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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-09-26

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

[I] Résultats de la Commission du 25 septembre 2007 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 25 September

  • [01] Mobilité urbaine : agir ensemble pour une ville plus verte
  • [02] Commission issues final report on Business Insurance Sector Inquiry
  • [03] Commission opens investigation into possible aid for privatisation of Romanian company Tractorul
  • [04] La Commission ouvre une enquête sur des aides éventuelles de la Roumanie à Mittal Steel Roman
  • [05] Commission opens investigation into restructuring aid to Italian textile producer Legler
  • [06] La Commission conclut que la garantie accordée par l'Etat français en faveur de TVO, l'exploitant finlandais de centrales nucléaires, ne constitue pas une aide
  • [07] Bluefin tuna fisheries : Commission opens infringement procedures against 7 Member States
  • [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

  • [08] Leonard Orban, commissaire au multilinguisme : "Le nombre de jeunes qui apprennent des langues étrangères est plus élevé qu'autrefois et ils commencent bien plus tôt que leurs parents"
  • [09] Commission launches a Have Your Say corner and an on-line consultation on multilingualism
  • [10] Recommandations du Groupe de haut niveau sur le multilinguisme pour encourager l'étude des langues
  • [11] Commission approves proposed acquisition of BASF's animal feed premix business by Nutreco
  • [12] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition de DSI Holding par CVC
  • [13] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the situation in Burma/Myanmar
  • [14] European Group on Ethics held a public roundtable debate on the issues related to Animal Cloning for Food Supply
  • [15] International Day of Tourism - Women make up 56% of those employed in the hotels and restaurants sector in the EU27 compared with 44% in the whole economy
  • [16] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2007-09-26 Reference: MEX/07/0926 Date: 26/09/2007 EXME07 / 26.9

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

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

    26/09/07


  • [I] Résultats de la Commission du 25 septembre 2007 - Outcome of Commission meeting of 25 September

    [01] Mobilité urbaine : agir ensemble pour une ville plus verte

    "Vers une nouvelle culture de la mobilité urbaine" est le titre du Livre vert adopté par la Commission européenne pour débattre des principaux enjeux de la mobilité urbaine : des villes fluides et moins polluées, une mobilité urbaine plus intelligente et un transport urbain accessible, sûr et sécurisant pour tous les citoyens européens. Avec ce Livre vert, la Commission souhaite recenser, en partenariat avec toutes les parties, les entraves actuelles à une bonne mobilité urbaine et les moyens de les éliminer.

    [02] Commission issues final report on Business Insurance Sector Inquiry

    The European Commission has adopted the final report of the competition inquiry on the business insurance sector. Building on the interim report of January 2007, a wide public consultation and extensive further fact-finding, the final report raises concerns about the operation of two areas of business insurance. First, long-standing and widespread industry practices in the reinsurance and coinsurance markets involving the alignment of premiums, which may lead to higher prices for large risk commercial insurance. The report leaves open the question of whether these constitute infringements of the prohibition on restrictive business practices (Article 81), but invites the industry either to justify the business practices concerned under the competition rules, or to reform them. Second, the Commission also confirms its concerns as to transparency of remuneration and conflicts of interest in insurance brokerage which may inflate prices and reduce choice, in particular for SMEs. The Commission will further explore this issue during the review of the Insurance Mediation Directive (2002/92/EC).

    [03] Commission opens investigation into possible aid for privatisation of Romanian company Tractorul

    The European Commission has opened a formal investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules into possible aid in the context of the privatisation of tractor producer Tractorul and its sale to Flavus Investments SRL in July 2007. The Commission has also required Romania to suspend the -granting of any unlawful aid until the Commission takes a decision on the compatibility of the aid. The Romanian authorities attached specific conditions to the privatisation, in particular the maintenance of the current activity for 10 years and the rehiring of former employees of Tractorul. The Commission has to verify whether these conditions resulted in a lower sales price than if the privatisation had been unconditional, in which case there could be some element of state aid. The opening of an investigation gives interested parties the possibility to comment on the measures under examination. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure.

