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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-12-06
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] Commission launches public consultation on European Trade Defence
Instruments
[02] Amérique centrale et Communauté andine : la Commission propose des
directives de négociation en vue de la conclusion d'accords d'association
[03] Agreement on "Sparkasse"
[04] La Commission demande à la Belgique de modifier son régime d'aide Ã
la R&D dans le secteur aéronautique
[05] Commission launches probe for possible misuse of restructuring aid to
Polish steel company Arcelor Huta Warszawa
[06] Commission approves €4.2 million investment aid to German shipyard
Volkswerft Stralsund
[07] La Commission adopte une nouvelle réglementation en matière d'aides
d'Etat dans le secteur agricole
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[08] José Manuel Barroso welcomes positive advances in improving Europe's
industrial research
[09] Single European Sky : Commission harmonises air navigation service
charges
[10] The use of non-EU accounting standards on EU stock markets is extended
for two more years
[11] La Commission autorise le projet d'entreprise commune entre le groupe
Fiat et Crédit Agricole
[12] Commission approves proposed acquisition of BST by WLR
[13] Third quarter 2006 compared to second quarter 2006 : production in the
construction sector up by 0.8% in the euro area ; up by 1.0% in the EU25
[14] EU-Indonesia Day : Pluralism and Democracy
[15] Q&A with President Barroso at the Committee of the Regions
[16] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-12-06
Reference: MEX/06/1206
Date: 06/12/2006
EXME06 / 6.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
06/12/06
[I] Résultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome
of today's Commission meeting
[01] Commission launches public consultation on European Trade Defence
Instruments
The European Commission has adopted a Green Paper to launch a reflection
and public consultation on the application of the EU Trade Defence
Instruments in a changing global economy. This public reflection process
forms part of the Commission's new Global Europe strategy for European
competitiveness. The launch of the Green Paper today will be followed by a
three month stakeholders' consultation.
[02] Amérique centrale et Communauté andine : la Commission propose des
directives de négociation en vue de la conclusion d'accords d'association
La Commission européenne a suggéré que l'Union européenne entame des
négociations avec l'Amérique centrale et la Communauté andine en 2007,
en vue de la conclusion d'accords d'association. Dès que le Conseil aura
approuvé les directives de négociation, la Commission ouvrira les
négociations en vue de la signature d'accords généraux régissant toutes
les facettes des relations entre l'Union européenne et ces régions
(dialogue politique, coopération et commerce).
[03] Agreement on "Sparkasse"
The European Commission and the German authorities have reached agreement
on a solution for the "Sparkasse" infringement case which is compatible
with European Treaty rules. The solution confirms the principle of
neutrality of Community law as regards the decision to privatise a public
enterprise (Article 295 of the Treaty). It recognises that in the
application of national law, Community law has to be respected.
[04] La Commission demande à la Belgique de modifier son régime d'aide Ã
la R&D dans le secteur aéronautique
La Commission européenne a exigé que le régime belge d'aide pour la
recherche et le développement (R&D) dans le secteur aéronautique soit
revu afin qu'il soit mis en conformité avec les règles du traité CE
sur les aides d'Etat. Ce régime, illégalement mis en œuvre par la
Belgique entre 2002 et 2006 afin d'apporter une aide à la recherche et au
développement aux entreprises du secteur aéronautique, représente un
budget total de €82.581.000. Pour les aides attribuées sous ce régime,
la Belgique s'engage d'ici le 31 décembre 2006 à les adapter afin de les
rendre compatibles avec l'encadrement communautaire des aides d'Etat pour
la recherche et le développement. La Belgique doit notamment réduire
l'aide attribuée à Techspace Aero de €41.274.000 Ã
€31.978.850.
[05] Commission launches probe for possible misuse of restructuring aid to
Polish steel company Arcelor Huta Warszawa
The European Commission has opened under EC Treaty state aid rules an in-
depth investigation into the possible misuse of restructuring aid by the
Polish steel producer Arcelor Huta Warszawa. The investigation aims to
establish the precise facts of the case and whether the aid has been used
in accordance with Protocol 8 of the Accession Treaty (on the
restructuring of the Polish steel industry). The opening of the
investigation will give an opportunity to interested parties to submit
their views, and does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure.
[06] Commission approves €4.2 million investment aid to German shipyard
Volkswerft Stralsund
The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules
regional investment aid of €4.2 million to the German shipyard Volkswerft
Stralsund. After an in-depth investigation initiated in February 2006 (see
IP/06/203), the Commission has concluded that the investment is limited to
a modernisation of the yard which will improve its productivity. It will
not result in a disproportionate capacity increase.
