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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-07-19

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>


CONTENTS / CONTENU

  • [01] Economic governance in an enlarged European Union - Romano Prodi appoints High-Level Study Group
  • [02] La recherche de l'UE montre que les algues peuvent contribuer à la lutte contre le réchauffement planétaire
  • [03] Environment : Commission proposes new scheme to protect Europe's forests
  • [04] Fiscalité des sociétés : la Commission crée un forum sur les prix de transfert
  • [05] L'emploi dans l'UE en 2000 : 15% des femmes et 13% des hommes salariés occupent un emploi temporaire ; plus de la moitié des travailleurs temporaires ont moins de 30 ans
  • [06] Commission clears acquisition of Haslemere by Lehman
  • [07] Commission clears acquisition of AFM by Doughty Hanson
  • [08] Commission clears acquisition of Vendex by CVC
  • [09] La Commission prend des mesures à l'encontre du Royaume-Uni, de la France, de l'Italie et de l'Autriche pour non-respect de la directive sur l'évaluation des incidences sur l'environnement
  • [10] Commission requests Austria to comply with laws on nitrates and water pollution
  • [11] Commission proposes reduction of sweetener cyclamate in food
  • [12] Margot Wallström at Informal Environment Council in Sønderborg, Denmark
  • [13] "We won't let Finnish farmers down" Franz Fischler presents CAP mid- term review in Finland
  • [14] New building for Commission's Food and Veterinary Office officially opened in Ireland
  • [15] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express 19/07/2002 TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 19/07/2002

  • [01] Economic governance in an enlarged European Union - Romano Prodi appoints High-Level Study Group

    European Commission President Romano Prodi has decided to appoint a High- Level Study Group to review all the economic instruments that currently exist at EU level and assess their suitability as proper instruments of economic governance in the context of enlargement. The Group will also examine whether or not new policies are needed so as to ensure growth, stability and cohesion. President Prodi has asked the Group to finalise its report by Spring 2003. In preparing its report, the Group will be assisted by the Commission's Group of Policy Advisors.

    [02] La recherche de l'UE montre que les algues peuvent contribuer à la lutte contre le réchauffement planétaire

    Il ressort d'un projet de recherche de l'UE que les algues marines peuvent contribuer à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Les participants au projet de recherche "Parforce" financé par l'UE ont découvert que les vapeurs d'iode émanant des algues marines exerçaient un effet inverse au réchauffement planétaire. Alors que les gaz à effet de serre piègent la chaleur qui s'échappe de la surface de la Terre, les algues dégagent des vapeurs qui empêchent la chaleur de parvenir jusqu'au sol et aux océans. L'équipe "Parforce", qui travaille sous la direction de l'Université nationale d'Irlande (Galway), compte 15 groupes de recherche en provenance de l'Irlande, de la Finlande, de la Suède, de l'Allemagne, du Royaume-Uni et des Pays-Bas. Les chercheurs européens ont collaboré avec des experts américains du California Institute of Technology.

    [03] Environment : Commission proposes new scheme to protect Europe's forests

    A new scheme to monitor and safeguard Europe's forests has been proposed by the European Commission and the European Parliament. The scheme, called "Forest Focus", aims to offer better protection for forests and to develop awareness of the importance of forests to our environment. The programme would initially run for 6 years, from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008, with a budget of €13 million per year. Until now, EU monitoring action on forests has been limited to the impact of air pollution and forest fires. It is clear, however, that the importance of forests to the environment extends far beyond these issues. Therefore, in addition to these monitoring activities, Forest Focus would develop new activities to assess the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems and to complement EU policies on bio- diversity, carbon sequestration and soil protection.

