Midday Express of 2012-05-25
| Reference: MEX/12/0525 Event Date: 25/05/2012 |
EXME 12 / 25.05
Midday Express of 2012-05-25
News from the European Commission's Midday Briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Commission européenne
EU challenges Argentina's import restrictions
The EU today launched a challenge to Argentina's import restrictions at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva. Under WTO dispute settlement procedures, the EU is first requesting consultations with Argentina in a bid to have these measures - which negatively affect the EU's trade and investment - lifted. The restrictive measures include Argentina's import licensing regime and notably the procedures to obtain an import licence as well as the obligation on companies to balance imports with exports. This is a first step in the WTO dispute settlement system. If no solution is found within 60 days, then the EU can request a WTO Panel to be established to rule on the legality of Argentina's actions. EMBARGO UNTIL 12H00 CET
The European panel in charge of monitoring preparations by the 2013 European Capitals of Culture, Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia), has recommended that both should receive the Melina Mercouri Prize in recognition of the quality of their preparations. The prize amounts to €1.5 million for each city.
Newspapers crucial for democracy, says Vassiliou
The role of European newspapers in helping to shape democratic and tolerant societies is as important today as in the era of Napoleon Bonaparte, who famously declared that "four hostile newspapers were to be feared more than a thousand bayonets". This was the message from Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, in an address today at the general assembly of the European Newspapers Publishers' Association (ENPA) in Nicosia, Cyprus.
In the EU27, household electricity prices rose by 6.3% between the second half of 2010 and the second half of 2011, after an increase of 5.6% between the second half of 2009 and 2010. Household gas prices increased by 12.6% in the EU27 between the second half of 2010 and 2011, after a rise of 7.5% between the second half of 2009 and 2010
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of SCA Packaging by DS Smith, subject to conditions
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of SCA Packaging, a subsidiary of the Swedish group Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA AB, by DS Smith Plc, of the UK. SCA Packaging and DS Smith both produce corrugated packaging used to transport a wide range of industrial and consumer goods. The clearance is conditional upon the divestment of a number of production plants in the UK and France. The Commission's preliminary investigation showed that the proposed transaction would have endangered competition for some types of packaging in the UK and France. The commitments offered by the parties address these concerns.
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of chemical company Solutia by Eastman
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Solutia Inc. by Eastman Chemical Company, both US-based chemical companies. The Commission's investigation concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns because the parties are not active on the same markets and will continue to face sufficient competition.
Conference in Brussels on Financial Conglomerates: registration now open
On 28 June 2012, the European Commission is organising a conference on financial conglomerates that will serve as an important public hearing on the continuous review of prudential regulation in the financial sector. It will also be an integral part of the fact-finding on the regulatory framework applicable to financial conglomerates and contribute to the review of the objectives and features of the current Financial Conglomerates Directive (FICOD). Speakers will represent, amongst others, the international supervisory community from G20 and EU member states; experts in the financial sector and of course the conglomerates themselves. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided from and into English, French and German. Registration will close on 19 June. More information and the registration form are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/financial-conglomerates/conference_28062012_en.htm
Enregistrement de deux dénominations de produits agricoles
La Commission européenne a ajouté deux dénominations de produits agricoles et alimentaires à la liste des indications géographiques protégées (IGP). Il s'agit, pour la Grèce, des haricots secs "Φασόλια Βανίλιες Φενεού’"(Fasolia Vanilies Feneou) et, pour la République Tchèque, des fruits " Chelčicko - Lhenické ovoce". Les deux dénominations s'ajoutent à la liste de plus de 1000 produits déjà protégés en vertu de la législation sur la protection des indications géographiques, des appellations d'origine et des spécialités traditionnelles. Des renseignements sur les produits de qualité ainsi que la liste des dénominations protégées sont disponibles sur l'internet à l'adresse: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/schemes/index_fr.htm
Rediffusion
Environment: EU announces winners of European Business Awards for the Environment 2012
EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik has announced the winners of the European Business Awards for the Environment 2012 at an evening ceremony at Green Week. The five winners reflect contributions to sustainable development in: management, product, and process innovation respectively, international business cooperation, and business and biodiversity. The 2012 winners are: Marks and Spencer (UK) for management; Aquamarine Power (UK) for product; Umicore (Belgium) for process; INENSUS GmbH (Germany) for international business cooperation; and Slovenské elektrárne, a.s. (Slovakia) for business and biodiversity.
Autre matériel diffusé :
• Memo "Q&As: EU's challenge to Argentina's import restrictions at the WTO" EMBARGO UNTIL 12H00 CET
• Memo "Antitrust: Commission welcomes General Court judgment in MasterCard case" - rediffusion
• Speech by Commissioner Barnier Vers une réforme de la structure du secteur bancaire européen?
