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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-27
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Les Etats membres s'accordent sur le permis de conduire européen
[02] Commission warns about fake drugs on the internet
[03] Commission publishes scoreboard on State aid in acceding and candidate
countries
[04] Commission clears acquisition of GALP by ENI, Amorim Energia and CGD
[05] Un groupe d'experts de haut niveau conseille la Commission sur la
création de la bibliothèque numérique européenne
[06] European Broadcasting Regulators strengthen their cross-border
cooperation under the Television without Frontiers Directive
[07] La Commission lance un forum de discussion en 20 langues sur l'avenir
de l'Europe
[08] Commissioners to be breath-tested for carbon monoxide to launch the
next phase of the EU’s anti-smoking campaign "HELP - for a life without
tobacco"
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner assistera au sommet de la Ligue arabe
Khartoum le 28 mars
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-03-27
Reference: MEX/06/0327
Date: 27/03/2006
EXME06 / 27.3
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
27/03/06
[01] Les Etats membres s'accordent sur le permis de conduire européen
Le Conseil est parvenu aujourd'hui un accord politique sur une
proposition de la Commission européenne remontant 2003, relative un
permis de conduire européen (COM(2003)621 - IP/03/1435). Des règles
européennes communes permettront de favoriser la liberté de mouvement des
conducteurs de l'UE, de prévenir les fraudes dans les cas où le permis de
conduire est utilisé comme pièce d'identité, et d'améliorer la
sécurité routière, en particulier en ce qui concerne les motocyclettes.
Un modèle unique, au format de carte de crédit, remplacera les
différents modèles (plus de 110) actuellement en circulation.
[02] Commission warns about fake drugs on the internet
The European Commission has issued a warning that fakes of the medicine
rimonabant are currently being sold via several websites. Rimonabant has
been developed to treat obesity and related risk factors and smoking
cessation. The medicine is still under evaluation by the European Medicines
Agency (EMEA). The product will only receive marketing authorisation by the
European Commission once its quality, safety and efficacy have been
satisfactorily established by the EMEA scientific committee, and this
approval is still pending. Once approved, the company intends to market
rimonabant under the name AcompliaTM. Patients who buy unlicensed and
counterfeit or illicit copies of rimonabant may be putting their health at
risk. This latest example underlines Commission concern that criminals are
taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet to sell fake, adulterated
and unlicensed medicines to an unsuspecting public, putting lives at risk
as well as undermining the pharmaceutical industry.
[03] Commission publishes scoreboard on State aid in acceding and candidate
countries
The main focus of the European Commission's latest State aid scoreboard is
the situation in the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania. Over the
period 2002-2004, the average amount of State aid (less agriculture,
fisheries and transport aid) awarded per year was estimated at €65
million for Bulgaria and €981 million for Romania. In Bulgaria, total
state aid represented 0.36% of GDP which is significantly lower than the
average for the ten new Member States (1.35%) and indeed lower than the EU-
25 average (0.49%). In Romania, total state aid was significantly higher,
representing 1.86% of GDP. However, this high share is largely due to
extensive reforms during the transition to a market economy, privatisation
and restructuring companies in difficulty. This scoreboard update also
provides a snapshot of the state aid situation in the Western Balkan
countries and in Turkey.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of GALP by ENI, Amorim Energia and CGD
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A.
(GALP) of Portugal by ENI Portugal Investment (ENI) belonging to the group
ENI S.p.A. of Italy, Grupo Américo Amorim, through its controlled
subsidiary Amorim Energia B.V, of Portugal and Caixa Geral de Depósitos
Group (CGD) of Portugal. ENI is active in the oil and gas, petrochemicals
and engineering sector. Grupo Américo Amorim is active in the production
and sale of cork and cork related products exported worldwide, real estate,
agriculture and forestry businesses in Portugal, and also holds non-
controlling minority interests in the banking sector in Portugal, Spain and
Angola. CGD is a Portuguese State-owned financial group active nationally
in retail and commercial banking, investment banking, capital market,
insurance, specialised credit, and asset management, and internationally in
retail banking, investment banking and capital markets. GALP's main
business areas are the exploration and production of crude oil, the
refining and marketing of petroleum products and petrochemicals and all
levels of the gas transport and distribution chain in Portugal. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Un groupe d'experts de haut niveau conseille la Commission sur la
création de la bibliothèque numérique européenne
Après avoir exposé les plans de la Commission européenne pour une
bibliothèque numérique européenne au début de ce mois, Viviane Reding,
commissaire responsable de la société de l'information et des médias, a
présidé aujourd'hui la première réunion du groupe d'experts de haut
niveau sur les bibliothèques numériques. Le groupe conseillera la
Commission sur la manière de relever les grands défis que pose la mise
disposition en ligne du patrimoine culturel de l'Europe.
