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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-05-21

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] Aides d'État: le dernier tableau de bord montre que les États membres accordent davantage d'aides la protection de l'environnement
  • [02] Aides d'État : la Commission ouvre une enquête approfondie sur l'aide de 35 millions € accordée par l'Allemagne l'entreprise commune EverQ
  • [03] Aides d’Etat : la Commission autorise une aide de la France de 35,2 millions d’euros en faveur du programme de R&D « MaXSSIMM »
  • [04] EU-Ukraine: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to attend Troika meeting in Ljubljana
  • [05] Le programme Erasmus reçoit le «Prix d’excellence pour l’intégration des jeunes sur le marché du travail»
  • [06] Commissioner Hübner encourages Poland to create conditions for good take-up of EU investment
  • [07] Commissioner Joe Borg in Malta for North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers' Conference
  • [08] More EU assistance on its way to China
  • [09] Food and farming: Health Check will modernise the CAP and free farmers to respond to growing demand
  • [10] Commission outlines European response to mitigate effects of rising global food prices
  • [11] Aides d'État: la Commission actualise les règles sur les garanties et prévoit des simplifications en faveur des PME
  • [12] Aide d'Etat: La Commission ouvre une enquête approfondie sur le financement des retraites des fonctionnaires de France Télécom
  • [13] Aides d'Etat: la Commission approuve €500 millions d'aide pour la période 2007-2013 pour le soutien au fret dans les départements d'outremer (DOM) français
  • [14] State aid: Commission approves support for Finnish press
  • [15] Commission examines the financing of the two Spanish agro-food companies "El Pozo Alimentacion" and "J. Garcia Carrion La Mancha."
  • [16] Commission approves State aid scheme for inland waterway transport in the Czech Republic
  • [17] Hessische Staatsweingüter asked to pay back € 541 859 plus interest of illegal State aid received in the period before 2002.
  • [18] “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean”. Commission adopts proposals to enhance the partnership between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours
  • [19] Autre matériel diffusé Midday Express of 2008-05-21 Reference: MEX/08/0521 Date: 21/05/2008 EXME08 / 21.05

    MIDDAY EXPRESS

    News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

    Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb

    21/05/08


  • [01] Aides d'État: le dernier tableau de bord montre que les États membres accordent davantage d'aides la protection de l'environnement

    Le dernier tableau de bord des aides d'État de la Commission européenne montre que les États membres recourent de plus en plus aux possibilités offertes par les règles de l'UE en matière d'aides d'État pour soutenir des projets de protection de l'environnement. Les dépenses consacrées aux aides d'État en faveur de l'environnement ont fortement augmenté dans l'UE au cours des sept dernières années, ce qui s'explique en partie par une progression des aides sous la forme de réductions ou d'exonérations des taxes environnementales. Cette augmentation va dans le sens des efforts déployés par la Commission pour encourager les États membres mieux cibler leur aide. Les nouvelles lignes directrices adoptées en janvier prévoyant davantage de possibilités d'octroi d'aides l'environnement (voir IP/08/80 et MEMO/08/31), la Commission s'attend une augmentation du nombre de mesures environnementales notifiées par les États membres.

    [02] Aides d'État : la Commission ouvre une enquête approfondie sur l'aide de 35 millions € accordée par l'Allemagne l'entreprise commune EverQ

    La Commission européenne a ouvert une procédure formelle, en vertu des règles du traité relatives aux aides d'État, pour examiner un financement public de plus de 35 millions € destiné un projet d'investissement en énergie solaire d'EverQ GmbH Thalheim, dans le Land allemand de Saxe-Anhalt. La Commission craint que l'aide en cause fasse en réalité partie d'un seul projet d'investissement qui a déj bénéficié d'une aide d'État. En vertu des règles de l'UE relatives aux aides finalité régionale en faveur de grands projets d'investissement, si tel est le cas, l'aide proposée devrait être considérablement réduite. L'ouverture d'une enquête approfondie donne aux parties intéressées la possibilité de présenter leurs observations sur la mesure envisagée. Elle ne préjuge pas de l'issue de la procédure.

