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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-11-11
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] President Barroso will meet with World Bank President Wolfowitz on
Monday 14 November
[02] Commission approves acquisition of Kappa Holding B.V. by Jefferson
Smurfit, subject to conditions
[03] Commission clears acquisition of York by JCT
[04] Commission clears acquisition of HSY by ThyssenKrupp
[05] EU and China to strengthen cooperation on product safety
[06] La Commission augmente l'appui au processus électoral en République
Démocratique du Congo de €60 millions
[07] Danuta Hübner meets 300 Czech mayors to discuss how to promote
Cohesion Policy
[08] Joe Borg visits Northern Ireland
[09] László Kovács' official visit to China (14-16/11)
[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to participate in conference on Civilian Crisis
Management Capacity of the EU
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-11-11
Reference: MEX/05/1111
Date: 11/11/2005
EXME05 / 11.11
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Press and Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Presse etb
Communication
11/11/05
[01] President Barroso will meet with World Bank President Wolfowitz on
Monday 14 November
The President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso will meet with
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz in Brussels to discuss a wide range of
global and regional issues as well as the overall relations of the European
Commission with the World Bank. They will hold a brainstorming discussion
involving the President of the European Investment Bank, Philip Maystadt,
as well as Commissioners Almunia, Ferrero-Waldner, Mandelson, Michel and
Rehn.
[02] Commission approves acquisition of Kappa Holding B.V. by Jefferson
Smurfit, subject to conditions
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of the Dutch company Kappa Holding B.V. (Kappa) by the
Irish based international packaging group, Jefferson Smurfit (JSG), subject
to conditions. The Commission found that the proposed transaction gave rise
to competition concerns in various countries as regards corrugated boxes
and solid board boxes, graphic board and solid board partitions, all
products used in the packaging industry. However, the parties have offered
remedies that remove the concerns identified by the Commission.
[03] Commission clears acquisition of York by JCT
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of York International
Corporation (York) of the US by Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI), also of the
US. JCI supplies electronic car interior systems such as seating systems,
instrument panels, overhead systems, floor consoles and door systems. It
also manufactures and installs control systems that automate a building's
heating, ventilating and air conditioning, as well as its lighting and fire
safety equipment. York is active worldwide in the supply of heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and solutions
(HVAC&R). The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of HSY by ThyssenKrupp
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Greek company Hellenic
Shipyards S.A. (HSY) by ThyssenKrupp AG (TK) of Germany. TK’s three main
areas of business are steel, capital goods and services. Capital goods
include both civil and military shipbuilding (passenger ships, container
ships, river cruisers, motor yachts, naval surface vessels and submarines)
and the maintenance and repair of such ships. HSY is active in shipbuilding
and repair and industrial constructions. The operation was examined under
the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] EU and China to strengthen cooperation on product safety
Cooperation between the EU and China on product safety is set to be
considerably strengthened, following agreement on a Memorandum of
Understanding in Brussels today. The Memorandum was drawn up by the
European Commission's DG Health and Consumer Protection and the Chinese
governmental agency for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
(AQSIQ). It aims to establish better communication and collaboration
between the responsible authorities on general product safety, food safety,
and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues, with a view to boosting the
overall protection of both EU and Chinese citizens. Welcoming today's
agreement, Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Protection, said : "China is one of the EU's most important trading
partners when it comes to consumer goods, and this relationship can only be
expected to grow in the coming years. Ensuring consumer safety is a top
priority for the Commission, and today's agreement is a significant step
forward in this regard. By developing a common understanding between Europe
and China on food and product safety issues, I believe that a culture of
mutual understanding and trust can be developed, to the benefit of all our
consumers."
[06] La Commission augmente l'appui au processus électoral en République
Démocratique du Congo de €60 millions
La Commission européenne a adopté la décision d'un financement pour
un montant de €60 millions du "programme d'appui au processus électoral",
qui s'ajoute à une première contribution de €89 millions allouée en
2004.
