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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-07-24

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Statement of Benita Ferrero-Waldner on arrival with the Bulgarian nurses in Sofia
  • [02] La Commission adopte un nouveau règlement sur les aides d'Etat dans le secteur de la pêche
  • [03] Natural disasters : update on EU civil protection activities
  • [04] Commission publishes annual crop yield forecasts : heat waves, droughts and excessive rain across Europe brings mixed results
  • [05] Industrial property : Commission adopts necessary measures for linking EU design registration system with WIPO international system
  • [06] Protection des intérêts financiers : programme communautaire Hercule II (2007–13) adopté
  • [07] VAT - postal services : Commission opens second stage of infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden
  • [08] Direct taxation : Commission sues Sweden for not having fully complied with a Court judgement regarding the rules on capital gains tax relief on dwelling sales ("Bostadsrätt")
  • [09] Fiscalité directe : la Commission engage une procédure d'infraction à l'encontre de la Suède pour ses règles restrictives en matière d'impôt sur le revenu appliquées aux contribuables non résidents
  • [10] Commission assesses impact on agricultural markets of a minimum target of 10% of biofuel use in the EU 27 in 2020
  • [11] Call for tender for a synthesis of ex ante evaluations of Rural Development programmes 2007- 2013
  • [12] Industrial new orders up by 1.7% in euro area ; EU27 up by 3.2%
  • [13] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2007-07-24 Reference: MEX/07/0724 Date: 24/07/2007 EXME07 / 24.7

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    24/07/07


  • [01] Statement of Benita Ferrero-Waldner on arrival with the Bulgarian nurses in Sofia

    Upon arrival with the five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor in Sofia, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner made the following statement: "I heartily welcome the Libyan government's decision to transfer the Bulgarian medical personnel to Bulgaria. I share the joy of their families and friends and of the government and people of Bulgaria. For over eight years, we have never forgotten the suffering of the medical staff who have shown such dignity and fortitude during their long ordeal. This excellent outcome is the result of sustained joint efforts by the EU bringing together the Bulgarian authorities, consecutive EU presidencies, and a number of other Member States. This demonstrates the value of concerted EU action. The EU will always work tirelessly for justice for its citizens. This decision will open the way for a new and enhanced relationship between the EU and Libya and reinforce our ties with the Mediterranean region and the whole of Africa. At the same time, my thoughts are also with the Benghazi children and their families, and I will continue to give my support to them all."

    [02] La Commission adopte un nouveau règlement sur les aides d'Etat dans le secteur de la pêche

    La Commission européenne a adopté aujourd'hui un règlement de la Commission relevant le plafond de l'aide dite "de mininis" dans le secteur de la pêche. Les aides de minimis sont des aides nationales censées ne pas fausser la concurrence. Dans le cadre du nouveau règlement, le plafond sera fixé à €30.000 par période triennale et par bénéficiaire, à condition que le montant total de ce type d'aide représente moins de 2,5% de la production nationale annuelle du secteur de la pêche. Aucune de ces aides ne peut servir à acheter ou construire de nouveaux navires ou à accroître la capacité actuelle de la flotte. Les Etats membres devront enregistrer toutes les informations pertinentes prouvant que ces conditions ont été respectées.

    [03] Natural disasters : update on EU civil protection activities

    Since the end of June, the Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) has received a total of eight requests for assistance from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria and, most recently the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - to help combat the forest fires raging across Southern Europe. These requests triggered an immediate response from the MIC. Assistance was made available through the Community Civil Protection Mechanism by various Member States, including Italy, France, Spain and Greece. The situation is now becoming particularly acute, with all Southern EU Member States and most neighbouring countries combating major fires on their own territory. The MIC is also monitoring the exceptional weather situation in the UK and stands ready to facilitate offers of assistance from other EU countries should the UK need any additional assistance in these difficult circumstances.

    [04] Commission publishes annual crop yield forecasts : heat waves, droughts and excessive rain across Europe brings mixed results

    The European Commission's in-house scientific service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), has just released its annual crop yield forecast for Europe. The central prediction is that the 2007 total cereal harvest will be 276 M tonnes or 1,6% below the average of the last five years with Central and Eastern Europe losing out the most.

    [05] Industrial property : Commission adopts necessary measures for linking EU design registration system with WIPO international system

    The European Commission adopted two Regulations which are necessary to give effect to the accession of the European Community to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement concerning the international registration of industrial designs. The adoption follows the Council's approval of the EC accession to the international design registration system of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on 18 December 2006. The EC accession will allow EU companies, with a single application, to obtain protection of a design not only throughout the EU with the Community Design, but also in the countries which are members of the Geneva Act.

    [06] Protection des intérêts financiers : programme communautaire Hercule II (2007–13) adopté

    La Commission européenne se félicite de l'adoption par le Parlement européen du programme Hercule II qui contribue à la protection des intérêts financiers de la Communauté, y compris la lutte contre la contrebande et la contrefaçon de cigarettes. Un montant de €98,5 millions y est consacré sur sept ans.