    [03] Aides d’Etat : la Commission autorise une aide de la France de 35,2 millions d’euros en faveur du programme de R&D « MaXSSIMM »

    La Commission européenne a décidé de ne pas soulever d’objection en vertu des règles du traité CE sur les aides d’Etat l’égard du soutien financier de 35,2 millions d’euros accordé par la France au programme de recherche-développement (R&D) intitulé « MaXSSIMM ». MaXSSIMM est réalisé par un consortium de 10 partenaires dont le chef de file est Gemalto. Il vise répondre aux besoins de gestion personnelle des données multimédias dans le monde Internet et mobile, et au déploiement de services sécurisés sur terminaux numériques.

    [04] EU-Ukraine: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to attend Troika meeting in Ljubljana

    European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will participate in the EU-Ukraine Foreign Ministers' Troika meeting in Ljubljana on 22 May. Together with Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who currently holds the EU Presidency, she will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko to take stock of EU-Ukraine relations. The meeting will focus, in particular, on the internal situation in Ukraine and on co-operation in the area of foreign and security policy. It will also take note of the considerable progress made in the on-going negotiations on a New Enhanced Agreement with Ukraine. The Commissioner will take the opportunity to underline the European Union’s continuing support to Ukraine and stress the importance of internal political stability in Ukraine with a view to continuing crucial political and economic reforms in the country.

    [05] Le programme Erasmus reçoit le «Prix d’excellence pour l’intégration des jeunes sur le marché du travail»

    Le programme communautaire Erasmus pour la mobilité des étudiants et des enseignants de l’enseignement supérieur a reçu le «Prix d’excellence pour l’intégration des jeunes sur le marché du travail» décerné par la Fondation NoviaSalcedo de Bilbao (Espagne). Le programme Erasmus a été primé dans la catégorie «organismes publics» pour son action exemplaire en faveur de la promotion de l’excellence en matière d’insertion professionnelle des jeunes.

    [06] Commissioner Hübner encourages Poland to create conditions for good take-up of EU investment

    Poland needs to ensure stability and transparency in its legal framework to ensure good take-up of EU investment in cohesion policy. That is the main message Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, will deliver in Warsaw today during her official visit. She has meetings with Mr Waldemar Pawlak, Deputy Prime Minister, with Mr Maciej Nowicki, Environment Minister, Mr Cezary Grabarczyk,Minister for Infrastructure, and Mr Jan Rostowski, Minister of finance.

    [07] Commissioner Joe Borg in Malta for North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers' Conference

    European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg will host the 13th North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference (NAFMC) which takes place in Malta from 21 to 24 May. This year's discussions will focus on practical aspects of fisheries control in the North Atlantic. In particular, the Commission will argue that following the adoption of more stringent controls by both flag states and port states, it is now time for actors to turn their attention to 'market state' control, and ensure that the importers of fisheries products play their full role in the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing. In addition to the main debates, Commissioner Borg will also have bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Russia, and Canada. The programme will include an opportunity for Ministers to visit a leading tuna reproduction research project based on the island. The NAFMC is an annual meeting bringing together fisheries ministers involved in North Atlantic fisheries, which are managed principally through two Regional Fisheries Management Organisations: the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO). In recent years, NAFMC has focused its discussions on the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing, and sought to encourage effective and innovative approaches to control and enforcement by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

    [08] More EU assistance on its way to China

    After the earthquake of 12 May, China is still in great need of temporary shelters and has renewed its request for assistance. The European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) is working with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom to provide 7500 large tents and other assistance such as an advanced medical post and blankets. The first EU assistance was delivered to China on 18 May and more will arrive this week. The Community Civil Protection Mechanism has an expert team of three members in Chengdu coordinating the delivery of assistance. Member States are also cooperating to transport assistance to China and maximising the efficiency with which European assistance is being delivered: the Belgian assistance that departed on 20 May for instance also carried German tents and 2000 blankets from Luxembourg. A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Chinese province of Sichuan on 12 May, leaving an estimated 71,000 dead. According to the UN, this is the first time that China has requested international assistance in the wake of a major disaster since 1998. A total of 5.7 million people have been evacuated from the affected areas. The European Commission also provided €2 million in fast-track humanitarian aid on 16 May.

