Browse through our Interesting Nodes of Greek Local Authorities & Servers Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Monday, 14 October 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-05-31

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>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Estimation rapide - Mai 2002 - L'inflation de la zone euro estimée à 2, 0%
  • [02] Commission clears Irish Synergen venture between ESB and Statoil following strict commitments
  • [03] Commission clears take-over of German shipbuilder HDW by US's Bank One Corporation
  • [04] Commission refers BEG waste disposal joint venture to the German Cartel Office
  • [05] Commission oks Volkswagen's acquisition of full control of its exclusive wholesale distributor in Sweden
  • [06] Commission clears Preussag acquisition of Italian airline NEOS
  • [07] Les consommateurs considèrent que le passage à l'euro est un succès, mais éprouvent encore des difficultés de compréhension des prix
  • [08] Commission approves Austrian, Finnish and Swedish ban on high cadmium fertilizers
  • [09] La Commission se félicite du vote du Parlement en faveur de la directive sur la protection des données dans le domaine des communications électroniques
  • [10] Switzerland : seven new agreements enter into force 1st June 2002
  • [11] La Commission alloue une aide de 800 000 € à l'Equateur pour les victimes des inondations dans les régions côtières
  • [12] Franz Fischler in St Petersburg : "International cooperation more urgent than ever to secure future of fisheries"
  • [13] Metrology for better measurement in international trade : Commission helps to promote mutual recognition and trade
  • [14] Les projets de recherche de la Commission visent à renforcer la sécurité, la durabilité et la convivialité des transports
  • [15] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 31/05/2002 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 31/05/2002

  • [01] Estimation rapide - Mai 2002 - L'inflation de la zone euro estimée à 2, 0%

    Selon une estimation rapide publiée aujourd'hui par Eurostat, le taux d'inflation annuel de la zone euro s'établirait à 2,0% en mai 2002, en baisse par rapport à avril 2002 où le taux était de 2,4%.

    [02] Commission clears Irish Synergen venture between ESB and Statoil following strict commitments

    The European Commission has decided to clear the joint venture agreements between Ireland's dominant electricity company ESB and the Norwegian gas company Statoil relating to the Synergen power plant in Dublin. The clearance is subject to compliance with the commitments given to the Irish Commission for Electricity Regulation (CER), in particular to put 600 MW of electricity at the disposal of the market until additional sources of electricity become available in Ireland. This corresponds to approximately half of the consumption by the so-called eligible customers in Ireland, i.e. the customers that currently have the right to choose their electricity supplier.

    [03] Commission clears take-over of German shipbuilder HDW by US's Bank One Corporation

    The European Commission has authorised the proposed acquisition of the German submarine producer Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) by the American banking company Bank One Corporation. The Commission's investigation confirmed that the operation will not create anti-competitive effects, as the transaction will not result in any overlaps between the parties' activities in the European Union. The Commission's careful investigation has also failed to establish any links between Bank One and any US defence group with respect to the acquisition of HDW nor were there any indications that other companies were involved in the financing of the acquisition.

    [04] Commission refers BEG waste disposal joint venture to the German Cartel Office

    The European Commission has referred the proposed acquisition of joint control of the Bremerhavener Entsorgungsgesellschaft mbH (BEG) by Karl Nehlsen GmbH & Co KG (Nehlsen), Rethmann Entsorgungswirtschaft GmbH & Co KG (Rethmann) and swb AG (swb) to the German competition authority (Federal Cartel Office). The Federal Cartel Office requested this referral as the merger threatened to create dominant positions on the regional markets for the incineration of municipal and commercial wastes in Lower Saxony, Bremen and Hamburg.