    [04] La Commission ouvre une enquête sur des aides éventuelles de la Roumanie à Mittal Steel Roman

    La Commission européenne a ouvert une procédure formelle d'examen, en application des règles du traité CE relatives aux aides d'Etat, concernant des aides éventuelles accordées à Mittal Steel Roman, anciennement Petrotub, pour un montant total de €26 millions. L'enquête portera notamment sur le fait que plusieurs organismes publics ont accepté de renoncer à une partie des dettes non acquittées et de les rééchelonner lors de la privatisation de l'entreprise en 2003. La Commission doit vérifier si ces renonciations et rééchelonnements répondent au critère de l'opérateur en économie de marché, c'est-à - dire si la privatisation a été plus favorable du point de vue économique pour les pouvoirs publics que la liquidation de l'entreprise. L'ouverture de la procédure formelle d'examen donne aux parties intéressées l'occasion de commenter les mesures soumises à examen. Cela ne préjuge en rien l'issue de la procédure.

    [05] Commission opens investigation into restructuring aid to Italian textile producer Legler

    The European Commission has opened a formal investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules into a series of aids amounting to €40.7 million that Italy intends to grant to Legler S.p.A, a denim textile producer. The Commission doubts at this stage that the restructuring plan of Legler S.p.A. would restore the beneficiary's commercial viability and is concerned that the aid would create undue distortions of competition in this highly competitive market. The opening of the formal investigation gives interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed measures. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure.

    [06] La Commission conclut que la garantie accordée par l'Etat français en faveur de TVO, l'exploitant finlandais de centrales nucléaires, ne constitue pas une aide

    La Commission européenne a mis fin à une enquête approfondie, en application des règles du traité CE relatives aux aides d'Etat, concluant qu'une garantie du gouvernement français concernant un prêt consenti au producteur finlandais d'électricité TVO ne constituait pas une aide d'Etat. Le prêt garanti finance l'achat par TVO d'une partie d'une centrale nucléaire à la société française AREVA NP (anciennement Framatome). La Commission a estimé que la garantie ne conférerait aucun avantage à TVO. D'une part, la Commission est arrivée à la conclusion selon laquelle TVO disposait d'un accès suffisant aux marchés financiers pour financer l'ensemble du projet sans intervention publique. Le financement du projet ne dépend donc pas de la garantie d'Etat. D'autre part, la prime de garantie versée par TVO aux autorités françaises n'est pas inférieure aux prix du marché.

    [07] Bluefin tuna fisheries : Commission opens infringement procedures against 7 Member States

    The European Commission has opened infringement procedures against the seven Member States which take part in the EU bluefin tuna fishery in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Letters of formal notice have been sent to Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain for failings in their obligation to send catch data to the Commission. In the case of France and Italy, the infringement procedure also concerns shortcomings in their control in this fishery. Member States have a month to respond to the Commission. Last week, the Commission closed the EU bluefin fishery until the end of 2007 as the EU quota for this year has been exhausted (see IP/07/1355). Bluefin tuna is dwindling due to years of over fishing. It is imperative that the international recovery plan, agreed last year by the international Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), be urgently and fully implemented by all fishing parties.

    [II] Other news - Autres nouvelles

    [08] Leonard Orban, commissaire au multilinguisme : "Le nombre de jeunes qui apprennent des langues étrangères est plus élevé qu'autrefois et ils commencent bien plus tôt que leurs parents"

    Le 25 septembre, la Commission européenne a adopté un rapport sur la mise en œuvre du plan d'action 2004-2006 "Promouvoir l'apprentissage des langues et la diversité linguistique". Ce rapport conclut que la quasi- totalité des Etats membres ont amélioré l'enseignement des langues, notamment en faveur des plus jeunes. Au niveau du secondaire, l'enseignement de deux langues étrangères est proposé à un nombre plus élevé d'étudiants, mais pas dans tous les Etats membres. Le rapport relève en outre quelques faiblesses dans l'enseignement des langues dispensé aux adultes.

    [09] Commission launches a Have Your Say corner and an on-line consultation on multilingualism

    The consultation process on multilingualism has entered a new phase: consultation with stakeholders and the general public. An online consultation has been launched and a Have Your Say corner is also available on Commissioner Leonard Orban's website. So far, the consultation has included dialogue with governments and authorities from Member States, with multilingualism experts and with intellectuals and companies.

