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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-15
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 14 mars 2006 -
[01] Commission approves acquisition by DONG of Danish electricity
generators and suppliers, subject to conditions
[02] Commission decides notification by Cyprus of law on the display of
GMOs in supermarkets is non-admissible
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[03] Journée mondiale du consommateur 2006 : de la protection des
consommateurs à l'exercice de leurs droits et pouvoirs
[04] Favoriser l'utilisation de moyens de transport respectueux de
l'environnement : la Commission adopte un plan ambitieux de mobilité pour
2006-2009 pour son personnel à Bruxelles
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Williams Lea by DPAG
[06] Andris Piebalgs to discuss with G8 energy leaders the key global
energy security issues
[07] Joe Borg pays an official visit to Malta
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-03-15
Reference: MEX/06/0315
Date: 15/03/2006
EXME06 / 15.3
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
15/03/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 14 mars 2006 -
Outcome of Commission meeting of 14 March 2006
[01] Commission approves acquisition by DONG of Danish electricity
generators and suppliers, subject to conditions
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
acquisition of sole control of Elsam and Energi E2 ("E2"), regional
electricity generation incumbents in Denmark, and of Københavns Energi
Holding A/S ("KE") and Frederiksberg Elnet A/S ("FE"), Danish electricity
suppliers, by DONG A/S ("DONG"), the Danish state-owned gas incumbent,
subject to conditions and obligations. After an in-depth inquiry, the
Commission initially found that the deal would have anti-competitive
effects in several markets along the gas supply chain in Denmark. These
effects would have resulted from the combination of DONG's dominant
position and the removal of actual and potential competition from E2, Elsam,
NESA and KE, as well as the ability that DONG would then have to weaken its
remaining competitors on the market. In response to these concerns, DONG
offered to divest the larger of its two Danish gas storage facilities along
with an undertaking to auction off to competitors every year, for a 7-year
period, large quantities of gas equivalent to 10% of Danish annual gas
demand. The storage remedy will reinforce the effect of the unbundling of
gas infrastructure assets which has already taken place in Denmark, and
create conditions for competition in the provision of gas storage services.
The gas release remedy will improve the liquidity of the Danish gas market
and ensure that gas users will not face less choice than before the merger.
[02] Commission decides notification by Cyprus of law on the display of
GMOs in supermarkets is non-admissible
The European Commission has decided that the notification by the government
of Cyprus of draft legislation requiring genetically modified (GM) foods to
be displayed separately from non-GM foods in supermarkets is non-
admissible. The decision was taken on the grounds that the legal base upon
which the Cypriot authorities submitted the notification is subject to
certain conditions which do not apply in the case of this draft
legislation. In September 2005, the Cypriot authorities notified the
Commission of a draft law which would oblige supermarkets to place GM foods
on specially designated shelves, separate from non-GM foods. Cyprus
submitted the notification to the Commission under Article 95(5) of the EC
Treaty, which allows a Member State to introduce national legislation which
diverges from an EU harmonisation measure, under the specific conditions
provided by the Treaty. The Commission today decided that the Cyprus
notification could not be considered under Article 95(5), as such
conditions are not met. The Commission decision does not concern the
substance of the Cypriot notification, namely whether it concerns a
harmonised area of Community law, nor its compatibility with WTO rules or
general Treaty provisions.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[03] Journée mondiale du consommateur 2006 : de la protection des
consommateurs à l'exercice de leurs droits et pouvoirs
A l'occasion de la journée mondiale des consommateurs, ce mercredi 15 mars,
le commissaire européen Markos Kyprianou, chargé de la santé et de
la protection des consommateurs, a souligné le rôle clé joué par la
Commission pour assurer le respect des droits des consommateurs dans
l'ensemble de l'UE : "On compte à présent 450 millions de consommateurs en
Europe. Leurs dépenses représentent plus de la moitié du PIB de l'UE.
