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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 07-07-23
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Statement by Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the Turkish
elections
[02] Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the Presidential
election in Albania
[03] Efforts pour la libération des infirmières bulgares et du médecin
palestinien continuent
[04] Sécheresse au Kenya : la Commission accorde une aide humanitaire de
€5 millions
[05] Commission welcomes the release of Ethiopian opposition leaders
[06] UE-Maroc : le Conseil d'Association décide de renforcer les relations
bilatérales
[07] Commission to sign a Joint Declaration on priorities for energy
cooperation with Morocco
[08] EU-Chile Association Council and signing of the 2007-2013 cooperation
programme
[09] Commission calls on Austria to respect Community rules when imposing
driving bans to reduce emissions
[10] Commission launches infringement proceeding against Germany for its
discriminatory rules on foreign family foundations
[11] Taxation of outbound dividends : Commission takes steps against
Austria,Germany, Italy and Finland
[12] Taxation de l'électricité : la Commission traduit la Pologne devant
la Cour de justice
[13] Commission clears proposed acquisition of Thule by Nordic Capital
Midday Express of 2007-07-23
Reference: MEX/07/0723
Date: 23/07/2007
EXME07 / 23.7
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
23/07/07
[01] Statement by Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the Turkish
elections
"I congratulate the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Erdogan on his impressive
victory in the national elections. This comes at an important moment for
the people of Turkey as the country moves forward with political and
economic reforms. Prime Minister Erdogan has given his personal commitment
to the sustained movement towards the European Union. I wish him every
success with his new mandate."
[02] Statement by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the Presidential
election in Albania
"I welcome the successful conclusion of the Presidential elections in
Albania, in line with the Constitution. I congratulate Mr Topi on his
election as President. The President has a vital role in fostering
democratic stability and cooperation. I wish best of success for Mr Topi's
work."
[03] Efforts pour la libération des infirmières bulgares et du médecin
palestinien continuent
Suite à plusieurs contacts entre le Président de la Commission européenne,
José Manuel Barroso, et le Président de la République française,
Nicolas Sarkozy, la Commissaire aux Relations extérieures, Benita Ferrero-
Waldner, se trouve en Libye depuis le 22 juillet avec Mme Cecilia Sarkozy
dans le cadre des efforts pour la libération des infirmières bulgares et
du médecin palestinien. La Commission espère que cette situation, qui est
si douloureuse et qui dure depuis si longtemps, puisse être résolue dans
un esprit humanitaire.
[04] Sécheresse au Kenya : la Commission accorde une aide humanitaire de
€5 millions
La Commission européenne a accordé une aide humanitaire de €5 millions
aux populations vulnérables du nord du Kenya touchées par la sécheresse
et confrontées à la précarité des moyens d'existence et à une crise
alimentaire. Cette aide bénéficie à plus de 3,5 millions d'éleveurs
nomades et de "nomades réfugiés" pour lesquels ce mode de vie rurale
n'offre plus aucun moyen de survie. L'aide humanitaire de la Commission
s'efforce de répondre à leurs besoins alimentaires et sanitaires, en
matière d'eau et d'assainissement, de santé publique et d'hygiène. Les
nouveaux fonds s'ajoutent à l'aide alimentaire de la Commission –
représentant un montant de €4 millions pour la seule année en cours -
et à l'aide fournie par la Commission pour améliorer la prévention des
situations de sécheresse dans l'ensemble de la Corne de l'Afrique, cette
aide couvrant sept pays, dont le Kenya. Toutes les ressources transiteront
par le service d'aide humanitaire de la Commission (ECHO), qui relève de
la compétence du Commissaire Louis Michel.
[05] Commission welcomes the release of Ethiopian opposition leaders
The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis
Michel, welcomed on 20 July the decision by the Ethiopian authorities and
the announcement by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi to grant
pardon and release the leaders of the CUD opposition party and the other
political detainees recently condemned to life imprisonment.
[06] UE-Maroc : le Conseil d'Association décide de renforcer les relations
bilatérales
Aujourd'hui, la Commission européenne représentée par Eneko Landaburu,
directeur général pour les relations extérieures de la Commission, et le
Maroc représenté par Mr Taïb Fassi-Fihri, ministre délégué aux
affaires étrangères et à la coopération, participeront à la
sixième session du Conseil d'Association entre le Maroc et l'UE qui aura
lieu à Bruxelles. Le Conseil d'Association discutera de l'état des
relations entre les deux partenaires et des moyens d'entamer sans délai un
processus de réflexion visant à renforcer ces relations. A l'occasion de
ce Conseil d'Association, la Commission et le Maroc signeront une
déclaration commune visant à renforcer leur coopération dans le domaine
énergétique, notamment en vue de préparer une intégration, à terme, du
marché marocain de l'énergie dans celui de l'UE. Un protocole d'accord
sera également signé concernant le programme de soutien pour le Maroc
pour les prochaines années, qui s'élèvera à plus de €650 millions, et
qui appuiera la mise en œuvre du Plan d'Action UE-Maroc élaboré dans le
contexte de la politique de voisinage.
