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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 09-03-19Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>CONTENTS / CONTENU
MIDDAY EXPRESSNews from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefingNouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb19/03/09[01] Transports: la Commission envoie un avis motivé à l'Autriche au motif qu'elle n'a pas transmis son rapport sur la mise en Å“uvre de la législation communautaire visant à protéger les conducteurs de poids lourdsL'Autriche a manqué à son obligation de soumettre un rapport sur la mise en Å“uvre de la législation communautaire visant à empêcher les conducteurs de poids lourds de travailler durant de longues périodes au détriment de leur santé. La Commission a envoyé aujourd'hui un avis motivé à cet État membre, qui peut y réagir jusqu'au mois de mai.[02] La Commission engage des poursuites judiciaires contre l'Italie pour des infractions à la législation communautaire dans le domaine de l'environnementLa Commission européenne engage des poursuites judiciaires contre l'Italie pour deux cas d'infraction à la législation communautaire en matière de protection de l'environnement. La première affaire concerne le non-respect partiel par l'Italie d'un arrêt de la Cour de justice des Communautés européennes (CJCE) qui la condamnait pour ne pas avoir adopté toutes les lois relatives à la mise en décharge des déchets. À cet égard, la Commission adresse un premier avertissement écrit, en application de l'article 228 du traité, qui pourrait aboutir à l'imposition d'une amende si l'Italie ne se conforme pas à cet arrêt. Dans la seconde affaire, qui concerne les procédures d'évaluation des incidences sur l'environnement de certains travaux importants, la Commission adresse à l'Italie un dernier avertissement écrit au titre de l'article 226 du traité.[03] Spain: Commission sends warning over industrial waste caseThe European Commission is sending a written warning to Spain in a case regarding the breach of EU laws governing the treatment and disposal of industrial waste. The case concerns the stockpiling of solid industrial waste in the Huelva estuary without the necessary waste management measures for the protection of the environment being required.[04] Transport: Commission sends a reasoned opinion to Portugal for failing to report on penalty systems concerning driving time and rest periods for truck driversPortugal has failed to submit information on penalty systems concerning driving time and rest periods for truck drivers as required by European Union legislation. The Commission sent today a reasoned opinion to Portugal, which has two months to respond if it wants to avoid being taken to the European Court of Justice.[05] Road Safety: Commission sends a reasoned opinion to Cyprus, Luxembourg, Poland and the United Kingdom for failing to act on blind spot mirrors on trucksToday, the European Commission has been sent reasoned opinions to Cyprus, Luxembourg, Poland and the United Kingdom for failing to transpose existing European legislation on the retrofitting of blind spot mirrors on time. The four Member States have two months to act if they want to avoid being taken to the European Court of Justice.[06] "Television without Frontiers": Commission warns Estonia to apply the EU's TV advertising rulesThe Commission today warned Estonia that it is not complying with EU rules on television advertising. The major Estonian television channels are frequently breaking the rules in the EU's "Television without Frontiers" Directive that limit spot advertising and teleshopping to a maximum of 12 minutes per hour, according to an independent expert report requested by the European Commission. The Commission does not agree with Estonia's interpretation that certain forms of advertising spots are sponsorship and therefore has sent a letter of formal notice, which is the first of three steps in an infringement procedure under the EC Treaty.[07] Re-use of Public Sector Information: Commission starts infringement against ItalyThe European Commission today launched an infringement proceeding against Italy for incomplete and incorrect transposition of the EU Directive on the re-use of public sector information (PSI Directive). The Commission is sending a letter of formal notice (the first step of an infringement proceeding under the EC Treaty) to Italy as Italian law does not yet contain all the provisions of the PSI Directive. One of the concerns is the exclusion of cadastral and mortgage data – a valuable sector of re-usable information – from the scope of the Directive.[08] Renewable electricity: Commission sends reasoned opinion to Italy for not accepting guarantees of originThe European Commission sent today a reasoned opinion to Italy for failure to recognise certain guarantees of origin from other EU Member States. Under an EU Directive on electricity production from renewable energy sources Member States are required to establish a system of guarantees of origin and, as a general rule, to recognise those of other Member States. The Commission's reasoned opinion calls on Italy to take the necessary measures to comply with the Directive within two months.