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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-31Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etbCommunication31/03/06[01] Asylum, immigration and external borders : 21 new projects for cooperation between national authorities financed by ARGOThe European Commission has announced that grants were awarded to 21 projects in 2005 under its ARGO programme (2002-2006). ARGO, an action programme for administrative cooperation in the fields of external borders, visas, asylum and immigration, supports projects for cooperation between national administrations, to encourage and promote collaboration on specific matters and the improvement of practices and legislation. Since 2002, ARGO grants have totalled €20.75 million, going to the authorities in 23 Member States (Ireland and Denmark are not taking part in the programme). In 2005 grants were awarded to 21 projects (including two projects that are part of a mini-programme to address the problems caused by illegal sea-borne immigration in the Mediterranean) for around €5.15 million. In addition to the EU Member States, other countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Albania, Tunisia, Libya, Norway and Switzerland have taken part in some of the projects.[02] Intégrer les ressortissants de pays tiers : la Commission finance 15 nouveaux projets dans le cadre du programme INTI 2003-2006La Commission européenne a approuvé le cofinancement de 15 nouveaux projets dans le cadre de l'appel à propositions du programme INTI 2005 pour un budget total d'environ €4,3 millions. INTI est un programme de l'UE créé en 2003 et destiné à financer des actions préparatoires visant à promouvoir l'intégration des ressortissants de pays tiers. En vue d'assurer une véritable dimension transnationale, des partenaires d'au moins cinq Etats membres doivent être impliqués dans les projets INTI. Le programme encourage surtout la coopération entre Etats membres à travers l'échange d'information et de bonnes pratiques. Le programme a soutenu la création de partenariats et de réseaux transnationaux.[03] L'industrie suisse du film adhère au programme communautaire MEDIAA partir de demain, les professionnels suisses de l'industrie du film seront autorisés à participer au programme MEDIA de l'Union européenne. Les producteurs, distributeurs, agents de vente, centres de formation aux techniques cinématographiques et festivals suisses pourront faire appel aux financements MEDIA dans les mêmes conditions que les 29 autres pays participants. Le programme MEDIA vise à renforcer la compétitivité de l'industrie audiovisuelle européenne grâce à des aides au développement, à la distribution, à la promotion et à la formation. Le programme MEDIA actuellement en vigueur, doté d'un budget de €513 millions, s'applique jusqu'à la fin de cette année. La Suisse versera une contribution annuelle au programme MEDIA. La Commission européenne a proposé d'augmenter considérablement le budget du programme MEDIA en lui allouant €1,055 milliard entre 2007 et 2013. Le Parlement européen et les Etats membres négocient actuellement le budget définitif de MEDIA.[04] Commission clears acquisition of Zapf by LNC, GS and LS VThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Zapf GmbH (Zapf) of Germany by Les Nouveaux Constructeurs S.A. (LNC) of France, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) of the US, Deutsche Bank AG London (DB) of the UK, and Lone Star Fund V LP of the US and Lone Star fund V LP of Bermuda, collectively referred to as LS V. LNC is active in real estate development. GS is active in investment banking and securities. DB is a universal bank. LS V is active in private equity investment. Zapf is involved in the development of real estate, pre-assembled garages, construction materials and water storage and sewage systems. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[05] Commission clears acquisition of TUJA Group by BarclaysThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of TUJA Holding GmbH, Ingolstadt, and its subsidiaries (TUJA Group) of Germany by Barclays Private Equity Ltd, controlled by Barclays Bank plc (Barclays) of the UK. Barclays Private Equity Ltd advises funds in various branches of activity, including two undertakings engaged in the temporary employment services business in the UK. The TUJA Group is active in the temporary employment services business in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[06] Commission approves joint venture between Mellon and WestLBThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the joint venture between Mellon Financial Corporation (Mellon) of the US and WestLB AG of Germany. Mellon is a US based global financial services company which provides a broad range of financial products and services for corporations and individuals. WestLB is a universal bank and offers its products and services in the fields of corporate banking, investment banking, asset management and, increasingly, private banking. The joint venture will be active in asset management. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[07] Commission clears joint venture between Bosch and Mann + HummelThe European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of the PPNA filtration products business in North America of ArvinMeritor, Inc. of the US by Robert Bosch GmbH (Bosch) and Mann + Hummel GmbH (Mann + Hummel), both of Germany. Bosch develops, manufactures and sells car technologies, industrial technology, consumer goods and building technology. Mann + Hummel is active in the development, production and sales of filter and air intake systems for the car industry. The joint venture will manufacture and sell oil, air and fuel filters for the car industry and industrial applications. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.