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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-10-01
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Antitrust : Commission initiates formal proceedings against Qualcomm
for suspected exploitative practices
[02] Commission clears acquisition of C&A Automotive Interior Businesses by
WL Ross
[03] Commission clears joint venture between INEOS and NOVA
[04] Commission clears joint venture between Aegon and Caja Cantabria
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Teksid Aluminum and Getti Speciali by
Fiat
[06] Commission clears acquisition of bathroom and kitchens business of
American Standard by Bain Capital
[07] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Depfa Bank by Hypo Real
Estate Group
[08] Commission to boost support for refugees and displaced people in Chad
and the Central African Republic
[09] Ján Figel' to visit Albania
[10] La Commission rend hommage à Loyola de Palacio lors d'une conférence
à haut niveau sur l'énergie à Madrid
[11] The Energy Community organises the first conference to attract
investment in the Balkans
[12] New convention will strengthen Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
Organisation
[13] Europe stands firm on ambitious action to cut Aviation Emissions
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2007-10-01
Reference: MEX/07/1001
Date: 01/10/2007
EXME07 / 1.10
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
01/10/07
[01] Antitrust : Commission initiates formal proceedings against Qualcomm
for suspected exploitative practices
The European Commission has decided to open formal anti-trust proceedings
against Qualcomm Incorporated, a US chipset manufacturer, concerning an
alleged breach of EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant market position
(Article 82). Qualcomm is a holder of intellectual property (IP) rights in
the CDMA and WCDMA standards for mobile telephone. The WCDMA standard forms
part of the 3G (third generation) standard for European mobile phone
technology (also referred to as "UMTS"). This follows complaints lodged
with the Commission by Ericsson, Nokia, Texas Instruments, Broadcom, NEC
and Panasonic, all mobile phone and/or chipsets manufacturers. The
complaints allege that Qualcomm's licensing terms and conditions are not
Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory ("FRAND") and, therefore, may
breach EC competition rules.
[02] Commission clears acquisition of C&A Automotive Interior Businesses by
WL Ross
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of certain assets of C&A
Corporation (C&A Automotive Interior Business) by WL Ross of the US via
International Automotive Components North America Mexico, S de R.L. de C.V.,
International Automotive Components North America, International Automotive
Components Group Brazil and International Automotive Components Group LLC
(together IAC). WL Ross is a private equity found which through IAC
produces and supplies certain interior parts for vehicles. C&A Automotive
Interior Businesses manufacture and supply cockpit modules, instrument
panels, interior trim and flooring and acoustic systems. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[03] Commission clears joint venture between INEOS and NOVA
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of a newly established
American joint venture between INEOS of the UK and NOVA of Canada, and also
to the extension of their European joint venture in the polystyrene sector
through the transfer of some of NOVA's assets. INEOS is a global
manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. NOVA
is a chemical company active in olefins/polyolefins and styrenics. The
American joint venture combines INEOS' and NOVA's North American styrene
and polystyrene operations with NOVA's thermoplastic resins business. The
new assets of the European joint venture are NOVA's European styrene and
engineering thermoplastic resins business. The operation was examined under
the simplified merger review procedure.
[04] Commission clears joint venture between Aegon and Caja Cantabria
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the joint venture between Aegon Spanje Holding, BV (Aegon) of
the Netherlands, belonging to the Aegon Group, and Caja Cantabria of Spain.
Aegon sells life insurance and pensions, savings and investment products.
Caja Cantabria is active in banking and insurance distribution. The joint
venture will sell life insurance and pension products in Spain. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Teksid Aluminum and Getti Speciali by
Fiat
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Teksid Aluminum S.r.l of
Italy and Teksid Aluminum Getti Speciali S.r.l. (Getti Speciali) of Italy
by Fiat S.p.A., also of Italy. Fiat manufactures and sells cars, commercial
vehicles, agricultural machinery, construction equipment, car parts and
metallurgical products. Teksid and Getti Speciali produce cast aluminium
components for the car industry and other residual applications. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of bathroom and kitchens business of
American Standard by Bain Capital
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of the bathroom and kitchen
business (B&K Business) of American Standard Companies Inc of the US by
certain funds controlled by Bain Capital Investors, LLC (Bain Capital) of
the US. Bain Capital is a private equity investment firm. B&K Business
manufactures bathroom and kitchen products. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[07] Commission approves proposed acquisition of Depfa Bank by Hypo Real
Estate Group
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the Irish banking group Depfa by Hypo Real Estate
of Germany. The Commission concluded that the operation would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area
(EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[08] Commission to boost support for refugees and displaced people in Chad
and the Central African Republic
The European Commission will contribute more than €50 million to a joint
UN and EU initiative in Eastern Chad and the North East of the Central
African Republic. The Commission will support a police mission which will
have the task of assisting in protecting the refugee camps near the Darfur
border and in creating security conditions for the return of the displaced
persons. The EC will finance substantial rehabilitation and reconstruction
work in the zones of return for the displaced persons. Humanitarian
assistance to the vulnerable people affected by the ongoing crisis will
continue.
