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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-11-29
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] Emissions trading : Commission decides on first set of national
allocation plans for the 2008-2012 trading period
[02] La Commission informe l'Espagne que, selon son appréciation
préliminaire, les mesures prises par le ministre espagnol dans le projet
de rachat d'Endesa par E.ON enfreignent le droit communautaire
[03] La Commission recommande d'abroger la procédure de déficit excessif
engagée à l'égard de la France
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] EU challenges Canadian discriminatory tax rules on wine and beer in
the WTO
[05] La Commission encourage les femmes et les jeunes à participer plus
activement au débat sur l'Europe – le point sur le plan D comme
démocratie, dialogue et débat
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Thames Water by Macquarie
[07] Commission clears joint venture between WHO and Codere
[08] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition, par Telecom Italia, de
l'activité d'accès à Internet d'AOL Allemagne
[09] Commission opens in-depth investigation into acquisition of Alcatel
Alenia Space and Telespazio by Thales
[10] Commission hosts major international product safety event
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-11-29
Reference: MEX/06/1129
Date: 29/11/2006
EXME06 / 29.11
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
29/11/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Emissions trading : Commission decides on first set of national
allocation plans for the 2008-2012 trading period
The European Commission has confirmed its strong commitment to ensuring
that the EU and Member States achieve their greenhouse gas emission targets
under the Kyoto Protocol. In deciding on the first 10 national plans for
allocating CO² emission allowances to energy-intensive industrial plants
for the 2008-2012 trading period under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU
ETS), the Commission reduced the allowances by almost 7% below the
emissions proposed by the national allocation plans and 7% below the 2005
emissions. The plans concern Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. They account
for 42% of the allowances allocated in the first trading period of the EU
ETS, from 2005 to 2007. The objective of the EU ETS is to ensure that
greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered are
cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States
to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
[02] La Commission informe l'Espagne que, selon son appréciation
préliminaire, les mesures prises par le ministre espagnol dans le projet
de rachat d'Endesa par E.ON enfreignent le droit communautaire
La Commission européenne a fait savoir aux autorités espagnoles que,
selon sa conclusion préliminaire, l'Espagne a enfreint l'article 21 du
règlement CE sur les concentrations étant donné que certaines des
conditions imposées à E.ON pour son projet de prise de contrôle d'Endesa
suscitent des doutes sérieux quant à leur compatibilité avec le droit
communautaire. La Commission renvoie en particulier aux nouvelles
conditions imposées par le ministre espagnol de l'industrie, du tourisme
et du commerce dans une décision du 3 novembre 2006, adoptée dans le
cadre d'un recours administratif contre une décision précédente du
régulateur espagnol du secteur de l’énergie, CNE, concernant
l'opération envisagée. L'Espagne a jusqu'au 13 décembre pour donner son
avis sur l'appréciation préliminaire de la Commission.
[03] La Commission recommande d'abroger la procédure de déficit excessif
engagée à l'égard de la France
La Commission européenne a décidé de recommander au Conseil de mettre
fin à la procédure concernant les déficits excessifs (PDE)
engagée à l'égard de la France dans la mesure où le déficit est
retombé à 2,9% du PIB en 2005 et devrait encore se contracter en 2006 et
2007 avec une suppression progressive du recours aux mesures temporaires.
La tendance à l'accroissement de la dette s'est elle aussi inversée
récemment. Ceci indique que la correction du déficit est crédible et
reflète l'incidence positive de l'amélioration du contrôle des dépenses
ces dernières années. En ce qui concerne l'avenir, il faut maintenant
atteindre l'objectif de l'équilibre budgétaire que la France s'est fixé
pour la fin de cette décennie afin de garantir la viabilité de ses
finances publiques à long terme.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[04] EU challenges Canadian discriminatory tax rules on wine and beer in
the WTO
The European Union will today request WTO consultations with Canada on its
new fiscal measures affecting wine and beer. The new Canadian measures
provide excise tax relief to Canadian wine and beer, while leaving the
excise tax on imported EU wine and beer intact. The new discriminatory tax
regime has been applied on a provisional basis since 1 July 2006 but is
still pending before the Canadian Parliament.
[05] La Commission encourage les femmes et les jeunes à participer plus
activement au débat sur l'Europe – le point sur le plan D comme
démocratie, dialogue et débat
Aujourd'hui, la vice-présidente Margot Wallström, en charge des relations
institutionnelles et de la stratégie de communication, a informé la
Commission de l'état d'avancement du plan D, un an après son annonce par
la Commission européenne. Prenant la parole avant la réunion, Mme
Wallström a déclaré : "Le plan D a contribué à donner un nouvel élan
au débat sur l'avenir de l'Union. N'oublions pas qu'il appartient
également aux Etats membres d'utiliser cette période de réflexion pour
écouter les idées exprimées par leurs citoyens. A présent, l'objectif
est de se concentrer sur la "majorité silencieuse" – en particulier les
jeunes et les femmes. Nous voulons les encourager à faire entendre leur
voix concernant l'avenir de l'Europe."
