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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 09-01-14
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] .eu domain passes the 3 million mark
[02] Danuta Hübner en Rhône-Alpes (France) : l’Europe a besoin de
régions «locomotives» pour relancer l’économie
[03] State aid: Commission approves recapitalisation of Anglo Irish Bank
[04] Consumers: General Product Safety Directive implementation positive
record 2004-2008
[05] Industrial production down by 1.6% in both euro area and EU27
[06] Commissioner Vassiliou addresses UK Houses of Parliament
[07] State aid: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into mining fee exemption
for Hungarian Oil and Gas Company MOL
[08] Commission approves an Austrian aid scheme for combined transport
[09] Le Danemark autorisé à étendre certaines aides au transport maritime
pour la pose de câbles en mer et pour le dragage maritime.
[10] Approval of a new tonnage tax scheme to stimulate the shipping sector
in Slovenia
[11] Commission approves aid for Ostrava airport in the Czech Republic
[12] Commission gives green light to the new Danish system of reduced
tariffs in favour of certain categories of passenger travelling in long-
distance bus services
[13] European Commission welcomes European Parliament's vote on Plant
Protection Products Regulation
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2009-01-14
Reference: MEX/09/0114
Date: 14/01/2009
EXME09 / 14.01
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
14/01/09
[01] .eu domain passes the 3 million mark
The third million .eu domain name was registered on 11 January by a German
citizen. Two and a half years after its launch, this confirms the success
of the .eu top-level internet domain. It is the fourth most popular
internet domain among European country domains and the ninth worldwide. By
promoting a distinctly European online identity .eu helps citizens and
businesses to reap the full benefits of the single market. Multinational
companies and SMEs, NGOs and think tanks as well as individual Europeans
have all adopted .eu to mark their web presence.
[02] Danuta Hübner en Rhône-Alpes (France) : l’Europe a besoin de
régions «locomotives» pour relancer l’économie
Danuta Hübner, la Commissaire européenne à la Politique régionale, est
en visite le 15 janvier dans la région Rhône-Alpes, l’une des régions
françaises les plus dynamiques sur le plan économique. La Commissaire
sera accueillie par Jacques Gérault, le Préfet de la Région, et par Jean-
Jack Queyranne, le Président du Conseil Régional. Elle s’entretiendra
également avec les acteurs de la région sur le thème de l’innovation.
[03] State aid: Commission approves recapitalisation of Anglo Irish Bank
The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, an
emergency recapitalisation worth €1.5 billion that the Irish authorities
intend to grant to Anglo Irish Bank. The Commission found the measure to be
in line with its Guidance Communications on state aid during the current
financial crisis (see IP/08/1495 and IP/08/1901). The measure constitutes
an adequate means to remedy a serious disturbance in the Irish economy
while avoiding undue distortions of competition and is therefore compatible
with Article 87.3.b. of the EC Treaty. In particular, the measure is
limited in scope, requires an adequate remuneration and provides safeguards
to minimise distortions of competition.
[04] Consumers: General Product Safety Directive implementation positive
record 2004-2008
Today the European Commission adopted a Communication to the European
Parliament and the Council, reporting on the first years (2004-2008) of
implementation of the General Product Safety Directive (non-food consumer
products). Commissioner Kuneva said, “This report finds that the
Directive, with its RAPEX system, has proven to be a powerful tool for
ensuring a high level of consumer protection. But as always, we will not
rest on our laurels. There are also recommendations on how the
effectiveness of the framework and its implementation can be further
improved, and we will be following up on these". The report suggests scope
to develop the framework and actions further, outlining benefits which
further coordinated market surveillance between the Member States would
bring, given the increasingly global market. It also suggests that
efficiency in addressing product safety issues would be increased if the
Commission were enabled to act more quickly to create state-of-the-art
standards for specific risky products and if a permanent ban could be
imposed under the General Product Safety Directive on products or
substances when a risk is generally recognised, rather than having to do
this through further product specific Directives. For more information see:
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/prod_legis/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/prod_legis/index_en.htm
[05] Industrial production down by 1.6% in both euro area and EU27
In November 2008 compared with October 2008, seasonally adjusted industrial
production fell by 1.6% in both the euro area2 (EA15) and the EU27. In
October production also decreased by 1.6% in both zones. In November 2008
compared with November 2007, industrial production declined by 7.7% in both
the euro area and the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat.
[06] Commissioner Vassiliou addresses UK Houses of Parliament
European Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou will be in the United
Kingdom on 15 and 16 January where she will address the House of Lords EU
sub Committee and the House of Commons Health Select Committee. The main
area of discussion will be the draft Directive on the application of
patients' rights in cross border healthcare which was adopted by the
Commission on 2 July 2008. Commissioner Vassiliou will have meetings with
the Secretary of State for health, Alan Johnson and the Secretary of State
for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn. Commissioner
Vassiliou will visit the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), an EU agency
responsible for the protection and promotion of public and animal health,
through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and
veterinary use. This visit will be a general introduction to the EMEA and
its' work programme.
Rediffusion
[07] State aid: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into mining fee exemption
for Hungarian Oil and Gas Company MOL
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to establish
whether an agreement between the Hungarian government and the Hungarian Oil
and Gas Company MOL infringes EC Treaty state aid rules. This agreement
exempts MOL from the recent increase in mining fees due on revenues from
hydrocarbons exploitation. The investigation will allow interested parties
to comment on the measure under scrutiny. It does not prejudge the
Commission’s final decision.
[08] Commission approves an Austrian aid scheme for combined transport
The Commission authorised today an Austrian scheme which intends to
encourage the development of combined transport by supporting the
introduction of innovative technologies, systems and equipment.
[09] Le Danemark autorisé à étendre certaines aides au transport maritime
pour la pose de câbles en mer et pour le dragage maritime.
Cette décision finale de la Commission fait suite à la demande du Danemark
de soumettre les entreprises de dragage et de pose de câbles en mer au
même régime d'aides que celui réservé jusqu'à présent aux navires de
transport maritime enregistrés dans le registre maritime danois
international (DIS= Dansk Internationalt Skibsregister). Ce régime exempte
les armateurs du paiement de l'impôt sur le revenu et des cotisations
sociales de leurs marins.
[10] Approval of a new tonnage tax scheme to stimulate the shipping sector
in Slovenia
The European Commission approved today the introduction of a tonnage tax
system whereby entities which are tax liable in Slovenia and engaged in
international transportation by ship or in a related activity have the
possibility to change the tax base for their taxable profits. The
Commission decision allows the Slovenian authorities to apply the scheme as
from 1 January 2008 for a period of 10 years.
[11] Commission approves aid for Ostrava airport in the Czech Republic
The Commission authorised today the implementation of State aid related to
the acquisition of the necessary equipment for the management of the
Ostrava airport.
[12] Commission gives green light to the new Danish system of reduced
tariffs in favour of certain categories of passenger travelling in long-
distance bus services
The European Commission decided today that the new Danish system of reduced
tariffs in favour of certain categories of passenger travelling in long-
distance bus services is compatible with the Treaty.
[13] European Commission welcomes European Parliament's vote on Plant
Protection Products Regulation
Today the European Parliament adopted in second reading a Regulation to
replace the current legislation on plant protection products, based on a
Commission proposal from 2006. The new legislation will increase the
protection of human health and the environment, will lead to a better
protection of agricultural production and will extend and deepen the single
market of plant protection products.
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on Questions and Answers on Plant Protection Products
• Memo on .eu passes the 3 million mark: Frequently Asked Questions
• Speech by President Barrosso: 'Poursuivons l'élan de 2008 pour relever
les défis de 2009'
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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