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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-12-21
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Final countdown to the euro in Cyprus and Malta
[02] Mergers: Commission approves proposed joint venture between INEOS and
the Carlyle Group
[03] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Romanian
electricity distributor and supplier EMS by Enel
[04] Environment: Commission takes steps to cut industrial emissions
further
[05] The Commission announces the adoption of 35 programmes to implement
"European territorial cooperation", one of the objectives of Cohesion
policy 2007-2013
[06] Mergers: Commission approves steel distribution joint venture between
MPC, Grupo Villacero and MAN
[07] Des bus et des poids lourds plus propres: limites plus contraignantes
pour les émissions d’oxydes d’azote et de particules (Euro VI)
[08] Aides d'État: la Commission lance une consultation sur des lignes
directrices concernant les aides d'Etat aux entreprises ferroviaires.
[09] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of Vertex Standard by
Motorola
[10] Kimberley Process: Handover of Chairmanship
[11] Commission to finance staff for UN Special Envoy for Burma with more
than € 570.000
[12] Solvency II: Start of the consultation process for a new Quantitative
Impact Study
[13] Industrial new orders up by 2.5% in euro area
Midday Express of 2007-12-21
Reference: MEX/07/1221
Date: 21/12/2007
EXME07 / 21.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
21/12/07
[01] Final countdown to the euro in Cyprus and Malta
In only 10 days Cyprus and Malta will adopt the euro, bringing to 15 the
number of European Union countries that share the same currency. The final
practical preparations are well under way and banks, retailers and
consumers seem to be ready for the changeover. Banks and enterprises have
been receiving supplies of euro banknotes and coins to be able to handle
transactions in euro as from 1 January. Euro coin mini-kits have also been
available for citizens since early December, to help them familiarise
themselves with their new currency before €-day.
[02] Mergers: Commission approves proposed joint venture between INEOS and
the Carlyle Group
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed joint venture between the UK company INEOS Silicas Limited (IS),
belonging to the INEOS Group and the US company PQ Corporation (PQ),
belonging to the Carlyle Group. Both companies produce speciality
chemicals. The Commission concluded that the concentration would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area
(EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[03] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Romanian
electricity distributor and supplier EMS by Enel
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of EMS of Romania by Enel of Italy. Both companies are
active in the electricity sector. After examining the operation, the
Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede
effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any
substantial part of it.
[04] Environment: Commission takes steps to cut industrial emissions
further
The European Commission today adopted new legislation on industrial
emissions to strengthen the provisions already in force and reduce
industrial emissions throughout the European Union. The proposal will bring
significant health and environmental benefits and will create a better
level playing field across the EU, reducing competition distortions between
companies. It will also simplify current legislation by merging seven
directives into one, significantly cutting the administrative burden for
industry and public authorities.
[05] The Commission announces the adoption of 35 programmes to implement
"European territorial cooperation", one of the objectives of Cohesion
policy 2007-2013
The Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, announces today the
adoption of 35 programmes this month under the "European territorial
cooperation" objective of Cohesion policy. These programmes, mainly funded
by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), provide support for cross-
border and transnational cooperation among the Member States. Turkey, the
Western Balkans countries, Norway, Switzerland, Belarus, Ukraine and the
Russian Federation also take part in some of these programmes with the
support of the new Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and the
European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).
[06] Mergers: Commission approves steel distribution joint venture between
MPC, Grupo Villacero and MAN
The European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed joint-venture between Münchmeyer Petersen & Co (MPC) of Germany,
Grupo Villacero (Viga-Villacero) of Mexico and MAN AG of Germany. The
proposed concentration would result in MPC, Viga-Villacero and MAN
combining their worldwide activities in non-stockholding steel
distribution. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area
(EEA) or a substantial part of it.
[07] Des bus et des poids lourds plus propres: limites plus contraignantes
pour les émissions d’oxydes d’azote et de particules (Euro VI)
La Commission a proposé de réduire le volume des oxydes d’azote et des
particules émis par les poids lourds et les bus (de respectivement 80 % et
66 % par rapport l’étape Euro V). La nouvelle norme «Euro VI»
apportera une contribution sensible l’amélioration de la qualité de
l’air en Europe. Elle constituera en outre un pas en avant vers une
harmonisation globale, étant donné qu’elle prévoit des valeurs limites
similaires celles des États-Unis d’Amérique. Par ailleurs, la
législation actuelle sera simplifiée, puisque des directives (qui doivent
être transposées dans 27 législations nationales différentes) seront
remplacées par des règlements qui sont directement applicables. La norme
Euro VI devrait entrer en vigueur en 2013. La proposition a fait l’objet
de consultations auprès des parties prenantes et sur Internet et sera
maintenant discutée par le Parlement européen et le Conseil des
ministres.