    European Civil Protection - <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/index.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/index.htm

    Rediffusion

    [09] Food and farming: Health Check will modernise the CAP and free farmers to respond to growing demand

    The European Commission today proposed to further modernise, simplify and streamline the Common Agricultural Policy and remove remaining restrictions on farmers to help them respond to growing demand for food. The so-called CAP Health Check will further break the link between direct payments and production and thus allow farmers to follow market signals to the greatest possible extent. Among a range of measures, the proposals call for the abolition of arable set-aside and a gradual increase in milk quotas before they are abolished in 2015, and a reduction in market intervention. These changes will free farmers from unnecessary restrictions and let them maximise their production potential. The Commission also proposes an increase in modulation, whereby direct payments to farmers are reduced and the money is transferred to the Rural Development Fund. This will allow a better response to the new challenges and opportunities faced by European agriculture, including climate change, the need for better water management, and the protection of biodiversity.

    [10] Commission outlines European response to mitigate effects of rising global food prices

    The European Commission today adopted a Communication setting out potential policy responses to mitigate the effects of rising global food prices. The document will be discussed at the European Council on 19-20 June. The Communication analyses structural and cyclical factors and proposes a three- pronged policy response, including short-term measures in the context of the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy (see IP/08/762) and in the monitoring of the retail sector; initiatives to enhance agricultural supply and ensure food security including the promotion of sustainable future generations of biofuels; and initiatives to contribute to the global effort to tackle the effects of price rises on poor populations.

    [11] Aides d'État: la Commission actualise les règles sur les garanties et prévoit des simplifications en faveur des PME

    La Commission européenne a adopté une nouvelle communication sur les aides d'État sous forme de garanties. Le texte établit des méthodes claires et transparentes de calcul de l'élément d'aide d'une garantie et prévoit des règles simplifiées pour les PME, notamment des primes exemptées prédéfinies et des taux de prime uniques pour les garanties de faible montant. La nouvelle communication était prévue dans le plan d'action dans le domaine des aides d'État (voir IP/05/680 et MEMO/05/195) dans le cadre des efforts déployés par la Commission pour clarifier et simplifier les règles relatives aux aides d'État.

    [12] Aide d'Etat: La Commission ouvre une enquête approfondie sur le financement des retraites des fonctionnaires de France Télécom

    La Commission européenne a décidé d'ouvrir en vertu des règles du traité CE sur les aides d'Etat une enquête approfondie sur la réforme du financement des retraites des fonctionnaires de France Télécom mise en place en 1997, lors de la libéralisation du secteur des télécommunications. La Commission va notamment examiner si l'allègement des charges de France Télécom résultant de cette réforme constitue une aide d'Etat compatible selon les règles communautaires. L'ouverture d'une enquête approfondie donne aux tiers intéressés la possibilité de présenter leurs observations sur la mesure en question. Elle ne préjuge en rien de l'issue de l'investigation.

