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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-09-06
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission clears acquisition of HBINT by BayernLB
[02] Commission clears acquisition of GAL/CAT by VSI
[03] Commission clears proposed acquisition of Procter & Gamble's European
tissue business by SCA, subject to conditions
[04] Cohesion policy 2007-2013 : Commission approves the first five
programmes for the Polish regions
[05] Commission refers study linking certain additives to hyperactivity to
EFSA
[06] Commission to carry out two month review of toy safety controls
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-09-06
Reference: MEX/07/0906
Date: 06/09/2007
EXME07 / 6.9
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
06/09/07
[01] Commission clears acquisition of HBINT by BayernLB
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank
International AG (HBINT) of Austria by Bayerische Landesbank (BayernLB) of
Germany. BayernLB is active in retail banking, corporate and public banking
and financial market activities. HBINT is active in retail banking,
corporate banking and leasing. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of GAL/CAT by VSI
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Global Automotive
Logistics/Compagnie d'Affrètement et de Transport (GAL/CAT) of France by
Vehicle Services International A.B. (VSI) of Sweden, a joint venture
jointly held by Wallenius Lines (WL) of Sweden) and Argentinian
entrepreneur Mr Manuel Antelo. VSI is active in shipping, ship broking,
land transportation and commodity trading business, real estate, shares and
securities and loan extensions. WL provides inland transportation vehicle
logistics and general contract logistics. The operation was examined under
the simplified merger review procedure.
[03] Commission clears proposed acquisition of Procter & Gamble's European
tissue business by SCA, subject to conditions
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the
proposed acquisition of the European tissue business of the US company
Procter & Gamble by Sweden's SCA. Both companies are major suppliers of
tissue paper products. The Commission's decision is conditional upon SCA's
commitment to divest its "Softis" brand handkerchief/facials business". The
Commission has concluded that the transaction, as modified by this
commitment, would not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
[04] Cohesion policy 2007-2013 : Commission approves the first five
programmes for the Polish regions
European Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner Commissioner is today
in Krynica (southern Poland) where she will be addressing Economic Forum,
the most important meeting place for the economic and political elites of
Central and Eastern Europe. On this occasion she will sign five operational
programmes (OP) for Polish regions for 2007-2013. These five programmes
represent a total amount of €6.7 billion, which is approximately 10% of
the total allocation to be invested in Poland under European Cohesion
policy 2007-2013.
[05] Commission refers study linking certain additives to hyperactivity to
EFSA
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
to evaluate a study carried out for the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA),
which links certain food colours with increased hyperactivity in children.
According to the FSA funded study, the consumption of certain mixes of
artificial food colours, together with the preservative sodium benzoate,
may have an adverse effect on children's behaviour. Once EFSA provides its
opinion on this study, the Commission will decide whether further measures
are necessary for the additives in question. Before any additive is
permitted for use in the EU, it must be scientifically assessed by EFSA (or
previously, the Scientific Committee on Food) and shown to be safe.
Moreover, the Commission keeps all additives under continuous observation
and reacts swiftly to any new data that emerges. Currently, EFSA is
carrying out an extensive re-evaluation of all authorised additives
(starting with colours), to ensure that their safety assessment is still
valid in light of the latest scientific data and technological
developments. All additives must be labelled under EU legislation, both
with their class name (i.e. colour/ preservative etc.), and either their E
number or their full name. This allows consumers to make informed choices
with regard the content of additives in the foods they buy. For more
information, see:
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/additives/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/additives/index_en.htm
[06] Commission to carry out two month review of toy safety controls
Following the decision by Mattel on 5 September to announce a third major
recall, European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Meglena Kuneva confirmed
her intention to engage in a 2 month stocktaking exercise, using the case
of the toy recalls this summer, to review the strengths and weaknesses of
the consumer product safety mechanisms currently in place in Europe. Ms
Kuneva has already informed her colleagues in the Commission of her
intention to carry out this review in the College meeting of August 29. The
Commissioner met with the Chair of the European Parliament Committee for
the Internal Market and Consumer Protection this week to discuss the
details and to ask the European Parliament to contribute to the review.
Commissioner Kuneva will present the results of her visit to China in July
as well as her assessment of the events of the summer and the main elements
of the toy safety review to the European Parliament in Brussels on
Wednesday 12th September at 15.00. As part of the review process, Mattel
has met twice in the last 10 days with Commissioner Kuneva's office.
[07] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours du Président José Manuel Barroso : "La diversité réconciliée
dans une Europe unifiée" à la troisième Assemblée œcuménique
européenne (Sibiu, Roumanie)
Intervention de M. Leonard Orban à la troisième Assemblée œcuménique
européenne (Sibiu, Roumanie)
Speech by Franco Frattini : "EU counter-terrorism strategy" at European
Parliament (05/09, Strasbourg)
Speech by Charlie McCreevy on financial markets and economy (05/09,
Strasbourg)
Speech by Joaquin Almunia on financial markets and economy (05/09,
Strasbourg)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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