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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-14

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Soutien aux PME : la Commission présente une initiative visant à faciliter la transmission d'entreprise
  • [02] Company law : Commission welcomes European Parliament agreement on Directive to simplify the formation, maintenance and alteration of companies' capital
  • [03] World's largest CO² capture pilot plant inaugurated in Denmark
  • [04] Commission clears joint venture between Mitsui and Evraz
  • [05] Commission clears acquisition of PBC by NEC
  • [06] Commission opens in-depth investigation into China International Marine Containers' takeover of the Burg Group
  • [07] Commission meets Palestinian President Abbas
  • [08] Commission strengthens its assistance to the Benghazi HIV-AIDS sufferers
  • [09] Commission adopts €17.5 million anti-landmine programme
  • [10] Commission provides €20 million to Asia-Invest Programme
  • [11] VAT / financial services and insurances : public consultation
  • [12] European Business Summit (EBS) : facing and mastering globalisation
  • [13] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2006-03-14 Reference: MEX/06/0314 Date: 14/03/2006 EXME06 / 14.3

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb

    Communication

    14/03/06


  • [01] Soutien aux PME : la Commission présente une initiative visant à faciliter la transmission d'entreprise

    Des milliers d'entreprises économiquement saines, essentiellement des petites et moyennes entreprises (PME), disparaissent chaque année, faute d'avoir pu surmonté les difficultés liées à leur transmission. Sans compter que les entrepreneurs européens vieillissent. Un tiers des chefs d'entreprise de l'UE - à la tête de structures familiales dans la majorité des cas - prendront leur retraite dans les dix prochaines années. D'après les estimations, jusqu'à 690.000 entreprises, totalisant 2,8 millions d'emplois, sont concernées tous les ans. De nombreuses entreprises transmissibles ne trouvent pas de repreneurs. La Commission européenne a présenté aujourd'hui une initiative afin de remédier à ce problème. La Commission demande aux Etats membres de garantir que les systèmes fiscaux soient favorables aux transmissions, de fournir des conditions financières appropriées, d'accroître la sensibilisation, de tenir compte des facteurs soft et d'encourager le tutorat. Elle les incite également à organiser des marchés transparents pour les transmissions d'entreprise. Cette initiative s'inscrit dans la nouvelle stratégie de la Commission pour la promotion des PME et donc de la croissance et de l'emploi dans l'UE (voir IP/05/1404), qui sera l'un des points d'orgue du sommet de printemps, organisé les 23 et 24 mars 2006.

    [02] Company law : Commission welcomes European Parliament agreement on Directive to simplify the formation, maintenance and alteration of companies' capital

    The European Commission has welcomed the European Parliament's agreement at first reading on the Commission's proposal for a Directive (see IP/04/1334) to make it easier for public limited liability companies to take certain measures affecting the size, structure and ownership of their capital. The proposed Directive amends the parts of the 1976 Second Company Law Directive covering the formation, maintenance and alteration of capital.

    [03] World's largest CO² capture pilot plant inaugurated in Denmark

    Tomorrow will see the inauguration of the world's largest pilot plant for demonstrating and validating new technology for the capture of carbon dioxide (CO²) from conventional power stations. The pilot at the Elsam power station near Esjberg, Denmark is the result of research carried out with the support of the EU's Research Framework Programme. Carbon capture and storage technology offers a bridge from our current fossil fuel-based energy system to one that has near-zero carbon emissions. This pilot plant is an important part of research that will help develop better processes for carbon capture, increase public acceptance of the technology and achieve a major reduction in its costs.

    [04] Commission clears joint venture between Mitsui and Evraz

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Coke Oven Overseas Contribution Limited of Cyprus by Mitsui & Co (Mitsui) of Japan and Evraz Group S.A. (Evraz) of Luxembourg. Mitsui is a trading company, active in the steel and iron sector, non-ferrous metals, electronics and chemicals. Evraz is active in the steel sector, in the mining of iron ore and coking coal. The joint venture will exploit the Denisovskaya coal field in Yakutia, East Siberia, and sell the coal produced to customers in Asia. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [05] Commission clears acquisition of PBC by NEC

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Philips Business Communications (PBC) of the Netherlands by NEC Corporation (NEC) of Japan. NEC manufactures and sells telecommunication equipment, computers and electronic devices. PBC distributes and sells telecommunication solutions. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [06] Commission opens in-depth investigation into China International Marine Containers' takeover of the Burg Group

    The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the planned acquisition by China International Marine Containers (CIMC) of the Dutch Burg Group. The Commission's initial market investigation has found that the proposed acquisition would raise serious competition concerns in the sector of tank containers. The Commission now has 90 working days (until 28 July 2006) to take a final decision on whether the concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area or a substantial part of it. The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result of the investigation.

