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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-10-20
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Annual meeting of chief auditors of EU structural funds in Cardiff
[02] Private pensions have growing role, but must address society's needs
– new EU report
[03] Commissioner Piebalgs visits two state-of-the-art solar plants in
southern Spain supported with EU-funds
[04] ASEM partners account for a third of EU27 imports and 18% of exports
[05] La forêt couvre 42% de la superficie de l’UE27
[06] Commission clears joint venture between Dow and PIC
[07] Commission clears acquisition of Pfleiderer by OEP
[08] Member States endorse Commission proposal to improve the energy
performance of external power supplies
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-10-20
Reference: MEX/08/1020
Date: 20/10/2008
EXME08 / 20.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
20/10/08
[01] Annual meeting of chief auditors of EU structural funds in Cardiff
Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, will today attend the
annual meeting of the “Homologues’ Group” of European auditors,
hosted this year by the Welsh Assembly Government. The event is an
opportunity for auditors from the European Commission, European Anti-Fraud
Office, European Court of Auditors and the Member States to share
experience and knowledge with the aim of ensuring that investments financed
by the EU's Cohesion Policy are used effectively and efficiently. Member
States have primary responsibility for preventing and correcting errors, as
well as tackling rare cases of fraud. The European Commission has overall
responsibility for the EU budget and can suspend payments or impose
corrections to claw back undue payments.
[02] Private pensions have growing role, but must address society's needs
– new EU report
A new study released by the European Commission today confirms the trend
towards more private pension provision in the EU but highlights the need
for inclusive coverage and adequate pension levels. The study identifies
large variations in coverage and contribution levels between EU countries,
reflecting the diversity of schemes in place. The analysis aims to help EU
countries learn from different national experiences under the 'open method
of coordination' – the EU's system of common objectives, reporting and
exchange of best practice. The release of the study coincides with a major
conference, taking place in Brussels today, on how to make European
pensions adequate and sustainable.
[03] Commissioner Piebalgs visits two state-of-the-art solar plants in
southern Spain supported with EU-funds
Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs has visited today two successful
demonstration projects in the field of concentrating solar power and
photovoltaics that the European Union has supported with its Research
Programmes. The PS10 concentrated solar power and Sevilla PV, with a
capacity of 11MW and 1.2MW, are located near the southern Spanish city of
Seville and have benefited from €7,8 million from the 5th Framework
Programme for Research. "These two projects have demonstrated the viability
of solar electricity production and its capacity of creating jobs and
growth while reducing supply dependency and CO2 emissions", said
Commissioner Piebalgs after the visit.
[04] ASEM partners account for a third of EU27 imports and 18% of exports
Between 2000 and 2007, EU27 exports and imports of goods to the 16 Asian
countries taking part in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) grew by around 60%:
exports rose from 146 billion euro to 228 bn, while imports increased from
€ 285 billion to € 459 billion. The EU27 deficit in trade with the ASEM
partners grew from 139 bn in 2000 to 231 bn in 2007. The ASEM partners
accounted for more than a quarter of the EU27's total external trade in
goods in 2007: 18% of exports and 32% of imports. EU27 trade with the ASEM
partners showed very different patterns between 2000 and 2007. Trade with
China trebled in value over this period, while trade with Japan actually
fell in value. Significant increases were also recorded in EU27 trade with
India and Vietnam, which both more than doubled in value. On the occasion
of the seventh ASEM Summit, which will take place on 24 and 25 October 2008
in Beijing, Eurosta, issues data on trade in goods between the 27 Member
States of the EU and the 16 Asian countries taking part in ASEM.
[05] La forêt couvre 42% de la superficie de l’UE27
En 2005, les forêts et autres surfaces boisées représentaient 177
millions d’hectares au niveau de l’UE27, soit 42% de sa superficie. Les
plus grandes zones forestières et autres surfaces boisées se situaient en
Suède (31 millions hectares, soit 75% de sa superficie), en Espagne (28
millions, soit 57%), en Finlande (23 millions, soit 77%), en France (17
millions, soit 31%), en Allemagne (11 millions, soit 32%) et en Italie (11
millions, soit 37%). Au total, ces six États membres comptaient pour plus
des deux tiers de la superficie totale de forêts de l’UE27. A l'occasion
de la semaine européenne des forêts, Eurostat présente une sélection de
statistiques concernant les forêts dans l’UE27. La semaine européenne
des forêts, qui se déroule du 20 au 24 octobre 2008, met en lumière la
contribution des forêts européennes l'atténuation des changements
climatiques ainsi qu' la fourniture de bois et d'énergie renouvelable.
Elle est organisée conjointement par la Commission européenne,
l’organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture
(FAO), la Conférence ministérielle sur la protection des forêts d'Europe
(MCPFE), et la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Europe
(UNECE) en étroite collaboration avec la Présidence française du Conseil
de l’UE.
[06] Commission clears joint venture between Dow and PIC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) of
the US and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) of Kuwait,
controlled by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). Dow is active in
plastics and chemicals, agricultural sciences, hydrocarbon and energy
products and services. PIC produces fertilisers and petrochemicals. The
joint venture will manufacture and market polyethylene, polypropylene,
polycarbonate, ethanolamines, ethyleneamines and ethylene glycol. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[07] Commission clears acquisition of Pfleiderer by OEP
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Pfleiderer AG of Germany
by OEP Holding Corporation (OEP) of the US, a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan
Chase & Co. OEP is a private equity fund. Pfleiderer manufactures,
distributes and markets engineered wood, surface finished products and
laminate flooring. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
Rediffusion
[08] Member States endorse Commission proposal to improve the energy
performance of external power supplies
At the meeting of the Ecodesign Regulatory Committee today, EU Member
States endorsed the European Commission's proposal for a regulation aimed
at improving the energy performance of external power supplies. The
regulation is expected to cut the EU's electricity consumption of these
devices by 30% by 2020, compared to a "business as usual" scenario.
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on Poland: Operational Programme "European Fisheries Fund 2007-
2013"
• Speech by Commissioner Borg "IUU: a challenge we must overcome",
Edinburgh
A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315):
Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :
Terex Corporation / Fantuzzi Group
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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