    [05] Commission oks Volkswagen's acquisition of full control of its exclusive wholesale distributor in Sweden

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition by German carmaker Volkswagen AG of full control of Svenska Volkswagen AB, the exclusive wholesale distributor for the Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda motor vehicles as well as Porsche motor vehicles in Sweden. (The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)

    [06] Commission clears Preussag acquisition of Italian airline NEOS

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of the Italian charter airline NEOS, currently entirely controlled by NHT New Holding for Tourism B.V., by the German holding Preussag AG. Preussag operates in various sectors notably tourism, logistics and energy. (The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)

    [07] Les consommateurs considèrent que le passage à l'euro est un succès, mais éprouvent encore des difficultés de compréhension des prix

    Une nouvelle enquête Eurobaromètre publiée aujourd'hui par la Commission européenne révèle que les citoyens européens sont généralement satisfaits du passage à l'euro. Ils continuent toutefois à éprouver des difficultés de compréhension des prix et des montants exprimés dans la nouvelle monnaie. Les citoyens européens croient par ailleurs que l'introduction de l'euro a servi à masquer des majorations de prix. Les statistiques confirment qu'il y a eu des majorations de prix dans certains secteurs et professions (comme les restaurants, l'alimentation, les coiffeurs et les taxis) au cours des trois derniers mois, mais il est impossible de savoir si ces majorations sont imputables à l'euro ou à d'autres facteurs.

    [08] Commission approves Austrian, Finnish and Swedish ban on high cadmium fertilizers

    The European Commission has authorised Austria, Finland and Sweden to maintain their existing bans on the importation of fertilizers with a high cadmium content until 31 December 2005. The exemption concerns European Union legislation which guarantees the free circulation of fertilizers in the Internal Market. The bans concern phosphate fertilizers with a cadmium content above 75 mg/kg phosphate (P2O5) for Austria, above 50 mg/kg of phosphorous for Finland and above 100 mg/kg of phosphorous for Sweden. The Commission came to the conclusion that these bans are justified on the basis of risk assessments submitted by Austria, Finland and Sweden which show that there is an unacceptable risk from cadmium to humans and the environment.

    [09] La Commission se félicite du vote du Parlement en faveur de la directive sur la protection des données dans le domaine des communications électroniques

    Le Parlement européen a voté hier en faveur d'un compromis relatif à la proposition de directive sur la protection de la vie privée et des données à caractère personnel dans le domaine des communications électroniques. Ce compromis a fait l'objet de négociations au cours du mois écoulé entre la Présidence espagnole, la Commission européenne et le Parlement européen. Puisque le Parlement a donné son accord, la directive sera adoptée officiellement dans les prochains mois et sera mise en œuvre avant la fin de 2003.

    [10] Switzerland : seven new agreements enter into force 1st June 2002

    Seven new bilateral agreements between the European Union and Switzerland enter into force on 1st June 2002, on Free Movement of Persons, Air Transport, Carriage of Goods and Passengers by Rail and Road, Trade in Agricultural Products, Mutual Recognition in relation to Conformity Assessment, Government Procurement and Scientific and Technical co- operation. European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten said : "The entry into force of this new set of agreements represents a major step forward in strengthening the relations between the EU and the Swiss Confederation. To reinforce our deepening relationship, I hope that the current negotiations on processed agricultural goods, statistics, the fight against fraud and the environment will be concluded shortly and that we will soon be launching negotiations on four new areas. Alongside this good progress, I would like to underline once again the European Commission's desire to see the rapid conclusion of negotiations on cooperation against fraud, and the immediate launch of negotiations on savings tax. In the meantime, we remain committed to doing all we can to advance relations with Switzerland."

    [11] La Commission alloue une aide de 800 000 € à l'Equateur pour les victimes des inondations dans les régions côtières

    La Commission européenne a approuvé l'octroi d'une aide de 800.000€ à l'Equateur pour venir en aide aux populations vivant dans les régions côtières, victimes d'inondations suite aux pluies continues des mois de février, mars et avril 2002. Les fonds serviront à financer des opérations visant à rétablir l'accès à l'eau potable de quelque 10.000 familles et à aider 4.000 autres familles à retrouver un niveau minimum d'autosuffisance. L'argent est alloué par l'Office d'Aide Humanitaire de la Commission (ECHO) qui relève de la responsabilité du Commissaire Poul Nielson. Depuis 1999, ECHO a alloué plus de 3 millions d'€ d'aide humanitaire en faveur de l'Equateur.

