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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-05-29
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
29/05/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] EU research fosters development of fuel-less car
[02] Commission and Lithuania sign joint assessment of medium-term economic
policy priorities
[03] Commission gives green light to a US joint venture between BellSouth
and SBC Communications
[04] La Commission autorise la création d'une entreprise commune en Grèce
entre Carrefour et Marinopoulos
[05] Commission opens full probe into Boeing's acquisition of the satellite
business of Hughes Electronics
[06] La Commission signe un prêt de 212,5 millions d'euros pour moderniser
des centrales nucléaires en Bulgarie
[07] Frits Bolkestein underlines crucial role of industrial and
intellectual property protection for EU competitiveness
[01] EU research fosters development of fuel-less car
No noise, no pollution, no motor, high efficiency - this could be the car
that people will be driving in five years if a new promising technology to
fuel private cars and busses makes its way to the market. In fact, the so-
called fuel cell car already exists as a prototype produced by several big
motor vehicle manufacturers. Today, this technology will be presented by
European Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, who is confident that
"we are making real progress on the way to a means of transport that
combines the comfort of a normal car (or bus) with zero pollution". The
Commissioner is equally impressed by the good cooperation between academia
and industry in Europe and hopes that putting such a vehicle on the road
will convince policy-makers and industry that they are looking at a viable
and sustainable new way of transport.
[02] Commission and Lithuania sign joint assessment of medium-term economic
policy priorities
(! embargo 1 pm !) Mr Valentinas Milaknis, Minister of Economy of the
Republic of Lithuania, and Mr Giovanni Ravasio, Commission Director General
for Economic and Financial Affairs, signed today the "Joint Assessment of
medium-term economic policy priorities of the Republic of Lithuania" for
the period up to 2005 as part of the pre-accession process.
[03] Commission gives green light to a US joint venture between BellSouth
and SBC Communications
The European Commission has authorised the creation of a joint venture in
the mobile telecommunications sector between BellSouth Corp and SBC
Communications Inc, both of the United States. The proposed joint venture
will combine Bellsouth's US-wide mobile data business and its mobile voice
interests in the South Eastern US with SBC's mobile voice interests in
California and the central and Eastern US.
[04] La Commission autorise la création d'une entreprise commune en Grèce
entre Carrefour et Marinopoulos
La Commission européenne a autorisé un projet par lequel les groupes de
distribution Carrefour, France, et Marinopoulos Brother SA, Grèce, créent
une entreprise commune à parts égales qui regroupera notamment les chaînes
d'hypermarchés Carrefour Hellas et Continent Hellas ainsi que les enseignes
Hypermarinopoulos et Niki. L'opération ne change pas la situation
concurrentielle sur le marché grec car le groupe Carrefour détenait déjà
des participations dans les deux sociétés de Marinopoulos.
[05] Commission opens full probe into Boeing's acquisition of the satellite
business of Hughes Electronics
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into the
proposed acquisition by the Boeing Company of the satellite business of
Hughes Electronics Corporation. The initial investigation has shown that
the operation could strengthen Hughes' already leading position in
commercial communication geostationary satellites (GEO satellites) ; there
are also indications that, after the transaction, Hughes could induce its
satellite customers to procure launch services from Boeing. In view of
Hughes' current market position in GEO satellites, and of the recent
development of Boeing's activities in launch services, the Commission has
therefore identified risks that the acquisition may lead to the creation or
strengthening of a dominant position on these markets. Concerns have also
been raised with regard to access for third parties to certain satellite
equipment manufactured by Hughes.
[06] La Commission signe un prêt de 212,5 millions d'euros pour moderniser
des centrales nucléaires en Bulgarie
(! embargo 15h00 !) La Commission européenne a signé aujourd'hui, au nom
d'Euratom, un prêt consenti à la centrale nucléaire de Kozloduy (KNPP). Le
gouvernement bulgare et la Compagnie nationale bulgare d'électricité (NEK)
garantissent ce prêt. Le projet porte sur la modernisation et
l'amélioration, jusqu'à des niveaux de sûreté acceptables sur le plan
international, de deux réacteurs nucléaires VVER 1000 russes de la
troisième génération. Il fait partie intégrante de l'accord concernant la
fermeture des unités plus anciennes et techniquement moins avancées. Le
projet est déjà entré dans sa phase préparatoire. Un consortium européen
participe à ce projet.
[07] Frits Bolkestein underlines crucial role of industrial and
intellectual property protection for EU competitiveness
The EU Trade Mark system has proved highly successful in helping to create
a business environment which nurtured dynamism and creativity, European
Commissioner for Internal Market, Frits Bolkestein, told a conference at
the EU Trade Mark Office in Alicante, but more now needs to be done.
Speaking on the protection of industrial property in Europe and its place
in the world, he said that : "The ambition is now to develop a system of EU-
wide protection for industrial designs compatible with that provided for
trademarks". The Commissioner outlined what the Commission has already
achieved at EU and international levels in the field of industrial and
intellectual property protection and said there would be important
legislative improvements this year, including a proposal to set up an EU
Patent. "The need for protection of industrial property rights for
innovation and employment and its impact on competition is crucial. I am
convinced that the importance of intellectual property rights will continue
to grow", he said, noting that the extension of the EU Trade Mark system to
cover new Member States in an enlarged EU would be a difficult challenge.
This year the Trade Mark office in Alicante expects to receive some 60,000
applications for trademarks.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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