[08] Aides d'État: la Commission lance une consultation sur des lignes
directrices concernant les aides d'Etat aux entreprises ferroviaires.
La Commission européenne a rendu public aujourd'hui un projet de lignes
directrices sur les aides d'État aux entreprises ferroviaires. Ce projet
fera maintenant l'objet de consultations des Etats membres et des parties
intéressées. La Commission projette d'adopter ces lignes directrices au
cours du premier semestre de 2008.
[09] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of Vertex Standard by
Motorola
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Vertex Standard of Japan by the US-based
communications technologies operator Motorola. The Commission concluded
that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition
in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[10] Kimberley Process: Handover of Chairmanship
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the handover of the Chairmanship of the Kimberley
Process to India: "We are approaching the end of our Chairmanship of the
Kimberley Process, and I am sure that India as the new Chair will
ambitiously continue to pursue our joint aims in the new year. 2007 was a
year of consolidation, and the Kimberley Process has shown, that it is
capable to react to crisis and situations that put at risk the credibility
of the international diamond trading system and endanger international
peace and security. We will of course remain actively engaged in the
Kimberley Process in 2008, in particular as chair of the two important
Kimberley Process bodies: the Participation Committee and the Working Group
on Monitoring. I am looking forward to collaborate with India and other
Kimberley Process member countries successfully in 2008."
[11] Commission to finance staff for UN Special Envoy for Burma with more
than € 570.000
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “We see the good offices of the UN Special
Envoy as a positive means to further a peaceful transition towards a
legitimate, civilian government in Burma/Myanmar. Therefore we have decided
to expand our support to the UN Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar, Professor
Ibrahim Gambari with the financing of professional staff for his office as
of 2008. We will allocate a sum of € 574.000”. The European Union
maintains a balanced policy vis- -vis Burma/Myanmar. While a set of
restrictive measures are expressing the Union’s disappointment about the
lack of visible progress, the EU also wishes to engage the government in a
dialogue on socio-economic development, with a view of helping over its
responsibilities to attain the Millennium Development Goals, and to help
the people of Burma/Myanmar. EU Assistance focuses on health and education.
To finance office of the UN Special Envoy, the Commission will be using the
new “Stability Instrument” over the next 12 months. These efforts
complement those of the EU’s Special Envoy on Burma/Myanmar, Piero
Fassino, who is also working in support of Professor Gambari.
[12] Solvency II: Start of the consultation process for a new Quantitative
Impact Study
On 10 July 2007, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive
introducing a new solvency regime for insurance and reinsurance
undertakings. This ground-breaking revision of EU prudential insurance law
is being prepared in close consultation with all stakeholders. The
Commission has asked the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational
Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) to run a fourth Quantitative Impact Study
(QIS4) between April and July 2008. In order to allow for wide consultation
before the QIS4 exercise is launched, the Commission is today launching a
public consultation on the draft QIS4 technical specifications produced by
CEIOPS. The purpose of the consultation on QIS4 is to provide stakeholders
with the opportunity to comment on the technical specifications that will
form the basis for the QIS4 exercise. In particular, the consultation
provides key stakeholders and decision makers with an opportunity to
provide input at an early stage on the shape of solvency capital
requirements which will be adopted later. The Commission welcomes comments
from all interested parties, before 15 February 2008.
<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/insurance/solvency/index_en.htm#qis4">http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/insurance/solvency/index_en.htm#qis4
[13] Industrial new orders up by 2.5% in euro area
The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index grew by 2.5% in October
2007 compared with September 2007. The index fell by 1.0% in September.
EU27 new orders increased by 5.4% in October 2007 after a decrease of 1.7%
in September. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4 industrial
new orders gained 1.9% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU27 in October
2007. In October 2007 compared with October 2006, industrial new orders
increased by 10.9% in the euro area and by 16.6% in the EU27. Total
industry excluding ships,
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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