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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-02-01
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Choose the design of a new coin to celebrate the upcoming 10-year
anniversary of the euro!
[02] La Commission se félicite de la mise en œuvre en Grèce du cadre
communautaire applicable aux services de radiodiffusion
[03] Commission approves acquisition of Securitas Direct by EQT
[04] Services postaux : la Commission se félicite de l'adoption de la
directive postale de l'UE ; l'ouverture des marchés présente des
avantages évidents pour les utilisateurs
[05] Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner strongly condemns the bomb attacks in Bagdad today
[06] László Kovács concluded his visit to China on customs cooperation
[07] Joe Borg participe à la réunion ministérielle du CIHEAM à Saragosse
[08] Troika visit to South Caucasus 4-6 February : Benita Ferrero-Waldner
to open full-fledged EC Delegations in Armenia and Azerbaijan
[09] Household saving rate at 13.8% in the euro area and 10.6% in the EU27
[10] The European Commission's commitment to small enterprises : Small
Business Act
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-02-01
Reference: MEX/08/0201
Date: 01/02/2008
EXME08 / 1.2
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
01/02/08
[01] Choose the design of a new coin to celebrate the upcoming 10-year
anniversary of the euro!
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU) and the creation of the euro, a commemorative €2 coin will be
issued in all euro area countries at the beginning of 2009. Five designs
have been pre-selected, but the final choice will be for the citizens and
residents of the EU. The winner will get a set of gold euro collector coins
with a value of several thousand euros. The vote started yesterday on a
website designed for this purpose and will close on 22 February. The winner
will be announced on 25Â February. To see the five pre-selected designs and
to vote click here : <a href="http://www.eurodesigncontest.eu">http://www.eurodesigncontest.eu
[02] La Commission se félicite de la mise en œuvre en Grèce du cadre
communautaire applicable aux services de radiodiffusion
La Commission européenne a décidé de clore la procédure
d'infraction qu'elle avait engagée à l'encontre de la Grèce au motif que
celle-ci ne s'était pas pleinement conformée à l'arrêt de la Cour de
justice européenne du 14 avril 2005. Cet arrêt avait confirmé que la
Grèce n’avait pas appliqué la directive relative à la concurrence sur
les marchés des communications électroniques pour les services de
radiodiffusion. En 2007, la Commission avait en conséquence décidé de
renvoyer à nouveau la Grèce devant la Cour pour avoir poursuivi
l'infraction après l'arrêt de la Cour d'avril 2005 (voir IP/07/397). En
septembre 2007, la Grèce a officiellement notifié à la Commission sa
nouvelle "loi sur la concentration des médias". Cette nouvelle loi
libéralise les services de radiodiffusion.
[03] Commission approves acquisition of Securitas Direct by EQT
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the Swedish-based security services company
Securitas Direct AB by the private equity fund EQT V Ltd. of the Channel
Islands. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the
transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[04] Services postaux : la Commission se félicite de l'adoption de la
directive postale de l'UE ; l'ouverture des marchés présente des
avantages évidents pour les utilisateurs
Le Parlement européen a adopté le 31 janvier la nouvelle directive
postale, donnant ainsi son approbation finale à la réforme des services
postaux de l'UE. Ce vote confirme le large consensus politique sur la voie
à suivre en vue de l'ouverture totale des marchés postaux de l'UE à la
concurrence. La Commission aidera les Etats membres à mettre en œuvre la
nouvelle directive et jouera un rôle actif en suivant de près
l'évolution du marché pour s’assurer que les citoyens et les
entreprises de l'UE bénéficient des services postaux de grande qualité
prévus par la directive.
[05] Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner strongly condemns the bomb attacks in Bagdad today
"I condemn in the strongest terms the two bomb attacks in Bagdad today
which caused the death and injury of so many ordinary Iraqis. My thoughts
go out to the families of the victims of these acts of terrorism and I wish
a speedy recovery to those injured. We are fully aware of the difficulties
Iraq and the Iraqi people are facing on the path towards establishing and
strengthening democratic structures in the country and continuing the
reconciliation process and maintaining national unity. The Commission will
continue to assist Iraq in this very difficult process."
