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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-10-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Biggest ever EU investment kick-off at European week of regions and
cities in Brussels
[02] Commission re-submits proposals on GMOs to Council
[03] Espaces sans tabac : Markos Kyprianou se réjouit du projet de
décret français
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Dorna by Bridgepoint
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Aleris by TPG
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Aereo by Cinven
[07] Fossil Fuels Forum meets for the second time to discuss security of
supply
[08] Janez Potočnik visits Croatia and Serbia
[09] Joe Borg calls on international action to protect bluefin tuna
[10] Joe Borg visits the Genoa International Boat Show
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-10-09
Reference: MEX/06/1009
Date: 09/10/2006
EXME06 / 9.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
09/10/06
[01] Biggest ever EU investment kick-off at European week of regions and
cities in Brussels
(! embargo 16h00 !) The President of the European Commission, José Manuel
Barroso, addressed today in Brussels the opening session of the 4th OPEN
DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities. Between 9 and 12 October, the
European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Ms Danuta Hübner, and the
President of the Committee of the Regions, Michel Delebarre, will welcome
close to 4000 participants from 30 European countries. Under the headline
"Investing in Europe's Regions and Cities-Public and Private Partners for
Growth and Jobs" they will discuss modern regional development strategies.
The event kicks off the preparation of about 300 regional development
programmes for the period 2007-2013, worth €500 billion from EU, national,
regional and private sources. This represents the biggest investment ever
made by the EU budget.
[02] Commission re-submits proposals on GMOs to Council
The European Commission decided today to re-submit to the EU Council of
Ministers proposals to lift the ban imposed by Austria on the marketing of
two authorised genetically modified maize varieties, MON810 and T25.
Austria introduced these bans under Directive 90/220/EEC in 1999 and 2000
respectively. The Council can either adopt or reject the proposals with a
qualified majority. If no decision is taken after three months, the files
return to the Commission which can then adopt them. If adopted Austria
would have to repeal its national ban at the latest 20 days after it is
formally notified of this decision. A further six bans were invoked by
other Member States around the same time to ban the marketing of another GM
maize variety (Bt176) and two oilseed rape varieties (Ms1Rf1 and Topas).
The Scientific Committees reviewed all information submitted by these
Member States as justification for their bans. In all cases, their
scientific assessment was that this information provided no new elements of
risk. This is why the Commission took the view that these safeguard clauses
were not justified under EU law and submitted proposals to the Council of
Ministers, in June 2005, to withdraw these bans. The Council disagreed with
the Commission and voted against these proposals. In view of the Council
position, the Commission decided to re-consult the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA), a body composed of independent scientists, for a further
opinion on the information provided by Austria to justify the bans. EFSA
again concluded that this information did not constitute new elements of
risk. The Commission is also considering the other six bans in light of the
fact that the GMO products in question are no longer to be marketed and
cultivated in the EU. This has effectively rendered the corresponding
safeguard clauses for these products obsolete.
[03] Espaces sans tabac : Markos Kyprianou se réjouit du projet de
décret français
Le Commissaire européen la Santé et la Protection des Consommateurs,
Markos Kyprianou, se réjouit de la décision du gouvernement Français
d'interdire de fumer dans tous les lieux publics, bars et restaurants
compris, d'ici janvier 2008. "Je tiens féliciter chaleureusement le
Premier Ministre Dominique de Villepin et le Ministre de la Santé Xavier
Bertrand pour leur décision d'interdire de fumer dans tous les lieux
publics d'ici janvier 2008. Avec cette mesure, la France se replace dans le
peloton de tête de la lutte européenne contre le tabagisme, et j'espère
que tous les états membres de l'UE qui hésitent encore auront le courage
de faire de même. La Commission européenne apportera sa contribution au
débat sur les espaces sans tabac avec un livre vert vers la fin de
l'année." Le Livre vert en préparation envisage de lancer une
consultation des Etats membres, du Parlement européen et du public sur la
meilleure façon de contrer le tabagisme passif et examinera les
différentes options envisageables.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of Dorna by Bridgepoint
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Dorna Sports, S. L.
(Dorna) of Spain by Bridgepoint Capital Group Limited (Bridgepoint) of the
UK. Bridgepoint is a private equity company. Dorna organises and manages
the commercial rights associated with several motorcycle race series,
namely the FIM Moto GP, the Supercross World Championship, the Spanish Road
Racing Championship and the British Superbike Championship. The operation
was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Aleris by TPG
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Aleris International,
Inc. (Aleris) of the US by TPG Advisors IV, Inc. (TPG IV) and TPG Advisors
V, Inc. (TPG V), both of the US. TPG IV and TPG V are private equity funds
with investments in a number of diverse portfolio companies. Aleris is
active in the recycling and processing of aluminium into aluminium alloys,
primarily in the US, but also in Europe. Aleris is also involved in the
purchase of aluminium scrap in Europe. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Aereo by Cinven
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Aero Invest 1 S.p.A.
