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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-09-08Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etbCommunication08/09/05[01] La Commission alloue plus de €350 millions à des grands projets du réseau transeuropéen de transportLa Commission européenne vient d'allouer €356 millions pour la réalisation d'études et la construction de projets du réseau transeuropéen de transport (RTE-T). Les projets prioritaires bénéficient à eux seuls de près de 85% du montant. Plus de 70% est alloué aux projets ferroviaires et 20% aux systèmes de transport intelligents et innovants, tels que les systèmes d'interopérabilité dans le domaine ferroviaire. Parmi les projets et les études qui ont bénéficié d'un soutien significatif, qui complète souvent les subventions versées les années précédentes, on trouve Galileo et les futures traversées ferroviaires alpines Lyon-Turin et Brenner.[02] Commission clears BenQ's acquisition of Siemens mobile device businessThe European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition by BenQ Corporation ("BenQ") from Taiwan of the mobile device business of German Siemens AG ("the Siemens mobile device business"). After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.[03] La Commission autorise le rachat par Tele2 des filiales néerlandaise et belge de VersatelLa Commission européenne a approuvé la proposition de rachat des filiales néerlandaise et belge de Versatel Telecom International N.V. (Versatel) par l'opérateur de télécommunications suédois Tele2 A.B. (Tele2). La Commission a considéré que cette opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen ou dans une partie substantielle de celui-ci.[04] La Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle en commun de SPe, d'ALG Negoce Sa et de Luminus par Gaz de France et CentricaLa Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations, le projet d'acquisition du contrôle en commun des entreprises SPE, un producteur belge d'électricité, ALG Negoce S.A. (ALG) et Luminus NV, deux fournisseurs de gaz et d'électricité en Belgique, par gaz de France international S.A. (GDF) et Centrica plc (Centrica), deux sociétés actives dans la production, le commerce et la fourniture de gaz et d'électricité par l'intermédiaire d'une société nouvelle, New SPE. Après avoir examiné l'opération, la Commission a conclu qu'elle n'entraverait pas significativement une concurrence effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.[05] Commission agrees delivery date extension for two tankers at Portuguese yardThe European Commission has decided to allow an extension of the delivery date for two product/chemical tankers built at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo, Portugal in derogation from the EC Treaty state aid rules on shipbuilding. As a general rule, shipbuilding contracts signed before the abolition of operating aid in 2000 had to be executed at the latest by the end of 2003 in order to benefit from such aid, which could amount to up to 9% of the contract value, but derogations can be allowed under strict conditions. Due to the technical complexity of the construction of these two ships, the Commission decided that the strict conditions are met and approved an extension of the delivery dates.[06] La Commission ouvre une enquête concernant une aide à la restructuration en faveur de l'entreprise française ErnaultLa Commission européenne a ouvert une procédure formelle d'examen en application des règles communautaires sur les aides d'Etat (article 88, paragraphe 2, du traité CE) concernant une aide à la restructuration en faveur d'Ernault, fabricant français de machines-outils. L'enquête permettra à la Commission d'obtenir davantage d'informations sur la mesure en question et donnera aux tiers intéressés l'occasion de présenter leurs observations. La Commission finalisera ensuite son appréciation de la probabilité que la mesure en question provoque une distorsion excessive de la concurrence à l'intérieur du marché unique.[07] Outcome of the aviation safety meeting (07/09, Brussels)On 7 September, the European Commission organised a meeting of the Aviation Safety Committee. The Committee had an exchange of views on the tragic accidents of this summer, on which inquiries are ongoing. The Commission explained the comprehensive action plan to further reinforce aviation safety in the European Union, as already presented by Vice-President Jacques Barrot to the College of Commissioners on the 1 September. The Committee agreed that the EU needs common criteria to identify unsafe airlines. Such airlines would be put on a European black list and be subject to an EU-wide ban to fly. It is necessary to go beyond national black lists. The Committee stressed that these criteria will have to be objective and based on safety grounds only. It discussed the guidelines to establish such common criteria. These guidelines would include: safety deficiencies identified notably through SAFA inspections and the failure to address such deficiencies ; other safety deficiencies, for instance communicated by a third country or by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ; lack of transparency or adequate communication on the part of an airline company in response to an inquiry by civil aviation authorities ; lack of cooperation with civil aviation authorities on the part of a state with regard to an investigation into one of the carriers registered in that state. Further work will be needed to identify the common criteria based on these guidelines. The Commission hopes for a political agreement on the common criteria, the EU black list, and the EU- wide ban by the end of the year.[08] Member States back Commission textiles plan - statement by Peter Mandelson (07/09)European Member States approved a European Commission proposal - based on an agreement secured with China this week - for unblocking textile imports from China currently without import licenses. The approval was given by the Textiles Management Committee, following a meeting of the Coreper on 7 September. The Commission will now adopt, by written procedure, a regulation that will provide the legal grounds for Member States to issue import licenses to products that are currently blocked. It is anticipated that this will be possible by the middle of next week. Speaking from India, where he is taking part in the EU-India Summit, Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson made the following brief statement : "I am very pleased that Member States have approved the agreement with China and the Commission's proposal for unblocking textile imports from China. This solidarity now allows the Commission to put in place the legal instrument which should allow the Member States to begin unblocking goods next week."[09] Labour Force Survey 2004 : employment rate in the EU25 was 63.3% in 2004 ; employment rate of people aged 55-64 was 41.0%In 2004, 194.5 million people aged 15 years and more had a job or a business activity in the EU25. The total employment rate for people aged 15- 64 was 63.3%, compared to 62.4% in 2000. In 2004, the employment rate for women was 55.7%. In the EU25 the employment rate for older people, i.e. those aged 55-64, reached 41.0%, up from the 36.6% registered in 2000. This information comes from a report published by Eurostat based on the results of the 2004 Labour Force Survey.[10] Autre matériel diffuséBlocked Chinese textiles : important information for importers and tradersPreparation of Eurogroup and Informal Council of Economics and Finance Ministers (09-10/09, Manchester) Afghanistan : how EU support is making a real difference Speech by Janez Potočnik : "Putting the Charter and Code into context : keeping Europe competitive" at UK Presidency Conference on the European Charter and Code for Researchers (London) Speech by Joe Borg : "Reform of EU Fisheries Policies and EU Maritime Policy" at Conference of Fisheries Ministers (Iceland) Speech by Joe Borg : "Added Value in Seafood and Fish Farming" at
Conference of Fisheries Ministers (Iceland, ! embargo 14h00 !)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |