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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 01-03-01
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 Service Presse et Communicationb
Midday Express 01/03/2001
[I] Résultats de la Commission du 28 février 2001 - Outcome of Commission
meeting of 28 February
(voir aussi see also Midday of 28.2)
[01] La Commission propose une nouvelle politique du personnel - du
recrutement à la retraite
La Commission européenne a rendu publiques les grandes lignes de ses
propositions concernant la nouvelle politique du personnel. Ces
propositions, qui prévoient toute une série de changements de grande
envergure, doteraient la Commission d'une stratégie intégrée en matière de
ressources humaines visant à maximiser son efficacité et lui permettant
ainsi de s'acquitter de ses tâches essentielles. Les barrières
artificielles qui entravent la progression des carrières seraient
supprimées, les décisions relatives aux promotions et aux gratifications
individuelles seraient prises sur la base d'un nouvel équilibre entre les
prestations et l'ancienneté, les exigences et les possibilités offertes en
matière de formation seraient renforcées et l'encadrement jouerait un rôle
accru dans l'évaluation et l'orientation du personnel ainsi que dans le
traitement des problèmes d'insuffisance professionnelle. La nouvelle
politique de formation et de mobilité aiderait l'ensemble du personnel à
mieux gérer sa carrière grâce à un éventail d'emplois beaucoup plus large
qu'actuellement. Les propositions relatives aux rémunérations et pensions
honorent les engagements pris à l'égard du personnel par le Président
Romano Prodi et le Vice-président Neil Kinnock : modernisation du système
de rémunération, rationalisation du régime des allocations et maintien des
normes permettant à la Commission de rester un employeur compétitif. Les
propositions de la Commission protègent les droits à pension existants et
garantissent l'équilibre du régime à long terme. Il est également proposé
de créer un fonds de pension pour le personnel recruté après le 1er janvier
2005. Toutes ces propositions feront dans un premier temps l'objet de
négociations avec les représentants du personnel avant que la Commission
n'adopte une décision définitive.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[02] Commission opens in-depth inquiry into the acquisition of ECT by
Hutchison and the Rotterdam port authority
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into the
acquisition of de facto joint control by Hutchison Netherlands BV
(Hutchison) and Rotterdam Municipal Port Management (RMPM) of the Rotterdam
container terminal operator Europe Combined Terminals BV (ECT). The in-
depth inquiry will enable the Commission to examine further what impact the
presence in Rotterdam of global port operator Hutchison will have on the
market. A final decision will now be taken within a period of four months.
[03] La Commission autorise l'acquisition par Etex de la division Pipe
Systems de Glynwed
La Commission européenne a autorisé l'acquisition par la société Etex Group
SA, ayant son siège en Belgique, de la division Pipe Systems de
l'entreprise britannique Glynwed International Plc. Etex et la division
faisant l'objet de l'acquisition opèrent toutes deux dans le secteur des
canalisations en plastique, mais les chevauchements sont limités car leurs
activités sont largement complémentaires.
[04] Commission clears merger between Chevron and Texaco
The European Commission has approved the merger between US oil companies
Chevron Corp and Texaco Inc. Although the operation will create the world's
fourth largest company in oil and gas production, the number of areas where
the companies' activities overlap in Europe are limited and, where they do,
the combined market shares remain below 15%.
[05] Commission approves acquisition of the pharmaceutical business of BASF
by Abbott
The European Commission has granted regulatory clearance to the acquisition
of the worldwide pharmaceutical business of BASF AG by the Abbott Group of
the United States. The transaction will create the 14th largest
pharmaceutical company in the world.
[06] Commission authorises Michel Mineralölhandel to purchase two Thyssen
Elf Oil sales agencies
The European Commission has given the German company Michel Mineralölhandel
GmbH the go-ahead to purchase two Thyssen-Elf Oil GmbH sales agencies in
Essen and Stuttgart.
[07] Libre prestation des services et liberté d'établissement : procédures
d'infraction contre la France, le Portugal, l'Irlande, l'Autriche et la
Grèce
La Commission européenne a décidé de poursuivre des procédures d'infraction
contre la France, le Portugal, l'Irlande, l'Autriche et la Grèce en raison
de violations des règles du traité CE sur la libre prestation des services
(article 49) et la liberté d'établissement (article 43). Dans le cas de la
France, du Portugal et de l'Irlande, cette décision est motivée par des
restrictions concernant les agents en brevets, alors que l'Autriche se voit
reprocher l'application de frais hospitaliers trop élevés aux non-
résidents. La Commission a également adressé des demandes formelles à
l'Autriche, à la France, à la Grèce et au Portugal afin qu'ils lèvent les
restrictions qui touchent, respectivement, les agents en brevets, les
laboratoires médicaux, les magasins d'optique et les services de sécurité
privés. Ces demandes se présentent sous la forme d'avis motivés,
conformément à la deuxième phase des procédures d'infraction prévues par
l'article 226 du traité CE. Si aucune réponse n'est donnée à l'avis motivé
dans les deux mois qui suivent sa réception, ou si cette réponse est
insuffisante, la Commission peut décider de saisir la Cour de justice.
[08] Free movement of goods : Commission pursues infringement proceedings
against Greece, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands
The European Commission has decided to pursue infringement proceedings
against Greece, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands concerning barriers to
trade in violation of EC Treaty rules on the free movement of goods within
the Internal Market (Article 28). The Commission has decided to refer
Greece to the Court of Justice concerning extra price labelling
requirements for non-alcoholic drinks. It has also decided to take Spain to
Court regarding cleaning agents containing bleach. In the case of Ireland
and the Netherlands, the Commission has decided to send formal requests to
remove trade barriers affecting parallel imports (i.e. imports outside
manufacturers' official distribution channels) of respectively
pharmaceuticals and plant health products. These requests take the form of
so-called reasoned opinions, the second stage of infringement procedures
under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there is no response to a reasoned
opinion within two months of receipt, or it is unsatisfactory, the
Commission may decide to refer the Member State concerned to the Court of
Justice.
[09] VAT - infringement procedure against Germany on the right to deduct
The European Commission has made a formal request to Germany to amend its
legislation in respect of limitations on the right to deduct value added
tax (VAT). Under a law which came into effect on 1 April 1999 Germany
totally excluded the right to deduct VAT on food and lodging expenditure by
businessmen on business trips. The Commission considers this exclusion to
be incompatible with the Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC). The formal
request is in the form of a reasoned opinion, the second stage in the
infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If the
Commission does not receive a satisfactory reply to the reasoned opinion
within two months, it may bring the matter before the Court of Justice.
[10] Sinking of the Maltese Tanker 'Kristal' : Loyola de Palacio calls
Europeans to give priority to maritime safety
European Commission Vice-President in charge of Transport and Energy,
Loyola de Palacio, expressed yesterday her deep regret at the loss of
'Kristal' with three crew reported dead and eight missing. "One year after
the Erika's disaster we face a new maritime accident, again involving a
tanker vessel, but this time with several people killed : we cannot stand
it anymore !", she said. " We must take the appropriate decisions to put an
end to this permanent threat on our coasts", Mrs de Palacio stressed.
[11] New landmark legislation a watershed in the fight against the scourge
of tobacco
The European Commission welcomes the agreement on a new Directive on the
manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products reached by the
European Parliament and the Council on 28 February. "The three institutions
are showing a united front in the face of one of the most pernicious public
health scourges of our times, one that kills 500,000 people in the European
Union every year", David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and
Consumer Protection, said. The main achievements of the new legislation,
which was proposed by the Commission in November 1999, is a reduction in
the maximum tar level from 12mg to 10 mg per cigarette and the creation of
ceilings of 1 mg nicotine and 10 mg carbon monoxide per cigarette. The
three ceilings apply to all products manufactured in the EU as well as
imported ones. The Directive will lead to the prohibition of misleading
descriptors such as "light", "low tar" or "mild". Manufacturers will be
obliged to give correct information. Consumers will have full transparency
on all ingredients including additives. Warnings labels will be bigger and
clearer. David Byrne is particularly pleased in assuring that colour
photographs demonstrating the health impact of smoking have now been
included. The Directive will enter into force on 30 September 2002.
Industry has time to prepare for the new arrangements in particular
regarding export considerations. David Byrne made clear that he will turn
his focus now to bringing forward new legislative proposals on tobacco
advertising for the EU Health Council in May of this year. The Commission
will also be a very active participant, on behalf of the Union, in the
negotiations on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The next
negotiation session starts in Geneva on 29 April.
[12] Commission welcomes Parliament's vote on key Telecom Directives
The European Commission today warmly welcomed the European Parliament's
completion of its first reading of three important Directives dealing with
the proposed new regulatory framework for electronic communications
networks and services (proposals for Directives on respectively
authorisation, access and interconnection and the so-called framework
Directive). Erkki Liikanen, Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and
Information Society, said : "The three Directives will be central to the
success of Europe's knowledge based economy and its future competitiveness.
I am pleased that the European Parliament is supporting the Commission in
seeking to establish procedures that would ensure transparency and
coordination of decisions made by national regulatory authorities. This
will ensure a level playing field for operators in the European market. We
need to guarantee that there is a Single Market for telecoms. If this is
not the case the development of the entire sector will be hampered - and I
am referring, in particular, to the different licensing conditions imposed
by the Member States for the 3rd generation mobile services. Europe has to
maintain its lead as the world leader in mobile communications. Getting the
regulatory framework right is an important element in the process. I
therefore encourage the European Parliament to make rapid progress on
adopting its Opinion on the Commission's proposal for a Decision on radio
spectrum policy."
[13] PME : la Commission présente les politiques et les activités de l'UE
La Commission européenne a adopté un rapport intitulé "Construire une
Europe entrepreneuriale - Les activités de l'Union en faveur des petites et
moyennes entreprises (PME)". Le rapport souligne que la politique de
l'entreprise a été intégrée dans les politiques et autres programmes
communautaires plus généraux et précise dans quelle mesure les activités de
l'UE peuvent aider les PME à tirer le meilleur parti des nouvelles
opportunités offertes par l'économie et les marchés. Le rapport est donc
une contribution importante aux travaux préparatoires du Conseil européen
de Stockholm des 23 et 24 mars 2001. Il analyse les développements
politiques intervenus depuis la fin 1997. Trois grands thèmes sont abordés:
l'amélioration des conditions cadres des PME, les instruments financiers et
les programmes d'aide aux PME et l'élargissement, la préadhésion et la
coopération avec les pays tiers. Il s'agit du dernier rapport publié au
titre du troisième programme pluriannuel pour les PME qui s'est achevé en
2000. Le nouveau "Programme pluriannuel pour les entreprises et l'esprit
d'entreprise, en particulier en ce qui concerne les petites et moyennes
entreprises (2001-2005)" a été adopté par le Conseil le 20 décembre 2000.
[14] Agriculture : Franz Fischler signs Multi-Annual and Annual Financing
Agreement with Hungary
European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
Franz Fischler today signed the Multi-annual Financing Agreement and the
Annual Financing Agreement with Hungary. As budgetary procedures have now
been completed in respect of the financial commitment for the year 2000,
both agreements were signed on the same day. This brought Hungary another
step closer to making the pre-accession agriculture programmes fully
operational. After today's signature, the implementation of the Sapard
Programme will require conclusion of the Agreements and the adoption of the
Commission Decision on the accreditation of the Sapard Agency. Sapard aims
to support the efforts made by the Central and Eastern European applicant
countries in the pre-accession period as they prepare for their
participation in the common agricultural policy and the single market. Mr
Fischler expressed his satisfaction with the progress being made by Hungary
and stated : "We are edging closer to the completion of the necessary steps
for the transfer of funds under Sapard. I urge our partners in Hungary, and
in the nine other applicant countries, to continue to demonstrate their
commitment to the enlargement process and to the successful implementation
of the Sapard initiative." On the Annual Agreement, the deadline for
spending EU-funds earmarked for Sapard in the 2000 budget is 31 December
2002. Commissioner Fischler said he intends to explore the possible
justification and need for extending this deadline.