    [10] Recommandations du Groupe de haut niveau sur le multilinguisme pour encourager l'étude des langues

    Le Groupe de haut niveau sur le multilinguisme a remis aujourd'hui à M. Leonard Orban son rapport définitif, assorti de recommandations. Créé dans le prolongement d'une communication de la Commission européenne publiée en 2005 sous le titre 'Un nouveau cadre stratégique pour le multilinguisme', ce groupe, qui se compose de onze spécialistes venus des quatre coins de l'Europe, a été chargé "de dispenser aide et conseils pour l'élaboration d'initiatives, de donner un nouvel élan et d'apporter des idées nouvelles (...) pour une approche globale du multilinguisme dans l'Union européenne".

    [11] Commission approves proposed acquisition of BASF's animal feed premix business by Nutreco

    The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of parts of the animal feed premix business of the German company BASF Aktiengesellschaft by Dutch based Nutreco. 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.

    [12] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition de DSI Holding par CVC

    La Commission européenne a donné son feu vert, en application du règlement européen sur les concentrations, au projet de rachat de DSI Holding GmbH (Allemagne) par CVC Capital Partners Group Sà rl (Luxembourg). Après examen, la Commission est parvenue à la conclusion que l'opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.

    [13] Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the situation in Burma/Myanmar

    On the situation in Burma/Myanmar European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said on 25Â September : "I follow the peaceful protests by Buddhist monks and civilian supporters in Burma/Myanmar very closely and I am concerned by the increasing military presence on the streets. The demonstrators are merely using their inalienable right of freedom of expression. The situation of the population is dire. I urge the government of Burma/Myanmar to exercise maximum restraint. I am very supportive of the "good offices" by the UN Secretary General and his Special Envoy, Prof Ibrahim Gambari. I hope that Prof Gambari is able to visit Burma/Myanmar shortly to continue his mission. We always expressed our wish for a genuine inclusive political dialogue and respect for human rights. This difficult situation could be turned into a huge opportunity for political reform. We urge the Burmese government once again for the release of all political detainees and the release of Aung Sang Suu Kyi and an inclusive political dialogue and respect for human rights."

    [14] European Group on Ethics held a public roundtable debate on the issues related to Animal Cloning for Food Supply

    The European Group on Ethics of science and new technologies (EGE) which advises the European Commission on ethical aspects of science and new technologies, is preparing an Opinion on ethics of animal cloning for food supply (Opinion 23). Within its preparatory work on the Opinion, the EGE held on 24 and 25 September 2007 an open roundtable debate on the issues related to Animal Cloning for Food supply. The round table was organised by the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA). Among the speakers were scientific experts, ethicists, representatives of consumers' organizations, animal welfare and industry. Participants included European Institutions, International Organizations, representatives of religions, consumers, animal breeding and food industry, experts of the fields, etc. Issues discussed included: the state of the art of animal cloning, ethics implications, animal welfare and health considerations, consumers perspectives, animal breeding and food market, labeling and international trade. The Proceedings of the debate will be soon available in the EGE Web page (<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm).

    [15] International Day of Tourism - Women make up 56% of those employed in the hotels and restaurants sector in the EU27 compared with 44% in the whole economy

    The International Day of Tourism will take place on 27 September 2007. The UN World Tourism Organisation has declared this year's Day an occasion to celebrate women's achievements in the tourism sector and stimulate action in support of gender equality and empowerment of women. On this occasion Eurostat, publishes data on women's employment and earnings in relation to men in the hotels and restaurants sector, which is closely linked to tourism.

    [16] Autre matériel diffusé

    Le livre vert : "Vers une nouvelle culture de la mobilité urbaine"

    Discours de M. Leonard Orban : "Le multilinguisme permet aux citoyens européens d'exercer leurs droits démocratiques" à l'occasion de la Journée européenne des langues

    Speech by Leonard Orban : "Languages – as a game..." for the European Languages Day (! embargo 14h00 !)

    Discours de M. Leonard Orban : "Les moyens de grande information, force motrice du multilinguisme" dans le cadre de la Journée européenne des langues (! embargo 15h00 !) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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