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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-02-21

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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-Parole 21/02/2000b


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] La Commission autorise l'acquisition d'Europcar International S.A. par Volkswagen AG
  • [02] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of E-Plus by KPN and BellSouth
  • [03] Commission opens full investigation into MCI WorldCom / Sprint merger
  • [04] South Africa and Europe welcome trade, development and cooperation agreement
  • [05] Frits Bolkestein stresses Internal Market benefits for both EU and candidates

  • [01] La Commission autorise l'acquisition d'Europcar International S.A. par Volkswagen AG

    La Commission européenne a autorisé une opération qui permettra à Volkswagen AG (VW AG) d'acquérir le contrôle unique d'Europcar International S.A. (Europcar). Jusqu'à présent, Europcar était contrôlée en commun par VW AG et la Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et du Tourisme S.A., filiale à 100% d'Accor S.A. VW AG exerce des activités de production et de vente de véhicules automobiles, tandis qu'Europcar propose des voitures en location. L'opération n'aboutit sur aucun des marchés en cause à une augmentation des parts de marché de l'entité VW/Europcar. Même si l'on tient compte des chevauchements verticaux, la concentration ne se traduit pas par la création d'une position dominante pour VW/Europcar sur le marché de la location. Selon la Commission, aucune raison liée au droit de la concurrence ne s'oppose donc à l'opération.

    [02] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of E-Plus by KPN and BellSouth

    The European Commission has approved the acquisition of control of E-Plus, the German mobile telephone operator, by KPN, the Dutch fixed and mobile telephony operator, and the US firm BellSouth. Under the Merger Regulation, the Commission found that the merger neither created nor strengthened a dominant position on any market, nor did it lead to anti-competitive coordination between KPN and BellSouth outside of the joint venture.

    [03] Commission opens full investigation into MCI WorldCom / Sprint merger

    The European Commission has decided to open a full investigation into the proposed merger between telecom companies MCI WorldCom and Sprint. The Commission will make a detailed assessment of the impact of the transaction on competition conditions in various areas of the telecom industry. More in particular, the focus areas of the investigation will be the provision of top level connectivity services in the Internet (i.e. those networks to whom anybody must directly or indirectly have access in order to get universal reach on the Internet), of global telecommunication services to multinational companies and of termination in the US of international voice telephony calls. A final decision by the Commission is expected by early July.

    [04] South Africa and Europe welcome trade, development and cooperation agreement

    South African Vice-President Jacob Zuma and European Commissioner for Development, Poul Nielson, met in Bangkok on Saturday 19 February 2000 in the margins of the Tenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD X). This was the first high-level face-to-face contact between the two sides involved in the EU/South Africa-agreement since an exchange of letters last week confirmed the solution of the outstanding problems related to, inter alia, the protection of the names grappa, ouzo and several other spirits. Mr Nielson seized the opportunity to express his sincere appreciation of the manner in which his South African counterpart in the negotiations, Trade Minister Alec Erwin, had engaged in the talks. "While the discussions were tough at times", Mr Nielson stressed that "it had always been understood on both sides that a democratic South Africa, with a growing economy, and Europe were involved in building a partnership that was meant to be". Vice President Zuma and Mr Nielson agreed that there could be no more fitting setting that the UN Conference on Trade and Development to begin looking forward to reaping the benefits of this broad agreement.

    [05] Frits Bolkestein stresses Internal Market benefits for both EU and candidates

    (! embargo 1 pm !) European Commissioner for Internal Market, Frits Bolkestein, stressed today that "enlargement should not disturb the coherence of the Internal Market". Speaking to the Centre of European Policy Studies, Mr Bolkestein said : "The Union aims at integration : not fragmentation. We cannot have the Internal Market turned into a patchwork quilt. Within the current European Union various Member States and interest groups want to resort to transitional periods as far as the labour market is concerned. Many people are worried about the arrival of workers from Eastern European countries. Free movement of persons is a central pillar of the Internal Market. One might certainly imagine a certain transitional period, but it should be as short as possible. In a healthy economy, it is better to prepare for competition than to draw up new barriers."

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


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