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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-07-13
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Consumers benefit as market opening leads to better performing network
industries
[02] La consommation d'électricité augmente malgré les progrès
réalisés en matière d'efficacité énergétique
[03] Commission clears acquisition of Tower by TAC
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Strabag by Rasperia, Raiffeisen-
Holding and Uniqa
[05] Pêche : les Etats membres coopèrent en matière de contrôle pour
préserver les stocks de cabillaud de la mer du Nord
[06] Commission signs MoU with ERBD to better face up to the energy
security and climate change challenges
[07] Joe Borg se félicite de l'appui du Parlement européen en faveur
d'une nouvelle politique maritime européenne
[08] Günter Verheugen to visit Russia to discuss closer economic
cooperation
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the stoning to death of Mr Jafar Kiani
[10] Price levels of food and beverages range from one to two and half
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-07-13
Reference: MEX/07/0713
Date: 13/07/2007
EXME07 / 13.7
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
13/07/07
[01] Consumers benefit as market opening leads to better performing network
industries
The performance of network industries, such as telecommunications,
transport and utilities has continued to improve and consumers are
generally satisfied, according to a European Commission report. The opening
up of these industries to competition has benefited users by putting
pressure on service providers to keep their costs and prices down. Access
to services at affordable prices for the less well off is also improving.
However, there are wide variations between sectors and between Member
States. In some Member States delays in market opening and in removing
legal and technical barriers to new entrants have held performance back and
competition is developing only slowly in postal services, the railways and
the energy sector.
[02] La consommation d'électricité augmente malgré les progrès
réalisés en matière d'efficacité énergétique
Selon un rapport du Centre commun de recherche (CCR), le service
scientifique interne de la Commission européenne, la consommation totale
d'électricité augmente dans l'UE. Malgré les nombreuses mesures
adoptées avec succès par l'UE et les Etats membres pour infléchir la
consommation d'énergie et les émissions de CO² qui en résultent, la
consommation d'électricité dans le secteur résidentiel de l'UE-25 a
progressé à un rythme comparable à celui du PIB global (10,8 %),
neutralisant par là même les progrès accomplis d'une manière générale
entre 1999 et 2004. Ce rapport sur la consommation d'électricité et les
tendances en matière d'efficacité énergétique dans l'UE élargie
présente les principales conclusions d'une étude approfondie réalisée
en 2006 sur la consommation d'électricité dans les bâtiments au sein de
l'UE élargie et la part de marché des appareils et équipements à haut
rendement énergétique. Il calcule les perspectives de réduction de la
consommation sur la base des technologies actuellement disponibles. Selon
le rapport, la consommation d'énergie dans le secteur tertiaire (services)
a augmenté de 15,8%, tandis que la consommation industrielle s'est accrue
de 9,5%. La consommation moyenne par ménage dans l'UE-25 était de 4098
kWh en 2004. Ce chiffre pourrait être réduit de 800 kWh par foyer et par
an, soit quelque 20% de la consommation d'électricité de chaque ménage,
en encourageant activement le remplacement des appareils et équipements
existants et l'abandon total des ampoules à incandescence.
[03] Commission clears acquisition of Tower by TAC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Tower Automotive Inc.
(Tower) of the US, including its operations outside the US, by TA
Acquisition Company (TAC) of the US, controlled by the American Cerberus
Group. Cerberus Group is an investment company. Tower designs and produces
structural metal components used by car manufacturers. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Strabag by Rasperia, Raiffeisen-
Holding and Uniqa
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Strabag SE of Austria by
Rasperia Trading Limited (Rasperia) of Cyprus, Raiffeisen-Holding
Niederösterreich-Wien reg.Gen.m.b.H. (Raiffeisen-Holding) of Austria and
Uniqua Versicherungen AG (Uniqa), also of Austria. Rasperia is active in
various industries including energy, engineering, car manufacture, mining,
financial services, construction, and real estate. Raiffeisen-Holding is
active in financial services, agriculture, real estate and media. Uniqa
offers products and services in the insurance sector. Strabag provides
construction services and building materials. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Pêche : les Etats membres coopèrent en matière de contrôle pour
préserver les stocks de cabillaud de la mer du Nord
L'Agence communautaire de contrôle des pêches (ACCP) a adopté
aujourd'hui un plan opérationnel en vue de contrôles multinationaux
conjoints de la pêche en mer du Nord et dans les zones voisines. Cette
adoption marque le lancement d'une stratégie innovante et coordonnées
pour lutter contre la surpêche et préserver les stocks de cabillaud
menacés. Le plan de déploiement conjoint pour la mer du Nord mettra en
commun les ressources de sept Etats membres côtiers (inspecteurs, navires
de surveillance, avions, etc.) en vue d'un contrôle efficace et uniforme
des activités de pêche. Le plan consiste en sept campagnes d'inspection
et de surveillance transfrontalières qui se dérouleront jusqu'à la fin de
l'année. Des plans similaires seront mis en place dans les autres zones de
pêche communautaires.
