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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 03-10-31
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission ends monitoring of FIA/Formula One compliance with 2001
settlement
[02] Les secteurs de la construction automobile, des fibres synthétiques et
de la construction navale seront régis par des règles spécifiques en
matière d'aides d'Etat jusque 2006 au moins
[03] Commission clears Swedish electricity merger
[04] New privacy rules for digital networks and services : Directive kicks
in today
[05] October 2003 : the Business Climate Indicator for the euro area shows
a clear upturn
[06] October 2003 : economic sentiment continues its upward trend
[07] Estimation rapide - octobre 2003 : l'inflation de la zone euro estimée
à 2,1%
[08] Septembre 2003 : les prix à la production industrielle stables dans la
zone euro et dans l'UE15
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 31/10/2003
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 31/10/2003
[01] Commission ends monitoring of FIA/Formula One compliance with 2001
settlement
The European Commission is satisfied that the conflict of interests
identified in the FIA regulations and the restrictions that had been put on
circuit owners, F1 teams and TV broadcasters have been ended. This
assessment comes after a period of monitoring compliance of the settlement
reached in October 2001 with international motor racing body FIA and the
Formula One companies. FIA's role is now limited to that of a sports
regulator. Circuit owners can, if they wish, organise rival championships
and car manufacturers will in the future be able to participate in races
other than those organised by the Formula One company. Television contracts
have also been significantly shortened, which allows broadcasters to bid
for coverage of this popular sport at regular intervals.
[02] Les secteurs de la construction automobile, des fibres synthétiques et
de la construction navale seront régis par des règles spécifiques en
matière d'aides d'Etat jusque 2006 au moins
Après avoir consulté les Etats membres, la Commission européenne a décidé
de proroger les dispositions transitoires qui s'appliquent actuellement aux
secteurs de la construction automobile et des fibres synthétiques. Elle a
également décidé que, en ce qui concerne le secteur de la construction
navale, les dispositions sectorielles existantes relatives aux aides
régionales à l'investissement seraient maintenues, sur le fond, jusque
2006.
[03] Commission clears Swedish electricity merger
The European Commission has cleared the acquisition by the Swedish
electricity company Sydkraft of its rival Graninge, both of whom are active
primarily in Sweden and Finland. The Commission was concerned that the
merger would impede competition in Sweden where the three largest players,
including Sydkraft, account for about 80% of the electricity markets.
However, the Commission's investigation demonstrated that the merger would
have no or very limited effect on the competitive structure of the Swedish
and other Nordic markets.
[04] New privacy rules for digital networks and services : Directive kicks
in today
As from today EU Member States must comply with the Directive on Privacy
and Electronic Communications, which sets EU standards for the protection
of privacy and personal data in electronic communications. The Directive
includes basic obligations to ensure the security and confidentiality of
communications over EU electronic networks, including internet and mobile
services. It sets out specific conditions for installing so-called
"cookies" on users' personal computers and for using location data
generated by mobile phones. Notably, the Directive also introduces a 'ban
on spam' throughout the EU.
[05] October 2003 : the Business Climate Indicator for the euro area shows
a clear upturn
The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area increased by almost
0.25 points between September and October, continuing the upward trend
since August. The BCI reached a value of -0.18, its highest value since May
2001. The BCI combines the responses of managers in industry to the
questions regarding production trend in the recent past, production
expectations, total order books, export order books and stocks of finished
products. The slight worsening recorded in October in production
expectations and in stocks of finished products were more than offset by
improvements in the assessment of production trend in the recent past,
total and export order books.
[06] October 2003 : economic sentiment continues its upward trend
The economic sentiment indicator (ESI) continued its rise in October,
reaching 95.9 in the EU and 95.6 in the euro area. The indicator increased
for the third consecutive month and is now at its highest level for the
past 12 months. The improvement of the ESI is due to a rise in confidence
in the business sector. Retailers, in particular, are clearly more upbeat
compared with the views they held just two months ago. In the industry
sector, the business climate has continued its trend towards more optimism
already observed in the previous two months. A slight improvement in
confidence seems to be underway also in the construction sector, although
in view of the development over the last 12 months this needs to be
confirmed in the coming months. The overall picture of increasing optimism
in the business sector is complemented by data from the services sector,
which shows a consolidation of the strong improvements observed over the
past six months. Consumer confidence remained unchanged for the second
month in a row, following its earlier sustained rise.
[07] Estimation rapide - octobre 2003 : l'inflation de la zone euro estimée
à 2,1%
Selon une estimation rapide publiée aujourd'hui par Eurostat, le taux
d'inflation annuel de la zone euro s'établirait à 2,1% en octobre 2003. En
septembre 2003, le taux était de 2,1%.
[08] Septembre 2003 : les prix à la production industrielle stables dans la
zone euro et dans l'UE15
Au mois de septembre 2003, les prix à la production industrielle dans la
zone euro sont restés inchangés par rapport au mois précédent, selon les
estimations publiées aujourd'hui par Eurostat. Les prix dans l'UE15 sont
aussi restés stables. Au mois d'août 2003, ils avaient augmenté de 0,2%
dans les deux zones. En septembre 2003 et par rapport à septembre 2002, les
prix à la production industrielle ont augmenté de 1,1% tant dans la zone
euro que dans l'UE15.
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Pascal Lamy : "EU-China relations: continuity and change" at EU
Chamber of Commerce in China (Beijing)
Discours de M. Barnier: "La politique régionale et les régions ultra-
périphériques" à la 9ème conférence des présidents des régions ultra-
périphériques (La Martique, ! embargo 17h00 !) Calendrier du 3 au 8
novembre 2003
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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