[07] Danuta Hübner meets 300 Czech mayors to discuss how to promote
Cohesion Policy
New EU funds for cohesion policy will help make Europe the most dynamic and
competitive knowledge based economy by bringing growth and jobs in the
regions, noted European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner in her
speech to the Czech mayors, delivered this morning at the Parliament of the
Czech Republic. During her visit in Prague, Ms Hübner is meeting Czech
Prime Minister, JiÅ™í Paroubek, Vice Premier and Minister of Finance,
Bohuslav Sobotka, Minister of Regional Development, Radko Martinek and
several Czech Members of the European Parliament. She will be discussing
how the Czech Republic can best prepare to receive and make the most out of
significant EU funds while keeping balances, interest rates and inflation
under control.
[08] Joe Borg visits Northern Ireland
The European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg
travelled from Donegal to Belfast late this morning as part of his two-day
visit to Ireland. The Commissioner will be in Kilkeel this afternoon. After
a tour of the harbour, Mr Borg will meet with representatives of the
fisheries sector. The Commissioner said that he was looking forward to his
first-ever visit to Northern Ireland. "I am looking forward to meeting
stakeholders in Kilkeel and to hearing at first hand what their concerns
are. It is always also interesting to understand the particularities of the
fleets and fisheries concerned. The industry is undeniably facing a number
of challenges. This makes co-operation and permanent dialogue all the more
valuable in finding opportunities and solutions to problems thus benefiting
the fishing sector and the coastal communities such as Kilkeel."
[09] László Kovács' official visit to China (14-16/11)
The European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs László Kovács will
pay a three-day official visit to China from 14 to 16 November. The purpose
will be to initiate a permanent dialogue in customs topics of common
interest to the EC and China. He will participate in the first session of
the Joint EU-China Customs Cooperation Committee. He will have talks with
Vice Premier Madam Wu Yi, Minister of Customs Mu Xinsheng and high-level
Chinese and EU officials and business representatives in both Beijing and
Shanghai. A main subject discussed will be counterfeit since China, and
more widely Asia, remains the main source of the counterfeits intercepted
in Europe. The EU agreement with China on customs co-operation and mutual
administrative assistance (see <a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/599&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr">IP/04/599)
is an important step forward in the fight against fraud and counterfeiting
and the clear will of the Chinese authorities to co-operate with European
customs in this regard is evident. Supply chain security will also be
discussed with the Chinese customs authorities. The aim in that case will
be to reinforce the efforts to achieve mutual recognition of security
measures and business partnership programmes between the EC and China.
[10] Benita Ferrero-Waldner to participate in conference on Civilian Crisis
Management Capacity of the EU
A Conference on "Enhancing the European Civilian Crisis Management Capacity
of the European Union" will take place on 14-15 November in Brussels in the
Charlemagne Building. The conference will be opened by Benita Ferrero-
Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy and President Martti Ahtisaari, Chairman, Crisis
Management Initiative. The conference starts at 09h00 on Monday 14
November. There will be a press point at 10h30 with Commissioner Ferrero-
Waldner and President Ahtisaari in the VIP Corner in the Charlemagne
Building right after the opening speeches. Interested journalists attending
the VIP corner and/or the conference should confirm their attendance with
Tanja Gohlert by Friday 6 pm. A detailed programme of the conference is
also available: <a href="mailto:tanja.gohlert@cec.eu.int">tanja.gohlert@cec.eu.int
[11] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Günter Verheugen : "Werte im Wandel" to Wirtschaftsvereinigung
Stahl (Düsseldorf)
Speech by Charlie McCreevy : "Tax harmonisation - No thanks" at European
Business Initiative on Taxation (10/11)
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Israel-EU relations: fulfilling the
potential" (10/11, Tel Aviv)
Speech by Olli Rehn : "Deeds must follow words – Albania moves towards
implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement" to the
Albanian Parliament (Tirana)
Calendrier du 14 au 20 novembre
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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