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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-27

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] Les Etats membres s'accordent sur le permis de conduire européen
  • [02] Commission warns about fake drugs on the internet
  • [03] Commission publishes scoreboard on State aid in acceding and candidate countries
  • [04] Commission clears acquisition of GALP by ENI, Amorim Energia and CGD
  • [05] Un groupe d'experts de haut niveau conseille la Commission sur la création de la bibliothèque numérique européenne
  • [06] European Broadcasting Regulators strengthen their cross-border cooperation under the Television without Frontiers Directive
  • [07] La Commission lance un forum de discussion en 20 langues sur l'avenir de l'Europe
  • [08] Commissioners to be breath-tested for carbon monoxide to launch the next phase of the EU’s anti-smoking campaign "HELP - for a life without tobacco"
  • [09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner assistera au sommet de la Ligue arabe Khartoum le 28 mars
  • [10] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2006-03-27 Reference: MEX/06/0327 Date: 27/03/2006 EXME06 / 27.3

    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

    27/03/06


  • [01] Les Etats membres s'accordent sur le permis de conduire européen

    Le Conseil est parvenu aujourd'hui un accord politique sur une proposition de la Commission européenne remontant 2003, relative un permis de conduire européen (COM(2003)621 - IP/03/1435). Des règles européennes communes permettront de favoriser la liberté de mouvement des conducteurs de l'UE, de prévenir les fraudes dans les cas où le permis de conduire est utilisé comme pièce d'identité, et d'améliorer la sécurité routière, en particulier en ce qui concerne les motocyclettes. Un modèle unique, au format de carte de crédit, remplacera les différents modèles (plus de 110) actuellement en circulation.

    [02] Commission warns about fake drugs on the internet

    The European Commission has issued a warning that fakes of the medicine rimonabant are currently being sold via several websites. Rimonabant has been developed to treat obesity and related risk factors and smoking cessation. The medicine is still under evaluation by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The product will only receive marketing authorisation by the European Commission once its quality, safety and efficacy have been satisfactorily established by the EMEA scientific committee, and this approval is still pending. Once approved, the company intends to market rimonabant under the name AcompliaTM. Patients who buy unlicensed and counterfeit or illicit copies of rimonabant may be putting their health at risk. This latest example underlines Commission concern that criminals are taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet to sell fake, adulterated and unlicensed medicines to an unsuspecting public, putting lives at risk as well as undermining the pharmaceutical industry.

    [03] Commission publishes scoreboard on State aid in acceding and candidate countries

    The main focus of the European Commission's latest State aid scoreboard is the situation in the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania. Over the period 2002-2004, the average amount of State aid (less agriculture, fisheries and transport aid) awarded per year was estimated at €65 million for Bulgaria and €981 million for Romania. In Bulgaria, total state aid represented 0.36% of GDP which is significantly lower than the average for the ten new Member States (1.35%) and indeed lower than the EU- 25 average (0.49%). In Romania, total state aid was significantly higher, representing 1.86% of GDP. However, this high share is largely due to extensive reforms during the transition to a market economy, privatisation and restructuring companies in difficulty. This scoreboard update also provides a snapshot of the state aid situation in the Western Balkan countries and in Turkey.

    [04] Commission clears acquisition of GALP by ENI, Amorim Energia and CGD

    The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. (GALP) of Portugal by ENI Portugal Investment (ENI) belonging to the group ENI S.p.A. of Italy, Grupo Américo Amorim, through its controlled subsidiary Amorim Energia B.V, of Portugal and Caixa Geral de Depósitos Group (CGD) of Portugal. ENI is active in the oil and gas, petrochemicals and engineering sector. Grupo Américo Amorim is active in the production and sale of cork and cork related products exported worldwide, real estate, agriculture and forestry businesses in Portugal, and also holds non- controlling minority interests in the banking sector in Portugal, Spain and Angola. CGD is a Portuguese State-owned financial group active nationally in retail and commercial banking, investment banking, capital market, insurance, specialised credit, and asset management, and internationally in retail banking, investment banking and capital markets. GALP's main business areas are the exploration and production of crude oil, the refining and marketing of petroleum products and petrochemicals and all levels of the gas transport and distribution chain in Portugal. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

    [05] Un groupe d'experts de haut niveau conseille la Commission sur la création de la bibliothèque numérique européenne

    Après avoir exposé les plans de la Commission européenne pour une bibliothèque numérique européenne au début de ce mois, Viviane Reding, commissaire responsable de la société de l'information et des médias, a présidé aujourd'hui la première réunion du groupe d'experts de haut niveau sur les bibliothèques numériques. Le groupe conseillera la Commission sur la manière de relever les grands défis que pose la mise disposition en ligne du patrimoine culturel de l'Europe.

