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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 09-01-19
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Prévisions intermédiaires pour 2009-2010: le ralentissement de
l'économie s'accentue mais la croissance sera de retour avant fin 2009
[02] European Financial Integration Report 2008
[03] Commission launches European Database for Financial Education
[04] Citizens' opinion important for establishing future priorities in the
area of freedom, security and justice
[05] Aides d'Etat: la Commission autorise un régime portugais permettant
d’accorder des aides d’un montant maximal de 500 000 euros
[06] Aides d'État: la Commission autorise un régime temporaire français
permettant d’accorder des aides aux entreprises d’un montant maximal de
500 000 euros
[07] Austrian Airlines: la Commission autorise une aide au sauvetage
[08] Construction output down by 1.1% in the euro area
[09] Commission clears acquisition of Opticable by Nexans and SEI
[10] Conference on Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare, 20-21 January 2009
[11] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Abieta by Arizona
[12] Statement by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2009-01-19
Reference: MEX/09/0119
Date: 19/01/2009
EXME09 / 19.01
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
19/01/09
[01] Prévisions intermédiaires pour 2009-2010: le ralentissement de
l'économie s'accentue mais la croissance sera de retour avant fin 2009
La croissance du PIB de l'Union européenne devrait reculer de 1,8 % en
2009 avant de connaître une légère remontée de 0,5 % en 2010. Cette
situation résulte des effets de la crise financière profonde sur
l'économie réelle et de son corollaire, le ralentissement de l'activité
économique mondiale, qui se traduit par une forte contraction des
échanges commerciaux internationaux et de la production manufacturière et,
dans certains pays, par des corrections du marché du logement. La
consommation et l'investissement du secteur public offriront néanmoins une
bouffée d'oxygène. L'atténuation des pressions inflationnistes favorise
également la consommation privée. Les mesures budgétaires
discrétionnaires annoncées en août 2008 limiteront la contraction de la
croissance du PIB d'environ ¾ de point de pourcentage cette année. La
gravité du ralentissement économique aura des répercussions
significatives sur l'emploi et sur les finances publiques au cours de la
période considérée.
[02] European Financial Integration Report 2008
The European Commission has released its European Financial Integration
Report (EFIR) - an annual analysis of the integration in the EU financial
sector and its effects on competition, efficiency, financial stability and
competitiveness. EFIR also includes a progress report on EU financial
services policy achievements in 2008.
[03] Commission launches European Database for Financial Education
The European Commission has published a European Database for Financial
Education (EDFE) on the "Europa" website. It has been designed to reference
numerous financial education programmes offered by public or private
institutions in the European Union. The EDFE includes standardised
information about educational schemes and research projects. It is open to
all providers and potential users. By improving access to information about
the existing initiatives the Commission wants to contribute to improving
financial capability of consumers and users of financial services.
[04] Citizens' opinion important for establishing future priorities in the
area of freedom, security and justice
The European Commission publishes results of an open public consultation on
the future priorities in the area of freedom, security and justice for the
years 2010-2014 and a Eurobarometer on awareness of key-policies in the
same area.
[05] Aides d'Etat: la Commission autorise un régime portugais permettant
d’accorder des aides d’un montant maximal de 500 000 euros
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu des règles du traité CE
sur les aides d'Etat, la première d’une série de mesures d’aides aux
entreprises envisagées par le Portugal pour faire face la crise
économique actuelle. Cette mesure permettra d'accorder, sur les deux
années 2009 et 2010, des aides allant jusqu' 500 000 euros aux
entreprises mises en difficulté par la crise économique actuelle ou qui
rencontrent des problèmes de financement en raison du resserrement du
crédit. Le régime remplit les conditions de l'encadrement temporaire de
la Commission qui donne aux Etats membres des possibilités supplémentaires
pour faciliter l’accès des entreprises au financement dans le contexte
de la crise économique et financière (voir <a
href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1993&format=HTML&aged=0&language=FR&guiLanguage=en">IP/08/1993).
Le régime est par conséquent compatible avec l'article 87, paragraphe 3,
point b) du traité CE, qui permet des aides pour remédier une
perturbation grave de l'économie d'un Etat membre.
[06] Aides d'État: la Commission autorise un régime temporaire français
permettant d’accorder des aides aux entreprises d’un montant maximal de
500 000 euros
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu des règles du traité CE
sur les aides d'État, la première d’une série de mesures d’aides aux
entreprises adoptées par la France pour faire face la crise économique
actuelle. Cette mesure permet aux pouvoirs publics, aux collectivités
territoriales et certains organismes publics d'accorder, sur les deux
années 2009 et 2010, des aides allant jusqu' 500 000 euros aux
entreprises mises en difficulté par la crise économique actuelle ou qui
rencontrent des problèmes de financement en raison du resserrement du
crédit.
