Midday Express of 2009-12-04

Midday Express of 2009-12-04

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Midday Express of 2009-12-04
Reference:  MEX/09/1204    Date:  04/12/2009
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EXME 09 / 04.12

MIDDAY EXPRESS

News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing

Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communication

04 / 12 / 09

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed merger between US-based consultancy companies Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt. The approval is conditional upon the parties' commitment to divest Watson Wyatt's life actuarial software business, VIPitech. The Commission had concerns that the transaction, as originally notified, would have raised competition issues in the field of actuarial software for life insurance in the European Economic Area (EEA). In the light of the commitments offered by the parties, the Commission has now concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

The European Commission has authorised, under the rules for state aid of the Treaty for functioning of the EU, a Romanian measure to help businesses to deal with the current economic crisis. Aid of up to €500 000 per firm may be granted until 2010 to businesses facing funding problems because of the current credit squeeze. The scheme meets the conditions of the Commission's Temporary framework for state aid measures, as it is limited in time, respect the thresholds, and is addressed to companies which were not in difficulty before 1 July 2008 (see IP/08/1993). It is therefore compatible with Article 107(3)(b) of the TFEU, which permits aid ?to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State'.

New regulations modernising the rules governing road transport come into force today and are expected to generate administrative savings of €190 million a year. The so-called road package simplifies and clarifies the legal framework for the 900,000 European road transport undertakings engaged in the transport of goods or passengers.

La caravane de «l'équipe-saveurs» a fait halte dans 173 écoles de l'Union européenne et s'est invitée dans les cours de récréation, proposant aux enfants jeux et animations pour leur expliquer la nécessité de faire les bons choix alimentaires. Environ 17 000 enfants ont découvert les bienfaits des fruits, légumes et produits laitiers grâce à l'exposition itinérante qui s'est déroulée jusqu'à la fin novembre; des milliers d'autres font cette découverte sur le site web interactif de «l'équipe-saveurs», qui héberge désormais la campagne «Savoure, déguste et bouge».

On 9 December, the European Commission's DG Enlargement and the Swedish Presidency of the EU are organizing a Conference on "The Western Balkans: Overcoming the economic crisis, from regional cooperation to EU membership". The conference will be attended by some 200 high level participants including ministers and senior officials from the Western Balkans' countries, as well as EU Member States, Turkey, USA, Russia, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Moldova. Given the emphasis on the economic development of the region, representatives of major International Financial Institutions, such as the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Council of Europe Development Bank and the World Bank, will also participate in the panels.

The total number of passengers transported by air in the EU27 rose by 0.6% in 2008, compared with 2007, to 798 million. This was the lowest annual growth rate in the EU since 2002. Quarterly data for 2008 help to evaluate the impact of the economic crisis on air transport, and show a declining trend through the year. Passenger numbers rose by 6.1% in the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same quarter of 2007, and by 3.0% in the second quarter, then they fell by 0.4% in the third quarter and by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. In the EU27, the number of passengers on extra-EU flights rose by 4.2% in 2008, compared with 2007, to 282 million. The number of passengers decreased by 0.5% to 345 million on intra-EU flights, and by 2.9% to 171 million on national flights. These figures are published in a report from Eurostat on air transport in the EU27 in 2008. This report also looks in detail at national, intra-EU and extra-EU air transport passengers, as well as the most important airport pairs, nationally and internationally.

  • Commission clears acquisition of Mecachrome by ACE, FTQ and FSI

The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of Mecachrome International Inc. (Mecachrome) of Canada by Aerofund and Aerofund II, which are controlled by ACE Management of France, Fonds de Solidarité des Travailleurs du Québec (FTQ) of Canada, and Fonds Stratégique d'Investissement (FSI) of France. Aerofund and Aerofund II, FTQ and FSI are investment funds. Mecachrome produces complex precision components for the aerospace, automobile and industrial equipment industries. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

  • Commission clears acquisition of SGGE by SGGF and Trakya

The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Saint Gobain Glass Egypt (SGGE) of Egypt by Saint Gobain Glass France (SGGF) of France, controlled by Compagnie de Saint Gobain of France, and Trakya Cam Sanayii A.S. (Trakya), controlled by Turkiye Sis eve Cam Fabrikalari A.S. (Sisecam) of Turkey. Saint Gobain manufactures and sells glass, ceramics, plastics and building materials. Sisecam manufactures and sells glass, glassware, glass packaging and chemicals. SGGE manufactures and sells glass for building and motor vehicle applications. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

