International Law

Liberdade de estabelecimento: processo por infracção contra Portugal

Posted on February 29, 2008
A Comissão Europeia decidiu intentar uma acção contra Portugal no Tribunal de Justiça Europeu, relativa às restrições ao estabelecimento de Centros de Inspecção Automóvel, incompatíveis com o artigo 43.° do Tratado CE. PT ; EN ; FR

Port security: European Commission sends reasoned opinions to Germany and Poland

Posted on February 29, 2008
The Commission has decided to send reasoned opinions to Germany and Poland for failing to transpose into national law the European rules for improving port security. Sending a reasoned opinion is the last step before possibly taking a matter to the Court of Justice...

Energy Performance of Buildings: Commission launches Court proceedings against Belgium and the UK

Posted on February 29, 2008
The European Commission today launched court proceedings against Belgium and the United Kingdom for failure to notify adequate national implementing measures as required by the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The goal of the Directive is to reduce energy consumption in buildings and it thus forms an important part of EU legislation aimed at [...

Ecodesign Directive: Commission sends Reasoned Opinions to five Member States

Posted on February 29, 2008
Today, the Commission sent Reasoned Opinions to the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Portugal and Luxembourg, who have not communicated their transposition of the Ecodesign Directive. The Directive aims at lowering the environmental impact of energy-using products and is one of the pillars of the EU strategy on energy efficiency...

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Fusiones: la Comisión autoriza a Telefónica y Orizionia a adquirir el control conjunto de la agencia de viajes online española Rumbo

Posted on February 29, 2008
La Comisión Europea ha autorizado, con arreglo al Reglamento CE sobre Fusiones, la propuesta de adquisición por el operador de viajes español Orizonia Corporation (a través de su sucursal Turmed) y por Telefónica, S.A. del control conjunto sobre la agencia de viajes online Rumbo (”Red Universal de marketing y Booking Online”)...

2853rd Council meeting Justice and Home Affairs

Posted on February 28, 2008
The Council reached an agreement on two issues regarding a proposal for a Council Decision establishing the European Police Office (Europol): the lifting of immunity for Europol officials when participating in operational activities, especially Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), and the principle of staff rotation and the possibility for Europol staff participating in JIT to receive [...

Commission puts forward proposals to the European Council on sovereign wealth funds and financial stability

Posted on February 28, 2008
The European Commission has today adopted communications on sovereign wealth funds and on adapting European and global financial systems to better promote financial stability. These communications are the Commission contribution to EU leaders’ discussions on these subjects at the Spring European Council on March 13-14...

Staatliche Beihilfen: Kommission untersucht staatliche Finanzspritzen für IKB und Sachsen

Posted on February 28, 2008
Die Europäische Kommission hat gemäß den Beihilfevorschriften des EG-Vertrags eine eingehende Prüfung der staatlichen Maßnahmen zur Unterstützung der IKB und der Sachsen LB in Deutschland eingeleitet. Beide Banken waren nach ihren Investitionen in US-amerikanische Subprime-Märkte in eine finanzielle Schieflage geraten...

Ajutoare de stat: Comisia cere României s? recupereze un ajutor ilegal în valoare de 27 de milioane de euro de la Automobile Craiova

Posted on February 28, 2008
Comisia European? ?i-a finalizat investiga?ia aprofundat? privind privatizarea Automobile Craiova, efectuat? în temeiul normelor privind ajutoarele de stat prev?zute de Tratatul CE. În urma investiga?iei deschise în octombrie 2007 (a se vedea IP/07/1467), s-a constatat c? România a impus o serie de condi?ii referitor la vânzare care aveau drept obiectiv asigurarea unui anumit nivel de [...

Staatssteun: Commissie sluit onderzoek financiering Vlaamse openbare omroep VRT af

Posted on February 28, 2008
De Europese Commissie heeft de zaak afgesloten waarbij zij de financieringsregeling van de Vlaamse openbare omroep VRT in het licht van de staatssteunregels van het EG-Verdrag heeft onderzocht. Zij kon de zaak afsluiten omdat de Belgische autoriteiten toezegden de bestaande regeling aan te passen...

State aid: Commission welcomes proposed changes to financing of Irish public service broadcasters and closes investigation

Posted on February 28, 2008
The European Commission has decided to close its investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules into the financing regime of the Irish public service broadcasters RTÉ and TG4 following commitments from Ireland to amend the current regime. The main modifications concern the clarification of the public service remit, the entrustment of new activities, the transparency [...

Antitrust: Commission imposes ? 899 million penalty on Microsoft for non-compliance with March 2004 Decision

Posted on February 28, 2008
The European Commission has imposed a penalty payment of ? 899 million on Microsoft for non-compliance with its obligations under the Commission?s March 2004 Decision (see IP/04/382) prior to 22 October 2007. Today?s Decision, adopted under Article 24(2) of Regulation 1/2003, finds that, prior to 22 October 2007, Microsoft had charged unreasonable prices for access [...

