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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 02-03-29
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] EU adopts temporary measures to guard against floods of steel imports
resulting from US protectionism
[02] Romano Prodi praises the breakthrough : "Galileo will be se success"
[03] Galileo : enfin c'est 'OUI'
[04] Economie de la zone euro - des signes d'un redémarrage progressif
[05] Commission suspects KPN of abusing its dominant position for the
termination of calls on its mobile network
[06] Commission clears acquisition of DB Insurance Business by Zurich
[07] Commission clears acquisition of MADG by MMC
[08] Green light for €23.4 million Leader+ rural development programme in
Hesse (Germany)
[09] Marchés des valeurs mobilières : la Commission invite le CERVM à
entamer ses travaux sur les mesures d'exécution relatives aux abus de
marché et aux prospectus
[10] Chris Patten to pay official visits to China and Singapore
[11] EU to observe first Presidential Election in East Timor
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express 27/03/2002
TXT: FR ENPDF:DOC:Midday Express 27/03/2002
[01] EU adopts temporary measures to guard against floods of steel imports
resulting from US protectionism
Today, the European Commission adopted safeguard measures on steel.
Following the US action to severely restrict steel imports on 20 March, the
EU measures are designed to prevent floods of steel imports being diverted
into the EU. The measures have been drawn up with scrupulous attention to
WTO rules. The safeguard establishes a generous level of imports - within
which the measures will not apply - based on the highest recent level of
imports (2001). Beyond these levels, tariffs will apply varying from 14.9%
to a maximum 26%. These temporary measures, due to enter into force in the
coming days, will last for a maximum of six months. During this time, a
thorough investigation of the effects of the US measures will be carried
out. Developing countries will be effectively excluded from the measures,
in line with WTO rules. Announcing the decision, Trade Commissioner Pascal
Lamy said : "Unfounded, unnecessary and unfair US action has forced us to
take temporary steps to look after EU industry, and EU workers. But we have
done this without indulging in protectionism. Unlike the US, we will keep
our market open to imports from the rest of the world. These limited and
carefully crafted measures have one simple goal : to prevent a flood of
diverted steel coming into the EU market."
[02] Romano Prodi praises the breakthrough : "Galileo will be se success"
The President of the European Commission Romano Prodi praised the unanimous
decision of the Council of Ministers to launch the development of Galileo,
Europe's satellite navigation and positioning system. "I am convinced that
Galileo will be a success. It is an initiative of the Commission and
something I've been personally promoting for a long time. Galileo is a
truly European innovation that will create 150,000 jobs and generate some
€10 billion worth of income a year. It will bring much-needed and healthy
competition to the world of radionavigation which has been monopolised and
controlled by American and Russian military authorities", he said. "With
Galileo people can finally have a system that is technologically at least
as advanced as other systems and dependent only upon the needs of the
people that use it."
[03] Galileo : enfin c'est 'OUI'
Conformément aux conclusions du Conseil européen de Barcelone, le Conseil
des Ministres des Transports a débloqué hier les 450 millions d'€
nécessaires au développement de Galileo, système européen de positionnement
et de navigation par satellite, et adopté le règlement instituant
l'entreprise commune chargée d'en assurer la gestion. Cette décision fait
suite aux conclusions unanimes du Conseil européen de Barcelone des 13 et
14 mars dernier. Le projet Galileo, développé en collaboration avec
l'Agence Spatiale européenne, permettra à l'utilisateur de déterminer très
précisément à tout instant sa position dans le temps et dans l'espace : ses
applications dans la vie quotidienne sont multiples, depuis la
radionavigation dans les voitures individuelles jusqu'à la sécurité dans
les transports, en passant par les effets induits sur diverses activités
commerciales (secteur bancaire, géologie, travaux publics, énergie….).
[04] Economie de la zone euro - des signes d'un redémarrage progressif
Selon le premier rapport trimestriel sur l'économie de la zone euro, publié
aujourd'hui par la direction générale des affaires économiques et
financières de la Commission européenne, il est probable que l'activité
économique enregistrera une reprise progressive au premier semestre de
cette année et que la croissance économique, soutenue par une amélioration
générale de l'environnement extérieur, s'accélérera à un rythme proche du
taux de croissance potentielle, voire supérieur à celui-ci, au cours du
second semestre de cette année. Malgré les risques qui continuent
d'entourer l'économie mondiale, de plus en plus de signes attestent d'une
amélioration économique progressive dans le secteur manufacturier. Les
principaux indicateurs avancés, en particulier, se sont réorientés à la
hausse presque simultanément. Toutefois, contrairement à l'expérience
récente des Etats-Unis, il est peu probable qu'à ce stade encore précoce,
la demande des ménages soit le moteur de la croissance économique dans la
zone euro. Avec cette nouvelle publication, la Commission entend contribuer
à une meilleure compréhension de l'évolution économique dans la zone euro
ainsi qu'à améliorer la qualité du débat public autour de la politique
économique de cette zone.
