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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-07-26
From: HR-Net News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
26 / 07 / 1996
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Trade marks: Commission proposes to link EC with WIPO international
system
[02] Ritt Bjerregaard: the scientific basis of the proposal on genetically modified
maize is to be assessed by three scientific committees
[03] Commission approves joint venture in the field of household packaging
products
[04] Marché unique: procédures d'infraction pour non-communication des
mesures nationales de transposition
[05] Media ownership: Commission pursues infringement proceedings against
Belgium
[06] Préparation de l'élargissement de l'Union Européenne vers l'Europe
Centrale et Orientale - Les pays candidats répondent au questionnaire
[07] EU/Turkey steel agreement
[08] Hans van den Broek expresses Commission's concerns on Turkish
prisoners
[09] Commission welcomes outcome of Euro-Asia follow-up meeting
[10] La Commission approuve des aides humanitaires en faveur du Nicaragua
et du Guatemala
[01] Trade marks: Commission proposes to link EC with WIPO international
system
The European Commission has presented two proposals to link the Community
Trade Mark system with the international trade mark registration system of the
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The proposals would allow
companies, with a single application, to obtain protection of a mark not only
throughout the EC with a Community Trade Mark, but also in the countries which
are members of the Madrid Protocol (such as China). The first proposal relates
to the accession of the European Community to the Madrid Protocol on
international registration of trade marks and the second proposal contains the
necessary provisions to give effect to that accession through an amendment of
Council Regulation No 40/94 on the Community Trade Mark.
[02] Ritt Bjerregaard: the scientific basis of the proposal on genetically modified
maize is to be assessed by three scientific committees
Following the discussions in the June Environment Council and subsequent
discussions in Coreper on the proposal for the placing on the market of
genetically modified maize forwarded by the French authorities, the European
Commission has decided to have the scientific basis of the proposal confirmed
by consulting three Scientific Committees established at Community level. The
committees which are to be consulted are: the Scientific Committee on Food, the
Scientific Committe on Animal Nutrition and the Scientific Committee for
Pesticides.
[03] Commission approves joint venture in the field of household packaging
products
The European Commission has approved the proposed joint venture Cofresco
Frischhalteprodukte GmbH, Minden, newly created and jointly controlled by
Melitta Bentz KG, Minden/D and Dow Europe S.A. Horgen/Switzerland. Melitta
will hold 65% and Dow 35% of the shares and voting rights in Cofresco.
Strategic decisions as on its budget, business plans or investments are subject
to unanimous decisions of the shareholders. Cofresco will hold the transferred
European household packaging products business of Melitta and Dow,
representing sales of more than ECU 200 million in household foils and bags,
baking paper and garbage bags.
[04] Marché unique: procédures d'infraction pour non-communication des
mesures nationales de transposition
La Commission européenne a décidé d'envoyer des avis motivés (seconde étape
prévue par l'article 169 du Traité) pour 16 cas dans lesquels les Etats membres
ont manqué à l'obligation de transposer des directives marché unique dans les
délais requis. Il s'agit de directives dans les domaines des services financiers et
propriété intellectuelle. En l'absence de réponse satisfaisante dans un délai de
40 jours ouvrables suivant réception de l'avis motivé, la Commission pourrait
saisir la Cour de justice de ces affaires.
[05] Media ownership: Commission pursues infringement proceedings against
Belgium
The European Commission has decided to send Belgium a "reasoned opinion"
under formal EC infringement proceedings (Article 169 of the EC Treaty). The
Belgian authorities must inform the Commission, within 40 working days of
receiving the letter, that they have removed a measure requiring that at least 51%
of the capital of a private company broadcasting television to the whole of the
Flemish Community, should be reserved for publishers of Dutch-speaking daily
and weekly newspapers and magazines. The Commission considers that this
measure is a violation of EC Treaty rules which prohibit unjustified restrictions on
the freedom of establishment (Article 52).
[06] Préparation de l'élargissement de l'Union Européenne vers l'Europe
Centrale et Orientale - Les pays candidats répondent au questionnaire
Dans le cadre de la préparation des avis concernant la demande d'adhésion à
l'Union Européenne des pays d'Europe Centrale et Orientale, la Commission
européenne a envoyé en avril 1996 à ces pays un questionnaire concernant les
aspects techniques, leur demandant de bien vouloir y répondre avant la fin du
mois de juillet 1996. La Commission se réjouit d'apprendre que tous les pays
candidats auront répondu avant cette échéance. Après réception des réponses,
la Commission fera une analyse détaillée de chacune d'elles et, si nécessaire,
demandera aux pays candidats en question un complément d'information.
[07] EU/Turkey steel agreement
On 25 July 1996 Turkey and the Community signed the free trade area
agreement for products covered by the European Coal and Steel Community
Treaty which was initialled on 16 December 1995. The main purpose of this
agreement is to liberalise the important trade between Turkey and the Community
in steel products. It will introduce zero rates of duty for all Turkish steel exports
to the Community and for all Community steel exports to Turkey except for a
restricted range of long products which are considered sensitive in Turkey on
which the duties will be phased out over a three year period. The reductions will
take effect from the entry into force of the agreement which depends on the final
formalities. It is hoped that these will be completed by 1 August 1996.
[08] Hans van den Broek expresses Commission's concerns on Turkish
prisoners
In a letter to the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mrs Tansu Çiller, External Relations Commissioner Hans van den Broek
yesterday expressed his deep concern over the situation of Turkish detainees on
hunger strike in protest against their conditions of detention. He underlines that
the EU has no wish to interfere in the functioning of Turkey's judicial system and
recalls that the need to improve the conditions of detention has been recognised
by the Turkish Justice Minister, Mr Sevket Kazan. The Commissioner values Mrs
Çiller's commitment to the defence of human rights and, in the context of a wish
to strengthen relations between the EU and Turkey, calls on the Deputy Prime
Minister to do what she can so that the unnecessary loss of life is avoided.
[09] Commission welcomes outcome of Euro-Asia follow-up meeting
The European Commission welcomed the outcome of talks between senior
officials from twenty-five countries - the fifteen EU member states plus Japan,
China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and the
Philippines. Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the Commission, said the taks
showed determination to turn the intentions of the recent Bangkok Euro-Asia
Summit into actions. "I am convinced this will help build a deeper appreciation
of the need for a stable, transparent framework of investment rules in the two
regions and beyond". The talks chaired by the Commission and the Irish
Presidency well aimed at improving the flow of trade and investment worlwide as
well as between Europe and Asia.
[10] La Commission approuve des aides humanitaires en faveur du Nicaragua
et du Guatemala
La Commission européenne vient de décider deux aides humanitaires en faveur
du Nicaragua et du Guatemala respectivement de 440.000 Ecus et de 220.000
Ecus. Les aides visent à l'amélioration des conditions des populations
déracinées et rapatriés dans les deux pays
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://www.cec.lu/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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