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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 96-12-04
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Paroleb
04/12/1996
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[I] R�sultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] La Commission propose un programme de service volontaire pour les
jeunes
[02] La Commission demande que soit �labor�e une strat�gie europ�enne dans
le domaine de l'espace
[03] Strategic environmental assessment: Commission proposes to strengthen
the system
[04] Commission report to European Council confirm the mutually beneficial
effects of greater co-ordination of economic and structural policies
[05] Commission fines Systemform GmbH ECU 100,000
[06] La Commission donne son feu vert � l'aide en faveur d'Ecopipe dans
l'�le de la R�union
[07] Commission approves new Swedish fiscal measures concerning CO�
[08] Commission approves the Danish fiscal package on waster water tax
[09] La Commission approuve le r�gime d'aides au transport en faveur des
r�gions nordiques de Finlande
[10] Commission declares aid awarded to Bestwood (Germany) for a total DM
30 million illegal
[11] La Commission interdit l'application des dispositions du Maribel
bis/ter (Belgique) pr�voyant des r�ductions major�es des cotisations
sociales patronales
[12] La Commission s'oppose � la cr�ation d'une entreprise commune entre
Saint-Gobain, Wacker-Chemie et NOM
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[13] Member States reject proposed ban on beef and sheep tissues
[14] Following an undertaking by AC Nielsen to change its contractual
practices, the Commission suspends its action for breach of the competition
rules
[15] Republics of former Yugoslavia: Commission earmarks ECU 85 million for
refugees, displaced people and vulnerable groups
[16] EC-Pakistan new cooperation agreement negotiations
[17] Taxation: Mario Monti outlines priorities to Bundestag Committee of
Finance
[I] R�sultats de la Commission de ce jour - Outcome of today's Commission
meeting
[01] La Commission propose un programme de service volontaire pour les
jeunes
La Commission europ�enne a propos� de lancer un programme de service
volontaire permettant � des jeunes Europ�ens d'exercer dans un autre pays
une action de solidarit� concr�te: lutte contre l'exclusion sociale, aide
humanitaire, protection de l'environnement, animation culturelle, ...
Forte de l'exp�rience acquise au cours de l'ann�e 1996 avec son projet
pilote qui aura permis � quelque 2.500 jeunes de mener de telles activit�s,
la Commission veut � pr�sent passer � la vitesse sup�rieure: le programme
"service volontaire europ�en pour les jeunes", couvrant la p�riode 1998-
2002. Il serait dot� dans un premier temps (1998-1999) de 60 millions
d'Ecus, en attendant les nouvelles perspectives financi�res de l'Union
europ�enne qui d�termineront les moyens budg�taires disponibles par la
suite.
[02] La Commission demande que soit �labor�e une strat�gie europ�enne dans
le domaine de l'espace
Sous peine d'�tre irr�m�diablement distanc�e sur les march�s tr�s
prometteurs issus des nouvelles applications spatiales - t�l�communications
par satellite, navigation par satellite, observation de la terre -,
l'Europe doit se mobiliser d'urgence et �laborer une strat�gie digne de ce
nom. A cet effet, la Commission europ�enne a approuv� une communication
qui appelle � une v�ritable coordination entre les diff�rents acteurs
concern�s - Union europ�enne, Etats membres, Agence spatiale europ�enne,
agences nationales, organisations op�rationnelles (Eumetsat p.ex.) et
utilisateurs.
[03] Strategic environmental assessment: Commission proposes to strengthen
the system
The European Commission adopted a proposal aiming at strengthening the
existing environmental assessment system for projects by extending it to
the land use planning system in areas such as energy, waste, mineral
extraction and transport. By taking environmental consequences into
account at an earlier stage of the planning process, the Commission's new
draft directive will increase environmental protection and reduce economic
impact for operators. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
proposed by the Commission requires minimum measures to be integrated in
Member States planning decision making process but allows flexibility in
implementation.
[04] Commission report to European Council confirm the mutually beneficial
effects of greater co-ordination of economic and structural policies
In a report to the European Council which will meet in Dublin on 13 and 14
December 1996, the European Commission confirms its findings that the EU is
an increasingly integrated economic entity whose growth and employment are
primarily determined by the domestic output. The Commission concludes
moreover that sustained growth and employment will require increased
investment in productive capacity, that a major effort is needed to exploit
the EU's massive under-used labour reserve and that competitiveness can
only be increased on a lasting basis by raising the productivity of
companies and the people who work in them. This report responds to a
request made at the Cannes European Council to study "the mutually
beneficial effects of greater co-ordination of economic and structural
policies".
