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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 04-07-09
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Commission and Philip Morris International sign 12-year agreement to
combat contraband and counterfeit cigarettes
[02] Cyprus to receive €3.4 million from fisheries fund
[03] Protection of "Parmigiano Reggiano" : Commission decides to take
Germany to the Court of Justice
[04] Protecting the ozone layer : Commission takes legal action against
nine Member States
[05] Libre circulation des capitaux : la Commission clôt la procédure
engagée contre le Portugal au sujet de la loi de privatisation
[06] Excise duties : Commission requests Ireland to change tax stamp rules
and to cooperate
[07] "1000 débats pour l'Europe" sur la nouvelle Constitution
[08] Joe Borg participates at seminar in Tunisia on Enlargement and the
Mediterranean
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2004-07-09
Reference: MEX/04/0709
Date: 09/07/2004
EXME04 / 9.7
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Général Presse etb
Communication
09/07/04
[01] Commission and Philip Morris International sign 12-year agreement to
combat contraband and counterfeit cigarettes
The European Commission, together with ten Member States of the European
Union and Philip Morris International (PMI), today announced a multi-year
agreement that includes an efficient system to fight against future
cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting and which ends all litigation
between the parties in this area. Through the agreement, Philip Morris
International will work with the European Commission, its anti-fraud office
OLAF, and law enforcement authorities to help in the fight against
contraband, including the rapidly growing problem of counterfeit
cigarettes. The agreement includes substantial payments by Philip Morris
International, which could total approximately USD 1.25 billion over twelve
years. "I welcome the conclusion of the negotiations of this important
agreement. This agreement is to the advantage of the EU to protect its
financial interests", said Commission President Romano Prodi. "This
agreement represents a major step forward in the battle against contraband
and counterfeit cigarettes", said Commissioner Michaele Schreyer,
responsible for budget and the fight against fraud. "We believe that it
will enhance the ability of the European Commission and the Member States
to combat the illegal trade in cigarettes, which results in the loss of
substantial tax and customs revenues each year. Contraband and counterfeit
products cheat everyone : governments, consumers and legitimate businesses",
she added.
[02] Cyprus to receive €3.4 million from fisheries fund
The European Commission has given the green light to Cyprus' operational
programme for fisheries for the period 1 May 2004 to 31 December 2006.
Cyprus will receive €3.4 million from the EU Financial Instrument for
Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). Almost half the aid (48%) will help finance a
reduction in fleet capacity, through the permanent removal of fishing
vessels, so as to achieve a better balance between fishing capacity and
available fish resources. Most of the other half (44%) will support
investment in the modernisation of aquaculture, processing and marketing of
fisheries products and fishing port facilities. In aquaculture, priority
will be given to enhancing environmental conditions and promote the quality
and hygiene of aquaculture products. Landing facilities will be improved
and special attention will be given to increasing the productivity and
competitiveness of the processing and marketing sectors. While fisheries
only represent 0.3% of Cyprus GDP, the fisheries and aquaculture industry,
which provides around 1,350 jobs, plays a significant socio-economic role
in a number of coastal areas.
[03] Protection of "Parmigiano Reggiano" : Commission decides to take
Germany to the Court of Justice
The European Commission has decided to refer Germany to the European Court
of Justice for failure to apply to the name "Parmigiano Reggiano" the
Union's legislation on protected designations of origin (PDO). Germany does
not give full protection to this PDO within its territory. Use of the name,
registered at Union level since 1996, is by law exclusively reserved for
producers within a delimited geographical area in Italy who make the cheese
in line with a binding specification.
[04] Protecting the ozone layer : Commission takes legal action against
nine Member States
The European Commission has sent first written warnings to nine Member
States that have not informed the Commission about what they have done to
limit the use of the pesticide methyl bromide. The pesticide is being
phased out under EU law, as it depletes the Earth's ozone layer, which
protects humans, animals and plants from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet
radiation. But for certain uses – where no alternatives exist yet - it is
still allowed under strict control. Such uses include treatments to ensure
that traded crops are pest-free. Member States must report to the
Commission every year about the exact amount of methyl bromide they have
used, for which purposes and what they have done to reduce the use. They
must also report on progress in evaluating and using alternatives. Belgium,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United
Kingdom have either not reported or reported insubstantially. The
Commission is therefore taking legal action to ensure EU citizens the
environmental protection they expect.
[05] Libre circulation des capitaux : la Commission clôt la procédure
engagée contre le Portugal au sujet de la loi de privatisation
La Commission européenne a décidé de clore la procédure
d'infraction engagée contre le Portugal pour non-respect d'un arrêt de la
Cour de justice du 4 juin 2002. La Cour avait constaté dans cet arrêt que
la procédure d'autorisation des investissements étrangers dans des
entreprises privatisées était incompatible avec les dispositions du
traité CE relatives à la libre circulation des capitaux (article 56).
Cette décision fait suite à la notification de mesures supplémentaires
prises par le Portugal le 4 février 2004 en vue de se conformer à l'arrêt
de la Cour.
[06] Excise duties : Commission requests Ireland to change tax stamp rules
and to cooperate
The European Commission has sent a formal request to Ireland to amend its
legislation on the application of excise duties to tobacco. Ireland
collects excise duties on manufactured tobacco using fiscal marks on the
packaging and demands payment of the duties upon making these marks
available. This runs counter to the principles of Directive 92/12/EEC,
which states that excise duties cannot be charged until products are
released for consumption. Since Ireland has up to now failed to reply to
previous requests, the Commission has also sent Ireland a formal request to
comply with its Treaty obligation to cooperate with the Commission to
achieve the Community's tasks (Article 10 of the Treaty). These formal
requests will take the form of so-called 'reasoned opinions' (second stage
of the formal infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty).
In the absence of a satisfactory reaction within two months of receipt of
the reasoned opinions, the Commission may refer the matters to the Court of
Justice.
[07] "1000 débats pour l'Europe" sur la nouvelle Constitution
Les Présidents Pat Cox (Parlement européen), Romano Prodi (Commission
européenne) et Peter Straub (Comité des régions) lancent un appel pour
l'organisation de débats publics sur la nouvelle Constitution européenne.
Ils invitent les élus et représentants des autorités européennes,
nationales, régionales et locales des 25 Etats membres de l'Union
européenne à s'associer ainsi à l'opération "1.000 débats pour
l'Europe".
[08] Joe Borg participates at seminar in Tunisia on Enlargement and the
Mediterranean
European Commissioner Joe Borg participates today in Tunis at a seminar on
EU enlargement and its effect on EU relations with the Mediterranean. The
seminar is organised by the delegation of the Commission in Tunisia with
the support of the embassies of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and
Poland in the country. The seminar is an opportunity for the EU to share
with Tunisia the experiences gained by the new EU Member States over the
past few years in the area of political, economic and social changes and to
hear Tunisian views on enlargement.
[09] Autre matériel diffusé
Statement by Michaele Schreyer on the Anti-Contraband and Anti-Counterfeit
agreement with Philip Morris
Speech by Franz Fischler : "A fresh outlook for EU agriculture" at COPA /
COGECA Presidium meeting
Speech by Danuta Hübner at launch of trade negotiations between the EU and
the South African Development Community (SADC) (08/07, Windhoek)
Speech by Poul Nielson at opening of the negotiations for the Economic
Partnership Agreement between the SADC and the EU (08/07, Windhoek)
Calendrier du 12 au 16 juillet 2004
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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