[06] László Kovács concluded his visit to China on customs cooperation
European Commissioner László Kovács, responsible for Taxation and
Customs, visited Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong this week to meet with
Chinese authorities to discuss ways in which customs cooperation between
the EU and China can be further improved. While in Hong Kong, Commissioner
Kovács had the first exploratory talks on taxation of savings with the
relevant authorities.
[07] Joe Borg participe à la réunion ministérielle du CIHEAM à Saragosse
M. Joe Borg, membre de la Commission chargé de la pêche et des affaires
maritimes, se rendra dimanche en Espagne pour participer lundi à Saragosse
à la 7e réunion ministérielle organisée par le Centre international des
hautes études agronomiques méditerranéennes (CIHEAM). Cette réunion a
lieu à l'invitation de Mme Elena Espinosa, ministre espagnole de
l'agriculture, de la pêche et de l'alimentation, et elle rassemblera les
ministres de l'agriculture et de la pêche des pays membres du CIHEAM,
parmi lesquels un certain nombre d'Etats membres de l'UE. Le commissaire
Borg prendra la parole lors de la séance d'ouverture consacrée à la
gestion durable des ressources de pêche en Méditerranée. Il aura
également des entretiens bilatéraux avec les ministres de certains pays
partenaires de l'UE riverains de la Méditerranée.
[08] Troika visit to South Caucasus 4-6 February : Benita Ferrero-Waldner
to open full-fledged EC Delegations in Armenia and Azerbaijan
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will participate in the Ministerial EU
Troika visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia on 4-6 February 2008.
Together with Dimitrij Rupel, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and
EU Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus, Ambassador Peter
Semneby, the Commissioner will be holding meetings at the highest level. On
the agenda are the implementation of the ENP Action Plans, regional and
international issues. In Armenia and Azerbaijan the Commissioner will also
open full fledged European Commission Delegations.
[09] Household saving rate at 13.8% in the euro area and 10.6% in the EU27
Eurostat and the European Central Bank (ECB) release a detailed set of
quarterly European sector accounts. This Eurostat News Release focuses on
three key indicators : the household saving rate, and the investment rate
and profit share of non-financial businesses. In the third quarter of 2007,
the seasonally adjusted gross saving rate of households was 13.8% in the
euro area (EA13). It was 14.0% in the second quarter of 2007. In the EU27,
the household saving rate was 10.6% in the third quarter of 2007, compared
with 11.0% in the second quarter of 2007, extending the downward trend that
started in 2001.
[10] The European Commission's commitment to small enterprises : Small
Business Act
On 31st of January, the European Commission launched a public consultation
on the content of a European "Small Business Act". Its objective is to put
small and medium sized enterprises at the forefront of decision-making in
the EU and to introduce concrete measures to unlock the SMEs' growth
potential. It will include new initiatives to reduce regulatory burden on
SMEs, facilitate access to Single Market/public procurement, help provide
necessary financial/human resources for SME development and help SMEs face
the challenge of globalization and climate change. The preparation of a
"Small Business Act" for Europe is one of the key measures announced in the
Commission's package for the next cycle of the Growth and Jobs Strategy
adopted last December. The consultation will be open until the end of
March. A Public hearing on the Small Business Act will take place on 6
February in Brussels.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, and Louis Michel,
Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, deplore the
deteriorating situation in Kenya (31/01)
Speech by Charlie McCreevy at National Press Club, "Newsmaker" debate
(Washington, ! embargo 18h00 !)
Speech by Meglena Kuneva : "Launch of new EU consumer investigations"
(31/01)
Calendrier du 4 au 10 février 2008
Top News de la Commission européenne (du 4 février au 2 mars 2008)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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