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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-03-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission approves planned acquisition of Chips by Orkla, subject to
conditions
[02] Commission clears acquisition of lens producer Sola by Carl Zeiss and
EQT
[03] La Commission enquête sur les obligations de service public sur les
liaisons aériennes avec la Sardaigne
[04] January 2005 : Euro-zone unemployment stable at 8.8% - EU25 down to
8.8%
[05] Janvier 2005 par rapport janvier 2004 : baisse du volume des ventes
du commerce de détail de 0,6% dans la zone euro - hausse de 0,9% dans
l'UE25
[06] Danuta Hübner welcomes the contribution of the regions to the growth
and jobs agenda
[07] Louis Michel prône la mise en place d'une "stratégie européenne de
développement" devant l'Assemblée Nationale Française
[08] Olli Rehn to visit Turkey
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner visits Sri Lanka (07-08/03)
[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner visits Indonesia (09-12/03)
[11] EU-Japan High Level Meeting on Regulatory Reform, 4th March 2005
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-03-04
Reference: MEX/05/0304
Date: 04/03/2005
EXME05/ 4.3
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
04/03/05
[01] Commission approves planned acquisition of Chips by Orkla, subject to
conditions
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the proposed acquisition of Chips by Orkla. The Commission's
investigation highlighted some concerns in certain sectors of the Finnish
convenience foods market, but Orkla was able to address these concerns by
offering to terminate some of its current distribution arrangements. In the
light of these commitments, the Commission has concluded that the
transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA
or any substantial part of it and has therefore approved the concentration.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of lens producer Sola by Carl Zeiss and
EQT
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the US lens producer Sola by a joint company
controlled by the European private equity firm EQT and the German optical
products company Carl Zeiss. The Commission has concluded that the proposed
transaction will not significantly impede effective competition in the
European Economic Area.
[03] La Commission enquête sur les obligations de service public sur les
liaisons aériennes avec la Sardaigne
La Commission européenne a décidé d'ouvrir une procédure formelle
d'enquête sur les obligations de service public imposées le 10 décembre
2004 par l'Italie sur 18 liaisons aériennes entre trois aéroports de
Sardaigne et les principaux aéroports de la péninsule italienne. La
Commission exprime des doutes quant leur conformité aux règles du
marché intérieur de l'aviation.
[04] January 2005 : Euro-zone unemployment stable at 8.8% - EU25 down to
8.8%
Euro-zone seasonally-adjusted unemployment stood at 8.8% in January 2005,
unchanged compared to December 2004, reports Eurostat. It was 8.9% in
January 2004. The EU25 unemployment rate was 8.8% in January 2005, compared
to 8.9% in December 2004. It was 9.1% in January 2004
[05] Janvier 2005 par rapport janvier 2004 : baisse du volume des ventes
du commerce de détail de 0,6% dans la zone euro - hausse de 0,9% dans
l'UE25
En janvier 2005, par rapport janvier 2004, le volume des ventes du
commerce de détail a baissé de 0,6% dans la zone euro mais a augmenté de
0,9% dans l'UE25, selon les premières estimations publiées par Eurostat.
Par rapport décembre 2004, l'indice des ventes a progressé de 0,3% dans
la zone euro et de 0,1% dans l'UE25.
[06] Danuta Hübner welcomes the contribution of the regions to the growth
and jobs agenda
Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner responsible for Regional Policy,
welcomed yesterday in Brussels about 500 elected leaders of EU regions and
regional policy experts to discuss how regions can contribute to a more
competitive EU economy. The conference was addressed as well by the
President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the Vice-
Presidentof the European Parliament A.Vidal-Quadras Roca, and Nicolas
Schmit, the Minister Delegate of Foreign Affairs and Immigration,
representing the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council. On 22 and 23 March,
the European Council will meet to review the so-called Lisbon strategy,
which aims at making EU's economy more dynamic and competitive and capable
of sustainable economic growth with greater social cohesion and respect for
the environment. The Commission has recently launched a new Action
Programme focused on Growth and Jobs opting for "a new partnership"
approach to re-launch actions at EU and national level for enhanced growth
and more and better jobs.
