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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-04-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Scribona by Tech
Data
[02] CAP reform: Council formally adopts wine reform which will boost
competitiveness of European wines
[03] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of BEA by Oracle
[04] Concentrations: la Commission autorise l'acquisition d'un contrôle
exclusif sur la Compagnie Nationale du Rhône par Electrabel
[05] Commission clears acquisition of TIOC by Total France and S-Oil
[06] New report on car prices across Europe now available
[07] N'ayez pas peur de la concurrence – Commissaire Kroes devant le
Sénat à Paris
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-04-29
Reference: MEX/08/0429
Date: 29/04/2008
EXME08 / 29.04
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
29/04/08
[01] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Scribona by Tech
Data
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Scribona of Sweden by the US-based company Tech
Data. Both companies are active in the wholesale distribution of
information technology products. The Commission's investigation has shown
that the concentration would not significantly impede effective competition
in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[02] CAP reform: Council formally adopts wine reform which will boost
competitiveness of European wines
The Council of Ministers today formally adopted a wide-ranging reform of
the Common Market Organisation for wine, on which agriculture ministers
reached a political agreement in December. The changes will bring balance
to the wine market, phase out wasteful and expensive market intervention
measures and allow the budget to be used for more positive, proactive
measures which will boost the competitiveness of European wines. The reform
provides for a fast restructuring of the wine sector in that it includes a
voluntary, three-year grubbing-up scheme to provide an alternative for
uncompetitive producers and to remove surplus and uncompetitive wine from
the market. Subsidies for crisis distillation and potable alcohol
distillation will be phased out and the money, allocated in national
envelopes, can be used for measures like wine promotion on third country
markets, innovation, restructuring and modernisation of vineyards and
cellars. The reform will ensure environmental protection in wine-growing
regions, safeguard traditional and well-established quality policies and
simplify labelling rules, for the benefit of producers and consumers alike.
The very restrictive planting rights system will also be abolished at EU
level from 1 January 2016 onwards. The European Commission will now begin
the process of adopting the detailed implementing regulations to allow the
reform to enter into force on 1 August 2008.
[03] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of BEA by Oracle
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the US-company BEA Systems, an independent provider
of middleware software, by Oracle Corporation, also of the US. 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] Concentrations: la Commission autorise l'acquisition d'un contrôle
exclusif sur la Compagnie Nationale du Rhône par Electrabel
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en application du règlement CE sur
les concentrations, l'acquisition d'un contrôle exclusif sur l'entreprise
française Compagnie nationale du Rhône (CNR), deuxième producteur
d'électricité français, par le producteur d'électricité belge
Electrabel SA. Après examen, la Commission est parvenue à la conclusion
que l'opération n'entraverait pas de manière significative l'exercice
d'une concurrence effective dans l’Espace économique européen (EEE) ou
dans une partie substantielle de celui-ci.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of TIOC by Total France and S-Oil
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Total Isu Oil Company Ltd
(TIOC) of Korea by Total France SA of France and S-Oil Corporation (S-Oil)
of Korea. Total France refines and sells petroleum products, including
lubricants, in and outside Europe. S-Oil refines and manufactures base oils
and lubricants for sale mainly in Korea but also abroad. TIOC manufactures,
sells and distributes lubricants, mainly in Korea. The operation was
examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[06] New report on car prices across Europe now available
The European Commission has just published its latest report on car prices
in Europe with prices as of 1 January 2008. This report now appears
annually each Spring. The report enables consumers to compare car prices
across Europe and therefore take advantage of the opportunities of the EU
Single Market. Compared to last year, car prices in real terms (i.e.
adjusted for headline inflation) have significantly decreased in all Member
States. This general price trend, which is more pronounced in Member States
with cheaper pre-tax prices and which has therefore moderately increased
prices differentials within the EU, confirms a longer-term positive
evolution of competition in the car price sector, to the benefit of
consumers. The report and its main highlights are available at: <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/prices/report.html">http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/prices/report.html
[07] N'ayez pas peur de la concurrence – Commissaire Kroes devant le
Sénat à Paris
S'adressant à des sénateurs français à Paris cette après-midi, Neelie
Kroes va encourager la France à mieux exploiter la compétitivité des
marchés et la flexibilité de la politique de concurrence de la
Commission. Mme Kroes va rendre hommage à la culture et l'innovation
françaises, mais affirmer que la France a besoin d'une approche plus
positive de la mondialisation. Kroes dira "quand on parle de concurrence
dans ce pays, on l’associe trop souvent à des faillites, à des
délocalisations, à des pertes d’emploi. On donne l’impression que le
marché ne fait que sanctionner les plus faibles et que l’Etat est le
seul recours possible. Quelle mythologie éloignée de la réalité !
Aujourd’hui, je vous demanderais de regarder les faits. C’est la seule
façon d’éviter la naïveté ou l’idéologie aveugle. La réalité est
que concurrence rime avec croissance, avec confiance, avec opportunité."
Mme Kroes va souligner que la concurrence est synonyme à la fois de
meilleures rapports qualité/prix et de meilleurs choix pour les citoyens,
et constitue une assurance contre les défis posés par la mondialisation.
Selon Mme Kroes, les règles de concurrence de la Commission défendent
l'intérêt des consommateurs tout en offrant la flexibilité requise pour
prendre en compte les préoccupations françaises en termes de
concentrations, aides d'Etat et PME. Elle dira: "je compte sur vous pour
attaquer les mythes et les préjugés et pour expliquer que la politique de
concurrence est un atout pour l’Europe et pour la France". - EMBARGO
15:45 CET - (voir SPEECH/08/218).
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on European Chemicals Bureau hands over to new Chemicals Agency in
Helsinki
• Speech de la Commissaire Kroes 'N'ayez pas peur de la concurrence',
Paris - EMBARGO 15:45 CET-
• Speech by Commissioner Borg on 'The South West of England's
contribution to the EU Integrated Maritime Policy', Exmouth
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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