Commission approves special support for farmers in Southern Finland

Posted on February 28, 2008
The Commission has today approved a transitional national support programme for farmers in the South of Finland. The programme contains structural aid and income support and will be in force from 2008 to 2013. Article 141 of the Finnish Accession Treaty provides a basis for temporary special support programmes for farmers in Southern Finland...

Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of Packard Bell by Acer

Posted on February 28, 2008
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Dutch-based company Packard Bell by Taiwan-based personal computers manufacturer Acer. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it...

JUSTICE and HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL

Posted on February 26, 2008
The background note for the next Justice and Home affairs Council (02/28/08) is available here.

Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Arysta by Permira

Posted on February 25, 2008
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Japanese company Arysta LifeScience Corporation by Permira Holdings Limited of the Channel Islands. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it...

Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of various Hagemeyer subsidiaries by Rexel subject to conditions

Posted on February 23, 2008
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Dutch company Hagemeyer’s subsidiaries in several EEA countries and in Russia by Rexel of France. Both companies are active in the wholesale distribution of electrical products...

Antitrust: Commission confirms sending a Statement of Objections to Alcan

Posted on February 23, 2008
The European Commission can confirm that it has sent a Statement of Objections (SO) to Alcan on 21st February 2008. The SO outlines the Commission?s preliminary view that Alcan has infringed EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant position (Article 82) by tying its dominant aluminium smelting technology with handling equipment sold by Alcan’s [...

New European Commission proposals for fast track administrative burden reductions

Posted on February 23, 2008
Simplifying the statistical reporting duties of Small- and Medium- Sized Enterprises (SMEs), reducing paperwork for micro enterprises or facilitating the market introduction of new radio and telecommunication equipment. These are some examples of new possible Fast Track Actions (FTA) to reduce quickly administrative burdens...

Integrated Border Management - Fifth Annual Ministerial Conference on Border Security Cooperation in the Western Balkans

Posted on February 23, 2008
The text of Commissioner Franco Frattini?s address at the Fifth Annual Ministerial Conference on Border Security Cooperation in the Western Balkans is available here.

Antitrust: Commission takes note of Microsoft?s announcement on interoperability principles

Posted on February 21, 2008
The European Commission takes note of today’s announcement by Microsoft of its intention to commit to a number of principles in order to promote interoperability with some of its high market share software products. This announcement does not relate to the question of whether or not Microsoft has been complying with EU antitrust rules in [...

Competition Policy challenges in 2008

Posted on February 21, 2008
The text of Commissioner Neelie Kroes?s address at the 100th meeting of the OECD Competition Committee is available here.

Ombudsman achieves friendly solution with Commission on Italian state aid case

Posted on February 19, 2008
The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has welcomed the European Commission’s adoption of a decision in an Italian state aid case, following a complaint from an Italian firm. The company complained about a more than three year delay in adopting this decision...

Modernised Community Customs Code

Posted on February 19, 2008
The Modernised Customs Code will simplify legislation and administration procedures both from the point of view of customs authorities and traders. More?

Public procurement: Commission issues guidance on setting up Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships

Posted on February 18, 2008
The European Commission has published guidance on the founding of Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships (IPPP). IPPP are undertakings jointly held by public and private partners and are usually set up to provide services for the public, in particular at the local level...

Criminal protection of the EU?s financial interests: Commission report reveals persistent shortcomings due to insufficient action by Member States

Posted on February 18, 2008
A report now adopted by the European Commission takes stock of how the EU Member States fulfilled the obligations they agreed upon when signing the EU Convention on the Protection of the European Communities? financial interests and its three Protocols...

Commission adopts 5th Report on Union Citizenship

Posted on February 17, 2008
Today the European Commission adopted its fifth report on citizenship of the European Union. The report assesses the application of the rights conferred on Union citizens by the Treaty establishing the European Community during the period 1 May 2004 to 30 June 2007...

European Competition Policy in the age of globalisation ? towards a global competition order?

Posted on February 08, 2008
Download the full speech by Commissioner Neelie Kroes at the Forschungsinstitut für Wirtschaftsverfassung und Wettbewerb (FIW) here (source : EC).

Submission 1/2008 by Mariia MATSEPA

Posted on February 04, 2008
« Football and The Free Movement of Workers » Abstract Mariia Matsepa’s article examines the free movement of workers within the framework of a specific example, that of football. The author initially states under what conditions this sport is subject to Community law and, using typical cases, defines the modalities for its implementation...

Arrêt de la Cour dans l?affaire C-380/05 Centro Europa 7 Srl / Ministero delle Comunicazioni e Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni

Posted on February 03, 2008
LE RÉGIME ITALIEN POUR L?ATTRIBUTION DE RADIOFRÉQUENCES POUR LES ACTIVITÉS DE RADIODIFFUSION TÉLÉVISUELLE EST CONTRAIRE AU DROIT COMMUNAUTAIRE Ce régime ne respecte pas le principe de libre prestation de services et ne suit pas de critères de sélection objectifs, transparents, non discriminatoires et proportionnés...

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