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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-10-02
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Competition : Commission revises Block Exemption for IATA passenger
tariff conferences
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Dalmine by EST
[03] La Commission autorise le projet de rachat de Banksys et de Bank Card
Company par Atos Origin
[04] Internet Governance : Commission welcomes move towards full private-
sector management by 2009
[05] Euro-area growth on a firm footing
[06] CAP reform : Commission steps up efforts to simplify the Common
Agricultural Policy
[07] Commission presents results of Eurobarometer on HIV/AIDS
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-10-02
Reference: MEX/06/1002
Date: 02/10/2006
EXME06 / 2.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
02/10/06
[01] Competition : Commission revises Block Exemption for IATA passenger
tariff conferences
The European Commission has adopted a Block Exemption Regulation revising
the exemption IATA passenger tariff conferences have enjoyed from the EC
Treaty's ban on restrictive business practices (Article 81). For routes
within the EU, tariff conferences will no longer be exempted as of 1
January 2007. The Regulation exempts tariff conferences on routes between
the EU and the US or Australia until 30 June 2007 and routes between the EU
and other non-EU countries until 31 October 2007. However airlines
benefiting from the block exemption on routes between EU and non-EU
countries must provide the Commission with data on interlining to allow the
Commission to consider whether the exemption for those routes should be
extended beyond those dates. The new Regulation will also end the block
exemption for IATA slots and scheduling conferences.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of Dalmine by EST
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Dalmine Energie S.p.A.
(Dalmine) of Italy by E.ON Sales & Trading GmbH (EST) of Germany,
controlled by E.ON AG of Germany. EST is active in the supply of gas and
electricity. Dalmine is active in the wholesale supply of gas and the
retail supply of electricity and gas to industrial and commercial customers
in Italy. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[03] La Commission autorise le projet de rachat de Banksys et de Bank Card
Company par Atos Origin
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement sur les
concentrations de l'UE, le projet d’acquisition, par la société
française Atos Origin S.A. (AO), des sociétés belges Banksys N.V./S.A.
et Bank Card Company (BCC). Après examen, la Commission est parvenue à la
conclusion que l'opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative une
concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie
substantielle de celui-ci.
[04] Internet Governance : Commission welcomes move towards full private-
sector management by 2009
The United States government's decision to give more autonomy to the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was welcomed by
the European Commission today. On 30 September, a highly prescriptive
Memorandum of Understanding between the US Department of Commerce and ICANN
expired. It has now been replaced by lighter arrangements intended to end
definitely by 2009. The Commission has been working for several years on a
system of internet governance entrusted fully to the private sector without
government interference in the internet's day-to-day management. The
Commission cooperated in 1998 with the US in setting up ICANN and hosted,
until 2006, the Secretariat of the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to
ICANN. Completing the transition of internet governance to the private
sector also had been the explicit request by the EU and its partners at the
World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in November 2005 (see
IP/05/1424 and IP/05/1433).
[05] Euro-area growth on a firm footing
The recovery of the euro-area economy appears to be on solid ground, with
GDP growing in the first half of the year at a pace not seen in the last
six years, finds the Quarterly Report on the Euro Area published today.
Domestic demand has finally bounced back and has become the main source of
growth. In a context of improving labour market and easing oil prices, the
economic outlook could turn out better than expected in the near term.
Further ahead, however, downside risks are set to become more prominent. In
particular the equity price turbulence that was seen in late spring
indicates that risks to growth related to the macro-financial environment
have intensified. The focus section of the report looks at labour-market
developments in the euro area and concludes that structural reforms and
persistent wage moderation have boosted the economy's employment
performance. Nevertheless, there is scope to further improve the
functioning of labour markets. That past efforts are paying off should
encourage further steps in the right direction.
[06] CAP reform : Commission steps up efforts to simplify the Common
Agricultural Policy
Experts from around Europe gather in Brussels tomorrow for a two-day
conference on simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy. The keynote
speakers will be Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Mariann
Fischer Boel and Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen.
The results of the conference will feed into the European Commission's
ongoing efforts to reduce the bureaucratic burden on farmers and national
administrations. Cutting 'red tape' is a major priority for the Commission,
especially in view of the focus on growth and jobs in the Lisbon Strategy.
And as the source of the greatest chunk of EU rules, agriculture must and
will play its part. By its very nature, the CAP is complex. It addresses
complex problems in a complex geographical setting and is the result of
difficult political compromises. But this must not detract from the drive
to make it simpler where that is possible. Simplification efforts focus on
both technical and political simplification. In the first category are the
Commission's preparations for a single Common Market Organisation, where a
proposal is expected in December. The latter is all about changing
underlying policies in ways which make them simpler. The upcoming 'health
check' of the CAP provides a perfect opportunity for further simplification
work.
[07] Commission presents results of Eurobarometer on HIV/AIDS
Today in Brussels at an EU HIV/AIDS prevention round table, focussing on
safer sex for young people, the European Commission released results of the
latest Eurobarometer on HIV/AIDS. The survey looks into public awareness
and citizens' behaviour in the context of the AIDS epidemic. Although the
level of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS is generally high, citizens from the
Member States which joined the EU in 2004 tend to provide less correct
answers. On average, most Europeans are aware of the risks of sharing
needles, receiving infected blood or having unprotected sex. Most
respondents also declare this led them to take precautions when having
sexual intercourse, and seeking stability in the choice of partners.
However, misconceptions still remain : for instance, only 40% of
respondents know it is not possible to be infected by HIV when kissing on
the mouth.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Revision of Block Exemption from Competition Rules for IATA Conferences –
frequently asked questions
Questions and answers on the Eurobarometer on HIV/AIDS
Speech by Joaquin Almunia : "Euro area enlargement: opportunities and
challenges" at Conference 'Lithuania and the Euro' (Vilnius)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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