|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 06-03-14
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Soutien aux PME : la Commission présente une initiative visant Ã
faciliter la transmission d'entreprise
[02] Company law : Commission welcomes European Parliament agreement on
Directive to simplify the formation, maintenance and alteration of
companies' capital
[03] World's largest CO² capture pilot plant inaugurated in Denmark
[04] Commission clears joint venture between Mitsui and Evraz
[05] Commission clears acquisition of PBC by NEC
[06] Commission opens in-depth investigation into China International
Marine Containers' takeover of the Burg Group
[07] Commission meets Palestinian President Abbas
[08] Commission strengthens its assistance to the Benghazi HIV-AIDS
sufferers
[09] Commission adopts €17.5 million anti-landmine programme
[10] Commission provides €20 million to Asia-Invest Programme
[11] VAT / financial services and insurances : public consultation
[12] European Business Summit (EBS) : facing and mastering globalisation
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2006-03-14
Reference: MEX/06/0314
Date: 14/03/2006
EXME06 / 14.3
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
14/03/06
[01] Soutien aux PME : la Commission présente une initiative visant Ã
faciliter la transmission d'entreprise
Des milliers d'entreprises économiquement saines, essentiellement des
petites et moyennes entreprises (PME), disparaissent chaque année, faute
d'avoir pu surmonté les difficultés liées à leur transmission. Sans
compter que les entrepreneurs européens vieillissent. Un tiers des chefs
d'entreprise de l'UE - à la tête de structures familiales dans la
majorité des cas - prendront leur retraite dans les dix prochaines
années. D'après les estimations, jusqu'à 690.000 entreprises, totalisant
2,8 millions d'emplois, sont concernées tous les ans. De nombreuses
entreprises transmissibles ne trouvent pas de repreneurs. La Commission
européenne a présenté aujourd'hui une initiative afin de remédier à ce
problème. La Commission demande aux Etats membres de garantir que les
systèmes fiscaux soient favorables aux transmissions, de fournir des
conditions financières appropriées, d'accroître la sensibilisation, de
tenir compte des facteurs soft et d'encourager le tutorat. Elle les incite
également à organiser des marchés transparents pour les transmissions
d'entreprise. Cette initiative s'inscrit dans la nouvelle stratégie de la
Commission pour la promotion des PME et donc de la croissance et de
l'emploi dans l'UE (voir IP/05/1404), qui sera l'un des points d'orgue du
sommet de printemps, organisé les 23 et 24 mars 2006.
[02] Company law : Commission welcomes European Parliament agreement on
Directive to simplify the formation, maintenance and alteration of
companies' capital
The European Commission has welcomed the European Parliament's agreement at
first reading on the Commission's proposal for a Directive (see IP/04/1334)
to make it easier for public limited liability companies to take certain
measures affecting the size, structure and ownership of their capital. The
proposed Directive amends the parts of the 1976 Second Company Law
Directive covering the formation, maintenance and alteration of capital.
[03] World's largest CO² capture pilot plant inaugurated in Denmark
Tomorrow will see the inauguration of the world's largest pilot plant for
demonstrating and validating new technology for the capture of carbon
dioxide (CO²) from conventional power stations. The pilot at the Elsam
power station near Esjberg, Denmark is the result of research carried out
with the support of the EU's Research Framework Programme. Carbon capture
and storage technology offers a bridge from our current fossil fuel-based
energy system to one that has near-zero carbon emissions. This pilot plant
is an important part of research that will help develop better processes
for carbon capture, increase public acceptance of the technology and
achieve a major reduction in its costs.
[04] Commission clears joint venture between Mitsui and Evraz
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Coke Oven Overseas
Contribution Limited of Cyprus by Mitsui & Co (Mitsui) of Japan and Evraz
Group S.A. (Evraz) of Luxembourg. Mitsui is a trading company, active in
the steel and iron sector, non-ferrous metals, electronics and chemicals.
Evraz is active in the steel sector, in the mining of iron ore and coking
coal. The joint venture will exploit the Denisovskaya coal field in Yakutia,
East Siberia, and sell the coal produced to customers in Asia. The
operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[05] Commission clears acquisition of PBC by NEC
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Philips Business
Communications (PBC) of the Netherlands by NEC Corporation (NEC) of Japan.
NEC manufactures and sells telecommunication equipment, computers and
electronic devices. PBC distributes and sells telecommunication solutions.
The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
[06] Commission opens in-depth investigation into China International
Marine Containers' takeover of the Burg Group
The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU
Merger Regulation into the planned acquisition by China International
Marine Containers (CIMC) of the Dutch Burg Group. The Commission's initial
market investigation has found that the proposed acquisition would raise
serious competition concerns in the sector of tank containers. The
Commission now has 90 working days (until 28 July 2006) to take a final
decision on whether the concentration would significantly impede effective
competition within the European Economic Area or a substantial part of it.