[15] EU removes textiles quotas for Sri Lanka in market access deal
The European Union will remove all textiles quotas from imports from Sri
Lanka with immediate effect. In return, Sri Lanka has brought down a range
of tariffs and has bound all its tariffs for the textiles and clothing
sector at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Welcoming the agreement,
European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said : "The agreement with Sri
Lanka shows that the EU is ready and willing to do more to open its market
for textiles and clothing to countries that are themselves ready to make
concrete and tangible improvements on market access for EU exports in the
sector."
[16] EU removes restrictions on textiles trade with Bosnia and Herzegovina
The European Union has agreed to lift restrictions on trade in textile
products with Bosnia and Herzegovina with immediate effect. The decision,
approved by EU ministers early this week, provides for the elimination of
the quantitative restrictions the EU has hitherto applied to textile and
clothing exports originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
[17] Frits Bolkestein underlines key role of Internal Market in EU
enlargement
(! embargo 3 pm !) "Enlargement will bring an Internal Market of over 500
million consumers and an open, border-free area where goods, services,
capitals and persons can circulate freely", noted European Internal Market
Commissioner Frits Bolkestein in a March 1 speech in Brussels. "Alignment
with Single Market rules constitutes an eminently sensible economic
programme for the candidate countries. For the Commission, it is a conditio
sine qua non for enlargement because otherwise we would weaken or put at
risk the proper functioning of the Internal Market. The Single Market is at
the core of the European Union. Opening up fifteen national markets into
one Single Market has stimulated production, increased competition, reduced
prices and increased demand within the European Union. Accession
negotiations are based on the full implementation of the existing body of
EU law by the applicant countries. If technical adjustments and temporary
transitional measures prove necessary, the Union's position is that such
measures must be limited in time and scope, and accompanied by a plan with
clearly defined stages towards full alignment. Furthermore, they must not
involve changes, which disrupt the proper functioning of the rules or
policies of the Union, or lead to significant distortion of competition."
[18] Poul Nielson calls for children to be made a priority in humanitarian
assistance
Mr Poul Nielson, the European Commissioner in charge of Development
Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, today addressed the Swedish Presidency
seminar on "Children affected by Armed Conflict and Forced Displacement"
taking place in Norrköping, Sweden. Mr Nielson states : "We are ready to
make children a priority in humanitarian assistance". In the course of his
speech, referring to the Commission's position on war-affected children as
set out at last September's Winnipeg conference, he underlines the
importance of securing compliance with the existing international legal
framework in this area. He also stresses, that concrete actions, rather
than new international instruments, are now needed to relieve the plight of
children in conflict situations. "The full impact of armed conflict on
children is not yet sufficiently documented. Instead of basing ourselves on
'qualified guesswork' the collection of adequate data is crucial", Mr
Nielson argues. This seminar forms part of a contribution to the
preparation of the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Children,
to be held in September 2001. It is attended by high-level participants
including António Vitorino (Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs),
Sweden's Minister for Development Cooperation, Mrs Maj-Inger Klingvall and
Mrs Graça Machel and Mr Olara Otunnu, the UN Secretary-General's Special
Representatives for Children and Armed Conflict.
[19] Fusion approuvée selon la procédure simplifiée
Thomson Multimedia S.A. (FR) / Technicolor (UK)
[20] Autre matériel diffusé
Discours de M. Solbes : "Is there an e-Economy ?" à la conférence 'The e-
Economy in Europe : its potential impact on EU enterprises and policies'
Discours de Mme de Palacio : "Le programme de travail de la Commission"
devant le Comité Economique et Social
Intervention de M. Patten sur l'Irak (PE)
Intervention de M. Patten sur Mercosur (PE)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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