    [12] Franz Fischler in St Petersburg : "International cooperation more urgent than ever to secure future of fisheries"

    Addressing the 7th North-Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference, Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, stressed the need for fisheries managers to work together to find effective solutions to the problems experienced in fisheries world- wide. He cited the case of the blue whiting stock which is severely overexploited after years of overfishing as one of the cases where only cooperation among the parties concerned would ensure sustainability in this fishery. Mr Fischler also presented the Commission proposals for a substantial reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. "The current situation clearly demonstrates that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has failed to deliver sustainability in European fisheries. It is not an exaggeration or mere rhetoric to say that only a deep reform of the CFP will secure the future of our fishermen and fish stocks. Our reform package aims to achieve sustainable ecological, economic and social fisheries in Europe. By bringing forward a social action plan for the fishermen concerned, we also live up to our social responsibility". This Conference, which was hosted by Mr. Nazdratenko, Chairman of the State Committee for Fisheries of the Russian Federation in Saint-Petersburg, took place from 29 to 31 May 2002. The next Conference will be held in Canada. In a bilateral meeting, Evnegy Nazdratenko, Chairman of the State Committee for Fisheries of the Russian Federation and Mr Fischler agreed to envisage launching the formal negociations for a Fisheries Agreement between the Russian Federation and the EU during the second half of July 2002.

    [13] Metrology for better measurement in international trade : Commission helps to promote mutual recognition and trade

    Today's global economy requires reliable measurements. Good measurements need to be tailored to scientifically sound standards or references. The Commission aims to remove impediments to international trade. Research projects, such as RegMet and MetroTrade, foster the introduction of internationally accepted standard and measurement capability and provide for quantifiable and comparable measurement results. This should help avoid misunderstandings and disputes, and reduce barriers to trade. The RegMet/Metrotrade workshop, held at the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Geel, Belgium on 30th - 31st May, 2002, provided a forum to foster dialogue between the metrology community and regulatory and trade stakeholders. Increasing awareness of the need for comparable measurement systems is one of this forum's key objectives.

    [14] Les projets de recherche de la Commission visent à renforcer la sécurité, la durabilité et la convivialité des transports

    La mobilité accrue des personnes et des marchandises stimule la création d'emplois et l'activité économique en Europe. Mais la croissance du trafic neutralise une partie des avantages qu'elle a créés. Une grande conférence intitulée "Les transports de surface pour le développement durable" se tiendra à Valence (Espagne) du 4 au 6 juin. Organisée par la Commission avec le soutien du ministère espagnol de la science et de la technologie, cette manifestation réunira 800 chefs d'entreprise, chercheurs et responsables politiques qui examineront les principaux défis technologiques et industriels auxquels sont confrontés les transports ferroviaires, routiers et maritimes. Au nombre des participants figurent M. Philippe Busquin, Commissaire européen chargé de la recherche, et Mme Anna Birulés, ministre espagnole de la science et de la technologie. "La Commission est déterminée à préserver les avantages de la mobilité pour les générations futures", a déclaré M. Busquin. "Nous devons garantir la durabilité et la viabilité économique des transports. Les meilleurs ingénieurs et chercheurs de l'UE doivent collaborer pour rendre notre secteur des transports plus innovateur, plus rentable et plus respectueux de l'environnement. La mise en commun de l'excellence au niveau de l'UE en vue de produire une valeur ajoutée réelle est l'un des principaux axes de l'Espace européen de la recherche et du 6ème programme-cadre de recherche qui sera lancé prochainement". Les priorités de recherche de la Commission dans le secteur des transports concernent le renforcement de la compétitivité du transport ferroviaire, la promotion des transports maritimes et par voies navigables et la promotion de l'intermodalité et de l'interopérabilité.

    [15] Autre matériel diffusé

    Note sur la préparation du Conseil Emploi et Affaires sociales (03/06)

    Commission chairs information meeting on freight traffic through Channel Tunnel

    Discours d'ouverture de Mme Reding : "Tuning Educational structures in Europe: from Prague to Berlin, the EU contribution" à la Tuning Closing Conference

    Calendrier du 3 au 8 juin


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


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    midex2html v1.04 run on Friday, 31 May 2002 - 11:30:05 UTC