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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-05-19
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
19/05/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission and OLAF to participate in the Ancona Conference (19-20
May)
[02] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Burmah Castrol par BP Amoco
[03] Commission seeks a mandate for negotiations with Japan on a
cooperation agreement in the competition field
[04] Commission clears purchase of Cordant Technologies by Alcoa
[05] Commission publishes Spring 2000 economic forecast for the candidate
countries
[06] "East is East" de Damien O'Donnell vainqueur du prix Media de cinéma
pour l'année 2000
[07] Commission invokes clause suspending signing of new financing
agreements with Ethiopia and Eritrea due to conflict
[08] Iraq : Commission approves humanitarian aid worth euro 8.6 million for
vulnerable populations
[01] Commission and OLAF to participate in the Ancona Conference (19-20
May)
The President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, Budget Commissioner
Michaele Schreyer, in charge of the fight against fraud, and Franz Hermann
Bruener, director of the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) will participate
in the Conference on Development and Security in the Adriatic and Ionian
regions on 19-20 May. This conference will focus on dialogue and co-
operation in the region, related to economical issues, transport,
sustainable development, the environment, culture, education and crime
prevention. President Prodi said : "This region at the heart of Europe
deserves our special attention. The potential and the opportunity for
successful cooperation are considerable and we must work together to solve
our common problems." Special attention will be paid to cooperation between
Commission, OLAF, and Adriatic and Ionian States, both EU and non-EU
members, in respect of illegal activities by organised international
criminal networks, which harm the EU's financial interests. For instance,
cigarette smuggling alone accounts for yearly losses to the EU budget of
more than euro 1 billion. Mrs Schreyer said : "Fight against fraud and
protection of the Communities' financial interests represent major
priorities for the European Commission. The Ancona Conference is a welcome
opportunity to lay foundations for closer cooperation in a region rightly
concerned about illegal activities jeopardising security and welfare of its
citizens."
[02] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Burmah Castrol par BP Amoco
La Commission européenne a approuvé l'acquisition de la société britannique
de lubrifiants Burmah Castrol par BP Amoco (BPA), société pétrolière anglo-
américaine. Cette opération fera de BPA le troisième producteur de
lubrifiants au monde et consolidera sensiblement sa position dans ce
secteur. Bien que la position de BPA dans le domaine des lubrifiants soit
renforcée par la marque solide, l'expertise technique et la recherche
"produits" de Castrol, la Commission a conclu que l'opération ne créera pas
de position dominante.
[03] Commission seeks a mandate for negotiations with Japan on a
cooperation agreement in the competition field
The European Commission is seeking a mandate from the Council in order to
negotiate with Japan a bilateral cooperation agreement regarding the
application of competition law similar to the ones that the EU have already
concluded with the Governments of the United States and of Canada. The
envisaged agreement would make it easier for the Commission and the
Japanese competition authority to exchange information on international
competition cases and coordinate their investigations to the extent
possible under domestic rules.
[04] Commission clears purchase of Cordant Technologies by Alcoa
The European Commission has given its green light to a plan by US aluminium
producer Alcoa to acquire control of Cordant Technologies, another US
company which makes products for the aerospace industry. The Commission
concluded after a routine review that the companies' activities are
complementary and that although this could result in some vertical
relationships it would not have any anticompetitive effects.
[05] Commission publishes Spring 2000 economic forecast for the candidate
countries
Economic developments in the candidate countries in the second half of 1999
have been positive and have brightened growth prospects. A gradual recovery
in the second half of 1999, driven by the acceleration of growth in the EU,
mitigated the negative effects of the Russian crisis and of the Kosovo
conflict that affected many countries in the second half of 1998 and the
first half of 1999. The economic developments in Turkey were overshadowed
by the earthquake of August 1999. As a result of the continuation of the
recovery, our outlook for 2000 and 2001 is optimistic. The influence of the
improved external environment will be further strengthened by the positive
effects of domestic adjustment programmes. The full text of the forecast
will be available on DG ECFIN webpage (http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/new/new_en.htm)
as from Monday 22 May.
[06] "East is East" de Damien O'Donnell vainqueur du prix Media de cinéma
pour l'année 2000
Viviane Reding, commissaire européenne responsable de la Culture et de
l'Audiovisuel, a remis aujourd'hui à Cannes lors de la clôture de la
Quinzaine des Réalisateurs le nouveau prix Media de cinéma à Damien
O'Donnell, réalisateur de "East is East". Le prix Media est attribué chaque
année au premier film d'un réalisateur qui a été distribué, grâce au
programme Media, dans le plus grand nombre d'Etats européens.
[07] Commission invokes clause suspending signing of new financing
agreements with Ethiopia and Eritrea due to conflict
Ever since the outbreak of the military conflict between Ethiopia and
Eritrea some two years ago, the European Commission has been carefully re-
examining its development cooperation with these countries. Because of the
conflict, the conditions for disbursement of credits of the Structural
Adjustment Support Programmes, financed by the Commission, were tightened
up. As a direct result of this tightening Ethiopia has not received any
budgetary support from the Commission since January 1999. Whilst previously
approved development projects are, for the moment, being implemented as
foreseen, the Commission has decided, following consultation with Member
States, not to sign any new financing agreements for new development
projects for Ethiopia and Eritrea as long as these countries are engaged in
conflict. The Commission is sincerely worried that the renewed outbreak of
fighting will have a negative effect on the humanitarian efforts undertaken
to bring food aid to the people affected by the drought. The fighting is
taking up much needed human resources, while access to some areas is
becoming impossible. The Commission is furthermore concerned about the lack
of adequate transport facilities to bring food aid to the regions where it
is needed.
[08] Iraq : Commission approves humanitarian aid worth euro 8.6 million for
vulnerable populations
The European Commission has approved a humanitarian programme worth euro
8.6 million to assist vulnerable populations (mainly children and mothers
with dependent families) in Iraq. This programme comes in addition to euro
250 million in humanitarian aid that the Commission has provided to Iraq
since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, making the Commission the biggest
donor in this country. The main activities to be implemented within the
programme are : the improvement of water quality, hygiene and health care ;
the provision of support for handicapped children, orphans and street
children ; the supply of medicines and medical equipment ; support for the
refurbishment of hospitals, dispensaries and surgery units. The programme
is designed to ensure maximum complementarity with the UN Oil for Food
programme (Resolution 986). A majority of the projects are destined for
central and southern Iraq where the humanitarian situation is currently
considered to be more acute than in Northern Iraq. The different projects
will be implemented through NGO's and UN agencies, including Care (UK),
Première Urgence (France), Médecins du Monde (France), Enfants du
Monde/Droits de l'Homme (France), Red Cross (Netherlands), Unicef and UNCHS
(UN Centre for Human Settlements, Habitat).
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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