[08] La Commission autorise Wendel Investissement à racheter MaterisLa Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement CE sur les concentrations, le projet d’acquisition de Materis, un fabricant luxembourgeois de matériaux de construction, par Wendel Investissement, un fonds de placement français. Après examen, la Commission est parvenue à la conclusion que l'opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une concurrence effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.[09] Commission approves acquisition of Volkswagen Bordnetze by Sumitomo Electrical IndustriesThe European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition by the Japanese company Sumitomo Electrical Industries Ltd of Volkswagen Bordnetze GmbH, a German manufacturer of wire harnesses for the automotive industry. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it since there are only limited overlaps between the merging parties, who will continue to face strong competition from other automotive component manufacturers.[10] March 2006 : Business Climate Indicator for the euro area improves furtherThe Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area rose further in March. The improvements of the indicator in February and March suggest that the pick-up in industrial production growth has been sustained throughout the first quarter of this year. The increase of the BCI was largely due to improved assessments by industry managers of total order books and export order books. Managers' assessments of production trend observed in recent months were also more optimistic, while their production expectations for the months ahead improved only marginally. The assessment of stocks of finished products worsened slightly.[11] March 2006 : further strengthening of economic sentiment in both the EU and the euro areaThe Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) strengthened further in March with an increase of 0.8 of a point in both the EU and the euro area. The indicator has been on an upward trend since the summer of 2005. In both areas, the indicator is now at its highest level since mid-2001.[12] Flash estimate - March 2006 : Euro-zone inflation estimated at 2.2%Euro-zone annual inflation is expected to be 2.2% in March 2006 according to a flash estimate issued by Eurostat. It was 2.3% in February. Euro-zone inflation is measured by the Monetary Union Index of Consumer Prices (MUICP). To compute the MUICP flash estimates, Eurostat uses early price information relating to the reference month from Member States for which data are available as well as early information about energy prices. The flash estimation procedure for the MUICP combines historical information with partial information on price developments in the most recent months to give a total index for the euro-zone. No detailed breakdown is available. Experience has shown the procedure to be reliable (13 times exactly anticipating the inflation rate, 10 times differing by 0.1 and once differing by 0.2, in January 2005, over the last two years). Further information can be found in Eurostat News Release 113/2001 of 5 November 2001.[13] Commission provides additional €118 million to help rebuild Indonesia's Aceh provinceThe European Commission has approved a further contribution of €118 million to support rehabilitation and long-term reconstruction in Indonesia's Aceh province following the Tsunami. This will bring the Commission's total post-Tsunami aid package for Aceh to €207 million. The aid supports projects that are rebuilding houses and restoring community infrastructure. The funds are channelled through a multi-donor trust fund for reconstruction led by the World Bank with the European Commission as the largest contributor and co-chair. The Fund was set up in order to rationalise the plethora of projects and donors working in the country in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami.[14] La Commission consacre une étude à l'édition scientifique en EuropeLa Commission européenne publie aujourd'hui une étude consacrée à l'édition scientifique en Europe. Les publications scientifiques permettent de diffuser les résultats de la recherche, ce qui est indispensable pour poursuivre les travaux de recherche et transformer les connaissances en produits et services innovants. Les publications scientifiques constituent en outre un des principaux moyens de certifier la qualité du travail accompli. Etant donné les faibles sommes investies chaque année par les pouvoirs publics pour favoriser l'accès aux publications scientifiques, l'Europe a tout intérêt à disposer d'un système d'édition scientifique efficace, qui diffuse rapidement les résultats de la recherche à un large public. Cette étude, réalisée pour la Commission par un groupe d'experts, contient une série de recommandations pour l'avenir, notamment pour améliorer l'accès à la recherche financée par les pouvoirs publics. Toutes les parties intéressées sont invitées à communiquer à la Commission leur avis sur les conclusions de l'étude, afin d'alimenter la conférence sur l'édition scientifique qui se tiendra à l'automne 2006.[15] Autre matériel diffuséAsile, immigration et frontières : 21 nouveaux projets de coopération entre autorités nationales financés par ARGOIntegrating-third country nationals: some examples of INTI 2005 projects Speech by President José Manuel Barroso : "Uniting in peace: the role of Law in the European Union" at Jean Monnet lecture (Florence) Discours du Président José Manuel Barroso pour le trentième anniversaire du PPE (30/03, Rome) Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Where do we stand? Preparing the mainstreaming of URBAN into EU Cohesion Policy" at European Congress of URBAN Networks and Cities 'Acquis URBAN: From Vision to Action' (Maribor, Slovenia) Calendrier du 3 au 7 avril 2006
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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