[07] Commission to sign a Joint Declaration on priorities for energy
cooperation with Morocco
The European Commission, represented by Eneko Landaburu, director general
for External Relations, and Morocco, represented by Taieb Fassi Fihri,
Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, will sign today, on
the margins of the EU-Morocco Association Council in Brussels, a Joint
Declaration on priorities for cooperation between the European Commission
and the Kingdom of Morocco in the energy sector. The Joint Declaration
provides a clear political framework for energy cooperation between the
Commission and the Moroccan authorities. It outlines three priority areas
for cooperation: reinforcing Morocco's energy policy in view of the
progressive integration of Morocco's energy market with the EU, developing
of sustainable energy policy and enhancing security of energy supplies
sector.
[08] EU-Chile Association Council and signing of the 2007-2013 cooperation
programme
The third EU-Chile Association Council is to be held in Brussels on 24Â
July 2007 with the participation of the European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and
the Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Alejandro Foxley. The meeting will
provide an opportunity to develop a fruitful exchange on the process of
implementation of the Chile-EU Association Agreement and the three areas it
covers: political dialogue, cooperation and free trade. At the Association
Council meeting, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and Minister Foxley are to
sign the EU-Chile cooperation programme for the period 2007-2013 for an
amount of €41 million. The programme will focus on three key sectors:
social cohesion, higher education and innovation and competitiveness.
[09] Commission calls on Austria to respect Community rules when imposing
driving bans to reduce emissions
The European Commission has issued a formal opinion on a number of traffic-
related measures put forward by the government of Tyrol in order to improve
air quality. The Commission welcomes Austria's efforts to reach the air
quality targets the EU has set to itself for 2010, and considers that
several of the proposed measures will indeed have a positive effect on the
environment. It however concludes that the "sectoral driving ban"
contemplated by the Austrian authorities on the transit of heavy goods
vehicles is not compatible with Community rules.
[10] Commission launches infringement proceeding against Germany for its
discriminatory rules on foreign family foundations
The European Commission has formally requested Germany to change its system
of taxation of non-resident family foundations ("Familienstiftungen") as it
is incompatible with the principles of free movement of capital and free
movement of persons as guaranteed by Articles 56 and 18 of the EC Treaty.
The request takes the form of a reasoned opinion (second step of the
infringement procedure provided for in article 226 of the EC Treaty). If
the relevant national legislation is not amended in order to comply with
the reasoned opinion, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the
European Court of Justice.
[11] Taxation of outbound dividends : Commission takes steps against
Austria,Germany, Italy and Finland
The European Commission has formally requested Austria and Germany to amend
their fiscal legislation concerning outbound dividend payments to
companies. Both Member States tax dividends paid to foreign companies more
heavily than dividends paid to domestic companies. The requests takes the
form of a 'reasoned opinion' (second step of the infringement procedure
provided for in article 226 of the EC Treaty). If the relevant national
legislations are not amended in order to comply with the reasoned opinion,
the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of
Justice. The Commission has also sent requests for information in the form
of letters of formal notice (first step of the infringement procedure of
Article 226 of the EC Treaty) to Italy and Finland about their rules under
which dividends paid to foreign pension funds may be taxed more heavily
than dividends paid to domestic pension funds. Italy and Finland are asked
to reply within two months.
[12] Taxation de l'électricité : la Commission traduit la Pologne devant
la Cour de justice
La Commission européenne a décidé de traduire la Pologne devant la Cour
de justice européenne au motif que l'Etat membre n'a pas aligné son
système de taxation de l'électricité sur le cadre communautaire.
Conformément au droit communautaire, l'accise sur l’électricité est
exigible au moment de la fourniture par le distributeur ou le
redistributeur, ce qui rend ces derniers redevables de la taxe. Toutefois,
en Pologne, l'accise sur l'électricité est mise à la charge du producteur
au moment de la fourniture.
[13] Commission clears proposed acquisition of Thule by Nordic Capital
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the
proposed take-over of Thule AB of Sweden, active in the utility
transportation and car accessory industry, by the investment fund Nordic
Capital. The Commission has concluded that the transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or
any substantial part of it.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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