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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 97-10-27

Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>

MIDDAY EXPRESS

News from the Spokesman's midday briefing

Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb

27/10/97


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] La Commission autorise l'acquisition d'Inespal par Alcoa
  • [02] Commission clears the creation of a joint venture between Hitachi and Dupont
  • [03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Thermo-King Corporation par Ingersoll-Rand Company
  • [04] Sir Leon Brittan visits Korea to press continued progress in market- opening
  • [05] Padraig Flynn calls for human resource development to be central to the reform of the Structural Funds
  • [06] Ritt Bjerregaard: "Environmental tax reform is a cost effective mean of reaching environmental objectives"

  • [01] La Commission autorise l'acquisition d'Inespal par Alcoa

    La Commission européenne a donné son approbation à l'acquisition par la firme américaine Aluminium Company of America ('Alcoa') de la firme espagnole Industria Española del Aluminio ('Inespal'). Cette opération fait partie du programme de privatisation du gouvernement espagnol. Les compagnies en question sont toutes deux actives sur les marchés de l'alumine, de l'aluminium de base, de l'aluminium plat en rouleaux et de l'aluminium pour des alliages. Après une enquête sur les effets potentiels de ladite acquisition, la Commission a conclu que l'émergence d'une position dominante résultant de cette opération n'était pas probable, particulièrement en raison de l'existence de concurrents forts sur ces marchés.

    [02] Commission clears the creation of a joint venture between Hitachi and Dupont

    The European Commission has authorised the US company Dupont de Nemours and Co ('Dupont') and the Japanese firm Hitachi Chemical, a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., to create a new worlwide joint venture which will be active in the manufacture and sale of liquid polyimide and related areas. One of the main concerns was that the facilities to be used by the joint venture would remain legal property of the parent companies for a transitional period. However, it was made clear that the strategic control of these facilities will be transferred from the start to the joint venture, which will be established for an indefinite period. Furthermore, the parties detailed economic and logistic reasons to justify this transitory period. The Commission found that this was not in contradiction with the full- function character of the joint venture. From the competition point of view, the case did not present any significant problem given that the combined market shares would be low.

    [03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition de Thermo-King Corporation par Ingersoll-Rand Company

    La Commission européenne a autorisé l'acquisition de Thermo-King Corporation, une compagnie américaine active sur le marché du contrôle de la température dans les transports, par Ingersoll-Rand Company, active dans la fabrication et la vente de machines et équipements non-électriques, notamment compresseurs, pompes, etc. La Commission a constaté qu'il n'y avait pas de chevauchement horizontal entre les activités des deux compagnies. De plus, Thermo-King doit faire face à une forte compétition de la part d'autres firmes dans tous les secteurs du marché du contrôle de la température dans les transports, y compris ceux du transport routier, ferroviaire et maritime. Par ailleurs, il n'y a pas de lien vertical entre les activités de Thermo King et d'Ingersoll-Rand, étant donné que les compresseurs fabriqués par cette dernière ne peuvent être utilisés dans les instruments de contrôle de la température dans les véhicules de transport.

    [04] Sir Leon Brittan visits Korea to press continued progress in market- opening

    Vice President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan, today flies to Korea for high level meetings with the Korean President, Kim Young-Sam, and his key Ministers. Top of Sir Leon's agenda will be trade liberalisation talks, including the signing of a bilateral agreement to open procurement markets for telecoms equipment. Korea's National Assembly is currently considering a far-reaching reform of the country's system of financial supervision. During his visit Sir Leon will underline the benefits that this should yield for Korea in terms of greater financial stability and stress that this would be complemented by successful conclusion of ongoing negotiations in the World Trade Organisation on Financial Services. Sir Leon Brittan will also discuss the progress of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO), which is working to replace North Korea's nuclear reactors with safer, more proliferation-resistant models. The EU joined KEDO last month as an Executive-Board member. Sir Leon Brittan will exchange views with the Korean Government on the deteriorating situation in North Korea. The EU is a leading aid donor, and in 1997 has pledged humanitarian assistance worth ECU 66.5 million to alleviate suffering in North Korea. Total EU food aid in 1997 has been around 230,000 tonnes (cereal equivalent).

    [05] Padraig Flynn calls for human resource development to be central to the reform of the Structural Funds

    Speaking today at a conference in Barcelona, Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Padraig Flynn said the new arrangements for the Structural Funds outlined in Agenda 2000 must ensure that "the European Union's central policy objective of human resource development is applied fully to structural fund activity across all three objectives." The Commissioner said that one of the functions of the new Objective 3 is to support Member States labour market policies and "in this sense it functions independently of any exclusively regional context. Integrated regional approaches cannot mean disconnecting the European Social Fund from its main mission of underpinning reform of labour market policies and practices in line with the Employment Strategy and the annual employment guidelines. Mechanisms which guarantee this horizontal role in the next programming period will be an indispensable part of the reformed regulations."

    [06] Ritt Bjerregaard: "Environmental tax reform is a cost effective mean of reaching environmental objectives"

    Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard underlined at the Conference on Environmental Tax Reform today in Brussels, that she "believes very much in the economic efficiency of taxes creating incentives to change behaviour". She particularly urged the Council to endorse environmental tax reform since "environmental tax reform has an important contribution to make as a cost-effective means of reaching environmental objectives" She rejected "the idea that all Member States should go at the speed of the slowest, in terms of environmental taxation. I therefore seek to amend Community legislation in the area of taxation in such a way as to enable Member States to press ahead if they so wish, while taking care not to fragment the Single Market. The Commissioner further underlined the need "to shift away from taxes and charges on labour towards energy, natural resources, waste and pollution". Systems developed without regard for the environment must be made "greener". The Treaty requires it, and public opinion is behind it. She urged all the participants in the Conference - whether from industry, government, "think-tanks" or NGOs - "to vocally support the Commission's efforts to convince all the Member States that environmental tax reform is valid, necessary, and can be put into practice immediately by adoption of the Proposal for an energy products tax".

    MIDDAY EXPRESS


    From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
    © ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996


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