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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 05-09-27
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] EU requests second WTO arbitration on its revised proposal for the
banana import regime
[02] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of CPI by Electra and
CVC
[03] Commission clears acquisition of CCS by Advent
[04] Commission clears acquisition of APC by Barclays
[05] La Commission juge illégale l'application du régime d'aides de la
province de Bolzano, mais elle approuve de nouveaux critères de mise en
œuvre
[06] Commission proposes to open aviation negotiations with Ukraine
[07] Juillet 2005 : excédent de €7,2 milliards du commerce extérieur
pour la zone euro ; déficit de €3,2 milliards pour l'UE25
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2005-09-27
Reference: MEX/05/0927
Date: 27/09/2005
EXME05 / 27.9
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
27/09/05
[01] EU requests second WTO arbitration on its revised proposal for the
banana import regime
The EU submitted on 26 September a request for a second arbitration on its
proposal for a new import tariff for bananas from countries benefiting from
Most Favoured Nation status. The Commission has carefully analyzed the
award from the first arbitration. It is confident that its revised proposal
for an import duty of €187/tonne for MFN suppliers and a tariff quota of
775,000 tonnes at zero duty for bananas originating in ACP countries
maintains market access for MFN suppliers and an equivalent level of
preference for ACP suppliers as the current regime. The intention remains
to have a tariff only system in place on 1 January 2006.
[02] Commission approves acquisition of joint control of CPI by Electra and
CVC
The European Commission has cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation, the
acquisition of joint control by Electra Partners Europe SA of France and
CVC Capital Partners Advisory Company (CVC) of Luxembourg over the
monochrome book manufacturing activities of the Chevrillon Philippe
Industrie group (CPI) of France. After examining the operation, the
Commission concluded that the proposed operation will not significantly
impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any
substantial part of it.
[03] Commission clears acquisition of CCS by Advent
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Česká společnost pro
platební (CCS) of the Czech Republic by Advent International Corporation
(Advent) of the US. Advent is a globally active private equity investor,
which focuses on the acquisition of equity and the management of investment
funds. CCS is a joint stock company incorporated under the laws of the
Czech Republic. CCS jointly owns a Slovak limited liability company, CCS
Slovenská spoločnost pre platobné karty s.r.o. (CCS Slovakia), with the
German company Union Tank Eckstein GmbH Co. (UTA). The CCS companies are
active in fuel payment management in the Czech Republic and Slovakia by
offering specialised card payment systems (including "Chip and PIN" based
systems) for the purchases of fuel and other products and services relating
to the operations of company cars and car pools. The operation was examined
under the simplified merger review procedure.
[04] Commission clears acquisition of APC by Barclays
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Alstom Power Conversion
(APC) of France, part of Alstom Holdings, by Barclays Private Equity France
(Barclays) of France, controlled by Barclays Bank Plc of the UK. Barclays
Bank PLC is a financial services provider. It controls investment funds,
holding a number of portfolio companies in various industries, including
some engineering companies. Alstom Power Conversion is primarily involved
in engineering projects to enable the conversion of electrical power into
productive performance. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[05] La Commission juge illégale l'application du régime d'aides de la
province de Bolzano, mais elle approuve de nouveaux critères de mise en
œuvre
La Commission européenne a décidé que les critères de mise en œuvre
des mesures d'aide accordées par la province de Bolzano (Italie) étaient
contraires aux règles du traité CE relatives aux aides d'Etat (article 88,
paragraphe 3). Les aides du régime en cause ont donc été octroyées
abusivement et doivent être récupérées. La Commission a cependant
approuvé de nouveaux critères de mise en œuvre qui mettent le régime en
conformité avec les règles relatives aux aides d'Etat, de sorte que le
régime peut subsister, mais sous une forme modifiée.
[06] Commission proposes to open aviation negotiations with Ukraine
The European Commission has proposed today to open negotiations with
Ukraine to develop a common aviation area. The aim is to further deepen
aviation relations with Ukraine following the negotiation of a so-called
"horizontal" air agreement in June. Vice-President Jacques Barrot, in
charge of transport, said : "By sharing the benefits of the single aviation
market, both Ukraine and the EU will improve their relationship and create
benefits for aviation industries and consumers".
[07] Juillet 2005 : excédent de €7,2 milliards du commerce extérieur
pour la zone euro ; déficit de €3,2 milliards pour l'UE25
D'après les premières estimations pour le mois de juillet 2005, la zone
euro a enregistré un excédent du commerce extérieur de €7,2 milliards
avec le reste du monde, contre +12,9 milliards en juillet 2004. Le solde
enregistré au mois de juin 2005 était de +7,6 milliards, contre +8,3
milliards en juin 2004. En juillet 2005, les exportations, corrigées des
variations saisonnières, ont progressé de 0,9% par rapport juin 2005,
et les importations de 4,0%. Les premières estimations du solde des
échanges extra-UE25 pour le mois de juillet 2005 indiquent un déficit de
€3,2 milliards, contre un excédent de €1,0 milliard en juillet 2004.
Au mois de juin 2005, le solde était de -1,8 milliard, contre -2,5
milliards en juin 2004. En juillet 2005, les exportations, corrigées des
variations saisonnières, ont augmenté de 0,1% par rapport juin 2005, et
les importations de 2,8%. Ces données sont publiées par Eurostat.
[08] Autre matériel diffusé
Speech by Siim Kallas : "The European Commission's buildings policy - past,
present and future" (26/09)
Speech by Benita Ferrero-Waldner : "Laudatio: Zukunft gestalten" (26/09,
Wels)
Discours de Mme Reding : "Europa, die Medien und die europäische
Medienpolitik" (26/09, Berlin)
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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