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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-05-11
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] President Barroso meets Afghan President Hamid Karzai - and announces
details of Afghan reconstruction programmes for 2005/2006
[02] Commission clears acquisition of IHG Portfolio by Lehman Brothers and
Europe Realty
[03] Perspectives et enjeux du cinéma européen dans la société de
l'information, lors de la Journée de l'Europe organisée dans le cadre du
Festival de Cannes 2005
[04] Illegal dyes in spices : Member States agree common approach proposed
by Commission
[05] Statement by Charlie McCreevy on adoption of the European Parliament
opinion on the cross-border mergers Directive (10/05)
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-05-11
Reference: MEX/05/0511
Date: 11/05/2005
EXME05 / 11.5
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
11/05/05
[01] President Barroso meets Afghan President Hamid Karzai - and announces
details of Afghan reconstruction programmes for 2005/2006
European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, will meet Afghan
President, Hamid Karzai, in Brussels on 11 May. They will review the
reconstruction process and the ongoing political transition in Afghanistan.
They will also discuss counter-narcotics efforts, priorities for future
cooperation between the EU and Afghanistan and forthcoming elections.
Presidents Barroso and Karzai will announce details of the Commission's
programme for reconstruction assistance for 2005 and 2006. This programme
will complete the delivery of the Commission's pledge of €1 billion of
reconstruction aid for Afghanistan for the period 2002-2006. So far under
this reconstruction programme, €657 million has been delivered. This
figure does not include an additional €216.5 million in humanitarian
assistance over the 2001-2004 period. With 87% of these funds already
contracted, the Commission has consistently delivered the money it has
pledged to Afghanistan on time.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of IHG Portfolio by Lehman Brothers and
Europe Realty
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of IHG Portfolio of the UK
by Lehman Brothers Real State Partners (LBREP II) of the US and Europe
Realty Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Europe Realty) of Singapore. LBREP II is an
investment fund ultimately controlled by Lehman Brothers, a global
investment bank, based in the US, providing financial services to
corporations, institutions, governments and investors worldwide. Europe
Realty invests in real estate in Europe on behalf of the Government of
Singapore. IHG Portfolio is composed of 73 hotels located in the UK and
operated under the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn
brands. These hotels will continue to be managed by the InterContinental
Hotels Group, who owns these brands. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[03] Perspectives et enjeux du cinéma européen dans la société de
l'information, lors de la Journée de l'Europe organisée dans le cadre du
Festival de Cannes 2005
Le Festival international du film de Cannes débute aujourd'hui avec la
projection d'un film européen, "Lemming", de Dominik Moll, qui a
bénéficié du soutien du programme MEDIA de l'Union européenne. Le 17
mai, le Festival célèbrera la troisième Journée de l'Europe, sur le
thème : "Les cinémas d’Europe et la société de l’information". Les
ministres de la culture et de l'audiovisuel de l'UE discuteront des effets
des nouveaux canaux de diffusion des Å“uvres audiovisuelles, comme les
films en ligne et la vidéo à la demande, avec des réalisateurs, des
acteurs économiques – producteurs, propriétaires de chaînes,
directeurs de studios – et les nouveaux venus – les sociétés de
télécommunication. Le célèbre cinéaste Michael Winterbottom ("In this
World", "Welcome to Sarajevo", "Code 46") a accepté d'être l'invité
d'honneur de cette journée.
[04] Illegal dyes in spices : Member States agree common approach proposed
by Commission
The European Commission and food safety experts from the EU Member States
yesterday discussed and agreed a common approach to tackling recent
contaminations of spices and other foods by industrial dyes such as Para
Red and dyes similar to Sudan I. In particular, four Member States (UK, the
Netherlands, France and Spain) agreed that their laboratories would work
together to further develop analytical methods for Para Red and similar
dyes for the benefit of all Member States. Pending the results of this
exercise, it was agreed that the limit of detection for most illegal dyes
similar to Sudan 1 was 0.5 – 1 mg/kg, and that all foods prepared from
spices containing illegal dyes above this level should be withdrawn from
the market. The meeting also agreed to ask the European Food Safety
Authority to carry out a review of toxicological data available on Para Red
and other similar dyes. Pending the availability of harmonised methodology,
Member States should continue to carry out controls and report unfavourable
results to the Rapid Alert System. The Commission and Member States will
continue to raise the awareness of the food industry about their
responsibilities, and the Commission will transmit the analytical methods
developed to third countries.
[05] Statement by Charlie McCreevy on adoption of the European Parliament
opinion on the cross-border mergers Directive (10/05)
European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy
welcomed vote in the European Parliament on the proposed 10th Company Law
Directive on cross-border mergers of limited liability companies. He said :
"The cross-border Directive opens new ground. It is a major step in favour
of EU businesses, which have been calling for the adoption of this text for
many years. This is true, in particular, of those mid-sized businesses
which are active in more than one Member State, yet too small to form
European companies. With this Directive, European companies will be able to
organise themselves and develop efficiencies on a cross-border basis, and
further reap the benefits of the Single Market."
[06] Autre matériel diffusé
Afghanistan: How EU support is making a real difference
Note on Competitiveness Council (10/05)
Speech by Olli Rehn : "The regional dimension in European integration" at
the South-East European Cooperation Process – 8th Summit of the Heads of
State and Government of the Participating Countries (Bucharest)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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