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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-09-26
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] EXME05 / 26.9
[02] MIDDAY EXPRESS
[03] President Barroso calls on the European Parliament to work closely
with the European Commission to stimulate Europe-wide national debates on
the future of Europe
[04] Financial markets: first meeting of the re-established Inter-
institutional Monitoring Group for financial services
[05] Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Lynx by UPS
[06] Provision of deficit and debt data for 2004 - Euro-zone and EU25
government deficit at 2.7% and 2.6% of GDP respectively - Government debt
at 70.8% and 63.4%
[07] Rédiffusion
[08] Déclaration de la Commission sur le résultat du referendum en Suisse
concernant l'extension de l'accord sur la libre circulation des personnes
aux nouveaux Etats membres de l'Union européenne
[09] Mergers: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into Omya’s purchase of
J.M. Huber’s on-site paper mineral business
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
[11] Speech by Siim Kallas on “Fighting for Four Freedoms”
[12] EU civil protection assistance to United States after hurricane
Katrina
Midday Express of 2005-09-26
Reference: MEX/05/0926
Date: 26/09/2005
[01] EXME05 / 26.9
[02] 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
[03] President Barroso calls on the European Parliament to work closely
with the European Commission to stimulate Europe-wide national debates on
the future of Europe
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso offers the European
Parliament to co-operate closely to make a contribution during the period
of reflection, following the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty in
France and the Netherlands earlier this year.
[04] Financial markets: first meeting of the re-established Inter-
institutional Monitoring Group for financial services
The Inter-institutional Monitoring Group (IIMG) for financial services met
for the first time on 15 September 2005. The Monitoring Group was re-
established following an agreement between the European Parliament, the
Council and the European Commission in spring this year (see IP/05/1002).
It has an extended mandate to assess the progress made on implementing the
Lamfalussy process (see IP/02/195), now covering all relevant financial
services areas (i.e. securities, banking, insurance, occupational pensions
and UCITS). The meeting took place at the premises of the European
Commission in Brussels. The launch of the Group was highlighted by
inauguration speeches, given by Ms Pervenche Berès, Chairwoman of the
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in the European Parliament
(ECON), Mr. Peter Curwen, Economic and Financial Counsellor, UK Permanent
Representation, and Mr. Charlie McCreevy, Member of the European
Commission. The speeches are available on the following website:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/finances/cross-sector/index_en.htm
[05] Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Lynx by UPS
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Lynx Express Limited (“Lynx”), a UK-based
parcel delivery company, by UPS (UK Holding) Limited (“UPS UK”), the UK-
based subsidiary of the US company United Parcel Service, which is active
world-wide in delivery services. After examining the operation carefully,
the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly
impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it and
has therefore approved the acquisition.
[06] Provision of deficit and debt data for 2004 - Euro-zone and EU25
government deficit at 2.7% and 2.6% of GDP respectively - Government debt
at 70.8% and 63.4%
In 2004 the government deficit of the euro-zone and of the EU25 improved
compared to 2003 and the government debt increased. In the euro-zone the
government deficit decreased from 3.0% of GDP in 2003 to 2.7% in 2004, and
in the EU25 it fell from 3.0% in 2003 to 2.6% in 2004. In the euro-zone the
government debt to GDP ratio rose from 70.4% in 2003 to 70.8% in 2004, and
in the EU25 from 63.0% to 63.4%. In this news release Eurostat is providing
government debt and deficit data based on figures reported in the second
2005 notification by EU Member States for the years 2001-2004 for the
application of the excessive deficit procedure (EDP). This notification is
based on the ESA95 system of national accounts. This news release also
includes data on government expenditure and revenue.
[07] Rédiffusion
[08] Déclaration de la Commission sur le résultat du referendum en Suisse
concernant l'extension de l'accord sur la libre circulation des personnes
aux nouveaux Etats membres de l'Union européenne
Le Président de la Commission Européenne a félicité aujourd'hui le
Président de la Suisse Samuel Schmid est le peuple suisse d'approuver
l'extension de l'accord sur la libre circulation des personnes aux nouveaux
Etats membres ayant rejoint l'Union européenne en 2004. Ce résultat rend
possible la poursuite de l'application de l'accord de 1999 sur la libre
circulation des personnes, qui est un élément indispensable du cadre
constitué par les accords bilatéraux conclus avec la Suisse. En
commentant le référendum, le Président Barroso a déclaré: "Je me
félicite vivement de la décision de la Suisse d'étendre le bénéfice de
la libre circulation des personnes tous les ressortissants de l'Union
européenne. Ce vote démontre que la Suisse et l'Union européenne
travaillent ensemble avec succès pour promouvoir l'intégration de nos
peuples et de nos économies et pour renforcer la cohésion de l'Europe."
La libre circulation des personnes entre la Suisse et les nouveaux Etats
membres de l'Union européenne va être mise en œuvre par le biais de
mesures transitoires, similaires celles dont disposent les anciens Etats
membres. Par ailleurs, la Suisse bénéficiera de la clause de sauvegarde
prévue par l'accord de 1999, qui s'applique jusqu'en 2014. En juin dernier,
le peuple suisse a approuvé l'association de la Suisse l'espace Schengen,
prévoyant l'abolition des contrôles aux frontières et une coopération
renforcée dans le domaine de la sécurité, ainsi que l'accord de Dublin,
qui détermine le pays compétent en matière de demandes d'asile. Ensemble
avec ces accords, l’accord sur la libre circulation avec la Suisse va
permettre aux personnes une libre circulation dans un espace sans
contrôles aux frontières intérieures. L'association de la Suisse
Schengen et Dublin devrait être effective d'ici trois ans.
[09] Mergers: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into Omya’s purchase of
J.M. Huber’s on-site paper mineral business
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EU
Merger Regulation of Swiss-based Omya’s proposed acquisition of J.M.
Huber’s On-site Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (“PCC”) Business. J.M.
Huber, headquartered in the United States, is selling its twelve on-site
PCC production facilities which were purpose built on paper mill sites to
provide a ready supply of minerals used in paper production. Six of these
plants are in the EEA, the rest are in the United States, Canada, Brazil
and Russia. This case was originally referred to the Commission by the
Finnish Competition Authority who considered the deal to have a European
dimension. The Commission will investigate the markets for all carbonates
supplied to the paper industry and not just those produced on-site. The
analysis will cover the markets for paper filling and paper coating
applications. The opening of this in-depth investigation does not in any
way prejudge the final outcome. The Commission now has 90 working days
(until 26th January 2006) to take a final decision on whether the
concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the
European Economic Area or a significant part of it.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Vice-President Jacques Barrot at the Maritime Cyprus 2005
Conference on “EU Shipping Developments”
[11] Speech by Siim Kallas on “Fighting for Four Freedoms”
[12] EU civil protection assistance to United States after hurricane
Katrina
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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