  • Commission clears acquisition of GLID Wind Farms by Boreas Holdings and Centrica Renewable Energy Limited

The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of GLID Wind Farms TopCo Limited of the UK by Boreas Holdings S.à.r.l of Luxemburg and Centrica Renewable Energy Limited of the UK. Centrica is active in the generation, trading and supply of electricity mainly in the UK. It also produces and supplies natural gas. GLID Wind Farms develop, operate and manage wind farms generating electricity in the UK. Boreas Holdings is a holding company managed by TCW Asset Management Company (TAMCO) of the UK, a subsidiary of the US TCW Group, which in turn is wholly owned by Société Générale S.A of France. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

  • Commission clears acquisition of UBI Assicurazioni by BNP Paribas Assurance and Fortis Insurance International

The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of UBI Assicurazioni SpA of Italy by Fortis Insurance International NV, controlled by Fortis SA/NV and Fortis NV of Belgium and The Netherlands, and BNP Paribas Assurance, part of the French BNP Paribas group. BNP Paribas group is active in banking and insurance. Fortis Insurance carries out financial and insurance activities. UBI Assicurazioni provides non-life insurance in Italy. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

  • Milk: Agreement reached on distribution of additional €300 million for dairy farmers

Member States voted yesterday in favour of a Commission proposal to divide up an additional €300 million in aid for EU dairy farmers. The money will be distributed according to production within quota in the 2008/09 milk production season (April 2008-March 2009). The money will have to be allocated to individual farmers who are severely affected by the low dairy prices of this summer and who encounter liquidity problems. Member States will have to communicate before the end of February the objective criteria they will use to allocate the money to individual farmers. The money has to be paid before the end of June 2010. The money is divided up as follows (in million euros): BE 7.21, BG 1.84, CZ 5.79, DK 9.86, DE 61.20, EE 1.30, IE 11.50, EL 1.58, ES 12.79, FR 51.13, IT 23.03, CY 0.32, LV 1.45, LT 3.10, LU 0.60, HU 3.57, MT 0.08, NL 24.59, AT 6.05, PL 20.21, PT 4.08, RO 5.01, SL 1.14, SK 2.03, FI 4.83, SE 6.43, UK 29.26.

  • Commission adopts 5th EC National Communication on climate change

The European Commission has adopted the European Community's 5th National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Communication is a comprehensive report on all climate change-related activities undertaken at the level of the European Community over the four years since the 4th Communication was completed at the start of 2006. The EC and all other developed country Parties to the UNFCCC are required to submit their 5th Communications to the UNFCCC secretariat by 1 January 2010. The EC's Communication does not cover the activities of EU Member States, who as Parties in their own right are required to provide their own National Communications to the UNFCCC. The core elements of National Communications are information on the activities a Party has undertaken to implement the Convention, on its emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and on projected future emissions. The report comprises eight chapters covering a wide range of aspects of the EC's climate-related activities, including the policies and measures taken to limit emissions, financial resources dedicated to the fight against climate change, technology transfer, research and scientific cooperation with developing countries and education and awareness-raising activities. As required from developed country Parties that have also ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the report includes supplementary information to demonstrate the EC's compliance with its commitments under the Protocol. EC's 5th National Communication under UNFCCC: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/gge_unfccc.htm DG Environment climate change homepage: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm

  • Autre matériel diffusé

? Memo on the Energy Council (Brussels 6-7 December)

? Speech by Commissioner Kroes on "GDF Suez commits to open French gas market"

? Speech by Commissioner Samecki on "Presentation of the Orientation Paper on the future of Cohesion policy"

? Speech by Commissioner Potocnik at the Competitiveness Council

? Calendrier hebdomadaire du 7 décembre au 11 décembre

? Top News from the European Commission

A disposition au secrétariat de Jonathan Todd (BERL 03/3

European EC Rapid Press Release MEX/09/1204, copyright European Commission.
read the original release