    [06] European Broadcasting Regulators strengthen their cross-border cooperation under the Television without Frontiers Directive

    The European Commission's proposed modernisation of the "TV without Frontiers" Directive can improve the means to safeguard European TV viewers against programmes inciting hatred, subject to scrupulous respect for media freedom and for free speech, said Europe's broadcasting regulators at a meeting in Brussels today. Regulators from the 25 EU Member States and Croatia, Turkey, Norway and Liechtenstein, chaired by Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding, noted the growing economic and societal importance of new on-demand audiovisual media services and of ensuring freedom of expression in such media, but also discussed the danger that they could become the next vehicle of hate. The regulators also addressed technological challenges for the audiovisual sector - such as digital and Mobile TV - and implementation issues under the TV without Frontiers Directive.

    [07] La Commission lance un forum de discussion en 20 langues sur l'avenir de l'Europe

    La Commission européenne a ouvert aujourd'hui sur internet un débat en 20 langues sur l'avenir de l'Europe. Ce débat, auquel tous les citoyens sont invités participer, s'inscrit dans le cadre du "Plan D" de la Commission ("D" comme dialogue, débat et démocratie), présenté en réponse la demande du Conseil européen de prévoir une période de réflexion la suite des votes négatifs exprimés en France et aux Pays- Bas sur la proposition de traité constitutionnel.

    [08] Commissioners to be breath-tested for carbon monoxide to launch the next phase of the EU’s anti-smoking campaign "HELP - for a life without tobacco"

    The European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou and several other Commissioners will have their breath tested for carbon monoxide, a toxic gas found in cigarette smoke, on 29 March at 13h00 in front of the Commission's Berlaymont headquarters. The tests, which launch the next phase of the EU anti-smoking campaign "HELP - for a life without tobacco", will tell the Commissioners whether their carbon monoxide levels are typical of a smoker, a passive smoker or a non-smoker. From March to November 2006, the Help carbon monoxide campaign will be present at more than 100 national events across the 25 EU Member States. During the national events, over 50,000 carbon monoxide (CO) tests will be carried out on members of the public in HELP campaign tents, each in the colours of a Member State and with the logo and slogan of the HELP campaign in the national language. HELP campaign staff and tobacco control NGOs will carry out the tests and advise on the dangers of smoking and distribute information leaflets on tobacco prevention, quitting and passive smoking. To present the campaign, the 25 national tents will be set up in front of the Berlaymont on 29 March from 11h00 to 16h00. Participants in the test will receive a certificate with the results of their test, and a leaflet with advice on how to quit smoking or deal with passive smoking. Other Commissioners are also joining in and having their breath tested. Journalists, Commission staff and the public are warmly invited to do the same. Camera crews and photographers are invited to a photo opportunity with Commissioner Kyprianou and other Commissioners who will visit the campaign tents and have their breath tested at 13h00. Photo opportunities with other Commissioners can also be arranged. A press release and memo will be available on the day, as well as a press pack about the HELP carbon monoxide campaign with the leaflets to be distributed to the public. <a href="http://www.help-eu.com">http://www.help-eu.com

    [09] Benita Ferrero-Waldner assistera au sommet de la Ligue arabe Khartoum le 28 mars

    Benita Ferrero-Waldner, commissaire européenne chargée des relations extérieures et de la politique européenne de voisinage, représentera la Commission au sommet de la Ligue arabe le 28 mars prochain. Il s'agit l du second sommet auquel des leaders non-arabes sont invités. La visite de Mme Ferrero-Waldner souligne l'importance que l'UE attache aux relations avec le monde arabe et sa détermination rechercher un dialogue plus étroit entre les cultures. La Ligue arabe a un rôle important jouer dans l'établissement de la paix, la démocratisation, l'intégration régionale et le dialogue culturel et Mme Ferrero-Waldner proposera que ce partenariat soit renforcé. Elle espère avoir des entretiens bilatéraux avec des personnalités de haut niveau représentant l'Algérie, l'Egypte, l'Irak, la Jordanie, la Libye et l'Arabie Saoudite.

    [10] Autre matériel diffusé

    European Driving Licence : differences between existing and future legislation

    Speech by Janez Potočnik : "Mobilising policies and funding to support Research. Is Philanthropy ready for the challenge?" at the Conference 'Giving more for research'

    Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Dialogue of Cultures – clash of civilizations or clash of ignorance?" at the plenary session of Euro- Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly

    Discours de M. Louis Michel : "La dimension sociale de la mondialisation dans la politique de développement" au Bureau international du travail From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


    Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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