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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-07-02

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] EU Roaming Regulation now in force
  • [02] Tous les citoyens de l'UE sont libres de choisir leur fournisseur d'électricité et de gaz au 1er juillet
  • [03] Internal Market Scoreboard : Member States need to focus on correctly applying Internal Market rules
  • [04] International affairs, Customs : the European Community joins the World Customs Organisation
  • [05] Accises - prix minimaux de vente au détail des cigarettes : procédures d'infraction l’encontre de l'Autriche, l'Irlande et l'Italie
  • [06] Politique de cohésion 2007-2013 : la Commission approuve la stratégie et les priorités du Portugal
  • [07] Commission clears joint venture between Gerresheimer and Chase
  • [08] La Commission autorise le projet de rachat de l'activité Medical Nutrition de Novartis par Nestlé, sous réserve de certaines conditions
  • [09] Commission identifies Europe's radio spectrum needs in forthcoming global negotiations
  • [10] Ouverture de nouveaux marchés dans le monde pour le secteur européen des TIC : la Commission lance une consultation publique
  • [11] Rome Conference on Afghanistan : Benita Ferrero-Waldner confirms commitment of €200 million for Rule of Law
  • [12] La Commission condamne l'attentat contre le Premier ministre de la Côte d'Ivoire (30/06)
  • [13] Declaration on the death of eleven Colombian deputies kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (29/06)
  • [14] Joe Borg and Janez Potočnik welcome the Aberdeen declaration on marine science
  • [15] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2007-07-02 Reference: MEX/07/0702 Date: 02/07/2007 EXME07 / 2.7

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

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

    02/07/07


  • [01] EU Roaming Regulation now in force

    This summer Europe's consumers will be able to take advantage of cheaper roaming rates as the EU Roaming Regulation entered into force across the EU on 30 June. The Regulation effectively means families and companies can benefit from a 'Eurotariff' that sets a maximum per minute limit for calls made (€0.49 excl. VAT) and received (€0.24 excl. VAT) when abroad in Europe. Competition is expected to further drive prices down. The Commission's roaming site provides tips for consumers and information on how to get the new Eurotariff, and more: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/roaming/">http://ec.europa.eu/roaming/.

    [02] Tous les citoyens de l'UE sont libres de choisir leur fournisseur d'électricité et de gaz au 1er juillet

    Depuis le 1er juillet, date ultime de l'ouverture totale des marchés de l'électricité et du gaz dans l'UE, tous les consommateurs européens peuvent choisir librement leur fournisseur d'énergie. Quelques exceptions subsistent afin de prendre en compte des situations particulières qui ne permettent pas d'ouvrir les marchés la concurrence pour le moment, notamment dans les Etats baltes et les Etats membres où le gaz n'a été introduit que récemment. Il n'en reste pas moins que la liberté de choix pour tous les citoyens est aujourd'hui la règle dans l'Union européenne. L’ouverture totale des marchés constitue une étape importante de la création d'un véritable marché européen de l'énergie.

    [03] Internal Market Scoreboard : Member States need to focus on correctly applying Internal Market rules

    According to the European Commission's latest Internal Market Scoreboard, on average 1.6% of Internal Market Directives for which the implementation deadline has passed are not currently written into national law, up from the best-ever result of 1.2% in January 2007 (IP/07/126). This means that the average deficit remains above the new 1% interim target agreed by Heads of State in March 2007. Nevertheless the Commission sees reasons for optimism as to the next overall result in January 2008, with most Member States appearing to be on the right track and nine Member States having already reached the new 1% target. However, Member States too often fail to apply Internal Market rules correctly: only four Member States have managed to reduce the number of infringement proceedings against them. The full text of the latest Internal Market Scoreboard is available at: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/score/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/score/index_en.htm.

    [04] International affairs, Customs : the European Community joins the World Customs Organisation

    The European Commission welcomes the World Customs Organisation's (WCO) decision to give membership rights to the European Community as from 1 July 2007. This decision underlines the international recognition of the role and competence of the Community in customs policy and will effectively improve the international customs cooperation. It will strengthen the Community's ability to achieve its objective of implementing modern customs policy combining appropriate control at the external borders with trade facilitation and development.