[07] Louis Michel prône la mise en place d'une "stratégie européenne de
développement" devant l'Assemblée Nationale Française
Le Commissaire européen au Développement et l'Aide humanitaire, Louis
Michel, a invité les 2 et 3 mars Paris les autorités françaises
soutenir les efforts de la Commission pour fixer un objectif intermédiaire
ambitieux pour l'aide publique au développement et pour améliorer la
coordination et l'efficacité de l'aide dans le cadre d'une "stratégie
européenne de développement".
[08] Olli Rehn to visit Turkey
European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will pay his first official
visit to Turkey from 6 to 8 March. This visit comes at an important moment
in the relations between the EU and Turkey following the decision of the
European Council in December 2004 to open accession negotiations on 3
October 2005. During his visit he will be having discussions with the
Turkish authorities and representatives of the civil society on bilateral
relations and issues related to the start of the of the accession
negotiations. He will also participate at the EU-Turkey Troïka Ministerial
meeting on 7 March.
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner visits Sri Lanka (07-08/03)
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Sri Lanka on 7 and 8 March. The
visit coincides with the Commission's preparation of a post-Tsunami
reconstruction package for the region, worth €350 million. The
Commissioner will travel to areas affected by the Tsunami and unveil
reconstruction plans for Sri Lanka. She will also discuss the peace process
with senior Government figures including President Chandrike Kamaratunga,
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama,
Foreign Affairs Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, as well as with
representatives of civil society and other parties to the peace process.
The Commissioner will underline the EU's strong commitment to Sri Lanka,
both as a Co-Chair in the peace process and as a substantial trading
partner and aid donor. She will confirm that she is proposing to upgrade
the Commission’s representation in Colombo to a full EC Delegation.
[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner visits Indonesia (09-12/03)
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Indonesia from 9 to 12 March to
attend the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers Meeting (AEMM), the Indonesia-EU
Troika Ministerial Meeting and to visit the areas affected by the
earthquakes and the tsunami of 26 December 2004, including Banda Aceh and
the West Coast. The visit comes as the European Commission is preparing the
programming of its €350 million post-Tsunami reconstruction package. In
addition to the aftermath of the Tsunamis, the EU's discussions with the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will focus on intensifying
policy dialogue between the two organisations, and the EU’s support for
integration within ASEAN. ASEAN and EU will also touch base on a wide range
of regional and international issues with a view to inform one another and
where possible explore common approaches. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will
also hold bilateral talks with senior members of the Indonesian government
including Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Minister for National Development
Planning Ms Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and Minister for Justice and Human
Rights Mr Hamid Awalludin.
[11] EU-Japan High Level Meeting on Regulatory Reform, 4th March 2005
The European Commission and Japanese officials meet today in Brussels to
continue their discussions on economic structural reform in the framework
of the EU-Japan Regulatory Reform Dialogue. This dialogue, now in its tenth
year, has been a uniquely successful and adaptable instrument for dealing
with regulatory issues affecting the business and investment environment.
Discussions will focus on commercial legislation, trade and customs
regulations, visa and work permits, intellectual property protection,
financial services, the EU chemical policy (REACH) and new environmental
directives affecting products such as batteries, electrical waste and
chemicals. The EU team will be led by Richard Wright, Director responsible
for relations with industrialized countries in the External Relations DG,
and the Japanese delegation will be led by Michitaka Nakatomi, Deputy
Director General of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the
meeting, a press briefing will be held in the Charlemagne Building,
Conference Room S2 at Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels at 17:00. Journalists
wishing to attend the press briefing please contact Tanja Gohlert,
Tanja.Gohlert@cec.u.int, 02-2952531.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Journée internationale de la femme 2005 : le rôle et la perception de la
femme ont-ils changé dans l'UE ?
Preparation of the Competitiveness Council of Ministers (07/03) - Internal
Market, Industry and Research issues
Speech by Janez Potočnik : "European activity in nuclear fusion" (03/03,
Culham)
Speech by Jan Figel' : "Multilingualism: a vibrant and dynamic idea in an
enlarged EU" at SCIC Universities Conference
Calendrier du 7 au 11 mars 2005
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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