    [04] Fiscalité des sociétés : la Commission crée un forum sur les prix de transfert

    La Commission européenne vient de nommer dix experts fiscaux du secteur privé qui participeront au forum de l'UE sur les prix de transfert et la fiscalité des entreprises ainsi que le président du forum. Associé au experts désignés par les administrations des Etats membres, ces experts du secteur privé ont pour mission de réfléchir aux moyens de réduire les coûts de mise en conformité élevés et d'éliminer les problèmes de double imposition qui se posent fréquemment au niveau des transactions transfrontalières intragroupe. Ces problèmes surviennent en raison des désaccords, entre sociétés et administrations fiscales ou entre administrations fiscales nationales, sur la fixation du prix des transactions. La Commission a procédé à ces nominations avec l'accord des représentants de la présidence du Conseil des ministres de l'UE et de l'UNICE, organisation représentant le patronat européen. Une première réunion du forum, dont la création a été annoncée par la Commission dans sa communication du 23 octobre 2001 sur la fiscalité des entreprises (voir IP/01/1468), a été programmée pour le début d'octobre 2002. Le forum se réunira deux à trois fois par an.

    [05] L'emploi dans l'UE en 2000 : 15% des femmes et 13% des hommes salariés occupent un emploi temporaire ; plus de la moitié des travailleurs temporaires ont moins de 30 ans

    Selon une étude publiée aujourd'hui par Eurostat, en 2000, dans l'UE, 14,5% des femmes et 12,5% des hommes salariés avaient un emploi temporaire. Avec 34,6% des femmes et 30,7% des hommes salariés ayant un contrat à durée déterminée, le travail temporaire était le plus répandu en Espagne, suivie du Portugal (22,7% des femmes et 18,4% des hommes) et la Finlande (20,9% et 14,5%). En revanche, ces proportions n'étaient que de 4,4% pour les femmes et de 2,7% pour les hommes au Luxembourg et respectivement de 5,9% et 3,6% en Irlande.

    [06] Commission clears acquisition of Haslemere by Lehman

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition by US company Lehman Brothers Real Estate Partners LP of full control of Dutch undertaking Haslemere N.V., currently jointly controlled by the Israeli undertaking Brack Capital Real Estate Ltd, the Luxembourg undertaking Apollo International S.a.r.l. and the undertaking Merrill Lynch IBK Positions. (The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)

    [07] Commission clears acquisition of AFM by Doughty Hanson

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition by Britain's British Doughty Hanson & Co Ltd of full control of the German undertaking AFM Autofahrerfachmarkt GmbH & Co KG, which belongs to the ATU Group (Germany), APS Autopotre by a sluzby s.r.o. (Czech Republic) and Diana Kfz-Textil GmbH (Germany). (The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)

    [08] Commission clears acquisition of Vendex by CVC

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation to the acquisition by British investment and management firm CVC Group of six retail businesses by way of purchase of shares from the Dutch Koninkliijke Vendex KBB Group. (The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure)

    [09] La Commission prend des mesures à l'encontre du Royaume-Uni, de la France, de l'Italie et de l'Autriche pour non-respect de la directive sur l'évaluation des incidences sur l'environnement

    La Commission européenne a souhaité agir en faveur de l'environnement européen en appliquant la procédure d'infraction à l'encontre de plusieurs Etats membres. La Commission reproche aux Etats membres de ne pas s'être conformés à la législation communautaire qui requiert une évaluation des incidences des projets publics ou privés sur l'environnement. La Cour de justice sera saisie à l'encontre du Royaume-Uni et de la France à cause des insuffisances de leur législation nationale respective en matière d'évaluation des incidences sur l'environnement. En outre, le Royaume-Uni va recevoir une demande formelle l'invitant à faire réaliser une évaluation des incidences sur l'environnement pour le projet de White City à Londres. La France, quand à elle, recevra une demande formelle d'évaluation approfondie des incidences sur l'environnement du projet d'autoroute de contournement de Tours. Deux demandes formelles vont être adressées à l'Italie pour entreprendre les évaluations des incidences sur l'environnement d'un projet de marina à Chieti et d'une installation de traitement des déchets à Brescia. L'Autriche, quant à elle, recevra une demande formelle de mise en conformité de sa législation en ce qui concerne l'évaluation des incidences de projets de remembrement rural sur l'environnement. Ces demandes formelles prennent la forme des fameux "avis motivés" qui représentent la deuxième étape de la procédure formelle d'infraction au titre de l'article 226 du traité CE. En l'absence d'une réponse satisfaisante dans un délai de deux mois à compter de la réception de l'avis, la Commission peut saisir la Cour de justice.

