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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-06-15
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
15/06/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] La Commission se félicite de la finalisation des négociations
d'accords "vins" et "spiritueux" entre l'UE et l'Afrique du Sud
[02] Commission approves telephone directory joint venture between Telenor
Media and Viag Interkom
[03] Commission opens full investigation into Time Warner/EMI merger
[04] La Commission ouvre une enquête sur l'acquisition par Swissair d'une
participation dans Portugália, une compagnie aérienne portugaise
[05] La Commission œuvre en faveur d'une utilisation plus sûre d'Internet
[06] Commission issues reports on parental control technologies aimed at
enhancing safety of Internet
[07] Telecommunications : Commission opens infringement proceedings against
Germany and UK
[08] A European foreign policy : ambition and reality
[09] European support for regional integration and cooperation is vital for
economic and social development of West Africa
[01] La Commission se félicite de la finalisation des négociations
d'accords "vins" et "spiritueux" entre l'UE et l'Afrique du Sud
Les négociateurs de l'Union européenne et de l'Afrique du Sud sont arrivés
à un accord technique ad référendum, vendredi 9 juin 2000, sur la
conclusion de deux accords bilatéraux relatifs au commerce du vin et des
spiritueux. Les textes consolidés des deux accords seront formellement
présentés au Conseil des ministres dans les semaines à venir. Une fois
approuvés par le Conseil, il est prévu que les deux accords entreront en
vigueur le 1er septembre 2000 après signature entre les deux parties.
[02] Commission approves telephone directory joint venture between Telenor
Media and Viag Interkom
The European Commission has approved the creation of a joint enterprise by
Viag Interkom, jointly controlled by BT, Viag and Telenor groups, and
Telenor Media S.A., part of the Telenor Group, to provide directory
assistance services in Germany. The establishment of this joint venture,
which will compete with directory assistance companies such as the
subsidiaries of the Deutsche Telekom, does not give rise to competition
concerns.
[03] Commission opens full investigation into Time Warner/EMI merger
The European Commission has decided to open a full investigation into the
proposed merger in the music sector between Time Warner Inc. and the EMI
Group plc. The focus of the Commission's investigation is likely to be on
recorded music, music publishing as well as digital delivery of music via
the Internet.
[04] La Commission ouvre une enquête sur l'acquisition par Swissair d'une
participation dans Portugália, une compagnie aérienne portugaise
La Commission européenne a ouvert une enquête approfondie sur le projet
d'acquisition du contrôle en commun de Portugália, une compagnie aérienne
portugaise, par SAirGroup, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Partest et Banco
Comercial Português. La Commission a relevé des éléments qui semblent
indiquer que l'opération pourrait créer une position dominante sur un
certain nombre de liaisons au départ et à destination d'aéroports
portugais.
[05] La Commission œuvre en faveur d'une utilisation plus sûre d'Internet
Dix projets sont actuellement financés dans le cadre du plan d'action de la
Commission européenne visant à promouvoir une utilisation plus sûre
d'Internet. D'une durée de quatre ans (1999-2002), ce plan est doté d'un
budget de 25 millions d'euros destiné au financement de mesures visant à
lutter contre le contenu illicite et préjudiciable du réseau planétaire. Un
nouvel appel de propositions concernant des actions de sensibilisation et
des permanences téléphoniques a également été lancé.
[06] Commission issues reports on parental control technologies aimed at
enhancing safety of Internet
The European Commission has released two reports in the framework of the
Action Plan on promoting safer use of the Internet. The reports cover the
two main types of technologies currently available to help parents ensure
that their children can use the Internet safely - content filtering based
on self-labelling and on third-party rating. The conclusion of the reports
is that further work is needed to improve existing technologies so that
they meet the needs of European users, and make a number of recommendations.
[07] Telecommunications : Commission opens infringement proceedings against
Germany and UK
In order to ensure the effective introduction and availability of carrier
pre-selection within the European Union, the European Commission has
decided to open formal infringement proceedings against Germany and the
United Kingdom. Letters of formal notice have been sent to these Member
States for failure to implement the Telephone Numbering Directive on time.
The Member States concerned will be invited to reply to the Commission's
concerns within one month.
[08] A European foreign policy : ambition and reality
(! embargo 8 pm !) In a speech to the Institut Français des Relations
Internationales (IFRI) in Paris, European Commissioner for External
Relations Chris Patten identifies the "projection of stability as the EU's
essential mission, and the central objective of CFSP". He outlines three
overall goals for CSFP : (i) effective management by the EU of
relationships with its closest neighbours ; (ii) drawing on the EU's
experience to reflect abroad what is best about our own model ; (iii)
making better use of our combined potential to ensure that the EU is a
serious counterpart to the US on a global stage. Mr Patten calls for a
"seamless" combination of national foreign policies, EU policy, and CFSP
itself : what is needed is "a sensible and sensitive partnership between
the institutions of the Union and the Member States".
[09] European support for regional integration and cooperation is vital for
economic and social development of West Africa
This was the message sent by European Commissioner for Development and
Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson to the meeting between representatives of the
European Commission, the 16 member states of the West African Economic
Community (ECOWAS) and regional organisations (UEMOA, CILSS) in Bamako,
Mali on 13-15 June. Within the framework of the 4th Lomé Convention,
European aid to the region amounts to euro 228 million for the five year
period up to 2001. The current programme focuses on five areas : support
for the Regional Integration Process, regional trade and private sector
development, institutions and capacity building, agricultural research,
regional transport systems, mainly roads. Other areas discussed in Bamako
included natural and human resources and conflict prevention. The European
Union supports the ECOWAS conflict prevention mechanism and discussions
focussed on how to strengthen cooperation between Europe and West Africa in
this area. The meeting concluded that there was a satisfactory level of
financial commitments and spending during 1999 and positive prospects for
2000. Annual spending is euro 30 million and is expected to double on the
next five years. However, it was recognised that renewed efforts must be
made on all sides to improve the implementation of the programmes, in order
to meet the ambitious integration goals set by the region. The meeting also
discussed the prospects for regional integration in the light of the new EU-
ACP Partnership Agreement to be signed on 23 June in Cotonou, Benin.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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