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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-23
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Au sommet social tripartite, les partenaires sociaux nationaux
expriment leur volonté de jouer un rôle plus important dans la
réalisation de la stratégie pour la croissance et l'emploi
[02] Commission requests phasing out of distortive tax regimes in Malta
[03] Commission clears joint venture between Time Warner and CBS
[04] Commission clears acquisition of UBF by ACP and Sofinim
[05] Commission clears acquisition of SWD by EnBW
[06] Des entreprises néerlandaise, danoise et française gagnent le grand
prix européen des technologies de la société de l'information pour 2006
[07] Accounting standards : Commission and European Financial Reporting
Advisory Group (EFRAG) agree future working relationship
[08] Commission adopts provisional anti-dumping measures on Chinese and
Vietnamese leather shoes
[09] Commission and the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region discuss the
European Development Fund for 2008-2013
[10] Stavros Dimas at opening of Belgium's first national park
[11] Biodiversité : Stavros Dimas fera le point lors de la conférence des
Nations unies au Brésil
[12] Les négociations commerciales EuroMed à Marrakech lanceront les
négociations sur les services et encourageront les projets relatifs aux
ALE
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-03-23
Reference: MEX/06/0323
Date: 23/03/2006
EXME06 / 23.3
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
23/03/06
[01] Au sommet social tripartite, les partenaires sociaux nationaux
expriment leur volonté de jouer un rôle plus important dans la
réalisation de la stratégie pour la croissance et l'emploi
Les partenaires sociaux nationaux (représentants des syndicats et des
employeurs) doivent être davantage associés à la stratégie de l'Union
pour l'amélioration de la croissance et de l'emploi : voilà ce qu'ont pu
entendre aujourd'hui à Bruxelles les participants au sommet social
tripartite. Lors de ce sommet, qui s'est tenu quelques heures à peine avant
celui du Conseil européen, le nouveau programme de travail des partenaires
sociaux pour les trois prochaines années a été discuté en présence de
M. Barroso, président de la Commission européenne, de M. Špidla,
commissaire européen, de M. Schüssel, président du Conseil européen, de
représentants des deux futures présidences de l'UE, ainsi que de
partenaires sociaux de haut niveau au plan européen et national.
[02] Commission requests phasing out of distortive tax regimes in Malta
The European Commission has formally requested Malta under EC Treaty state
aid rules to abolish the tax regime for Maltese Companies with Foreign
Income (CFI) and the International Trading Companies' (ITC) regime by the
end of 2010 at the latest. Under these regimes, revenues from foreign
sources paid to shareholders of an ITC or a CFI are subject to minimal or
no taxation. The Commission intends to put a definitive end to these
offshore tax regimes because they seriously distort competition and trade
in the Single Market. Malta has one month to accept the proposed measures,
failing which the Commission may open a formal state aid investigation.
[03] Commission clears joint venture between Time Warner and CBS
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the creation of a joint venture, the CW, between Warner Bros.
Entertainment Inc., ultimately controlled by Time Warner Inc. (Time Warner)
of the US, and CBS Corporation (CBS), also of the US, controlled by Mr
Sumner Redstone. Time Warner is primarily active worldwide in the provision
of online services, filmed entertainment, the operation of cable systems
and television networks and publishing. CBS is a mass-media company engaged
in the production and delivery of television, radio and print publishing
content in the US. Mr Sumner Redstone owns CBS and Viacom, a company active
in cable television, motion pictures and digital media platforms. The CW
will operate a free-to-air broadcast network in the US. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of UBF by ACP and Sofinim
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of United Broadcast
Facilities (UBF) of Belgium by Allianz Capital Partner Gmbh (ACP), a
company controlled by Allianz AG, Munich (Allianz) of Germany, and Sofinim
N.V. (Sofinim) of Belgium. UBF is a full service broadcast facility
provider to television broadcasting companies with operations in the
Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Portugal and Hungary. Sofinim is
active in private equity investment. ACP is an investment vehicle
ultimately controlled by Allianz which is active in the insurance and
financial business. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of SWD by EnBW
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG
(SWD) of Germany by EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW), also of
Germany. EnBW is active in energy and water supply and environmental
services, as well as the manufacturing, distribution, installation and
maintenance of the corresponding technical equipment and installations. SWD
is active in power generation and distribution, supply of gas, district
heating and water, waste disposal and management and city cleaning. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[06] Des entreprises néerlandaise, danoise et française gagnent le grand
prix européen des technologies de la société de l'information pour 2006
Une mémoire d’ordinateur capable de résister aux radiations et à une
température de 200°C, un système de sécurité qui reconnaît les
visages, et un système d' "empreintes digitales" pour le contenu
numérique en vue d'empêcher le piratage multimédia ont gagné les grands
prix des technologies de la société de l'information pour 2006, qui ont
été remis hier soir à Vienne. Des entreprises française, danoise et
néerlandaise ont gagné les trois grands prix, d'un montant de €200.000
chacun. Dix-sept prix de €5.000 chacun ont été décernés à des
technologies innovantes provenant de douze pays. NextLimit, entreprise
espagnole, a gagné deux prix pour des projets différents. Les vingt
premiers projets ont été choisis le 20 mars par la Commission européenne
parmi 213 candidats provenant de vingt-huit pays européens.
[07] Accounting standards : Commission and European Financial Reporting
Advisory Group (EFRAG) agree future working relationship
The European Commission and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group
(EFRAG), which is composed of accounting experts from the private sector in
several Member States and provides the Commission with advice on the
technical soundness of new accounting standards, have agreed their future
working relationship. In particular, EFRAG will continue to provide the
Commission with advice on the endorsement and interpretation of
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It will also provide
opinions on the development and improvement of the standards and on how to
implement them effectively. In addition, EFRAG is expected to participate
in the early phases of debates on new and upcoming issues in the area of
accounting standards.
