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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 98-10-07
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
07/10/98
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] La Commission présente un rapport circonstancié sur le financement de
l'UE
[02] Commission acts to reduce Dioxin emissions from waste incineration
plants
[03] Commission decides Reasoned Opinion against Denmark in the can ban
case
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Hercules de BetzDearborn
[05] Commission authorises the acquisition of joint control of VAE by Voest
Alpine and Vossloh
[06] Commission takes India to WTO over vehicle parts imports
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] La Commission présente un rapport circonstancié sur le financement de
l'UE
(! embargo 15 h !) La Commission européenne a présenté son rapport sur le
système de ressources propres utilisé pour financer le budget de l'Union
européenne (UE). Ce document contient une analyse complète des modes de
financement de l'UE et de leur incidence sur les contributions des Etats
membres. La Commission souhaite, par ce rapport détaillé, jeter les bases
d'un large débat sur la nécessité de réformer le financement du budget de
l'UE et sur les options envisageables en vue de cette réforme. Les
statistiques et les analyses figurant dans le rapport se passent de
commentaires. Ces options, dans toutes leurs variations et combinaisons,
devraient à présent faire l'objet d'un examen très attentif. Si un
consensus devait se dégager quant à la nécessité d'opérer des changements,
les discussions pourraient aborder la question du calendrier et du modèle
de réforme à adopter.
[02] Commission acts to reduce Dioxin emissions from waste incineration
plants
The European Commission has adopted a Proposal for a Directive on
incineration of waste. The Directive limits the emissions of all dangerous
pollutants, in particular dioxins and furans as well as heavy metals. Full
implementation of the proposal's requirements should reduce total emissions
of dioxins and furans from the incineration of municipal waste, clinical
waste and sewage sludge to approximately 11 grams/year by 2005 - even with
an expected increase in the amount of waste incinerated. This would mean a
reduction in excess of 99% relative to 1994 level, ensuring that the 90%
reduction target of the Fifth Environment Action programme is achieved.
The proposal also sets strict emission limits for mercury and cadmium, as
well as certain acid gases, and finally covers co-incineration.
[03] Commission decides Reasoned Opinion against Denmark in the can ban
case
The European Commission has decided to notify a Reasoned Opinion to Denmark
because its general ban on the use of metal cans for beverages ("can ban")
does not comply with the Packaging Waste Directive. In addition, the
Reasoned Opinion addresses the Danish ban on the marketing of beverages of
domestic origin in non-refillable glass and plastic packaging, which also
infringes the Packaging Waste Directive.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Hercules de BetzDearborn
La Commission européenne a décidé d'approuver une opération par laquelle
Hercules Incorporated acquerra le contrôle unique sur BetzDearborn, Inc.
Les deux sociétés sont actives dans les produits chimiques. La Commission
a constaté qu'en dépit de parts de marché élevées dans certains produits
chimiques de spécialité pour l'industrie papetière, les parties feraient
face à assez de contraintes concurrentielles et donc que la combinaison de
leurs activités ne mènerait pas à la création ou au renforcement d'une
position dominante.
[05] Commission authorises the acquisition of joint control of VAE by Voest
Alpine and Vossloh
The European Commission has approved the operation by which Voest Alpine
and Vossloh acquire joint control of the switches producer VAE. The
operation is only of a complementary nature. Therefore, the operation does
not give rise to competition problems. Voest-Alpine is the Austrian steel
producer which also produces rails. Vossloh is based in Germany and
produces among other products track fastening systems and wheel maintenance
systems for railways. VAE is an Austrian company and a leading European
producer of rail switches. The operation is only of a complementary nature
and does not lead to any addition of market shares. The Commission has
therefore decided to declare the operation compatible with the Common
Market and the EEA Agreement.
[06] Commission takes India to WTO over vehicle parts imports
The European Commission yesterday asked for formal World Trade Organisation
(WTO) consultations with India over rules on imports of vehicle parts.
India currently prohibits imports of certain vehicle parts by companies
which do not meet minimum export and local content criteria. The Indian
Government grants local joint-venture companies special licences to import
finished vehicles and parts provided that they use a minimum proportion of
Indian components and that their exports of automotive products neutralise
their imports. The Commission believes that the Indian scheme breaks WTO
rules and distorts international trade. The Commission has therefore
requested formal consultations in the WTO - which is the first step in the
WTO dispute settlement procedure. This is the fourth case concerning the
vehicle sector in which the EU has initiated formal WTO dispute settlement
proceedings. The other three concern automotive policies implemented by
Indonesia, Brazil and Canada. All these regimes share a number of common
features and, in particular, they all impose a number of conditions on
companies investing locally in exchange for discriminatory trade
privileges.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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