[05] Commission suspects KPN of abusing its dominant position for the
termination of calls on its mobile network
The European Commission has sent to Dutch incumbent telecommunications
operator Koninklijke KPN NV a statement of objections alleging that KPN,
through its subsidiaries KPN Mobile (mobile traffic) and KPN Telecom (fixed
traffic), has violated the competition rules of the EC Treaty. Specifically,
the Commission suspects KPN of abusing its dominant position regarding the
termination of telephone calls on the KPN mobile network through
discriminatory or otherwise unfair behaviour. The case stems from a
complaint by MCI WorldCom, a USbased fixed telecommunications network
operator who is a new entrant in the European Union market. Studies show
that fixed to mobile termination rates in Europe can be ten times higher
than the average charge for fixed to fixed interconnection. This results in
undue barriers for newcomers to the market and high prices for consumers.
Originally, WorldCom's complaint also concerned mobile operators in other
EU countries, namely Sweden and Germany, but the complaint against Germany
was withdrawn after the German operators reduced their termination rates by
50% and in Sweden the national competition authority is dealing with the
issue.
[06] Commission clears acquisition of DB Insurance Business by Zurich
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the acquisition of the whole of the insurance business of German
Deutsche Bank ("DB Insurance Business") by the Swiss insurance group Zurich
Financial Services Group ("Zurich"). (The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure)
[07] Commission clears acquisition of MADG by MMC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the Merger Regulation
to the acquisition of the whole of German undertaking MMC Auto Deutschland
GmbH ("MADG"), active in the wholesaling of motor vehicle, by the Japanese
company active in motor vehicle manufacture, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
("MMC"). (The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure)
[08] Green light for €23.4 million Leader+ rural development programme in
Hesse (Germany)
The European Commission approved the programme for the EU Initiative
Leader+ in Hesse (Germany). Welcoming the decision, Franz Fischler,
European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries,
said : "This program aims to pilot new ideas to help build a more
sustainable society, economy and environment for rural Germany. We want to
improve the quality of life for all those who live in rural areas. Leader+
will help to add value to local products and to make the best use of
natural and cultural resources." During the period 2001-2006, total
expenditure under the programme is €23.4 million. This includes an EU
contribution of €8.2 million and a contribution of €7 million from the
private sector.
[09] Marchés des valeurs mobilières : la Commission invite le CERVM à
entamer ses travaux sur les mesures d'exécution relatives aux abus de
marché et aux prospectus
La Commission européenne a invité le Comité européen des régulateurs des
marchés des valeurs mobilières (CERVM) à entamer dès maintenant ses travaux
sur un avis technique relatif aux abus de marché et aux prospectus. La
Commission s'inspirera de cet avis pour élaborer les mesures d'exécution
éventuelles des directives proposées dans les deux domaines concernés.
C'est la première fois que la Commission demande un avis technique au CERVM,
conformément à la nouvelle approche en matière de mise en œuvre de la
législation sur les services financiers convenue avec le Parlement européen
le 5 février (voir IP 02/195) sur la base du rapport Lamfalussy sur la
régulation des marchés européens des valeurs mobilières. Il faut que le
CERVM entame ses travaux sur les abus de marché et les prospectus dès
maintenant pour que l'UE puisse respecter l'échéance de 2003 pour
l'intégration complète des marchés européens des valeurs mobilières fixée
par les dirigeants européens au Conseil européen de Stockholm en mars 2001
et avalisée par le Conseil européen de Barcelone, qui a exigé des progrès
rapides. Les travaux qui pourront être réalisés par le CERVM à ce stade
précoce ne préjugeront en rien des négociations sur les textes définitifs
des deux directives. Ces négociations se poursuivent au Parlement européen
et au Conseil (voir IP/02/417 et IP/01/759).
[10] Chris Patten to pay official visits to China and Singapore
The European External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten will pay official
visits to China and Singapore between 28th March and 5th April 2002. He
will meet senior leaders from both countries, sign two financing agreements
for important new co-operation projects with China, and confirm the
arrangements for opening the Commission's new Delegation in Singapore. The
Commissioner will give a keynote speech at the Central Party School in
Beijing, and address leading members of the business communities in
Singapore and Shanghai.
[11] EU to observe first Presidential Election in East Timor
The European Commission is funding an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM)
to the first Presidential election in East Timor on 14 April 2002. John
Bowis MEP will be the EU's Chief Observer. The Commission has also decided
to continue last year's programme of civic education in order to promote
the participation of the East Timorese population in political life.
[12] Autre matériel diffusé
Calendrier du 2 au 5 avril
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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