[05] Commission fines Systemform GmbH ECU 100,000
The European Commission has imposed a fine of ECU 100,000 on Systemform
GmbH - a German manufacturer of machinery for handling large computer
printouts. The Commission found that Systemform operated a distribution
system that divided up the European market for its products on national
lines and which gave Systemform influence over its distributors resale
prices. Both of these are clear breaches of the competition rules of the
EC, in particular Article 85 of the EC Treaty.
[06] La Commission donne son feu vert � l'aide en faveur d'Ecopipe dans
l'�le de la R�union
La Commission europ�enne a d�cid� de clore la proc�dure ouverte en avril
1996 � l'�gard des aides en faveur du fabricant de tubes d'acier Ecopipe,
dans l'�le de la R�union. L'investissement objet de l'aide, d'un montant
total de 47,8 millions de FF, correspond � une cr�ation d'entreprise
r�pondant � la d�finition communautaire de PME. La Commission consid�re
que l'impact �ventuel de l'aide sur la concurrence et sur les �changes
entre les �tats membres est assez limit� et qu'elle n'alt�re pas les
conditions des �changes dans une mesure contraire � l'int�r�t commun mais
peut, au contraire, �tre justifi�e � la lumi�re de celui-ci,
particuli�rement en ce qui concerne le d�veloppement r�gional de l'�le,
r�gion ultra-p�riph�rique.
[07] Commission approves new Swedish fiscal measures concerning CO�
The European Commission has approved new fiscal measures concerning C02
introduced as an amendment of the Swedish Energy Tax Act. The amendment
aims at increasing the carbon dioxide tax on fuel from 25% to 50% combined
with a proposal for a lower carbon dioxide tax rate on fuel for energy-
intensive activity within industrial activity (mineral extraction and
manufacturing) and greenhouse heating in connection with commercial
greenhouse cultivation. The high energy consuming firms are to benefit
from a tax relief which can be considered as state aid. The Commission has
concluded that the fiscal relief provided for in the Energy Tax Act will
facilitate the development of certain economic activities without adversely
affecting trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest.
[08] Commission approves the Danish fiscal package on waster water tax
The European Commission has approved the fiscal relief provided for in
Danish law No 490 of 1996 on waste-water taxation which will be introduced
from the beginning of 1997 until 31 December 1999. The law aims at
reducing discharges of polluting substances through taxation of volumes of
water containing nitrogen, phosphorus and organic materials, so providing
an incentive to prevent pollution and optimize cleaning. The Commission
has deemed these rebates State aid but considers that the fiscal relief
provided by the law facilitate the development of certain economic
activities without adversely affecting trading conditions to an extent
contrary to the common interest.
[09] La Commission approuve le r�gime d'aides au transport en faveur des
r�gions nordiques de Finlande
La Commission europ�enne a d�cid� d'approuver le r�gime d�aides au
transport en faveur des r�gions nordiques de la Finlande. Le r�gime en
question pr�voit le remboursement par l�Etat d�une partie des co�ts
normalement � charge des entreprises pour les transports effectu�s �
l'int�rieur du pays, selon un bar�me croissant en fonction de la distance
de transport. Sont �ligibles au r�gime les PME au sens de la d�finion
communautaire, localis�es dans les parties septentrionale et orientale de
la Finlande (r�gions de Lappi, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, Kainuu, Pohjois-Karjala,
Etel�-Savo).
[10] Commission declares aid awarded to Bestwood (Germany) for a total DM
30 million illegal
The European Commission has decided to declare illegal the DM 30 million
aid which had been awarded to E.F. Bestwood Kynder GmbH by the authorities
of the new German Bundesland Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in order to keep it in
business. Although Bestwood filed for Bankruptcy in the course of the
proceeding, the Commission concluded that the aid awarded did not comply
with the Community rules on State aid and would therefore have to be
recovered from the sale of the bankrupt company�s estate.
[11] La Commission interdit l'application des dispositions du Maribel
bis/ter (Belgique) pr�voyant des r�ductions major�es des cotisations
sociales patronales
La Commission europ�enne a d�cid� d'interdire l'application des
modifications au plan Maribel introduites par les plans Maribel bis
(introduit en 1993) et Maribel ter (introduit en 1994) consid�rant que
celles-ci contiennent des aides incompatibles avec le march� commun. Ces
dispositions pr�voient des r�ductions major�es de leurs cotisations
patronales de s�curit� sociale pour certaines entreprises faisant partie
des secteurs les plus expos�s � la concurrence internationale. La
Commission a donc invit� les autorit�s belges � r�cup�rer les aides qui ont
d�j� �t� ind�ment accord�es et qui, pour 1995, s'�l�vent � 11,4 milliards
de francs belges.