[06] Commission clears acquisition of Thames Water by Macquarie
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Thames Water Holdings plc
(Thames Water) of the UK by Macquarie Bank Limited (Macquarie) also of the
UK. Macquarie is active in financial and investment banking services.
Thames Water provides water and sewerage services in a designated area in
and around London. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[07] Commission clears joint venture between WHO and Codere
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the joint venture between William Hill Organization Limited
(WHO) of the UK, belonging to the William Hill group, and Codere SA of
Spain. WHO operates internet gambling sites and provides fixed odds
bookmaking services via licensed betting offices and telephone. Codere
manages gaming machines, bingo halls and racetracks. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[08] La Commission autorise le projet d'acquisition, par Telecom Italia, de
l'activité d'accès à Internet d'AOL Allemagne
La Commission européenne a donné son aval, en vertu du règlement
communautaire sur les concentrations, au projet d'acquisition, par Telecom
Italia S.p.A., de l'activité d'accès à Internet d'AOL LLC en Allemagne.
La Commission a conclu que l'opération n'entraverait pas significativement
l'exercice d'une concurrence effective dans l'Espace Economique Européen
ou une partie substantielle de celui-ci.
[09] Commission opens in-depth investigation into acquisition of Alcatel
Alenia Space and Telespazio by Thales
The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU
Merger Regulation into the acquisition by Thalès of France of Alcatel's
shareholdings in the two space joint ventures Alcatel Alenia Space (AAS) of
France and Telespazio of Italy, currently jointly controlled by Alcatel and
Finmeccanica. The Commission's initial market investigation found that the
proposed transaction gives rise to competition concerns because of the
combination of Thalès's dominant position for Travelling Wave Tubes (TWTs),
a critical component for telecommunications satellites, and AAS's
activities as a manufacturer of satellite subsystems and components, and as
a satellite prime contractor. A decision to open an in-depth inquiry does
not prejudge the final result of the investigation. The Commission now has
90 working days (until 17Â April 2007) to take a final decision on whether
the concentration would significantly impede effective competition within
the European Economic Area or a significant part of it.
[10] Commission hosts major international product safety event
The European Commission has opened today in Brussels a major international
conference on ways to ensure global product safety and international
cooperation between consumer safety authorities. The two-day event is
themed "Cooperation in the Global Marketplace - Meeting the Challenges of
Consumer Product Safety" and is being organised by the International
Consumer Product Health and Safety Organisation (ICPHSO). The conference
addresses the entire product life cycle, including the 'pre-market' stage
assessment, i.e. its safety and manufacturing quality assurance; the 'on-
the-marketplace' stage including market surveillance and control of
production; and finally the 'coming-off-the-market' stage including
corrective actions, recalls and notification requirements. The aim is to
foster learning and exchange of best practice between all key players
around the globe. Keynote speakers include Robert Madelin, Director General
of the Commission's Health and Consumer Protection DG, and Heinz Zourek,
Director General of the Enterprise and Industry DG, as well as
representatives from the regulatory authorities of the People's Republic of
China, Japan, Canada and the USA. The 150 participants include EU Member
State authorities, manufacturers, retailers, importers, legal advisers and
consumer representatives. In conjunction with the conference regulators and
enforcers from around the world are also meeting to develop strategies for
cooperation and exchange of information. Furthermore, on 1 December, the
Commission is holding a major workshop on ways to ensure product safety by
working closely with business. The event is themed "Economic operators'
obligation to notify dangerous products" and will promote the obligation of
manufacturers, importers and distributors to inform the competent
authorities of the Member States in case the consumer products they placed
on the market turn out to be unsafe. Further information on <a
href="http://www.icphso.org/EuroMeet_1.html">http://www.icphso.org/EuroMeet_1.html
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Questions and answers on Emissions Trading and National Allocation Plans
for 2008 to 2012
Note of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
(30/11-01/12)
Opening remarks by Charlie McCreevy at public hearing on Future Single
Market Policy
Speech by José Manuel Barroso : "The Scottish enlightenment and the
challenges for Europe in the 21st century; climate change and energy" at
Enlightenment Lecture Series (28/11, Edinburgh University)
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner at plenary session of EuroMed Foreign
Affairs Ministerial Meeting (28/11, Tampere)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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