[06] European Broadcasting Regulators strengthen their cross-border
cooperation under the Television without Frontiers Directive
The European Commission's proposed modernisation of the "TV without
Frontiers" Directive can improve the means to safeguard European TV viewers
against programmes inciting hatred, subject to scrupulous respect for media
freedom and for free speech, said Europe's broadcasting regulators at a
meeting in Brussels today. Regulators from the 25 EU Member States and
Croatia, Turkey, Norway and Liechtenstein, chaired by Information Society
and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding, noted the growing economic and
societal importance of new on-demand audiovisual media services and of
ensuring freedom of expression in such media, but also discussed the danger
that they could become the next vehicle of hate. The regulators also
addressed technological challenges for the audiovisual sector - such as
digital and Mobile TV - and implementation issues under the TV without
Frontiers Directive.
[07] La Commission lance un forum de discussion en 20 langues sur l'avenir
de l'Europe
La Commission européenne a ouvert aujourd'hui sur internet un débat en
20 langues sur l'avenir de l'Europe. Ce débat, auquel tous les citoyens
sont invités participer, s'inscrit dans le cadre du "Plan D" de la
Commission ("D" comme dialogue, débat et démocratie), présenté en
réponse la demande du Conseil européen de prévoir une période de
réflexion la suite des votes négatifs exprimés en France et aux Pays-
Bas sur la proposition de traité constitutionnel.
[08] Commissioners to be breath-tested for carbon monoxide to launch the
next phase of the EU’s anti-smoking campaign "HELP - for a life without
tobacco"
The European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou
and several other Commissioners will have their breath tested for carbon
monoxide, a toxic gas found in cigarette smoke, on 29 March at 13h00 in
front of the Commission's Berlaymont headquarters. The tests, which launch
the next phase of the EU anti-smoking campaign "HELP - for a life without
tobacco", will tell the Commissioners whether their carbon monoxide levels
are typical of a smoker, a passive smoker or a non-smoker. From March to
November 2006, the Help carbon monoxide campaign will be present at more
than 100 national events across the 25 EU Member States. During the
national events, over 50,000 carbon monoxide (CO) tests will be carried out
on members of the public in HELP campaign tents, each in the colours of a
Member State and with the logo and slogan of the HELP campaign in the
national language. HELP campaign staff and tobacco control NGOs will carry
out the tests and advise on the dangers of smoking and distribute
information leaflets on tobacco prevention, quitting and passive smoking.
To present the campaign, the 25 national tents will be set up in front of
the Berlaymont on 29 March from 11h00 to 16h00. Participants in the test
will receive a certificate with the results of their test, and a leaflet
with advice on how to quit smoking or deal with passive smoking. Other
Commissioners are also joining in and having their breath tested.
Journalists, Commission staff and the public are warmly invited to do the
same. Camera crews and photographers are invited to a photo opportunity
with Commissioner Kyprianou and other Commissioners who will visit the
campaign tents and have their breath tested at 13h00. Photo opportunities
with other Commissioners can also be arranged. A press release and memo
will be available on the day, as well as a press pack about the HELP carbon
monoxide campaign with the leaflets to be distributed to the public. <a
href="http://www.help-eu.com">http://www.help-eu.com
[09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner assistera au sommet de la Ligue arabe
Khartoum le 28 mars
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, commissaire européenne chargée des relations
extérieures et de la politique européenne de voisinage, représentera la
Commission au sommet de la Ligue arabe le 28 mars prochain. Il s'agit l du
second sommet auquel des leaders non-arabes sont invités. La visite de
Mme Ferrero-Waldner souligne l'importance que l'UE attache aux relations
avec le monde arabe et sa détermination rechercher un dialogue plus
étroit entre les cultures. La Ligue arabe a un rôle important jouer
dans l'établissement de la paix, la démocratisation, l'intégration
régionale et le dialogue culturel et Mme Ferrero-Waldner proposera que ce
partenariat soit renforcé. Elle espère avoir des entretiens bilatéraux
avec des personnalités de haut niveau représentant l'Algérie, l'Egypte,
l'Irak, la Jordanie, la Libye et l'Arabie Saoudite.
[10] Autre matériel diffusé
European Driving Licence : differences between existing and future
legislation
Speech by Janez Potočnik : "Mobilising policies and funding to support
Research. Is Philanthropy ready for the challenge?" at the Conference
'Giving more for research'
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Dialogue of Cultures – clash of
civilizations or clash of ignorance?" at the plenary session of Euro-
Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
Discours de M. Louis Michel : "La dimension sociale de la mondialisation
dans la politique de développement" au Bureau international du travail
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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