    [07] Commission meets Palestinian President Abbas

    The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will meet Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in Strasbourg this week. President Barroso will receive him on Wednesday the 15th of March. This meeting will be preceded by a working dinner that Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will hold with Abbas tonight. These meetings will provide an opportunity to hear from President Abbas his thinking on the prospects for the formation of a new Palestinian Authority following the January elections and to discuss the current crisis in Palestinian Authorities finances.

    [08] Commission strengthens its assistance to the Benghazi HIV-AIDS sufferers

    The European Commission is providing an additional €1 million for urgent support to Libya in its fight against the AIDS/HIV epidemic in Benghazi. This money, that follows a first €1 million disbursement in July 2005, will be used to continue the ongoing technical and medical assistance to the Benghazi Centre for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (BCIDI), as well as to help in the social integration of the patients and of their families. The EU also is also helping the Libyan Authorities in designing a national AIDS programme. These projects are part of the longer-term "HIV Action Plan for Benghazi". The Action Plan was launched by the EU in November 2004 and is being implemented by the Libyan authorities with support from the Commission and EU Member States.

    [09] Commission adopts €17.5 million anti-landmine programme

    On 9 March 2006, the European Commission has adopted its 2006 Annual Work Programme for antipersonnel landmines with a budget of €17.5 million. The general objective of this programme is to assist countries suffering the consequences of antipersonnel landmines and to create the conditions necessary for their economic and social development. The focus countries in 2006 are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Cambodia, Georgia, Yemen, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Afghanistan and Kosovo. The work programme announced today is part of the EC Mine Action Strategy which is supported by €60 million in the years 2005-2007.

    [10] Commission provides €20 million to Asia-Invest Programme

    External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has decided by means of a written procedure to provide additional support of €20 million to the Asia-Invest Programme for 2006-2007. The programme was launched in 1998 and aims to promote the internationalisation of European and Asian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For the period 2006-2007 it will continue to support the exchange of experience, networking and matchmaking among European and Asian business organisations to promote the greater integration of European and Asian companies and the transfer of know-how and technology between the two regions. This is achieved by supporting multilateral partnership projects between business organisations in the European Union and South Asia, South East Asia, China, Mongolia and North Korea. The programme will serve to bring European and Asian operators together to help them benefit from trade and economic liberalisation. The programme is an important initiative in the Commission's overall strategy to support cooperation and strengthen partnerships directly between the private sector in Europe and Asia. Further information is available at <a href="http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/index_en.htm">www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia- invest/index_en.htm

    [11] VAT / financial services and insurances : public consultation

    The European Commission is launching an online consultation seeking views from the public and business on reforming Community legislation on VAT obligations for Financial Services and insurances. The consultation is based on a document which aims to generate views on the current legal framework, as set out in the Sixth Directive, and on options for change. It explains why there is a need to review Community legislation in this area and looks at ways to modernise the legal framework. This paper is of interest to stakeholders in the financial services and insurance industries, their professional advisors and indeed to consumers of these services generally. As part of this consultation the European Commission in conjunction with European Banking Federation will hold a one day conference on the modernisation of VAT on financial and insurance services in Brussels on Thursday 11th May. Comments are invited by June 9, 2006.

    Online consultations: <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/article_2447_en.htm">Consultations - Get involved! / <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/article_2447_fr.htm">Consultations - Donnez votre avis! / <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/article_2447_de.htm">Konsultationen - Bestimmen Sie mit!

    [12] European Business Summit (EBS) : facing and mastering globalisation

    At the fourth European Business Summit (EBS), on 16 and 17 March 2006, the National Reform Programmes of all 25 EU Member States will be discussed, for the first time together with the business community. Among the keynote speakers are Wolfgang Schüssel, Federal Chancellor of Austria and President of the Council, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen, Vice-President and Commissioner for Enterprises and Industry, Stavros C. Dimas, Commissioner for Environment, Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for Competition, Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium, Martin Bartenstein, Federal Minister of Economics and Labour of Austria, Ali Babacan, Minister of State for EU relations of Turkey, David A. Sampson, Deputy Secretary of Commerce of the US Government.

    [13] Autre matériel diffusé

    Business transfers – 690,000 companies and 2.8 million jobs at stake every year

    Preparation of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of Ministers

    Results of Competitiveness Council From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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