[09] Direct taxes: The European Commission requests that Bulgaria end discriminatory taxation of non-resident taxpayersThe European Commission has formally requested Bulgaria to change its tax provisions according to which certain types of Bulgarian source income are subject to a withholding tax on a gross base when paid to non-residents whereas Bulgarian residents may deduct expenses related to the same income. The Commission considers that these rules may lead to higher taxation for non resident taxpayers and therefore are incompatible with the freedom to provide services and the free movement of capital. 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 there is no satisfactory reaction to the reasoned opinion within two months, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Communities.[10] Direct taxes: The European Commission requests that Austria end discriminatory tax treatment of donations made in the field of science and researchThe European Commission has formally requested that Austria change its tax provisions which give more favourable tax treatment to science and research donations made to non-profit institutions established in Austria or conducting activities for the benefit of Austrian science or the Austrian economy . The Commission considers these rules to be incompatible with the freedom to provide services and the free movement of capital. 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 there is no satisfactory reaction to the reasoned opinion within two months, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.[11] VAT – The European Commission refers Poland to the European Court of Justice for the inclusion of car registration tax in the taxable base on which VAT is calculated for road vehicle suppliesThe European Commission has decided to refer Poland to the European Court of Justice as regards the inclusion of the amount of its car registration tax within the taxable amount of VAT in the case of road vehicle supplies. The Commission considers that the car tax should not be included in the taxable amount of VAT.[12] VAT: the European Commission requests that Italy modify its rules regarding the taxable amount for supplies of immovable propertycommThe European Commission has formally requested that the Italian Republic modify its legislation according to which VAT on transactions involving immovable property is determined as a percentage of the open market value if the price declared by the parties does not correspond to the market price. Under Community rules on VAT, taxable amount, in principle, includes everything which constitutes consideration obtained by the supplier. In the absence of particular circumstances defined by the VAT Directive, the Italian tax administration cannot automatically calculate VAT for immovable property on the basis of the open market value without any evidence of tax fraud or evasion. 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.[13] Direct taxation: The European Commission refers Spain to the European Court of Justice over restrictive exit tax provisions for individualsThe European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the European Court of Justice for its tax provisions which impose an exit tax on individuals who cease to be tax resident in Spain. The provisions are incompatible with the free movement of persons provided for in Articles 18, 39, 43 of the Treaty and Articles 28 and 31 of the EEA Agreement.[14] VAT: the European Commission refers Greece to the European Court of Justice for failing to notify the transposition of two VAT Directives into national lawThe European Commission has decided to refer Greece to the European Court of Justice for failing to notify the Commission of the measures it adopted to transpose Directives 2006/69/EC and 2006/112/EC into national law.[15] Direct Taxation: The European Commission refers Germany to the European Court of Justice over its discriminatory rules for buildings abroadThe European Commission has decided to refer Germany to the European Court of Justice for its discriminatory tax depreciation rules applied to buildings situated abroad. Under German law higher percentages of depreciation may be applied in the first year(s) of construction or acquisition of buildings situated in Germany than for buildings situated abroad. The Commission considers this difference in treatment to be incompatible with the principle of free movement of capital.[16] Public procurement: infringement proceedings against France concerning exclusive rights for vocational training in agricultureThe European Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EC Treaty as part of infringement proceedings against France concerning a French Rural Code provision, adopted in 2005, which grants the Centre national pour l'aménagement des structures des exploitations agricoles (CNASEA) an exclusive right to provide regional and local authorities with services relating to the management of public aid. The Rural Code provision in question requires regional and local authorities to entrust the CNASEA with the management of their financial aid and accompanying measures (including the management of financial aid to trainees undergoing vocational training) if those authorities do not wish to manage the aid themselves.