(Aereo) of Italy by Cinven Limited of the UK. Cinven is a private equity
investment company. Aero indirectly controls Avio S.p.A (Avio), which in
turn controls a group of companies operating in the aerospace and defence
industry. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[07] Fossil Fuels Forum meets for the second time to discuss security of
supply
(! embargo 18h00 !) Security of supply of fossil fuels and other related
issues identified in the European Commission's recent Green paper on a
"European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy" : these
were some of the subjects that were discussed at the second meeting of the
Fossil Fuels Forum in Berlin today. The Forum is an important initiative of
the Commission to improve communication and exchange of information on
fossil fuels with Member States, stakeholders and energy experts.
[08] Janez Potočnik visits Croatia and Serbia
Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research, will today
start a two day visit to Croatia and Serbia. The Commission is co-
organising with the two countries a workshop commemorating the 150th
anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla, inventor, physicist and engineer,
whose work formed the basis of modern electric power systems. Mr Potočnik
will participate in the workshop in both venues and will encourage
participation in the framework programme and call for increased emphasis on
innovation. While in the region, Commissioner Potočnik will meet with the
Prime Ministers and science ministers of both countries to encourage the
governments there to use the possibilities for cooperation with European
researchers to strengthen their own science base, thereby aiding their
economic and social development.
[09] Joe Borg calls on international action to protect bluefin tuna
Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, called
on 7 October for urgent cooperation and action from all Parties concerned
in taking the necessary measures to give bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean
and the Atlantic the protection it needs. This follows a warning by
scientists yesterday evening that fishing pressure on bluefin tuna must be
substantially cut if a collapse of both the fishery and the stock is to be
avoided. At the end of its meeting from 2 to 6 October, in Madrid, the
standing committee on research and statistics of the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), has recommended a
reduction in fishing mortality (measure of fish killed by fishing). It
estimates that at present fishing effort is more than three times the level
that would provide optimum returns. Commissioner Borg said: "Scientists'
findings have confirmed the fear that I have expressed on several occasions
that the fishing effort was too high for the fishing possibilities. We need
to maintain blue fin tuna fishing at sustainable levels and the Commission
will continue to play a leading role in the international endeavours to
protect bluefin tuna. Success, however, will depend on all interested
Parties working together at the forthcoming ICCAT meeting in Dubrovnik, in
November, to adopt a packet of measures aimed at initiating stock recovery
and at effectively combating illegal fishing activities which currently
threaten the future of the bluefin tuna fishery." Mr Borg added that the
multi-annual management programme must cover this stock from the fishery to
the market and that we must have a comprehensive approach in ICCAT
management. The Commission will now study the scientific advice very
carefully and will consult with the Member States and other ICCAT
interested Parties.
[10] Joe Borg visits the Genoa International Boat Show
This evening, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe
Borg, will travel to Genoa, where he will be the guest of the European
Union Recreational Marine Industry Group (EURMIG) at the annual Genoa
International Boat Show. EURMIG was launched in February 2004 as the
European branch of the International Council of Marine Industry
Associations (ICOMIA) to represent boat builders, retailers, service
providers, and charter and marina operators working in the recreational
sector. Tuesday's programme will start with a meeting with the Women's
International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), an organisation
representing women occupying managerial positions in the maritime
transportation business and related trades worldwide. In July WISTA, in
collaboration with the Italian Shipowners' Confederation (CONFITARMA),
organised a conference in Rome on the Commission's Green Paper on a future
Maritime Policy for the European Union. Commissioner Borg will then tour
the Boat Show before taking part in a round table discussion with
representatives of the recreational marine industry?. The Commissioner will
outline the progress with the Green Paper consultation, and encourage those
present to contribute fully to the process. He will particularly highlight
the benefits which an industry dominated by small and medium-sized
enterprises may draw from strategies presented in the Green Paper,
especially through the encouragement of maritime clusters, public
investment in Research and Development and improved maritime governance.
During the morning, Mr Borg will also meet the Italian Minister for
Agriculture, Forests and Development, Paolo de Castro. Their discussions
will cover a number of topics, including the measures proposed by the
Commission to ensure sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean.
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Note on the Ecofin Council (10/10, Luxembourg)
Speech by Jacques Barrot : "European forward thinking in the transport
White Paper Review - Keep Europe Moving" at 13th ITS World Congress
(London)
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Building an EU Integrated Market in a
Globalised World" at World Congress of Financial Executives (Berlin)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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