    [05] Accises - prix minimaux de vente au détail des cigarettes : procédures d'infraction l’encontre de l'Autriche, l'Irlande et l'Italie

    La Commission européenne a invité formellement l'Autriche, l'Irlande et l'Italie modifier leur législation en raison de la fixation par ces Etats de prix minimaux de vente au détail des cigarettes. En effet, la Commission estime, conformément une jurisprudence constante de la Cour de justice européenne, que ces prix minimaux sont contraires la législation communautaire et faussent la concurrence. Pour atteindre l'objectif de réduction de la consommation de tabac, la Commission préconise une augmentation des droits d'accises sur les cigarettes. Ces demandes sont faites sous la forme d'un avis motivé qui constitue la seconde étape de la procédure d'infraction prévue l'article 226 du Traité. Si ces Etats ne répondent pas ces avis motivés de façon satisfaisante dans les deux mois, la Commission peut porter ces affaires devant la Cour.

    [06] Politique de cohésion 2007-2013 : la Commission approuve la stratégie et les priorités du Portugal

    Le membre de la Commission européenne chargé de la politique régionale, Mme Danuta Hübner, et son homologue l'’emploi et aux affaires sociales, M. Vladimír `pidla, sont parvenus un accord avec le Portugal concernant le plan et les priorités de ce pays en matière de politique de cohésion entre 2007 et 2013. Dans leur cadre de référence stratégique national (CRSN), les autorités portugaises décrivent comment elles comptent investir les fonds européens – un montant de €21,5 milliards sur sept ans – en s'inscrivant dans la stratégie de Lisbonne pour la croissance et l'emploi.

    [07] Commission clears joint venture between Gerresheimer and Chase

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Kimble Chase Life Science and Research Products LLC (Kimble/Chase) of the US, a newly created company constituting a joint venture, by Gerresheimer Glass Inc (Gerresheimer), controlled by the Blackstone investment fund group of the US and Chase Scientific Glass, Inc (Chase) belonging to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc of the US. Gerresheimer is a supplier of glassware for pharmaceutical and scientific applications. Chase produces and distributes glassware for scientific, industrial and medical research. Kimble/Chase will develop and manufacture reusable, disposable and specialty laboratory glassware for scientific applications. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [08] La Commission autorise le projet de rachat de l'activité Medical Nutrition de Novartis par Nestlé, sous réserve de certaines conditions

    La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement CE sur les concentrations, le projet de rachat de l'activité Medical Nutrition de Novartis (NMN), qui fait partie du département "Santé des consommateurs" de l'entreprise suisse Novartis, par une autre entreprise suisse, Nestlé S.A, sous réserve de certaines conditions. La Commission a estimé que ce projet de rachat pourrait entraver de façon significative la concurrence sur les marchés de la nutrition entérale (c'est- -dire les produits de nutrition administrés aux patients par voie intestinale) en France et en Espagne. Nestlé a proposé de céder les activités qui se chevauchent en France et en Espagne. Compte tenu de ces engagements, la Commission a conclu que l'opération envisagée n'entraverait pas de façon significative l'exercice d'une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.

    [09] Commission identifies Europe's radio spectrum needs in forthcoming global negotiations

    The European Commission today has adopted a Communication establishing the EU's positions on what needs to be achieved at this year's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). At this conference, the world's 191 countries will decide how they will share the radio spectrum, notably for important application sectors, such as mobile communications, broadcasting and air transport, for which European interests are at stake.

    [10] Ouverture de nouveaux marchés dans le monde pour le secteur européen des TIC : la Commission lance une consultation publique

    La Commission européenne lance aujourd'hui une consultation publique visant contribuer au renforcement de la position mondiale des entreprises européennes du secteur des technologies de l'information et des communications (TIC) en garantissant l'accès aux marchés mondiaux. La consultation, qui se terminera le 17 septembre 2007, est ouverte toutes les parties intéressées, dont les entreprises, la communauté des chercheurs et les organisations de consommateurs. La Commission souhaite recueillir le point de vue des parties concernées sur la problématique de l'accès au marché et de la réglementation de manière affiner la stratégie de coopération internationale de l'UE dans le domaine des TIC.

