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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-12-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] European Neighbourhood Policy : the first Action Plans
[02] Commission imposes €66.34 million fines on animal feed vitamin
cartel
[03] La Commission interdit l'acquisition de GDP par EDP et ENI
[04] Commission appoints new Director General of Eurostat
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] L'UE aide les parents rendre plus sûre l'utilisation de l'internet
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Schils by Van Drie
[07] La Commission autorise le rachat de RMC par Cemex
[08] EU-US Ministerial (10/12, The Hague)
[09] Peter Mandelson on the EU's relationship with China
[10] Ján Figel' welcomes the works of UNESCO on sport
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-12-09
Reference: MEX/04/1209
Date: 09/12/2004
EXME04 / 9.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
09/12/04
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] European Neighbourhood Policy : the first Action Plans
Moldova, Ukraine, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian
Authority are the first of the EU's neighbours to agree Action Plans, that
will make concrete the EU's new offer under the European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP). These first plans - approved today by the European Commission
- are the product of negotiations with each country, and in each case the
plan is specifically designed to reflect the specific interests of the
country concerned. The Action Plans will help strengthen democracy, good
governance, the rule of law and human rights as well as helping with
economic modernisation. The concrete benefits they contain, include the
chance to participate in some EU programmes and a stake in Single Market.
In addition the EU is offering more targeted help to tackle cross border
issues, such as migration and trafficking, as well as improved
interconnections and physical links with the EU in areas like energy and
transport.
[02] Commission imposes €66.34 million fines on animal feed vitamin
cartel
The European Commission has decided to impose fines totalling €66.34
million on Akzo Nobel, BASF and UCB for operating a cartel in the market
for choline chloride, Choline chloride, also known as vitamin B4, is used
mainly as a feed additive for poultry and pigs, to increase growth, reduce
mortality and improve meat quality. Clients are animal feed producers,
which in turn supply to European farmers. The level of the fines confirms
the Commission's determination to crack down hard on companies engaged in
cartel practices such as price fixing and market sharing.
[03] La Commission interdit l'acquisition de GDP par EDP et ENI
La Commission européenne a décidé d'interdire le projet
d'acquisition d'un contrôle conjoint de Gás de Portugal (GDP),
l'opérateur historique du gaz au Portugal, par Energias de Portugal (EDP),
l'opérateur historique de l'électricité dans ce pays, et ENI, une
société italienne du secteur de l'énergie, parce que l'opération aurait
entravé le jeu d'une concurrence effective. Après une enquête
approfondie, la Commission est parvenue la conclusion que l'opération
renforcerait la position dominante d'EDP sur les marchés de gros et de
détail de l'électricité au Portugal, ainsi que la position dominante de
GDP sur les marchés portugais du gaz. L'opération aurait donc pour effet
de réduire ou d'empêcher la libéralisation effective des marchés de
l'électricité et du gaz, et d'accroître les prix pour les particuliers
et les clients industriels. Les mesures correctives proposées par EDP et
ENI ont été jugées insuffisantes pour écarter les
préoccupations en matière de concurrence.
[04] Commission appoints new Director General of Eurostat
The European Commission has appointed Mr Günther Hanreich to the post of
Director-General for Eurostat, the European Union's statistical office. Mr
Hanreich, who is Austrian, was previously Director for Trans-European
Networks at the Commission's Directorate General for Energy and Transport.