[07] Austrian Airlines: la Commission autorise une aide au sauvetage
La Commission a décidé aujourd'hui d'autoriser une aide au sauvetage en
faveur du transporteur aérien autrichien. L'aide prendra la forme d'une
garantie d'emprunt d'une valeur d'environ 200 millions d'euros, dans le but
d'aider la compagnie poursuivre ses activités jusqu' ce que la
Commission prenne position sur un autre problème concernant une
éventuelle aide d'État liée sa privatisation.
[08] Construction output down by 1.1% in the euro area
In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production decreased by
1.1% in the euro area (EA15) and by 1.6% in the EU27 in November 2008,
compared with the previous month. In October, production fell by 0.1% in
the euro area, but increased by 0.5% in the EU27. Compared with November
2007, output in November 2008 dropped by 4.7% in the euro area and by 4.2%
in the EU27. These first estimates are released by Eurostat.
[09] Commission clears acquisition of Opticable by Nexans and SEI
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Opticable of Belgium by
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd (SEI) of Japan, and Nexans group (Nexans)
of France. SEI manufactures and sells electric wires, harness and cables,
as well as optical fibres and telecom fibre optic cables for terrestrial
applications. Nexans is active in the cable industry offering an extensive
range of cables and cabling systems in the infrastructure, industry,
building and local area network markets. As a complementary activity it
also provides fibre optic cables. Opticable, currently controlled solely by
Nexans, manufactures and sells fibre optic cables for terrestrial
applications in Europe. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[10] Conference on Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare, 20-21 January 2009
A conference on "Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare” will take place on
20 and 21 January 2009 in Brussels, organised by the Directorate-General
for Health and Consumers and the Directorate-General for External Trade of
the European Commission, together with the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the Eurogroup for Animals, Compassion In
World Farming and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
The conference is part of several international activities led by the
Commission which seek to raise awareness of animal welfare issues globally,
as foreseen in the Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of
Animals 2006-2010. This event follows up the "International Forum on Global
Aspects of Farm Animal Welfare", which took place in April 2008, co-
organised with the same organisations. The aim of the event, which will be
opened by Commissioner Vassiliou and Mr Petr Gandalovic, the Czech Minister
for Agriculture, is to bring together representatives from all continents,
to discuss positive experiences of the inclusion of animal welfare in
relation to trade. The conference also forms part of the efforts of the
Commission to catalyse stakeholders and international organisations (OIE,
FAO, UN, WHO, WB, WTO) into supporting and promoting higher animal welfare
standards. The event also seeks to foster a culture of constructive
dialogue between stakeholders and ministerial representatives from the
major EU trading partners with a view towards developing a global strategy
to address the issue of animal welfare and trade. Commissioner Vassiliou
said: “The improvement of farm animal welfare is a challenge that the
Commission embraced many years ago. However, lasting improvements can only
be achieved by common understanding, engagement and international
partnership. With this conference, we aim to further develop a culture of
constructive dialogue among all stakeholders to improve animal welfare
globally, through the creation of new market opportunities for animal
welfare friendly products and a "People Centred" approach to the central
issues.” A press point with Commissioner Vassiliou will follow shortly
after her speech. More details on this conference may be found at the
following internet address: <a href="http://www.animalwelfareandtrade.com/index.php">http://www.animalwelfareandtrade.com/index.php
Rediffusion
[11] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Abieta by Arizona
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Abieta Chemie GmbH of Germany by the Arizona
Chemical group of the US. 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.
[12] Statement by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy
“It was indispensable to have a ceasefire. I welcome the fact that Israel
has declared a ceasefire. I call on Hamas to refrain from any violence in
order to allow for an end to the terrible human suffering. It should also
allow the EU and other donors to deliver much needed humanitarian
assistance. Our priority is a durable peace. I hope we will soon see the
regular opening of the Gaza crossings and the withdrawal of all Israeli
troops from the Gaza strip. As foreseen by UNSCR 1860, we encourage
tangible steps towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on Antitrust: Commission confirms sending a Statement of
Objections to Microsoft on the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows
• Speech by Commissioner Borg 'The European Union's strategy of
sustainable management for the Arctic', Tromso (Norway)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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