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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-11-21

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] EU ministers agree to initiate services and investment talks with Mediterranean countries
  • [02] La Commission se félicite du soutien du Conseil et du Parlement européen en faveur du déliement total de l'aide
  • [03] Commission clears acquisition of Somerfeld by Apax, Barclays and TFT
  • [04] Commission clears acquisition of Canon España by Canon
  • [05] Commission clears acquisition of Sibneft by Gazprom
  • [06] Le secteur de l'énergie "verte" se réunit pour examiner son agenda de recherche
  • [07] September 2005 : euro-zone external trade surplus €1.4 billion ; €9.1 billion deficit for EU25
  • [08] EU Election Observation Mission for Palestinian elections
  • [09] Andris Piebalgs participates in the high level meeting in Riyadh on the occasion of IEF Headquarters inauguration
  • [10] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2005-11-21 Reference: MEX/05/1121 Date: 21/11/2005 EXME05 / 21.11

    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

    21/11/05


  • [01] EU ministers agree to initiate services and investment talks with Mediterranean countries

    European Union Ministers have today decided to authorise the European Commission to open negotiations on the liberalisation of services and investment with the EU's Mediterranean partners. A few days before the Euro- Mediterranean Summit of Barcelona, which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership at the end of this month, this decision confirms that the EU is determined to give a new impetus to economic integration across the Mediterranean. The liberalisation of services and investment will bring considerable economic benefits throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region. These negotiations constitute an important part of a wider strategy to boost trade within the region itself.

    [02] La Commission se félicite du soutien du Conseil et du Parlement européen en faveur du déliement total de l'aide

    L'Union européenne a adopté deux règlements relatifs à l'accès à l'aide extérieure de l'UE, qui établissent un niveau de déliement sans précédent. L'octroi d'une aide lié à l'acquisition de biens et de services dans le pays donateur représente en effet un obstacle majeur à l'efficacité de cette aide. Cette décision par consensus constitue donc un énorme pas en avant vers le renforcement de l'efficacité de l'aide au développement.

    [03] Commission clears acquisition of Somerfeld by Apax, Barclays and TFT

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Somerfield plc of the UK by Apax Europe VI (Apax) of Guernsey, the Channel Islands, Barclays Bank plc (Barclays) of the UK and Tchenguiz Family Trust (TFT). Apax is a pan- European investment fund making investments in a range of industry sectors. It is comprised of two limited partnerships constituted in England. The general partner of both of these partnerships is a Guernsey-based limited company, which is wholly owned by the Hirzell Trust, an independent trust constituted under the laws of Guernsey. Barclays is a global financial services provider and operates in over 60 countries on a worldwide basis. TFT is a discretionary trust which is primarily active in the financial and investment sector, predominantly in the real estate, bars and public houses sectors, through subsidiaries known as the Rotch group. Somerfield is primarily active in the grocery retail sector in the UK. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [04] Commission clears acquisition of Canon España by Canon

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Canon España S.A. (Canon España) of Spain by Canon Europa N.V. (Canon) of The Netherlands, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Canon Inc. of Japan. Canon manufactures and sells office, consumer and industrial products (photocopiers, printers, cameras, etc). Canon España is the wholesale distributor in Spain of Canon office and consumer products. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [05] Commission clears acquisition of Sibneft by Gazprom

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Siberian Oil Company (Sibneft) of Russia by Gazprom Finance B.V., controlled by Gazprom, also of Russia. Gazprom is a vertically integrated Russian natural gas company whose majority shareholder is the Russian Federation. It is active in the exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing of natural gas. It also produces a limited amount of crude oil, refined products and petrochemical products. Gazprom supplies practically all of the natural gas in Russia and approximately 24% of the natural gas consumed in the EEA. It is also active in the oil industry including, to a lesser extent, that of the EEA. Sibneft is a Russian based oil company and is vertically integrated in the oil supply chain in Russia. Its principal activities concern oil and gas exploration, the production, refining and marketing of oil and oil products, and the sale of certain petrochemical products. Sibneft does not export any natural gas into the EEA. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [06] Le secteur de l'énergie "verte" se réunit pour examiner son agenda de recherche

    Exploiter la chaleur naturelle de la planète, l'énergie des vagues, les rayons du soleil ou les ressources écologiques de la Terre pour produire de l'énergie et des combustibles, c'est ce qui sous-tend les efforts de la Commission européenne en vue de promouvoir la recherche en matière de sources d'énergie renouvelables. L'UE va investir €440 millions au titre de la recherche pour faire progresser ces technologies entre 2002 et 2006. L'objectif consiste à faire en sorte que, d'ici 2010, au moins 12% de la consommation énergétique globale de l'UE soit satisfaite au moyen de sources d'énergie renouvelables, et ce pour des raisons écologiques et de sécurité d'approvisionnement. La recherche est essentielle pour atteindre ce but, qui met en évidence les liens étroits entre les politiques concernant l'énergie, la recherche et l'environnement. Aujourd'hui s'ouvre à Bruxelles une grande conférence sur les énergies renouvelables qui va réunir un large éventail d'organisations impliquées dans la recherche en la matière, afin de débattre des moyens de mieux collaborer pour développer cet important secteur. La conférence se doublera d'une exposition présentant quelques-uns des projets financés au niveau européen et qui ont été couronnés de succès.

    [07] September 2005 : euro-zone external trade surplus €1.4 billion ; €9.1 billion deficit for EU25

    The first estimate for euro-zone trade with the rest of the world in September 2005 was a €1.4 billion surplus, compared with +€2.5 billion September 2004. The August 2005 balance was -€2.2 billion, against +€2.4 billion in August 2004. In September 2005 compared with August 2005, exports, seasonally adjusted, increased by 0.3% while imports fell by 0.7%. The first estimate for September 2005 extra-EU25 trade was a €9.1 billion deficit, compared with -8.3 billion in September 2004. In August 2005, the balance was -€14.1 billion, compared with -8.3 billion in August 2004. In September 2005 compared with August 2005, exports, seasonally adjusted, increased by 0.3% while imports fell by 1.6%. These data are released by Eurostat.

    [08] EU Election Observation Mission for Palestinian elections

    The European Commission will deploy in mid December an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) for elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council, currently scheduled for 25 January 2006. The EU EOM, will assess whether the electoral process is conducted in accordance with international standards. The Commission welcomes the holding of these elections as a further step in democracy building within the Palestinian Territories. The EOM will be led by Véronique de Keyser, Member of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and the EP Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries.

    [09] Andris Piebalgs participates in the high level meeting in Riyadh on the occasion of IEF Headquarters inauguration

    The European Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, participated on 19Â November in the inauguration of the new facilities for the secretariat of the International Energy Forum (IEF) in Riyadh. The ceremony, chaired by the Saudi Arabia King Abdullah, was attended by energy and economy Ministers from the United States of America, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Norway, India, Japan, OPEC countries, as well as representatives of the IEA, IMF, OLADE and main energy companies CEOs. During the ceremony, King Abdullah officially launched the Joint Oil Data initiative (JODI) established by APEC, Eurostat, IEA/OECD, OLADE, OPEC and UN Statistics Division and aiming to increase oil data transparency.

    [10] Autre matériel diffusé

    Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the 10th anniversary of the signature of the Dayton agreement

    Preparation Agriculture/Fisheries Council of November 2005

    Speech by Neelie Kroes : "Better Regulation of Professional Services" at UK Presidency Seminar

    Speech by Siim Kallas at 3rd European Union conference of fraud prosecutors (18/11) From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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