[08] Commission adopts provisional anti-dumping measures on Chinese and
Vietnamese leather shoes
The European Commission has today adopted proposals by the European Trade
Commissioner Peter Mandelson to impose a provisional anti-dumping duty on
leather shoes from China and Vietnam. The measures follow a preliminary
Commission investigation that has identified clear evidence of disguised
subsidies and unfair state intervention to the leather footwear sector in
China and Vietnam. The Trade Commissioner today firmly reiterated his
willingness to work with the Vietnamese and Chinese governments to address
the questions of competitive distortions raised by the Commission's
investigation.
[09] Commission and the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region discuss the
European Development Fund for 2008-2013
The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis
Michel, launches today in Brussels the programming cycle for the 10th EDF
(European Development Fund) for the East Africa and Indian Ocean region.
This fourth Regional Seminar will be attended by the highest officials
responsible for cooperation with Europe from the 12 countries of the
region: Seychelles, Maurice, Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Madagascar,
Tanzania, Uganda, Comoros, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. In December 2005, the
European Council adopted a financial envelope for the 10th EDF which comes
to €22.7 billion for the period 2008-2013. The 9th EDF which covered the
period 2002-2007 had been allocated the sum of €13.5 billion. Good
performance and respect for the commitments taken - especially with regard
to good governance, sound management of public funds and efficient
administration - are key factors for the increase in aid allocations
towards each country.
[10] Stavros Dimas at opening of Belgium's first national park
(! embargo 14h00 !) Today at 14h00, European Environment Commissioner
Stavros Dimas will inaugurate Belgium's first national park, the Hoge
Kempen, in the province of Limburg. The park covers an area of 56 km2,
between Genk and Maasmechelen. The Hoge Kempen is the largest coherent
forest and nature area in Flanders, with large pine forests, heather and
stretches of water. It is the home of several rare and special animals,
such as the bird Eurasian Nightjar, rare butterflies, dragonflies and
reptiles, as well as water Lobelia vegetation, and many Orchid species. The
park contains areas which are part of the EU-wide network of protected
areas, Natura 2000. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr Dimas will
underline the importance of initiatives of this kind to preserve
biodiversity, and fight the extinction of species. "Biodiversity loss is
continuing at alarming rates, both in the EU and globally. Together with
climate change, it is one of the most serious challenges mankind is facing.
We are in danger of undermining the Earth's life support systems to the
point where one day they could collapse." He continues: "The European Union
has taken a strong position in order to stop this trend. The EU's leaders
have committed themselves to halting the loss of biodiversity in Europe by
2010. The cornerstone of the EU approach is Natura 2000 which is now the
world's largest network of protected areas. It presently covers 18% of the
land in the EU-15 and is being extended to the EU-10." Correcting the
impression that no economic activity is allowed within Natura 2000 areas,
Commissioner Dimas says: "The Hoge Kempen National Park will join thousands
of other sites in the network in demonstrating that nature conservation
goes hand in glove with rural development. The national park will help to
safeguard a beautiful landscape and exceptionally rich biodiversity in the
heart of a densely populated frontier region. At the same time, it has the
potential to attract thousands of visitors a year who will contribute extra
revenue to the area's economy."
[11] Biodiversité : Stavros Dimas fera le point lors de la conférence des
Nations unies au Brésil
Le commissaire européen à l'Environnement Stavros Dimas représentera la
Commission lors de la huitième conférence des parties à la convention des
Nations unies sur la diversité biologique, qui se tiendra à Curitiba
(Brésil), du 20 au 31 mars. A cette occasion, il soulignera la nécessité
de renforcer l'effort international afin d'enrayer le déclin de la
diversité biologique. L'amélioration de la mise en œuvre de la
convention, la création d'un réseau mondial d'espaces terrestres et
marins protégés et la recherche d'un accord sur le régime international
d'accès aux ressources génétiques et de partage des avantages feront
partie des principaux sujets abordés lors de la conférence. Le
commissaire Dimas présidera un groupe spécial sur la biodiversité et le
commerce.
[12] Les négociations commerciales EuroMed à Marrakech lanceront les
négociations sur les services et encourageront les projets relatifs aux
ALE
Les ministres du commerce de l'UE et des pays méditerranéens se
réuniront le vendredi 24 mars 2006 à Marrakech, au Maroc, pour la 5ème
conférence du commerce euro-méditerranéen afin de promouvoir le commerce
et les relations économiques dans toute la région méditerranéenne.
Durant cette réunion, les ministres du commerce devraient réitérer leur
engagement en faveur de la création, à l'horizon 2010, d'une zone de libre-
échange euro-méditerranéenne intégrée. La conférence sera suivie de
l'ouverture officielle de négociations sur la libéralisation du commerce
des services et l'amélioration des règles d'établissement des
entreprises à travers la région EuroMed.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions and answers about EU policy for protecting the most important
habitats and species
Trade and the Barcelona process
Speech by Viviane Reding : "The need for a new impetus to the European ICT
research and innovation agenda" at Investing in ICT Research and Innovation
Conference (Vienna)
Speech by László Kovács : "The European Commission's business taxation
agenda" at the Oxford Centre for Business Taxation (! embargo 20h30 !)
Discours de Mme Danuta Hübner lors de la rencontre avec les représentants
de la région Nord Pas de Calais en France (22/03)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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