|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-04-12
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Competition: Commission sector inquiry highlights competition concerns
in payment cards industry
[02] Politique d'égalité des chances : recruter plus de femmes aux postes
de responsabilité
[03] Exécution budgétaire record
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] Commission clears, subject to conditions, takeovers of Guidant by
Boston Scientific and of Guidant's vascular businesses by Abbott
Laboratories
[05] Classical swine fever in Germany : revised measures on North-Rhine
Westphalia
[06] Quarterly euro-area GDP growth projections in the range of 0.4% to
0.8% for the first quarter of 2006, 0.3% to 0.8% for the second quarter and
0.2% to 0.8% for the third quarter
[07] Deuxième estimation pour le quatrième trimestre 2005 : le PIB de la
zone euro en hausse de 0,3% et celui de l'UE25 de 0,4%
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-04-12
Reference: MEX/06/0412
Date: 12/04/2006
EXME06 / 12.4
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
12/04/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Competition: Commission sector inquiry highlights competition concerns
in payment cards industry
Businesses and consumers do not yet benefit from a fully competitive
Internal Market in payment cards according to a preliminary report
published by the European Commission on its sector inquiry into the payment
cards industry (see IP/05/719 and MEMO 05/204). The report, based on
responses from many market participants, reveals several potential barriers
to entry into payment card markets, such as technical obstacles and
practices by banks and networks that may raise costs for entrants. The
industry, consumers and other interested parties have ten weeks (until 21
June) to submit their views and comments on the preliminary findings. If
the preliminary findings on payment cards are borne out by this
consultation, the Commission will consider action under EC Treaty antitrust
rules in individual cases. In addition, the results of the sector inquiry
will feed into the Commission’s analysis of whether amendments to the
regulatory framework for payment cards are necessary. The Commission will
publish in July a report on the second part of its retail banking inquiry -
focusing on current accounts and financing of small firms.
[02] Politique d'égalité des chances : recruter plus de femmes aux postes
de responsabilité
La Commission européenne a adopté les objectifs de recrutement de femmes
pour l'année 2006 dans le cadre de la politique d'égalité des chances
entre femmes et hommes qu'elle applique pour son personnel. Il s'agit
d'objectifs de premiers recrutements et de premières nominations de femmes
aux postes d'encadrement et aux autres postes d'administrateurs, destinés
améliorer la représentation des femmes ces postes qui, malgré de
réels progrès, demeure insuffisante. La mise en œuvre d'actions
positives, que ce soit par le biais du 4ème Programme d'Action pour
l'égalité des chances entre femmes et hommes ou par l'adoption
d'objectifs annuels de recrutement et de nomination a contribué ces
dernières années modifier les tendances l'œuvre. La Commission
marque son engagement faire plus et mieux en 2006, en fixant des
objectifs de recrutement ambitieux, et en poursuivant la réflexion tant
sur la possibilité de mesures contraignantes, que sur les moyens de
pallier la faiblesse de certains viviers disponibles et des taux de
candidatures féminines aux postes d'encadrement.
[03] Exécution budgétaire record
L'exécution du budget a atteint un record en 2005 : seul 1% du budget de
l'UE, soit €1.077 millions, n'a pas été utilisé. Ce résultat, auquel
il faut ajouter des recettes supplémentaires d'un montant de €1.292
millions, permettra de réduire cette année les contributions nationales
au budget de l'UE d'un total de €2.410 millions, ce qui correspond un
niveau historiquement bas, qui n'avait plus été atteint depuis 1997.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] Commission clears, subject to conditions, takeovers of Guidant by
Boston Scientific and of Guidant's vascular businesses by Abbott
Laboratories
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
planned acquisition by US healthcare group Boston Scientific Corporation of
its competitor Guidant Corporation, a US company specialised in
cardiovascular medical products, subject to conditions. In parallel, the
Commission has also cleared the acquisition of Guidant's interventional
cardiology and endovascular devices businesses by Abbott Laboratories
(Abbott), also subject to commitments. In the light of the commitments
submitted by both Boston Scientific and Abbott, the Commission has
concluded that the two transactions would not significantly impede
effective competition in the European Economic Area or a significant part
of it.
[05] Classical swine fever in Germany : revised measures on North-Rhine
Westphalia
On 11 April, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health
voted in favour of a Commission proposal modifying the measures adopted
last week due to the classical swine fever which have occurred in the last
forty days in North-Rhine Westphalia, in Germany (see IP/06/459). Under the
Decision agreed and which will enter into force next week, pigs may be
transported from farms located in the surveillance zones established around
the outbreaks of disease to other holdings located in the said zones. This
would prevent animal welfare problems in the farms, from which movement of
pigs was completely ban over the last weeks, and which is causing
overcrowding in the farms. Before being moved, pigs must however undergo
special clinical and laboratory testing, to exclude that they are
incubating the disease, and the German authorities have to report to the
Committee on the authorisation given. All other measures adopted last week
in relation to Classical swine fever in Germany remain in force until 15
May. The disease situation and the measures adopted at Community level will
be reviewed again at the meeting of the Standing Committee of 20 April.
[06] Quarterly euro-area GDP growth projections in the range of 0.4% to
0.8% for the first quarter of 2006, 0.3% to 0.8% for the second quarter and
0.2% to 0.8% for the third quarter
The dynamic factor model for quarterly GDP growth in the euro area,
developed by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Economic
and Financial Affairs, projects a range of 0.4% to 0.8% for GDP growth in
the first quarter of 2006, slightly lower than the previous release (3
March). The projected range for GDP growth is 0.3% to 0.8% in the second
quarter and 0.2% to 0.8% in third quarter, both revised marginally
downwards.
[07] Deuxième estimation pour le quatrième trimestre 2005 : le PIB de la
zone euro en hausse de 0,3% et celui de l'UE25 de 0,4%
Au cours du quatrième trimestre 2005, le Produit Intérieur Brut (PIB) de
la zone euro a augmenté de 0,3% et celui de l'UE25 de 0,4% par rapport au
trimestre précédent, selon les estimations révisées publiées par
Eurostat. Au cours du troisième trimestre 2005, les taux de croissance
avaient été de +0,7% dans les deux zones. En comparaison avec le même
trimestre de l'année précédente, le PIB de la zone euro a augmenté de 1,
8% et celui de l'UE25 de 2,0% après respectivement +1,6% et +1,9% au cours
du trimestre précédent. Au cours du quatrième trimestre 2005 et parmi
les Etats membres pour lesquels des données sont disponibles, la Lettonie
(+2,7%) a enregistré le plus fort taux de croissance, suivie de la
Lituanie (+2,5%) et de l'Estonie (+2,2%). Seule la Grèce (-0,2%) a
enregistré une baisse.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Stavros Dimas : "Challenges in the Environment Sector" at the
European Institute of Romania (11/04)
Mémo: “Competition: Commission’s sector inquiry into the payments
cards industry – frequently asked questions”
Calendrier du 18 au 23 avril 2006
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
