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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-02-02
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
02/02/99
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission presents sixth periodic report on the regions
[02] Commission opens full investigation into KLM / Martinair merger
[03] La Commission approuve le rachat de PLM par Rexam
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Recoletos du contrôle
conjoint d'Enidosa, éditeur du journal "El Mundo"
[05] Commission authorises Motorola's participation in Symbian, a joint
venture company producing operating systems for wireless information
devices
[06] Marcelino Oreja : "We need to coordinate measures to eradicate doping
in sport"
[07] Franz Fischler : "CAP-reform benefits farmers, consumers and EU-
economy"
[01] Commission presents sixth periodic report on the regions
The European Commission is set to approve on Wednesday the sixth periodic
report on the social and economic situation and development of the regions.
While in previous periodic reports and in the Cohesion report, only the
first signs of real convergence of lagging regions were detected, the
evidence is now unambiguous : the GDP, or output, per head of poorer
regions is converging towards the European Union's (EU) average. Over the
10 years 1986 to 1996, GDP per head in the 10 poorest regions increased
from 41% of the EU average to 50%, in the 25 poorest regions, it rose from
52% to 59%. GDP per head in the four Cohesion countries went up from 65%
of the EU average to 75%, and, according to forecasts, to 77% in 1999.
[02] Commission opens full investigation into KLM / Martinair merger
The European Commission has decided to open a full investigation into the
proposed acquisition by Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschaapij NV (KLM), the
Dutch national airline, of the 50% of the shares in Martinair Holland NV
(Martinair), one of the main Dutch charter airlines, that it does not
already own. On the basis of its initial examination of the proposal, the
Commission found that there were grounds for serious doubts about its
compatibility with the common market as regards its effect on competition.
The main area of concern identified was the supply of flights from Dutch
airports (notably Amsterdam/Schiphol) to tour operators and individual
'leisure' customers for destinations around the Mediterranean.
[03] La Commission approuve le rachat de PLM par Rexam
La Commission européenne a approuvé le rachat de PLM AB (Suède) par Rexam
Plc (Royaume-Uni). L'acquisition a été réalisée par offre publique
d'achat. L'opération concerne le secteur de l'emballage. PLM produit des
boîtes pour boissons et des emballages en plastique et en verre. Les
activités de Rexam concernent l'emballage pour les produits alimentaires,
d'hygiène, de santé, industriels, d'impression, de films et papiers
encollés, de construction et d'ingénierie. Le seul chevauchement de
produits entre Rexam et PLM, dans l'Espace Economique Européen (EEE), se
situe dans l'approvisionnement en récipients en plastique à parois minces,
en gobelets en plastique et en récipients pharmaceutiques en plastique.
Dans l'EEE, la part de marché cumulée des parties est de moins de 10% pour
chacun des produits. Les concurrents actifs sur ces marchés sont Polarcup,
Autobar, Van Leer, RPC et Duni. Pour cette raison, la Commission a décidé
que l'opération proposée ne mènerait pas à la création ou au renforcement
d'une position dominante.
[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Recoletos du contrôle
conjoint d'Enidosa, éditeur du journal "El Mundo"
La Commission européenne a autorisé l'acquisition par Recoletos Compañía
Editorial du contrôle conjoint d'Unidad Editorial S.A. (Unedisa).
Recoletos est une entreprise espagnole d'édition contrôlée par le groupe
Pearson. Elle publie les journaux "Expansión" et "Marca" ainsi qu'un large
éventail de revues. Unedisa est l'éditeur espagnol du journal "El Mundo".
L'opération notifiée consiste dans l'acquisition par Recoletos d'une
participation minoritaire dans Unedisa et la signature par celle-ci des
accords avec les restants actionnaires, Rizzoli (l'éditeur de "Il Corriere
della Sera") et les fondateurs de "El Mundo".
[05] Commission authorises Motorola's participation in Symbian, a joint
venture company producing operating systems for wireless information
devices
The European Commission has approved the entry of Motorola as a shareholder
of Symbian, a joint venture created last August by the mobile phone
manufacturers Ericsson and Nokia and the handheld computer and operating
system manufacturer Psion. The aim of Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola, as
actual or potential manufacturers of wireless information devices (WIDs),
and Psion, as a developer of this technology, is to establish the so called
EPOC operating system as a de facto standard for wireless information
devices and to stimulate the development of a mass market for such
products.
[06] Marcelino Oreja : "We need to coordinate measures to eradicate doping
in sport"
Speaking today in Lausanne at the "World conference on doping in sport"
organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the representative
of the European Commissioner in charge of Culture and Sports, Marcelino
Oreja, said that "the European Union is totally committed to combating
doping, and the Heads of State and Government reminded us at Vienna of the
need to do whatever we could to stamp it out. Although the Commission
powers on this matter are very limited, I consider that regulation is now
of paramount importance. Often measures taken by federations are
repudiated by the courts, hence the need to establish a legal framework
that makes for effective action without infringing people's rights. To do
this, I think we need : a definition of doping - a single list of banned
substances, recognised by all sporting organisations - harmonised tests,
checks and procedures, and a harmonised system of penalties."
[07] Franz Fischler : "CAP-reform benefits farmers, consumers and EU-
economy"
In his speech at the annual conference of the National Farmers Union in
London, Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural
Development, underlined that the Commission has proposed a clear concept
for reforming the agricultural and rural development policy within the
framework of Agenda 2000. This concept has been subject to discussion at
all levels and with the beginning of 1999 the final negotiations started.
The European Council of Vienna has confirmed its intention to conclude on
Agenda 2000 in March. "Governments have to realise that if they want a
fitter, leaner, more competitive agricultural sector then it is going to
cost money. But the reform will bring a major overall economic gain both
to farming and to consumers", emphasised Mr Fischler. Independent studies
have shown a potential of up to £ 12 billion per annum by the year 2005 if
farm gate prices fall by the full percentage of the proposed reduction and
if they are passed on to consumers. "It is quite clear that the status quo
is going to take us in one direction only - that is food mountains, lower
quotas, falling farm incomes and rural depopulation. Agenda 2000 will take
us in the other direction. Furthermore a decision on Agenda 2000 prior to
the opening of the next World Trade Organisation round ensures a solid
position of the European Union in those negotiations. The absence of such
a decision risks our future agricultural policy being decided in Geneva
rather than in Brussels", warned Mr Fischler.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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