[12] La Commission s'oppose � la cr�ation d'une entreprise commune entre
Saint-Gobain, Wacker-Chemie et NOM
La Commission europ�enne a d�cid� de s'opposer � la cr�ation d'une
entreprise commune dans le secteur du carbure de silicium entre la Soci�t�
Europ�enne des Produits R�fractaires (SEPR) du groupe Saint-Gobain (France),
la soci�t� Elektroschmelzwerk Kempten (ESK) du groupe Wacker-Chemie
(Allemagne) et la soci�t� NOM (d�tenue par l'Etat hollandais). Cette
op�ration devait regrouper les deux plus importants producteurs de carbure
de silicium dans l'Espace �conomique europ�en et leur aurait permis
d'atteindre des parts de march� sup�rieures � 60 % sur les deux march�s de
l'Espace �conomique europ�en du carbure de silicium destin� aux
applications abrasives et r�fractaires. La Commission a consid�r� qu'une
telle op�ration cr�e une position dominante inacceptable au titre du
r�glement europ�en sur les concentrations et les acquisitions d'entreprises
et qu'elle �tait donc incompatible avec le march� commun.
[II] Other news - Autres nouvelles
[13] Member States reject proposed ban on beef and sheep tissues
The Standing Veterinary Committee yesterday rejected the draft Commission
proposal to exclude totally from the human and animal food chains those
tissues which are most likely to be infective in the case of animals
carrying the scrapie or BSE diseases. The proposal was to exclude the
skull, including the brain and eyes and the spinal cord of cattle, sheep
and goats over 12 months of age and the spleen of sheep and goats
irrespective of age. Reacting to the result of the vote in the Standing
Veterinary Committee, Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler said that he
will request that the issue is put on the Council of Ministers agenda in
December. "It is unacceptable, given the public concern about BSE, that
some Member States refuse to apply all necessary precautions to protect
human health and to restore consumer confidence in beef and sheep meat.
While accepting that the risk is minimal, there is nevertheless a
responsibility on the decision making bodies to take all action necessary
to minimise this risk. Furthermore, the Commission's proposals are soundly
based on the opinions of the Scientific Veterinary Committee and the World
Health Organisation (WHO)."
[14] Following an undertaking by AC Nielsen to change its contractual
practices, the Commission suspends its action for breach of the competition
rules
The European Commission has obtained an undertaking from AC Nielsen Company
("Nielsen") to modify its contractual practices. This undertaking, signed
on 28 November 1996, satisfies the Commission that Nielsen will not in
future be in breach of Article 86 of the Treaty, which prohibits abuses of
a dominant position. As a consequence, the procedure for breach of
competition rules which was opened against Nielsen last May 1996 is
suspended.
[15] Republics of former Yugoslavia: Commission earmarks ECU 85 million for
refugees, displaced people and vulnerable groups
The European Commission has earmarked ECU 85 million for humanitarian aid
in the Republics of former Yugoslavia. The aid will be managed by the
European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). It will be implemented by
European NGOs, specialised agencies of the United Nations, and through
direct actions of the Commission. This programme is designed to provide
relief to those in need through the winter, as well as to assist
repatriation of refugees and displaced people by kick-starting restoration
of public utilities in targeted priority areas.
[16] EC-Pakistan new cooperation agreement negotiations
On 2-3 December, the European Commission and representatives of the
Government of Pakistan met in Brussels for the first round of negotiations
for a new, third generation agreement between the European Community and
Pakistan. The negotiations had been conducted in a positive and friendly
atmosphere and, although it had not been possible to reach a conclusion,
there was general satisfaction with the progress made with broad agreement
reached on most of the content, with only technical matters remaining to be
worked out.
[17] Taxation: Mario Monti outlines priorities to Bundestag Committee of
Finance
(!!! embargo 3 pm !!!) The European Commission�s central priorities and
forthcoming initiatives in the area of taxation are outlined today to the
Bundestag�s Committee of Finance in Bonn by Taxation Commissioner Mario
Monti. He stresses that the Commission seeks to coordinate taxation at the
EU level only where necessary to avoid discrimination and distortion,
particularly within the Single Market. Mr Monti notes that almost all
Member States endorsed the need to reverse the trend towards higher
taxation of labour as capital becomes more mobile, because of its negative
effects on employment. He also describes the Commission work programme to
introduce a new common VAT system, and announces forthcoming proposals on
taxation of energy products and on avoiding double taxation of interest and
royalty payments between associated companies in different EU countries.
Other forthcoming initiatives include a review of minimum rates of excise
duty, including any associated proposals, and a code of conduct on avoiding
tax competition. (!!! embargo 3 pm !!!)
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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