He replaces Mr Michel Vanden Abeele, who was appointed on a temporary basis
in May 2003.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[05] L'UE aide les parents rendre plus sûre l'utilisation de l'internet
Le Conseil Télécommunications de l'UE a adopté aujourd'hui le programme
Safer Internet Plus, qui vise mettre la disposition des parents et des
enseignants des outils permettant de rendre l'internet plus sûr. Ce
programme dont la durée prévue est de quatre ans (2005-2008), a été
proposé par la Commission européenne en mars. Il est doté d'un budget de
45 millions d'€ pour lutter contre les contenus illicites et
préjudiciables sur l'internet. Il couvre également d'autres médias, tels
que les supports vidéo, et est explicitement conçu pour combattre le
racisme ainsi que les communications électroniques commerciales non
sollicitées ("spam"). Il sera particulièrement axé sur les besoins des
utilisateurs finaux: parents, éducateurs et enfants.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Schils by Van Drie
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
acquisition by Van Drie, a Dutch company specialised in calf and veal
production of Schils, another Dutch group mainly active in dry dairy
products. Van Drie has relatively strong positions in certain market
segments, such as slaughtering of calves and the veal wholesale market,
whilst Schils is an important player in calf feed production. The
Commission investigated the vertical and horizontal aspects of the merger
and concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective
competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.
[07] La Commission autorise le rachat de RMC par Cemex
La Commission européenne a décidé d'autoriser, en application du
règlement sur les concentrations de l'UE, le rachat de RMC par Cemex.
Cette opération réunira deux entreprises de matériaux de construction
exerçant leurs activités au niveau mondial. La Commission a conclu que
cette opération n'aurait pas pour conséquence d'entraver de manière
significative une concurrence effective dans l'EEE ou une partie
substantielle de celui-ci et l'a donc autorisée. L'entité issue de
l'opération comptera parmi les plus grandes entreprises de matériaux de
construction du monde.
[08] EU-US Ministerial (10/12, The Hague)
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, together with the High Representative for
the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the Dutch
Foreign Minister, Bernard Bot, representing the current EU Presidency, will
meet for a Ministerial Troika with US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, on
10 December 2004 in The Hague, Netherlands. The agenda concentrates on
multilateral political issues such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, the Middle
East, China, Russia, Ukraine and the Balkans. The ministerial plenary
session will be preceded by a working luncheon dedicated to a general
discussion on the future of the transatlantic relationship. Media advisory:
the Ministerial Troika meeting will be followed by a press conference at
around 16h45 ; EbS will be covering key moments.
[09] Peter Mandelson on the EU's relationship with China
Speaking to an EU-China Business summit in The Hague today European Trade
Commissioner Peter Mandelson stressed the importance of dramatic economic
change in China for the global economy, saying that China is the "great
change of our time" and that Europe must lift its relations with China "to
a new and higher level". He argued that China has made strides towards
fulfilling the commitments it made for WTO membership, and must now play an
active part in a successful Doha Round. Referring to the removal of textile
quotas on January 1 2005 as a "major prize" for China, Commissioner
Mandelson urged the Chinese to act to ensure that a sudden surge in Chinese
textiles exports did not damage small and vulnerable textile producing
countries.
[10] Ján Figel' welcomes the works of UNESCO on sport
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations)
held its 4th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials
responsible for Physical Education and Sports (MINEPS IV) in Vouliagmenis
(Greece) on 6-8 December. The EU's Member States and the Dutch Presidency
participated actively in this meeting. Three major issues were addressed by
the delegates : UNESCO's draft anti-doping convention, a draft strategy on
physical education and the issue of women in sport. Commissioner Ján
Figel', whose portfolio includes sport, welcomed the works of delegates :
"According to a recent Eurobarometer, the fight against doping is a
priority for a huge majority of Europeans and UNESCO's draft convention is
good news for everyone involved in that cause. The draft will be presented
at the UNESCO's general conference in September 2005 and ratifications will
start after that date”. Commissioner Figel' also greeted the choice by
the United Nations to make 2005 its "International Year of Sport and
Physical education". "This concept is very similar to that of the European
Year of Education through Sport which the EU has been celebrating
throughout this year", said the Commissioner. "We would be happy to share
our experiences from EYES with actors at the international level."
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Introductory remarks by Neelie Kroes at press conference on Choline
Chloride cartel and EDP/ENI/GDP merger decisions
Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Regional policy in the enlarged EU: how much
reform do we need?" at Centre for European Reform
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : " The Future of the UN: Results of the
Kofi Annan High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change" at
Conference organized by the European Policy Centre and the Konrad Adenauer
Stiftung (08/12)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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