    [07] VAT - postal services : Commission opens second stage of infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden

    The European Commission has formally requested the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden to change their legislation on the VAT exemption for postal services which are not compatible with the VAT Directive. The United Kingdom and Germany exempt from VAT all or most postal services supplied by their former postal monopolies. Sweden does not exempt postal services. The requests take the form of a reasoned opinion (second step of the infringement procedure provided for in article 226 of the EC Treaty). If the relevant national legislations are not amended in order to comply with the reasoned opinions, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.

    [08] Direct taxation : Commission sues Sweden for not having fully complied with a Court judgement regarding the rules on capital gains tax relief on dwelling sales ("Bostadsrätt")

    By a letter of formal notice under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, the European Commission has decided to open a new infringement procedure against Sweden. Despite some modifications in the law and the recent European Court of Justice judgement, the Swedish capital gain tax legislation still continue to favour in practice the acquisition/sale of apartments located in Sweden, therefore discriminating persons wishing to buy/sell an apartment elsewhere in Europe. If Sweden fails to comply with the letter of formal notice, the Commission may address further a reasoned opinion to Sweden before bringing the matter to the Court of Justice a second time, seeking the imposition of a penalty payment.

    [09] Fiscalité directe : la Commission engage une procédure d'infraction à l'encontre de la Suède pour ses règles restrictives en matière d'impôt sur le revenu appliquées aux contribuables non résidents

    La Commission européenne a formellement demandé à la Suède de mettre fin aux règles discriminatoires en matière d'impôt sur le revenu appliquées aux contribuables non résidents. Elle considère que la disposition suédoise relative à l'imposition des non-résidents ne respecte pas la libre circulation des personnes, étant donné qu'elle ne permet pas à un non résident qui gagne tout ou presque tout son revenu en Suède de déduire les intérêts hypothécaires dans la même proportion qu'un résident. Par conséquent, la Commission demande à la Suède d'accorder aux non-résidents qui gagnent tout ou presque tout leur revenu en Suède les mêmes droits en matière de déduction que ceux dont bénéficient les résidents. La demande se présente sous la forme d'un avis motivé (deuxième étape de la procédure d'infraction prévue par l'article 226 du traité CE). Si l'Etat membre concerné ne modifie pas sa législation dans un délai de deux mois afin de se conformer à cet avis motivé, la Commission peut décider de saisir la Cour de justice européenne du dossier.

    [10] Commission assesses impact on agricultural markets of a minimum target of 10% of biofuel use in the EU 27 in 2020

    A European Commission study published today shows that bio-energy production represents one of the major main stream opportunities for agriculture over the medium to long term in the EU. The 10% incorporation rate realised over the medium-term together with newly available technologies would assure a sustainable path in providing the EU with renewable transport fuels without disrupting the domestic food/feed and non- food markets. Imports would provide around 20 % of the biofuel consumption. About half of these would be first generation feedstock and mainly oilseeds and vegetable oils. The impact assessment is available at

    <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/markets/biofuel/impact042007/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/markets/biofuel/impact042007/index_en.htm

    [11] Call for tender for a synthesis of ex ante evaluations of Rural Development programmes 2007- 2013

    The European Commission has launched a call for tender for a synthesis of ex ante evaluations of rural development programmes 2007-2013. Following Council Regulation 1698/2005 on support for Rural Development, ex ante evaluation is an obligatory task in establishing a rural development programme for a geographical region concerned. Consequently, 94 ex ante evaluations of Rural Development programmes have been carried out by the Member States. The purpose of the synthesis of those ex ante evaluations is to provide an in depth stocktaking on the expected results and impacts of Rural Development programmes for the period 2007-2013 with respect to the Community social, economic and environmental priorities. The synthesis is expected to analyse identified needs and corresponding objectives by referring as much as possible to baselines and quantifications of objectives and target levels. The maximum budget attributed to this study is €500,000. The deadline for submitting offers expires on the 11th of September. The Commission intends to award the contract before the end of 2007, following the evaluation of the offers received. The contractor will have to carry out the study within eight months from the signature of the contract. For details on the call for tender, see:

    <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tenderdocs/2007/172516/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/tenderdocs/2007/172516/index_en.htm

    [12] Industrial new orders up by 1.7% in euro area ; EU27 up by 3.2%

    The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index increased by 1.7% in May 2007 compared with April 2007. The index fell by 0.6% in April and rose by 2.9% in March. EU271 new orders gained 3.2% in May 2007, after a decrease of 1.6% in April and a rise of 2.7% in March. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, industrial new orders increased by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27 in May 2007. In May 2007 compared with May 2006, industrial new orders increased by 9.1% in the euro area and by 10.2% in the EU27. Total industry, excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, grew by 5.5% in the euro area and by 7.1% in the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat.

    [13] Autre matériel diffusé

    Release of Bulgarian nurses

    Crop yield forecasts for 2007 From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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