[07] La Commission adopte une nouvelle réglementation en matière d'aides
d'Etat dans le secteur agricole
La Commission européenne a adopté une nouvelle réglementation régissant
l'octroi d'aides d'Etat dans le secteur agricole. Cette réglementation
comporte deux volets: un règlement d'exemption, qui permet aux Etats
membres de ne pas notifier les aides d'Etat aux petites et moyennes
entreprises actives dans la production de produits agricoles lorsque
certaines conditions sont remplies, et des Lignes directrices, qui
constituent le complément de ce règlement en établissant une série de
règles applicables aux aides notifiées. Ces deux textes couvrent la
période 2007-2013.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[08] José Manuel Barroso welcomes positive advances in improving Europe's
industrial research
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will today address
leaders of European Technology Platforms (ETPs), created to boost research
focused on the needs of European industry. He will highlight the important
role of these ETPs in building bridges within a particular sector, as
successful innovation needs everyone to work together. He will welcome the
work done up to now by the ETPs in identifying priorities for industrial
research in Europe, and look to their possible future role in creating lead
markets, as identified in the Commission's recent broad-based innovation
strategy. The Strategic Research Agendas of the 31 ETPs established up to
now form the basis of the EU's support for research in these sectors in the
2007-2013 Research Framework Programme. But their potential goes much
further, as they provide a clear agenda for research which can attract
funding from many other sources, whether public, private or charitable.
President Barroso's speech will be made available during the course of the
afternoon.
[09] Single European Sky : Commission harmonises air navigation service
charges
The European Commission has adopted today a Regulation on a common charging
scheme for air navigation services. The new charging system regulates which
costs are eligible and how users will be charged for air navigation
services. The regulation will apply as of 1 January 2007. Building on the
current international system, the harmonised system will contribute to
achieving greater transparency and encourage the safe and effective
provision of air navigation services.
[10] The use of non-EU accounting standards on EU stock markets is extended
for two more years
Following a positive vote of the European Securities Committee and a strong
endorsement from the European Parliament on 24 October 2006, the European
Commission has adopted measures extending by two years the transitional
exemption granted to foreign companies presenting financial statements
prepared in accordance with national accounting standards for the issuing
of securities on EU stock markets. A decision on the equivalence of third-
country Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAPs) with International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is expected to take place before the
end of 2009.
[11] La Commission autorise le projet d'entreprise commune entre le groupe
Fiat et Crédit Agricole
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement CE sur les
concentrations, le projet de création d'une entreprise commune entre la
banque française Crédit Agricole et Fiat Auto, filiale du groupe italien
Fiat. Après examen, la Commission est parvenue à la conclusion que
l'opération proposée n'entraverait pas de manière significative une
concurrence effective dans l'Espace économique européen ou une partie
substantielle de celui-ci.
[12] Commission approves proposed acquisition of BST by WLR
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the German company BST Safety Textiles Holding GmbH
(BST) by the American private equity firm WLR Recovery Fund III, L.P.
(WLR). BST is a supplier of flat fabrics for use in the manufacture of
automotive airbag cushions, whilst a company controlled by WLR, Safety
Components International Inc. (SCI), produces airbag cushions. The
Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly
impede competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of
it.
[13] Third quarter 2006 compared to second quarter 2006 : production in the
construction sector up by 0.8% in the euro area ; up by 1.0% in the EU25
In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production grew by 0.8% in
the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU25 in the third quarter of 2006,
compared to the previous quarter. In the second quarter of 2006, production
increased by 2.9% and 2.1% respectively. Compared to the third quarter of
2005, output in the third quarter of 2006 rose by 3.9% in the euro area and
by 4.0% in the EU25, after increases of 3.5% and 3.2% respectively in the
second quarter of 2006. These first estimates are released by Eurostat.
[14] EU-Indonesia Day : Pluralism and Democracy
The European Commission will host tomorrow the Conference "EU-Indonesia Day
– Pluralism and Democracy" to address the challenges that Indonesia faces
as a vibrant, emerging democracy, as well as prospects for EU-Indonesia
relations. Discussions, divided in three panels (Religion and Politics;
Democracy and Conflict Resolution; and Indonesia in the new East Asian
Context), will focus on the relationship between Islam and democracy and
the dialogue between cultures and religions. Commissioner for External
Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will open the
conference, followed by a keynote speech by Dr Din Syamsuddin, chairman of
Muhammadiyah, one of the largest Muslim organisations in the world.
Participants will include leading members of the European Parliament,
Islamic scholars, think tanks, civil society, diplomats, and academics from
EU and Asian countries. The conference will take place on 7Â December from
9:00 in the Charlemagne building, Brussels, and it will be open to the
media. Interested journalists can register under the following link: <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/indonesia/eu_indonesia_day/index.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/indonesia/eu_indonesia_day/index.htm
[15] Q&A with President Barroso at the Committee of the Regions
European CommissionPresident José Manuel Barroso will hold tomorrow,
Thursday 7 December, during the plenary meeting of the Committee of the
Regions (CoR) at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels, a question and
answer session (from 09:30 to 11:30) on the Commission's work programme for
2007. The Q&A, under the chairmanship of the CoR's President Michel
Delabarre, is the centre-piece of the fourth annual 'structured dialogue'
with the Committee members and associations of local and regional
authorities. President Barroso end President Delebarre will take part in a
press point at 11:45 in the Charlemagne hemicycle.
[16] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by President José Manuel Barroso : "The new social reality of
Europe" at Global Europe-Social Europe debate (05/12)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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