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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-12-20
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Nouvel ensemble de programmes de développement rural accepté pour la
période 2007–2013
[02] Media literacy: do people really understand how to make the most of
blogs, search engines or interactive TV?
[03] Commission welcomes fast and effective intervention by Dutch regulator
OPTA against spyware and malware placed on 22 million computers
[04] € 14.8 million from EU Globalisation Fund to help German and Finnish
mobile phone workers
[05] Cohesion policy 2007-13: Spanish regions set to start investing €
26.5 billion - EMBARGO 18h00 -
[06] Mergers: Commission clears proposed brokerage joint venture between
French banks Société Générale and Crédit Agricole
[07] Commission: reduction of EU fleet capacity too slow to achieve
required cuts in fishing effort
[08] Birmanie/Myanmar: la Commission maintient son engagement humanitaire
en accordant une nouvelle aide d'urgence de 18 millions d'euros
[09] Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed take-
over of Aker Yards by STX
[10] Commission to recover € 256.3 million of CAP expenditure from the
Member States
[11] Le revenu agricole réel par actif en hausse de 4,7% dans l’UE
[12] The Commission adopts proposals to protect whales around the world
[13] Commission clears acquisition of Coor by Cinven
[14] Cohesion Policy 2007-2013: Czech Operational programme for Environment
launched
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Midday Express of 2007-12-20
Reference: MEX/07/1220
Date: 20/12/2007
EXME07 / 20.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
20/12/07
[01] Nouvel ensemble de programmes de développement rural accepté pour la
période 2007–2013
Le comité pour le développement rural (qui rassemble des représentants
des 27 États membres) a émis aujourd’hui un avis favorable sur les
programmes de développement rural présentés pour la période de
financement 2007-2013 par l’Allemagne (cadre national), la Bulgarie, le
Danemark, l’Espagne (quatre régions), la Finlande (îles land), la
France (Guyane, Corse), l’Italie (quatre régions), la Lettonie, Malte,
le Portugal (Madère) et le Royaume-Uni. Ces programmes visent maintenir
les infrastructures, créer de nouvelles sources de revenus pour les
zones rurales, promouvoir la croissance et lutter contre le chômage.
La Commission doit encore approuver officiellement les programmes
concernés dans les prochaines semaines. L’approbation des programmes des
autres pays et régions est prévue pour les mois venir.
[02] Media literacy: do people really understand how to make the most of
blogs, search engines or interactive TV?
The media are changing, and so is citizens' use of such media. New
information and communication technologies make it much easier for anybody
to retrieve and disseminate information, communicate, publish or even
broadcast. The ability of people to critically analyse what they find in
the media and to make more informed choices – called 'media literacy' –
therefore becomes even more essential for active citizenship and democracy.
Following an EU-wide survey last year, the European Commission has
announced today its plans to encourage the development of media literacy
and the exchange of good practice across Europe.
[03] Commission welcomes fast and effective intervention by Dutch regulator
OPTA against spyware and malware placed on 22 million computers
"I welcome the determined move by the Dutch regulator OPTA", said EU
Telecoms and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. "Spyware, spam and malware
are a real plague for Internet users. The decision of OPTA, which applies
EU legislation vigorously, will therefore help considerably to make our
European information society a safer, more trustworthy place for consumers
and businesses. I call on the regulators of other countries to follow the
positive example set by the Dutch regulator."
[04] € 14.8 million from EU Globalisation Fund to help German and Finnish
mobile phone workers
The European Commission has made payments to Germany and Finland from the
EU's Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF). The payment of € 12.8 million
to Germany will help some 3,300 workers made redundant at three production
sites of BenQ, a mobile phone manufacturer, to get back into work as
quickly as possible. The payment of € 2.03 million to Finland will aim to
do the same for some 1,000 workers made redundant at Perlos, a mobile phone
components manufacturer in North Karelia.
[05] Cohesion policy 2007-13: Spanish regions set to start investing €
26.5 billion - EMBARGO 18h00 -
Today in Madrid, a major ceremony will take place to launch Cohesion policy
in Spain for 2007 and 2013. Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner,
the Spanish Secretary of State of Finance, Mr Carlos Ocaña and the
representatives of Autonomous communities will sign 23 programmes funded by
European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund which have just been
adopted by the European Commission. The programmes represent a Community
investment of € 26.5 billion in all Spanish regions and the autonomous
cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
[06] Mergers: Commission clears proposed brokerage joint venture between
French banks Société Générale and Crédit Agricole
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed creation of the joint venture Newedge between the French banks
Société Générale S.A and Crédit Agricole Group. Newedge will offer
brokerage services for listed derivatives (both execution and clearing),
over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, listed securities, prime
brokerage services, and other various ancillary services. The Commission
concluded that the operation would not significantly impede effective
competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in any substantial part
of it.
