|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-12-23
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] State aid: Commission approves Latvian support scheme for banks
[02] State aid: Commission approves state support for IKB
[03] State aid: Commission approves German banking rescue aid for NordLB
[04] State aid: Commission approves modifications to UK financial support
measures to the banking industry
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Bellco by MPS Group and Argos Soditic
[06] Commission clears joint venture between Hargreaves and Evonik
[07] Contrôles vétérinaires à l'importation: l'Union européenne et la
Suisse reconnaissent l'équivalence de leurs législations.
[08] Mergers: Commission gives go-ahead for planned joint venture between
Aéroports de Paris and the Nuance Group
Midday Express of 2008-12-23
Reference: MEX/08/1223
Date: 23/12/2008
EXME08 / 23.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
23/12/08
[01] State aid: Commission approves Latvian support scheme for banks
The European Commission has approved under EC Treaty state aid rules a
Latvian support scheme to stabilise financial markets by providing
guarantees to eligible banks to ensure their access to financing. The
Commission found the measure to be in line with its Guidance Communication
on state aid to overcome the financial crisis (see IP/08/1495). In
particular, the scheme ensures non-discriminatory access, is limited in
time and scope, requires market oriented remuneration and contains
sufficient safeguards to avoid abuses. The Commission therefore concluded
that the scheme was an adequate means to remedy a serious disturbance of
the Latvian economy and as such in line with Article 87.3.b of the EC
Treaty.
[02] State aid: Commission approves state support for IKB
The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a
guarantee, that Germany is granting to IKB to cover the bank's medium-term
refinancing needs in the financial crisis. The support aims to ensure that
IKB's restructuring is not impeded by insufficient liquidity. The
Commission found the measure appropriate to stabilise the bank, in line
with its Guidance Communication on state aid in the financial crisis (see
IP/08/1495) as well as its rescue and restructuring guidelines (see
MEMO/04/172). The guarantee is necessary to avoid a serious disturbance in
the German economy and to ensure the continuity of IKB's business
activities. As it is limited in time and scope to the minimum necessary to
restore the financing, requires an adequate fee level and ensures the
economic viability of IKB, it is compatible with Article 87.3.b of the EC
Treaty.
[03] State aid: Commission approves German banking rescue aid for NordLB
The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a
guarantee package, that Germany intends to grant to NordLB to cover the
bank's medium-term refinancing needs in the financial crisis. The
Commission found the measure appropriate to stabilise the bank, in line
with its Guidance Communication on state aid in the financial crisis (see
IP/08/1495). The guarantee is necessary to avoid a serious disturbance in
the German economy. The measure is limited in time and scope, ensures a
market- oriented remuneration and foresees sufficient behavioural
safeguards to avoid abuses. The guarantee is therefore compatible with
Article 87.3.b of the EC Treaty.
[04] State aid: Commission approves modifications to UK financial support
measures to the banking industry
The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules,
modifications to the UK support measures to the banking industry, initially
approved by the Commission on 13 October 2008 (see IP/08/1496). The
amendments mainly concern the fee payable on guaranteed liabilities and the
widening of the range of currencies in which the guaranteed instruments can
be issued. The modifications will bring the UK scheme in line with those in
other Member States and support the provision of credit to the UK economy.
The Commission therefore concluded that the UK support measures, as amended,
are compatible with the common market.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of Bellco by MPS Group and Argos Soditic
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Bellco S.r.l. of Italy by
MPS Venture S.p.A. (MPS) of Italy and Argos Soditic France SAS. MPS is an
investment company. Argos Soditic is a private equity firm. Bellco produces
renal care products. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[06] Commission clears joint venture between Hargreaves and Evonik
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the proposed joint venture between Evonik Power Minerals GmbH
(EPM GmbH) of Germany and Hargreaves Services plc (HS) of the UK. EPM GmbH
provides services to coal fired power plants in particular waste management
and the marketing of coal combustion products. HS is active in mineral
imports, waste management and transportation and mining in the UK. The
joint venture, Evonik Hargreaves, will be active in the supply of fly and
bottom ash, which are by-products from coal-fired power production, to
customers in the UK. The operation was examined under the simplified merger
review procedure.
[07] Contrôles vétérinaires à l'importation: l'Union européenne et la
Suisse reconnaissent l'équivalence de leurs législations.
Aujourd'hui la Commission européenne et la Suisse ont reconnu
l'équivalence de leurs législations dans le domaine des productions et
des importations des animaux vivants et des produits d'origine animale.
Cette reconnaissance a été entérinée à Paris, sous Présidence
française, par le Comité mixte vétérinaire de gestion de l'Accord
relatif aux échanges de produits agricoles.
Elle entraîne l'abandon réciproque des contrôles vétérinaires aux
frontières entre les Etats membres et la Suisse et facilite ainsi les
mouvements des animaux vivants et des produits d'origine animale. A partir
du 1er janvier 2009, ces mouvements s'effectueront donc aux conditions
définies pour les échanges intracommunautaires.
Les postes d'inspection vétérinaire frontaliers situés entre la Suisse
et l'Union européenne disparaissent. Les postes d'inspection vétérinaire
des aéroports suisses de Zurich et de Genève sont quant à eux reconnus
par l'Union européenne pour la réalisation des contrôles à l'importation
en provenance des pays tiers. Les contrôles des marchandises en transit
sont eux aussi simplifiés.
L'abandon réciproque des contrôles vétérinaires aux frontières
concrétise les efforts conjoints menés depuis plusieurs années par la
Suisse et l'Union européenne pour le rapprochement de leurs législations
dans le domaine vétérinaire et contribue à l'amélioration des conditions
de libre échange et d'accès aux marchés par la réduction des charges
administratives supportées par les opérateurs économiques.
La décision du Comité mixte est disponible sur le site: <a
href="http://ec.europa.eu/food/international/trade/agreements_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/food/international/trade/agreements_en.htm
Rediffusion
[08] Mergers: Commission gives go-ahead for planned joint venture between
Aéroports de Paris and the Nuance Group
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed joint venture between the French company, Aéroports de Paris
(ADP), and the Swiss company, The Nuance Group (TNG. The Commission found
that the merger would not significantly restrict effective competition in
the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
