. On the inflation front, while higher
energy costs pushed up consumer prices to 2.2% last year in both the EU and
the euro area, inflation is expected to decline to 1.8% in 2007 in the euro
area (2.0% in the EU) on the back of lower oil prices and a relatively
limited impact of the German VAT hike.
[02] Commission launches consultation on carbon dioxide capture and
geological storage
As part of its measures to fight climate change, the European Commission
today launched an on-line public consultation on carbon dioxide capture and
geological storage (CCS). CCS is a technology that has the potential to
significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. It
involves capturing emissions at source and putting them in underground
geological formations like oil and gas fields to prevent CO² from
migrating to the surface and being released into the atmosphere. If
successful, geological storage could remove 80-90% of the CO² emissions
from power plants, according to UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change estimates. CCS technology could be part of the global efforts to
reduce the costs of stabilising CO² concentrations in the earth's
atmosphere by 30% or more. Carbon capture and storage is one of the
measures addressed by the Commission in its energy and climate package of
10 January 2007 to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and combat climate
change. The consultation is part of the Commission's preparations of a
legislative proposal to regulate carbon capture and storage in a
sustainable way. The Commission will examine the risks associated with each
aspect - capture, transport and storage - with a particular emphasis on
possible negative effects on the environment. The Commission will then
propose how best to proceed. The consultation runs until 16 April 2007 on
the following website: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/ccs/consult_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/ccs/consult_en.htm
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Lafarge Roofing par PAI
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement
Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de l’entreprise française
Lafarge Roofing par l'entreprise PAI Partners S.A.S. (PAI), également
française. PAI est un fonds de placement privé. Lafarge Roofing fabrique
des matériaux de couverture. Il ressort de l'enquête menée par la
Commission que l'opération envisagée n'entravera pas de manière
significative la concurrence dans le marché commun. Cette affaire a été
traitée selon la procédure simplifiée.
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Skandia Vida par CNP
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement
Concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de l'entreprise Skandia Vida S.A.
de Seguros y Reaseguros (Skandia Vida) en Espagne par l'entreprise
française CNP Assurances S.A. (CNP). Les activités de CNP sont
l'assurance vie, l'assurance non-vie et la réassurance. Skandia Vida est
active dans l'assurance vie et la réassurance. Il ressort de l'enquête
menée par la Commission que l'opération envisagée n'entravera pas de
manière significative la concurrence dans le marché commun. Cette affaire
a été traitée selon la procédure simplifiée.
[05] Commission approves planned acquisition of Scottish Power by Iberdrola
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Scottish Power plc, a UK energy company, by
Iberdrola, S.A., a Spanish energy company. After examining the operation,
the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly
impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any
substantial part of it.
[06] Benita Ferrero-Waldner proposes €470 million package for India
During her visit to India, European Commissioner for External Relations and
European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero Waldner, announced that the
European Commission is proposing substantial financial assistance to India
over the next seven years. An amount of €470 million should be available
2007-2013 to support the implementation of the Joint Action Plan, notably
economic cooperation and sectoral dialogues, as well as help India achieve
its Millennium Development Goals in the Health and Education sectors. This
represents a substantial increase compared to funding provided in the past.
[07] Danuta Hübner en visite dans la région d'Opole en Pologne
Mme Danuta Hübner, commissaire chargée de la politique régionale, a
effectué une visite dans la région d'Opole (Pologne) les 15 et 16
février 2007. A cette occasion, elle a participé à une conférence
consacrée à l'expérience acquise dans cette région pendant la période
de programmation 2004-2006 et aux enseignements à tirer pour la période
2007-2013. La commissaire a aussi rencontré des responsables publics
régionaux et a visité divers projets financés par la politique
régionale, dont l'un intitulé "@szkoła" (@école), qui a pour but
d'aider les enseignants à initier les élèves et les parents aux formes
électroniques de communication. Un autre projet concerne le traitement
intégré des eaux usées dans la ville de Nysa et les villages
environnants, qui vise à remédier aux principales carences des réseaux
d'égout. L'objectif est d'améliorer la qualité des eaux de surface et
des eaux souterraines pour les 53.000 habitants de la commune de Nysa.
Enfin, la commissaire s'est rendue sur le site touristique de la forteresse
de Nysa, qui appartient au patrimoine culturel de la région. Cette
ancienne place forte est rénovée avec l'aide de l'UE dans le cadre du
programme opérationnel régional intégré (PORI), le but étant d'attirer
plus de visiteurs dans la ville.
[08] First estimate for 2006 : Euro area external trade deficit €8.2
billion ; €172.6 billion deficit for EU25
The first estimate for the euro area (EA12) trade balance with the rest of
the world in December 2006 gave a €2.5 billion surplus compared with €-
1.1 billion in December 2005. The November 2006 balance was €+5.1 billion,
compared with €-2.1 billion in November 2005. In December 2006 compared
with November 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 3.3% and imports
by 6.7%. The first estimate for December 2006 extra-EU25 trade was a
deficit of €7.3 billion, compared with €-9.6 billion in December 2005.
In November 2006, the balance was €-10.5 billion, compared with €-14.8
billion in November 2005. In December 2006 compared with November 2006,
exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 2.3% and imports by 2.7%. During 2006,
euro area trade recorded a deficit of €8.2 billion, compared to a surplus
of €16.2 billion in 2005. The EU25 recorded a deficit of €172.6 billion
in 2006, compared with €-111.8 billion in 2005. These data are released
by Eurostat.
[09] Protection des intérêts financiers - programme communautaire Hercule
II (2007- 2013) adopté par le Parlement européen
Lors de la session plénière des 12-15 février 2007, le Parlement
européen a voté le rapport Bösch approuvant le programme communautaire
Hercule II pour la lutte anti-fraude. Hercule II a pour objectif de
contribuer à la protection des intérêts financiers de la Communauté, y
compris la lutte contre la contrebande et la contrefaçon de cigarettes. Un
montant de €98,5 millions y sera consacré sur sept ans. Trois types
d'actions sont prévus : l'assistance technique aux autorités chargées de
faire respecter la loi, l'organisation de conférences et séminaires,
ainsi que le support informatique offert aux autorités nationales.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Note on preparation of the Competitiveness Council of Ministers (19/02)
Charlie McCreevy welcomes European Parliament vote on Shareholder Voting
Rights in first reading
Neelie Kroes presents results of energy sector inquiry to Energy Council
Speech by Viviane Reding : "Towards a True Internal Market for Europe's
Telecom Industry and Consumers – the Regulatory Challenges Ahead" at 20th
Plenary Meeting of the European Regulators Group (15/02)
Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Województwo opolskie w nowej europejskiej
polityce regionalnej" (Opole
Calendrier du 18 au 25 février 2007
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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