[07] Commission: reduction of EU fleet capacity too slow to achieve
required cuts in fishing effort
Today the Commission tabled a report based on the most recent annual
reports provided by the Member States on their fleets, together with data
from the EU Fishing Fleet register. The Commission concludes that, in
general, the quality of the reports from the Member States is not
satisfactory and, as a result, does not allow it to draw clear conclusions
as regards the overcapacity of the EU fleet relative to available
resources. Nominal capacity continued to decline in 2006 at the slow but
steady rate of between 2 and 3% annually. However, this is too little,
given the big reductions in fishing effort required for the sustainable
management of several key commercial fish stocks. Moreover, much of this
reduction is more than compensated for by the technological improvements
which make it possible to catch more fish per unit of effort. The impact of
fishing effort limitations on capacity reduction appears to have been low,
and more work is needed to ensure that the right incentives are in place at
national level.
[08] Birmanie/Myanmar: la Commission maintient son engagement humanitaire
en accordant une nouvelle aide d'urgence de 18 millions d'euros
La Commission européenne a accordé une nouvelle aide de 18 millions
d'euros pour répondre aux besoins humanitaires de base des populations
vulnérables en Birmanie/au Myanmar en 2008. Les principaux bénéficiaires
seront les victimes de la crise déj ancienne vivant dans les zones
frontalières du pays et les réfugiés dans les camps situés de l'autre
côté de la frontière en Thaïlande.
[09] Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed take-
over of Aker Yards by STX
The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU
Merger Regulation into the planned acquisition of Aker Yards of Norway by
STX of (South Korea). Both companies are major players in the shipbuilding
business. An in-depth investigation will enable the Commission to assess
whether the removal of STX as a new entrant into the cruise ship market
would possibly have anti-competitive effects and so harm consumers. The
Commission now has 90 working days, until 15 May 2008, to take a final
decision on whether the concentration would significantly impede effective
competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part
of it. The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final
result of the investigation.
[10] Commission to recover € 256.3 million of CAP expenditure from the
Member States
A total of € 256.3 million of EU farm money unduly spent by Member States
will be claimed back as a result of a decision adopted today by the
European Commission. The money returns to the Community budget because of
inadequate control procedures or non-compliance with EU rules on
agricultural expenditure. Member States are responsible for paying out and
checking expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the
Commission is required to ensure that Member States have made correct use
of the funds.
[11] Le revenu agricole réel par actif en hausse de 4,7% dans l’UE
Le revenu réel agricole par actif a progressé de 4,7% dans l'UE27 en 2007
après une croissance de 3,9% en 2006. Cette augmentation résulte d'une
croissance du revenu agricole réel (+2,6%) ainsi que d'une réduction de
la main-d’œuvre agricole (-1,9%). La croissance du revenu agricole réel
de l’UE27 en 2007 est elle-même le résultat d'une hausse de la
production agricole (+4,6%) aux prix la production en valeur réelle;
d'une augmentation des coûts des intrants (+5,3%) et d'une stabilité des
amortissements, en termes réels; d'une baisse de la valeur réelle des
subventions nettes d’impôts (-3,1%). Ces estimations pour l'UE27
publiées par Eurostat sont basées sur les données transmises par les
autorités nationales des États membres.
[12] The Commission adopts proposals to protect whales around the world
The European Commission has adopted proposals to step up the protection of
whales. Although whales are protected in European waters, this is not the
same in international waters. One cause of this situation is the absence of
a unified European Union position at the International Whaling Commission
(IWC), which weakens the EU action and deprives it of possible leverage.
The new proposal- for a Council Decision would enable the European Union to
decide on unified positions to be taken in the context of IWC meetings,
allowing it to exert its political and moral weight more effectively. The
proposed Decision supports the current moratorium on commercial whaling,
proposes the setting up of whale sanctuaries and encourages the use of non-
lethal methods to collect scientific data. Despite the moratorium, whales
are still being hunted in considerable numbers by a small number of States.
If agreed by Council, this unified position would be a tangible step
towards the effective protection of whales at international level. The next
meeting of the IWC is in June 2008.
[13] Commission clears acquisition of Coor by Cinven
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Coor Management Services
AB (Coor) of Sweden by Cinven Limited of the UK, belonging to the Cinven
Group. Cinven is a venture capital company. Coor provides facility
management services. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[14] Cohesion Policy 2007-2013: Czech Operational programme for Environment
launched
Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Czech Minister for
Environment, Mr Martin BURSÍK signed today in Brussels the recently
approved "Environment" Operational programme for the period 2007-2013 worth
€ 5.78 billion. The Operational programme is one of the most important
programming documents for the Czech Republic and will contribute to meeting
the objectives of the Lisbon Agenda, particularly in supporting sustainable
development, long-term competitiveness and employment in the Czech regions.
The Programme involves Community support for the whole national territory
within the framework of the "Convergence" objective. Eight Operational
Programmes representing more than € 7.6 billion of investment were
already approved on 5 December (IP/07/1857 ), the "Transport programme" was
adopted on 10 December and a further four ERDF and Cohesion Fund programmes
will be approved shortly. (More information – see MEMO/07/611)
Rediffusion
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La Commission européenne se félicite de l’accord intervenu
aujourd’hui entre les ministres de l’agriculture de l’Union
européenne sur la réforme de l’organisation commune du marché
vitivinicole. Les changements qui seront mis en œuvre permettront
d’équilibrer le marché vitivinicole, d’éliminer les mesures
d’intervention sur les marchés et leur cortège de coûteux gaspillages
et de réorienter le budget au profit de mesures plus positives et plus
proactives de nature renforcer la compétitivité des vins
européens.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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