    [11] Rome Conference on Afghanistan : Benita Ferrero-Waldner confirms commitment of €200 million for Rule of Law

    European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is attending the Conference on the Rule of law in Afghanistan in Rome on 3rd July. The Conference aims to get high level political commitment by the Government of Afghanistan and the International community to the rule of law sector. An action plan will be adopted for the justice sector, identifying gaps and issues to be addressed by different donors and a future funding mechanism for the sector will be agreed upon. The Commissioner will take the opportunity to present her plans for the next four years, with a package worth €200 million for the rule of law sector for 2007-2010. The package will focus on three key priority areas: institutional reform in the justice sector, focusing on recruitment and pay and grading systems; support to judicial sector salaries; and funding of the Law and Order Trust Fund (LOTFA) which pays for police salaries. The Commission remains one of the top donors in Afghanistan and one of the very few giving a multi-year commitment. In all, the Commission has announced €610 million for Afghanistan for the period 2007-10.

    [12] La Commission condamne l'attentat contre le Premier ministre de la Côte d'Ivoire (30/06)

    La Commission européenne a condamné avec la plus grande fermeté l'attentat qui a visé le Premier ministre M. Guillaume Soro et a coûté la vie quatre personnes. La Commission encourage fortement toutes les parties ivoiriennes poursuivre leur travail dans le cadre établi par l'accord de Ouagadougou, dont plus que jamais la mise en œuvre intégrale et rapide est fondamentale. Cet accord de réconciliation est la seule voie pour sortir de la crise politique que le pays a connu ces dernières années et qui permettra de ramener la paix et la stabilité au peuple ivoirien ainsi que l'ensemble de la sous-région. Face cet acte de violence inacceptable, qui va manifestement contresens des efforts de sortie de crise, la Commission renouvelle son engagement ferme et actif soutenir la paix, la démocratie et la stabilité en Côte d'Ivoire.

    [13] Declaration on the death of eleven Colombian deputies kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (29/06)

    European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed her grief and consternation by the death of eleven Colombian deputies kidnapped by the FARC and extends her solidarity to the family of the deceased. The Commissioner denounced the actions of the group and requested that all possible measures be taken to preserve the life of those being held hostage.

    [14] Joe Borg and Janez Potočnik welcome the Aberdeen declaration on marine science

    European Commissioners Joe Borg, responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, and Janez Potočnik, responsible for Science and Research have welcomed the declaration issued by the marine scientific community as a result of the EurOCEAN conference organised in Aberdeen on 22 June 2007. This declaration follows 6 months of intense and inclusive collaboration within the marine scientific community, and effectively summarises many of the points made in response to the Green Paper on the EU maritime policy. With the Aberdeen declaration, "A New Deal for Marine and Maritime Science", the marine and maritime research communities have particularly identified the strategic research and technological challenges faced by the European Union in the development of its maritime Policy as well as the contribution that they can make to this project. Climate change and threats to marine biodiversity, as well as the sustainable exploitation of the vast resources of the sea, represent considerable challenges and at the same time immense opportunities that science can help materialise. The Commission has, through its support to marine science and research and to events such as the EurOCEAN conferences, contributed to the emergence of a strong and vibrant European marine scientific community. The Commission welcomes the significant step forward for this community embodied in the Aberdeen declaration and notes with particular satisfaction the participation in the conference of representatives of the maritime industry, which will further enrich the work undertaken by the marine and maritime researchers. The Commission had recognised already in its strategic objectives that excellence in marine science and technology is crucial to the development of an EU maritime policy. It will now carefully analyse the content of the Aberdeen declaration as well as the contributions to the Green Paper on the EU maritime policy received from the scientific community and prepare appropriate policy responses to the challenges they have identified.

    [15] Autre matériel diffusé

    Speech by Peter Mandelson : "Openness, trade and the European Union" to the Chambre de Commerce et de l'Industrie de Paris (30/06)

    Speech by Olli Rehn : "The Economic importance of the EU Enlargement" at European Business Leaders' Convention (30/6, Helsinki)

    Speech by Neelie Kroes : "What competition has done for Europe's citizens in the wake of globalisation" au Colloque 'Libéralisme vs protectionisme : pour une Europe ouverte mais pas offerte' (30/6, Paris) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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