[17] Direct Taxation: The European Commission refers Germany to the European Court of Justice over its discriminatory taxation of outbound dividendsThe European Commission has decided to refer Germany to the European Court of Justice for its tax provisions concerning outbound dividend payments to companies. Germany taxes dividends paid to foreign companies more heavily than dividends paid to domestic companies. The Commission considers the higher taxation of outbound dividends to be contrary to the EC Treaty and the EEA Agreement, as it restricts the free movement of capital and the freedom of establishment provided for in Article 56 of the Treaty and Article 40 of the EEA Agreement.[18] Public procurement: infringement proceedings against Italy concerning direct award for supply of management consulting services for pharmaciesThe European Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion to Italy concerning the direct award of a concession for the supply of management consulting services for pharmacies. This is the second stage of the infringement procedure as laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence of a satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.[19] Public procurement: infringement proceedings against Germany concerning award of public works contract for construction of tax office building in QuedlinburgThe European Commission has decided to send a formal request to Germany concerning the conclusion of a public works contract for the construction of a tax office building in Quedlinburg by the German State of Saxony- Anhalt. This formal request takes the form of a "reasoned opinion", the second stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.[20] Internal Market: Commission closes infringement cases against Austria and BelgiumThe European Commission has decided to close an infringement case against Austria concerning protection of casino players and an infringement case against Belgium concerning restrictions on the issue of medicines.[21] Professional qualifications: Commission requests Spain for information on compliance with Court judgmentThe European Commission has decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to send a letter of formal notice to the Spanish authorities requesting information on the measures they have taken to comply with the Court of Justice's judgment of 23.10.2008 (C-286/06) regarding recognition of professional qualifications of engineers.[22] Libre circulation des services: procédure d'infraction contre la BelgiqueLa Commission européenne a décidé d'envoyer un avis motivé au Royaume de Belgique pour son application aux entreprises établies dans un autre Etat membre de sa réglementation concernant des contrôles techniques sur les appareils de levage. En effet, il résulte de la réglementation belge que ces appareils (y inclus des grues montées sur un camion) doivent être examinés par un organisme agréé belge avant toute mise en service de l'appareil en Belgique et périodiquement plus tard.[23] Marché intérieur: la Commission invite le Luxembourg à se conformer aux arrêts de la CourLa Commission européenne a décidé, au titre de l'article 228 du traité CE, d'envoyer au Luxembourg un avis motivé l'invitant à se conformer sans délai à l'arrêt de la Cour de justice des Communautés européennes concernant la mise en Å“uvre d'une directive relative à la passation de marchés publics. La Commission a également décidé, en vertu de l’article 228 du traité CE, d’adresser au Luxembourg une lettre de mise en demeure l'invitant à fournir des informations complètes sur les mesures prises pour se conformer à l'arrêt de la Cour concernant la mise en Å“uvre de la directive relative au respect des droits de propriété intellectuelle.[24] La Commission va recouvrer auprès des États membres 126,7 millions € correspondant à des dépenses au titre de la PACEn vertu d’une décision adoptée ce jour par la Commission européenne, les États membres vont devoir rembourser un montant total de 126,7 millions € correspondant à des dépenses irrégulières effectuées dans le cadre de la politique agricole commune (PAC). Ce montant sera reversé au budget communautaire en raison du non-respect des règles communautaires ou de procédures de contrôle inadéquates en matière de dépenses agricoles. En effet, si les États membres sont responsables des paiements et de la vérification des dépenses effectuées au titre de la PAC, la Commission est tenue de s’assurer que les États membres ont correctement utilisé les fonds mis à leur disposition.