[06] Commission signs MoU with ERBD to better face up to the energy
security and climate change challenges
The European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance
cooperation in the field of energy. The Commission and the EBRD already
cooperate in the area of nuclear decommissioning. But the current
challenges of climate change and energy security justify a broader approach
to the existing cooperation. This cooperation will be organised also in
liaison with the European Investment Bank. Europe's energy security in the
context of growing global energy demand implies, in particular, new
transport routes and transport methods. In this context the extension of
Trans-European Energy Networks to third countries is a clear priority as is
the rehabilitation of the existing networks in producers and transit
countries. The cooperation could concern concrete projects including the
development of an integrated energy market on electricity and gas, the
security of supply and the rehabilitation of energy infrastructures in
South East Europe under the framework of the Energy Community Treaty, the
creation of a South-East European corridor for gas transportation to the
EU; the development of new routes or extension of existing routes to
facilitate oil export from the Black Sea to European markets and; the
development of the trans-Caspian corridor for oil and gas and support in
Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regions the implementation of
various activities under the Baku initiative. In the field of energy
efficiency the cooperation will aim to promote synergies between the EU
Energy Efficiency Action Plan and the EBRD's Sustainable Energy Initiative
taking into account that reducing energy waste is a particular challenge of
economic transition in the countries covered by the EBRD. The MoU will be
signed by Commissioners Almunia and Piebalgs and Jean Lemierre, President
of the EBRD.
[07] Joe Borg se félicite de l'appui du Parlement européen en faveur
d'une nouvelle politique maritime européenne
M. Joe Borg, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de la pêche et
des affaires maritimes, s'est félicité de l'avis adopté le 12 juillet
par le Parlement européen sur une future politique maritime européenne.
Le PE a exprimé son solide soutien à une approche intégrée et
multisectorielle du développement durable des océans, mers et régions
côtières de l'Europe. Le rapport du PE conclut que le livre vert de la
Commission a ouvert de nouvelles perspectives pour la politique maritime.
Il estime que la proposition d'une approche globale, combinant différents
domaines tels que le transport maritime, le tourisme, la pêche, la
politique portuaire et l'environnement marin, est pleinement justifiée. Le
rapport appelle la Commission à agir rapidement afin de mettre en place le
cadre nécessaire à une prise de décision cohérente pour les affaires
maritimes et à veiller à la bonne application de ces mesures par la suite.
Il définit notamment comme un élément test central de la future
politique maritime le rôle que peuvent jouer les océans dans la
compréhension et l'atténuation du changement climatique et dans le
traitement des incidences du réchauffement mondial sur les écosystèmes
marins et les activités maritimes.
[08] Günter Verheugen to visit Russia to discuss closer economic
cooperation
European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for
Enterprise and Industry, will visit Moscow on 16 July to discuss EU-Russia
economic relations. Mr Verheugen's visit comes at a time when trade and
investment between the EU and Russia is booming. His visit will focus on
the need to upgrade the current level of economic cooperation for the
benefit of both parties. The Vice-President will encourage Russia to take
the final necessary steps to accede to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the stoning to death of Mr Jafar Kiani
European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated
: "IÂ am disappointed and devastated that Iran has backtracked from its
declared moratorium on stoning by recently carrying out an execution by
this horrendous method. The stoning of Mr Jafar Kiani goes against Iran’s
repeated assurances to refrain from executions by stoning and constitutes a
violation of international human rights law. I urge Iran to respect all its
international human rights commitments, to effectively enforce the
moratorium on stoning at all levels of the judiciary and to stop carrying
out any further execution in contradiction with international law. As a
matter of utmost urgency, I call on Iran to suspend the imminent execution
by stoning of Ms Mokarrameh Ebrahimi. I am also deeply worried about the
abduction of the Iranian trade union leader, Mr Mansour Osanloo, by
unidentified assailants in Tehran on 10 July. I call on the Iranian
authorities to take urgent action in order to ensure Mr Osanloo’s
immediate, unconditional and safe release."
[10] Price levels of food and beverages range from one to two and half
In 2006, the price level of a comparable basket of food and non-alcoholic
beverages was two and half times higher in the most expensive EU27 Member
State than in the cheapest one. The range was similar for alcoholic
beverages, but was much greater for tobacco where price levels were seven
times higher. These data come from a report issued by Eurostat. The results
presented refer to the survey on food, beverages and tobacco carried out in
2006 in the 37Â participating countries. This survey covered a total of
approximately 500Â comparable products. The highest price levels for food
and non-alcoholic beverages were recorded in Denmark (142% of the EU27
average), Ireland (125%), Finland (120%) and Sweden (119%), and the lowest
in Bulgaria (56%), Lithuania (64%), Poland and Slovakia (both 67%). For
bread and cereals, price levels ranged from 41% of the EU27 average in
Bulgaria and 56% in Slovakia to 150% in Denmark and 141% in Finland; for
meat from 48% in Bulgaria and 50% in Lithuania to 149% in Denmark and 133%
in Sweden; and for milk, cheese and eggs from 67% in Poland and 75% in
Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia to 139% in Cyprus and 138% in Greece.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
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From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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