The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result
of the investigation.
[07] Commission meets Palestinian President Abbas
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will meet Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in
Strasbourg this week. President Barroso will receive him on Wednesday the
15th of March. This meeting will be preceded by a working dinner that
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will hold with Abbas tonight. These meetings
will provide an opportunity to hear from President Abbas his thinking on
the prospects for the formation of a new Palestinian Authority following
the January elections and to discuss the current crisis in Palestinian
Authorities finances.
[08] Commission strengthens its assistance to the Benghazi HIV-AIDS
sufferers
The European Commission is providing an additional €1 million for urgent
support to Libya in its fight against the AIDS/HIV epidemic in Benghazi.
This money, that follows a first €1 million disbursement in July 2005,
will be used to continue the ongoing technical and medical assistance to
the Benghazi Centre for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (BCIDI), as well
as to help in the social integration of the patients and of their families.
The EU also is also helping the Libyan Authorities in designing a national
AIDS programme. These projects are part of the longer-term "HIV Action Plan
for Benghazi". The Action Plan was launched by the EU in November 2004 and
is being implemented by the Libyan authorities with support from the
Commission and EU Member States.
[09] Commission adopts €17.5 million anti-landmine programme
On 9 March 2006, the European Commission has adopted its 2006 Annual Work
Programme for antipersonnel landmines with a budget of €17.5 million. The
general objective of this programme is to assist countries suffering the
consequences of antipersonnel landmines and to create the conditions
necessary for their economic and social development. The focus countries in
2006 are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Cambodia, Georgia, Yemen, Sudan,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Afghanistan and Kosovo. The work
programme announced today is part of the EC Mine Action Strategy which is
supported by €60 million in the years 2005-2007.
[10] Commission provides €20 million to Asia-Invest Programme
External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has decided by means
of a written procedure to provide additional support of €20 million to
the Asia-Invest Programme for 2006-2007. The programme was launched in 1998
and aims to promote the internationalisation of European and Asian small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For the period 2006-2007 it will
continue to support the exchange of experience, networking and matchmaking
among European and Asian business organisations to promote the greater
integration of European and Asian companies and the transfer of know-how
and technology between the two regions. This is achieved by supporting
multilateral partnership projects between business organisations in the
European Union and South Asia, South East Asia, China, Mongolia and North
Korea. The programme will serve to bring European and Asian operators
together to help them benefit from trade and economic liberalisation. The
programme is an important initiative in the Commission's overall strategy
to support cooperation and strengthen partnerships directly between the
private sector in Europe and Asia. Further information is available at <a
href="http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/index_en.htm">www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-
invest/index_en.htm
[11] VAT / financial services and insurances : public consultation
The European Commission is launching an online consultation seeking views
from the public and business on reforming Community legislation on VAT
obligations for Financial Services and insurances. The consultation is
based on a document which aims to generate views on the current legal
framework, as set out in the Sixth Directive, and on options for change. It
explains why there is a need to review Community legislation in this area
and looks at ways to modernise the legal framework. This paper is of
interest to stakeholders in the financial services and insurance industries,
their professional advisors and indeed to consumers of these services
generally. As part of this consultation the European Commission in
conjunction with European Banking Federation will hold a one day conference
on the modernisation of VAT on financial and insurance services in Brussels
on Thursday 11th May. Comments are invited by June 9, 2006.
Online consultations: <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/article_2447_en.htm">Consultations
- Get involved! / <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/article_2447_fr.htm">Consultations
- Donnez votre avis! / <a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/common/consultations/tax/article_2447_de.htm">Konsultationen
- Bestimmen Sie mit!
[12] European Business Summit (EBS) : facing and mastering globalisation
At the fourth European Business Summit (EBS), on 16 and 17 March 2006, the
National Reform Programmes of all 25 EU Member States will be discussed,
for the first time together with the business community. Among the keynote
speakers are Wolfgang Schüssel, Federal Chancellor of Austria and
President of the Council, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European
Commission, Günter Verheugen, Vice-President and Commissioner for
Enterprises and Industry, Stavros C. Dimas, Commissioner for Environment,
Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for Competition, Janez Potocnik, Commissioner
for Science and Research, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information
Society and Media, Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium, Martin
Bartenstein, Federal Minister of Economics and Labour of Austria, Ali
Babacan, Minister of State for EU relations of Turkey, David A. Sampson,
Deputy Secretary of Commerce of the US Government.
[13] Autre matériel diffusé
Business transfers – 690,000 companies and 2.8 million jobs at stake
every year
Preparation of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of
Ministers
Results of Competitiveness Council
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
|