[25] Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou visits RomaniaEuropean Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou makes a three-day visit to Romania on 20, 21 and 22 March. Commissioner Vassiliou will meet with the Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc and the Romanian President Traian Basescu. Commissioner Vassiliou will focus on public health issues during the first day of her visit and will meet with the Minister of Health, Ion Bazac. They will discuss EU health policy developments including issues such as: organ donation and transplantation, patients' rights in cross- border health care, rare disease strategy, health inequalities and the Green Paper on Health Workforce. Commissioner Vassiliou will officially launch the Romanian language version of the EU Health Portal <a href="http://www.health.europa.eu" title="http://www.health.europa.eu">(www.health.europa.eu) at the Parliament in Bucharest. The Commissioner will also meet with young people and youth organisations to explore their involvement in health initiatives. Commissioner Vassiliou will focus the last two days of her visit on animal health and food safety, meeting with Ilie Sarbu, Minister of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development, and with Marian Zlotea, President of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food safety Authority of Romania. Commissioner Vassiliou will discuss issues relating, among other things, to animal welfare and animal diseases –such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) – and to import controls of products of animal and plant origin. The Commissioner will also visit a dry-meat products processing plant in the Sinaia area.[26] New Flash Eurobarometer on tobacco: EU citizens support smoke free policiesAccording to the latest Flash Eurobarometer, published today, an overwhelming majority of EU citizens support smoke-free public places, such as offices (84%), restaurants (79%), bars, pubs and clubs (65%). These results are in line with those obtained in the 2006 Eurobarometer and confirm the overwhelming support that smoke-free policies have in the EU. Even if there seems to be a clear trend towards the reduction of exposure to tobacco smoke at the work place in Europe, a fifth of European workers are still exposed to tobacco smoke on a daily basis. The Flash Eurobarometer also shows that more than half (55%) of EU citizens perceive that adding a colour picture to a text-only health warnings on the tobacco packs would strengthen the message. For detailed information see our website: <a href="http://s-sanco-europa/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/keydo_tobacco_en.htm">http://s- sanco-europa/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/keydo_tobacco_en.htm For the summary report: <a href="http://s-sanco-europa/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/Documents/eb_253_sum_en.pdf">http://s- sanco-europa/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/Documents/eb_253_sum_en.pdf and the complete report: <a href="http://s-sanco-europa/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/Documents/eb_253_en.pdf">http://s- sanco-europa/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/Documents/eb_253_en.pdfRediffusion [27] European Commission announces further 7.5 million euros in post- hurricane assistance to Cuba on eve of first joint co-operation conferenceEuropean Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, has today announced an additional 7.5 million euros in hurricane response assistance to Cuba. The announcement in Havana comes at the start of his two day visit to Cuba during which he will jointly open a joint conference on co-operation between the European Commission and Cuba. Commissioner Michel will also hold a number of bilateral meetings including with Foreign Minister Bruno RodrÃguez and Minister for Foreign Investment, Trade and Co- operation Rodrigo Malmierca.[28] Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes the commitment of European Electricity Companies to achieve a carbon-neutral power supply by 2050Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs has welcomed the commitment announced today by European Electricity companies to achieve a carbon-neutral power supply by 2050. The commitment was part of a Declaration delivered to Commissioner Piebalgs by 61 CEOs of European electricity companies in a Eurelectric meeting that took place in Brussels this afternoon.[29] Autre matériel diffusé• Memo on Antitrust: Commission welcomes European Court of Justice judgment in sodium gluconate cartel case• Memo on Antitrust: Commission confirms sending Statement of Objections to ENI concerning the Italian gas market • Memo on EU – Russia Energy Dialogue • Speech by President Barroso 'Looking ahead to the European Council and G20', Brussels • Speech by Commissioner Ashton ' The Transatlantic Challenge: Promoting open trade', Washington • Speech by Commissioner Rehn 'Women's rights in Turkey's EU Accession', Brussels • Speech by Commissioner Fischer Boel 'The global economic crisis, food security and environmental security', Brussels • Speech by Commissioner Kroes 'The forthcoming Broadcasting Communication; measures to promote broadband', Den Haag The forthcoming Broadcasting Communication; measures to promote broadband • Speech by Vice-President Kallas 'Why put off to tomorrow what you can do today?', Brussels A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/315): Notification préalable d'une opération de concentration : RBSK / DZ BANK / RZB / RBL JV
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/ Midday Express: News from the EU Commission Spokesman's Briefings Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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