[09] Ján Figel' to visit Albania
On 1-2 October, European Commissioner in charge of Education, Training,
Culture & Youth JÃ n Figel' will visit Albania and meet the country's
highest authorities, including President Bamir Topi and Primer minister
Sali Berisha. Before his departure, Commissioner Figel' said : "Cooperation
and dialogue in the areas of education and culture play a crucial role in
drawing the countries in the Western Balkans closer to the EU". Albania is
successfully participating in the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programme, and,
since 2000, more than 65 organisations from this country have had the
possibility to participate in the Youth actions of the EU. This country has
also expressed interest in the Citizenship programme as a full member. In
the cultural area, Albania has ratified the Unesco Convention on Cultural
diversity. During his meetings with the national authorities, Commissioner
Figel' intends to strengthen cooperation in the framework of the programmes
he's in charge of.
[10] La Commission rend hommage à Loyola de Palacio lors d'une conférence
à haut niveau sur l'énergie à Madrid
Le président de la Commission européenne, M. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso,
ainsi que M. Andris Piebalgs, membre de la Commission chargé de l'énergie,
et Mme Neelie Kroes, membre de la Commission responsable de la concurrence,
ont participé aujourd'hui à une conférence à haut niveau sur l'énergie
tenue à Madrid en hommage à Loyola de Palacio, ancienne vice-présidente de
la Commission européenne et membre de la Commission responsable de
l'énergie et des transports (2000-2005). Sous le titre "les défis
énergétiques européens", cette manifestation a réuni les principaux
responsables du secteur de l'énergie en Europe. "Au moment où l'énergie
figure en première place des préoccupations européennes et mondiales,
les travaux vastes et ambitieux de Loyola de Palacio apparaissent d'autant
plus brillants", a déclaré M. Andris Piebalgs.
[11] The Energy Community organises the first conference to attract
investment in the Balkans
Energy Ministers from Contracting Parties and Observers to the Treaty
Establishing the Energy Community met today in Athens with investors and
International Financing Institutions to find ways to promote investment in
energy infrastructures in the region. This marked the first Investment
Conference after the entry into force of the Treaty in July 2006. The
conference was co-chaired by Mr Andris Piebalgs, EU Energy Commissioner,
and by Mr Aleksandar Popović, Minister of Mining and Energy of Republic of
Serbia, representing the Presidency of the Energy Community, and hosted by
Mr Christos Folias, Minister for Development of the Hellenic Republic. It
brought together close to 200 senior level energy policy decision makers
and investors.
[12] New convention will strengthen Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
Organisation
The European Commission welcomed the outcome of the annual meeting of the
North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), which ended on 28Â
September in Lisbon, Portugal. Parties were able to agree the text of a new
Convention, which will simplify the organisation's structure, strengthen
its decision-making processes and give it a clear mandate to manage its
fishery resources in an integrated and sustainable manner. The meeting also
set fishing possibilities for the main fish stocks which NAFO manages,
including Greenland halibut. In response to the recommendations on
destructive fishing practices, adopted by the UN General Assembly in
December 2006, NAFO decided to close an area to all fishing in order to
protect concentrations of corals.
[13] Europe stands firm on ambitious action to cut Aviation Emissions
The 36th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
ended on Friday 28 September without clear agreement on a way forward to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation. Europe pressed
for a more ambitious outcome, but safeguarded its ability to introduce an
aviation emissions trading scheme.
[14] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by José Manuel Barroso : "Europe's energy policy and the third
industrial revolution" at Loyola de Palacio energy conference (Madrid,
!embargo 13h00!)
Speech by Andris Piebalgs : "Balancing European Energy and Environmental
Needs" at the European Energy Challenges Conference (Madrid)
Speech by Danuta Hübner : "Cohesion Policy: Genuinely modern and still
reinventing itself" at closing session of Fourth Cohesion Forum (28/09)
Speech by Olli Rehn : "What's the future for EU enlargement?" at German
Marshall Fund of the United States (25/9, New York)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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