    [10] Commission requests Austria to comply with laws on nitrates and water pollution

    The European Commission has acted to safeguard the environment by sending Austria a formal request to strengthen its measures to combat water pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources, in compliance with the EU's Nitrates Directive. The Directive aims to tighten controls on the use of nitrate fertilisers and the disposal of animal waste to avoid high nitrate levels in drinking water, and to help curb harmful plant growth in water bodies. Austria's non-compliance increases the risks of nitrates from agriculture causing or contributing to water pollution. Citizens will not therefore get the guarantee of better protection of water resources that the Directive promises. The request to Austria takes the form of a "Reasoned Opinion", the second stage of infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice.

    [11] Commission proposes reduction of sweetener cyclamate in food

    The Scientific Committee for Food, an independent committee that advises the Commission on questions concerning consumer health and food safety, has re-evaluated the sweetener cyclamate. Although the new epidemiological data revealed no indications of harmful effects of cyclamate on humans, the Committee decided to lower the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for this substance from 11 to 7 mg/kg bodyweight. New scientific evidence has shown the conversion rate of cyclamate in the body to be higher than was previously thought. As a consequence, the Commission has decided, as a precautionary measure, to propose reducing the use of cyclamate by banning its use in certain food categories like chewing gums and breath-freshening micro-sweets, and by reducing it in soft drinks (from 400 mg/l to 350 mg/l). Through this measure, the Commission seeks to ensure that the intake of cyclamates stays below the revised ADI. Further information at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/additives/index_en.html

    [12] Margot Wallström at Informal Environment Council in Sønderborg, Denmark

    European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström will participate in the Informal Environment Council in Sønderborg, Denmark this weekend. Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development will be at the centre of the discussions. Mrs Wallström will insist on the importance of maintaining environment issues prominently on the agenda. The EUs key environmental objectives for Johannesburg include : (a) a 10 year programme for sustainable production and consumption ; (b) a halt and then reversal of the decline in biodiversity ; (c) action to deal with hazardous chemicals ; (d) a clear target and timeframe for delivering clean drinking water and sanitation to the worlds poor ; (e) a target and action to deliver increased use of renewable energy. Mrs Wallström commented : "The latest international high-level consultations have shown broad commitment to get preparations for the World Summit moving again. This is encouraging, and we must now keep up the momentum. Johannesburg is not only about environment, but the environmental agenda is a central component in our efforts to promote global sustainable development and move from words to deeds. She added : "We must continue to push for clear targets and timeframes, to which politicians can be held accountable. And we will also need to reiterate our assurances on how we can best channel the means to achieve these objectives". The Informal Council will explore in detail how the EU can work most efficiently in Johannesburg to meet its environmental goals.

    [13] "We won't let Finnish farmers down" Franz Fischler presents CAP mid- term review in Finland

    Presenting the European Commission's mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) today in Helsinki, Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler underlined that farmers should be guaranteed a fair income also in the future. "The Commission will not let Finnish farmers down. There are good reasons why the support for our farmers is fully justified. They deserve a fair standard of living, including in Nordic regions, and they deserve additional compensation, if they ensure the quality and safety of our food, and the good management of our landscape and our livestock. But the CAP must be changed, not only in the interests of Finnish taxpayers and consumers, but just as importantly to better meet the needs of Finnish farmers. The existing over-bureaucratic support regime that encourages farmers to use the most intensive methods possible is one that risks losing the support of European taxpayers", he said.

    [14] New building for Commission's Food and Veterinary Office officially opened in Ireland

    The Irish Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, today announced the official opening of the Food and Veterinary Office's (FVO) new purpose built building in Grange, Co Meath, Ireland. The FVO is an integral part of the European Commission's Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General. It is responsible for checking that EU rules on food, live animals and plant products are complied with, both within the EU and also in third countries which export to the EU. Last year FVO inspectors carried out over 200 inspections in 52 different countries.

    [15] Autre matériel diffusé

    Calendrier du 22 au 28 juillet 2002

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


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