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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 00-06-22
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
22/06/2000
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission approves BT acquisition of Telfort
[02] New German system of fixed booked prices does not violate EU
competition rules as long as certain conditions are respected
[03] Loyola de Palacio se félicite des engagements pris par le Conseil
européen en faveur de la création du ciel unique et de l'ouverture du
marché de l'énergie
[04] Commission launches First Stage Consultation of social partners on
modernising and improving employment relations
[05] EU and Turkey open contacts on harmonising Turkish law
[06] Visit of Philippe Busquin at WHO headquarters Geneva
[07] Frits Bolkestein outlines postal services proposal to Parliament
Committee
[01] Commission approves BT acquisition of Telfort
The European Commission has approved the acquisition by British
Telecommunications plc (BT) of control of the whole of the Dutch
undertaking Telfort Holding N.V. (Telfort). Telfort was previously jointly
controlled by BT and the Dutch undertaking NS Groep N.V. The change from
joint to sole control, and the withdrawal of NS Groep from Telfort will not
bring about any material change in the market position of BT or Telfort.
For this reason the Commission has decided not to oppose this operation and
to declare it compatible with the common market.
[02] New German system of fixed booked prices does not violate EU
competition rules as long as certain conditions are respected
The European Commission has, after a first examination, reached the
preliminary conclusion that the new agreements between publishers and
booksellers in Germany on fixed book prices at national level do not fall
within the scope of application of the EC competition rules. The condition
for this, however, is that the rules on re-imports of German books and
direct cross-border sales to end consumers at free prices are respected.
With the publication of a notice pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Council
Regulation No. 17 the Commission has announced its intention to give
clearance to the agreements notified. At the same time it has invited
comments from interested third parties.
[03] Loyola de Palacio se félicite des engagements pris par le Conseil
européen en faveur de la création du ciel unique et de l'ouverture du
marché de l'énergie
A l'issue du conseil européen de Feira, Loyola de Palacio, vice-présidente
de la Commission européenne en charge des Transports et de l'Energie, a
fait part de sa grande satisfaction sur les conclusions qui ont réaffirmé
l'engagement de l'Union européenne en faveur de plusieurs projets clés dans
le domaine des transports et de l'énergie, notamment : (i) l'invitation
faite à la Commission de présenter pour mars 2001 un rapport sur
l'évolution des marchés de l'énergie : "Cette invitation devrait permettre
à l'UE d'avancer à grands pas vers une intégration accrue des marchés de
l'énergie. A quelques semaines de la date limite pour la transposition de
la directive sur la libéralisation des marchés du gaz, il s'agit d'un geste
politique de grande importance." ; (ii) l'invitation à poursuivre au sein
de Groupe à haut niveau les travaux sur un espace aérien européen unique :
un rapport final sera présenté au plus tard au premier semestre 2001 ;
(iii) la demande à la Commission de présenter dès le Conseil européen de
Biarritz un rapport sur la stratégie globale sur la sécurité des transports
maritimes pour décision à la fin de l'année ; (iv) le soutien à Galileo et
l'intention de prendre une décision sur cette question avant fin 2000. "Ces
engagements clairs pris par le Conseil européen sont de bon augure pour
avancer rapidement sur ces dossiers : la décision de proposer des dates
précises démontre la volonté des Etats de donner la priorité à ces actions
de grand l'impact sur la vie quotidienne des citoyens."
[04] Commission launches First Stage Consultation of social partners on
modernising and improving employment relations
The European Commission has written to the social partners at European
level to seek their views on ways to modernise and improve employment
relations. They are asked to respond by 15 September. The Commission's aim
is to encourage them to take a more active role in modernising the European
social model. This is in line with the Conclusions of the European Council
in Lisbon. Welcoming the move, Employment and Social affairs Commissioner
Anna Diamantopoulou said : "Many of the present laws and collective
agreements were designed for an organisation of work which is now outdated.
A thorough review is needed to adapt them to the ways labour is now
organised. We want to support the modernisation rather than hindering it."
[05] EU and Turkey open contacts on harmonising Turkish law
A further step in the implementation of the Helsinki European Council's
decision on Turkey was made today through the opening of structured
contacts to intensify the harmonization of Turkey's legislation and
practice with the rules and legislation of the European Union.
[06] Visit of Philippe Busquin at WHO headquarters Geneva
Today, European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Director General
of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Gro Harlem Brundtland will sign a
joint statement on research in the area of infectious diseases such as Aids,
malaria and tuberculosis stressing the link existing between the spread of
those diseases and poverty. "The emergence of major communicable diseases
such as HIV and the resurgence of malaria and tuberculosis, especially in
the least developed regions, raises the demand for research at a time of
rapid advances in molecular medicine and biotechnology", says Philippe
Busquin, adding that "the key actors developing and using those new
technologies for treatment must be mobilised". Dr Brundtland and Mr Busquin
both underline the need to step up research in order to improve health at
the global level. In fact, both the Commission and the WHO are hugely
concerned by the spread of those diseases and the fact that health
inequalities in the world remain entrenched. Therefore, both partners have
decided to considerably reinforce collaboration and to up-scale efforts in
order to deliver treatment accessible to the poor. The WHO and the
Commission will undertake efforts to raise the global level of resources
for this type of research.
[07] Frits Bolkestein outlines postal services proposal to Parliament
Committee
This proposal steers a careful, balanced and moderate course: while we
cannot follow the fastest, we cannot wait for the slowest either, European
Commissioner for Internal Market Frits Bolkestein told the European
Parliament Committee for Regional Affairs, Transport and Tourism. "It is
not radical as some may suggest. It is a balancing act between the need to
change and the time needed to bring change about. That is the reason I
propose the step-by-step approach. There are no "big bang" solutions in the
postal sector nor do we want to steamroll through a radical solution. In
particular, we should not forget businesses and household consumers who
want a service-oriented postal sector of high quality business groupings
and the main consumers' organisation favour opening the market much faster
and further than the Commission is proposing. I therefore commend this well
balanced proposal to you and I am looking forward to a fruitful
discussion."
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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