    [13] Aides d'Etat: la Commission approuve €500 millions d'aide pour la période 2007-2013 pour le soutien au fret dans les départements d'outremer (DOM) français

    La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu des règles du traité CE en matière d'aides d'Etat, une aide au soutien au fret dans les départements d'outremer français (DOM) pour la période 2007-2013. Le régime d'aide pour le soutien au fret vise compenser les handicaps spécifiques des régions ultrapériphériques, reconnus par le traité CE (article 299(2)), dont font partie les DOM. Cette décision s'inscrit dans le cadre global du réexamen des aides régionales en place dans tous les Etats membres conformément aux nouvelles lignes directrices pour les aides d'Etat finalité régionale, adoptées en décembre 2005 (voir IP/05/1653 et MEMO/05/491). Ces nouvelles lignes directrices visent réorienter les aides régionales vers les régions les plus défavorisées de l'Union élargie, tout en tenant compte de la nécessité d'améliorer la compétitivité et d'assurer une transition sans heurts.

    (pour plus d'information: IP/08/766 - J. Todd - Tel: 299 4107 - Fax: 296 3038)

    [14] State aid: Commission approves support for Finnish press

    The European Commission has authorised, under the EC Treaty’s rules on state aid, a €500,000/year scheme to support newspapers written in Swedish and in minority languages in Finland. The Commission considers that the scheme will contribute to media pluralism and to the protection of minority languages in Finland, while having a limited negative impact on competition and trade between Member States.

    [15] Commission examines the financing of the two Spanish agro-food companies "El Pozo Alimentacion" and "J. Garcia Carrion La Mancha."

    The European Commission has launched two formal investigations under the EC Treaty state aid rules into the investment aids in favour of the two agro- food companies "El Pozo Alimentacion" and "J. Garcia Carrion La Mancha." The Commission expresses its doubts as to the compatibility of the aids for not containing an incentive element required under the applicable legislation.

    [16] Commission approves State aid scheme for inland waterway transport in the Czech Republic

    The European Commission authorised today a Czech State aid scheme to operators of inland waterway freight transport vessels. The aid has a total budget of CZK 443.5 million (EUR 17.33 million) and will be co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund.

    [17] Hessische Staatsweingüter asked to pay back € 541 859 plus interest of illegal State aid received in the period before 2002.

    The European Commission has today decided that aid amounting to € 541 859 granted by the Land Hessen to Hessische Staatsweingüter in the period before 2002 did not comply with State aid rules and has to be recovered with interest. The Commission furthermore found that the aid granted within the framework of the restructuring of Hessische Staatsweingüter (i.e. from 31 December 2002) was in line with State aid rules.

    [18] “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean”. Commission adopts proposals to enhance the partnership between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours

    The European Commission adopted today, May 20 its proposals for upgrading relations with its Mediterranean partners through the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. Following the decision of the Spring European Council the Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner presented the outline of the structures of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean which aim at giving renewed vitality and visibility to the EU’s relations with Partners in the Mediterranean region. These structures include the setting up of a Secretariat and the creation of a permanent committee of Euro- Mediterranean representatives. The policy paper also outlines ideas for the kind of projects that would constitute visible and tangible efforts at improving the lives and livelihoods of the region’s citizens. This latest initiative underlines the EU’s continued commitment to the Mediterranean region, an area of vital strategic importance in both political and economic terms. The proposals contained in the Communication will be presented at the inaugural Summit of Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean in Paris on 13 July, 2008.

    [19] Autre matériel diffusé

    • Memo on State aid: Notice on state aid in the form of Guarantees - Frequently Asked Questions

    • Memo on State aid: latest Scoreboard shows Member States giving more aid for environmental protection – frequently asked questions (see also IP/08/771)

    • Memo on Council of Audiovisual Ministers, Brussels, 21 May 2008

    • Memo on Education, Youth and Culture Council (EYC), Brussels, 21-22 May 2008

    • Speech by Commissioner Fischer Boel ' The CAP Health Check: straight ahead for responsive and sustainable farming', Strasbourg

    • Speech by President Barroso on 'European Maritime Day', Strasbourg

    A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315):

    Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration :

    Porsche/Volkswagen

    REWE/PLUS DISCOUNT

    Warburg Pincus/JPMP SK

    Renova Industries/OC Oerlikon From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/


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