Ils sont un facteur clé pour la croissance économique et la création
d'emplois. Et pourtant on constate partout dans l'UE un manque de confiance
de leur part à l'égard des transactions transfrontalières. Il importe
qu'un solide cadre législatif soit complété par une information et une
éducation plus poussées des consommateurs au niveau de l'UE, pour pouvoir
passer de la protection à la responsabilisation des consommateurs."
[04] Favoriser l'utilisation de moyens de transport respectueux de
l'environnement : la Commission adopte un plan ambitieux de mobilité pour
2006-2009 pour son personnel à Bruxelles
La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui un plan ambitieux de
mobilité pour l'ensemble des déplacements de son personnel - tant entre
leur domicile et leur lieu de travail qu'entre ses différents bureaux -
pour la période 2006-2009. Par ce geste, la Commission intègre les
conditions de vie professionnelle de son personnel, et donc l'ensemble de
leurs déplacements, dans la politique de développement durable qu'elle
poursuit, notamment dans les domaine social, environnemental et
énergétique. Elle confirme également son engagement pour le
développement harmonieux de ses sites d'implantation au sein de la ville,
et s'inscrit dans la logique des politiques d'urbanisme et de mobilité
déployées par la Région Bruxelles-Capitale, qui imposent la mise en
place d'un plan de déplacement pour tous les organismes de plus de 200
personnes. Enfin, en sa qualité d'employeur de plus de 22.000 agents, la
Commission promeut de manière volontariste l'utilisation de moyens de
transport durables alternatifs en intensifiant et en diversifiant les
facilités mises à disposition de son personnel depuis 1997.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Williams Lea by DPAG
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Williams Lea Ltd of the UK
by Deutsche Post AG (DPAG) of Germany. DPAG is primarily active in postal
services in Germany. It also has worldwide activities in a range of mail
and logistic services, including document and parcel delivery, express
freight, freight forwarding, contract logistics and financial services.
Williams Lea provides a full range of document business process outsourcing
services, such as reprographics, mailroom services and printing. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[06] Andris Piebalgs to discuss with G8 energy leaders the key global
energy security issues
The European Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, will participate in the
G8 Energy Ministerial Meeting that will take place in Moscow on 16 March.
The day before, Mr Piebalgs will meet the Russian Energy Minister Viktor
Khristenko.
[07] Joe Borg pays an official visit to Malta
The European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg,
will be spending a few days in Malta for a series of meetings with
political leaders and representatives of the Maltese fishing industry. The
discussions will focus on the Green Paper on a future Maritime Policy for
the European Union, which is one of the strategic objectives of the Barroso
Commission. This Green Paper, currently being prepared by a Steering Group
of Commissioners, chaired by Commissioner Borg, will be published at the
end of May 2006. Its publication will launch an EU-wide consultation of all
stakeholders on the economic, social and environmental benefits to be
derived from greater integration of our maritime activities. As a maritime
nation, Malta has an important role to play in this process. Fisheries and
aquaculture will also feature high on the agenda during the Commissioner's
visit. The topics to be covered will include conservation measures in
Mediterranean fisheries, the future European Fisheries Fund due to be in
place from 1 January 2007 till December 2013, and the progress towards
establishing a Regional Advisory Council (RAC) for the Mediterranean.
During his visit, Mr Borg will meet Mr Jason Azzopardi, Chair of the
Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives,
before meeting with the full Committee. He will also meet the President of
Malta, Mr Eddie Fenech Adami, and Mr Alfred Sant, Leader of the Opposition.
In his meeting with fisheries stakeholders, Commissioner Borg will listen
to their concerns and suggestions and discuss issues of importance to them.
He will also encourage them to take part fully in the creation of the
Mediterranean RAC which will facilitate their involvement in fisheries
management. On Monday 20 March, Mr Borg will conclude his stay in Malta by
meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Gonzi, and his Cabinet.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by President José Manuel Barroso : "More Europe where it matters!"
at the European Parliament (Strasbourg)
La politique de mobilité - foire aux questions
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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