Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of EDS by Hewlett-Packard
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of EDS by Hewlett-Packard, both US-based companies active in the IT services sector. The European Commission concluded that the concentration would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/25/2008 11:51:00 AM] #
New Figures Show: Almost two thirds of EU television time is "Made in Europe"
More than 63% of Europe's television broadcasters' programming time is devoted to European works and over 36% to works by independent European producers. These new figures come from the European Commission's eighth report on effectiveness of EU rules on the promotion of European works, which covers the period 2005-2006. This report which is published every two years is based on information provided by the EU Member States and monitors the promotion of European works on European TV screens under the 'Television without Frontiers' Directive. For the first time, broadcasters in the new EU-10 Member States are fully analysed in this report, and the report shows that they show today as much European content as those in the EU-15.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/25/2008 11:48:00 AM] #
European Platform on Electronic Data Retention for the Investigation, Detection and Prosecution of Serious Crime
European Commission Decision 2008/324/EC of 25 March 2008 setting up the 'Platform on Electronic Data Retention for the Investigation, Detection and Prosecution of Serious Crime' group of experts
[[2008] OJ L 111/11]
[posted @ 7/23/2008 02:35:00 PM] #
High-level debate on the "EU Telecoms Reform Package"
EESC welcomed European Commission's proposals but asked for strengthened protection of consumer rights and privacy and for more civil society participation in consultation and adoption processes. On 2 July 2008, practically a few days before the first reading at the European Parliament's ITRE and IMCO committees of the so-called "telecoms reform package", the EESC's opinion on the package was presented and discussed, together with the European Committee of the Regions' opinion on the same subject, at a high profile event. The package puts together the different reforms proposed by the European Commission for the regulatory framework concerning the EU's electronic communications networks.
[European Economic and Social Committee Press Release]
[posted @ 7/23/2008 02:15:00 PM] #
State aid: Commission authorises a €43 million Latvian film support scheme
The European Commission has approved a €43 million Latvian film support scheme until 31 December 2013 under EC Treaty state aid rules. The six-year scheme covers all Latvia's film support measures including film development, production and distribution of Latvian and European films, particularly in rural Latvia. The European Commission found that the scheme is compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty and in line with the 2001 Cinema Communication rules concerning aid to film production. The Latvian authorities will implement any changes that may be required after the expiry of the Cinema Communication.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 06:03:00 PM] #
State aid: European Commission approves EUR 150 million capital injection for France Télévisions
The European Commission has approved a EUR 150 million capital injection for the French public-television holding company, France Télévisions. The measure aims to enable the public channels to fulfil their general-interest mission in 2008 by offsetting the reduction in commercial revenues that followed the announcement that advertising would eventually be banned on such channels. The European Commission has taken the view that the capital injection was justified given the net costs that these specific missions involve and the French authorities' commitments regarding control of the funds. This decision is unrelated to current discussions on possible new types of public financing for France Télévisions, which will have to be notified at a later date to the European Commission.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 06:01:00 PM] #
State aid: European Commission authorises €7.5 million Sardinian film support scheme
The European Commission has approved a €7.5 million Sardinian film support scheme until 2010 under the EU state aid rules. The three-year scheme covers all Sardinia's measures to support films of regional and cultural interest. The European Commission found that the scheme is compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty, as well as with the rules in the 2001 Cinema Communication concerning aid to film production.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 05:59:00 PM] #
State aid: Commission approves €1.7 million public support to increase broadband availability in Lazdijai and Alytus municipalities in Lithuania
The European Commission has approved under the EC Treaty state aid rules a €1.7 million public aid to help bring broadband to unserved areas of Lazdijai and Alytus district municipalities in Lithuania. The support, which involves EU, national and local public funds, is aimed at narrowing the gap between rural and urban areas as regards access to affordable broadband services. The European Commission found that the public support is justified by the benefits to consumers and by the safeguards put in place to preserve competition.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 05:57:00 PM] #
Antitrust: European Commission confirms supplementary Statement of Objections sent to Intel
The European Commission confirmed that it has sent a supplementary Statement of Objections (SSO) to Intel on 17th July. The SSO reinforces the European Commission’s preliminary view outlined in a Statement of Objections of 26 July 2007 that Intel has infringed EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant position (Article 82) with the aim of excluding its main rival, AMD, from the x86 Central Processing Units (CPU) market.
[European Commission Memo]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 05:55:00 PM] #
European Commissioner Neelie Kroes on the way ahead for the broadcasting communication
Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition Policy: The way ahead for the Broadcasting Communication, Broadcasting conference, Strasbourg, France, 17 July 2008
[Speech]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 05:51:00 PM] #
State aid: European Commission authorises €231 million Hungarian film support scheme
The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, a €231 million Hungarian film support scheme, which will run until 31 December 2013. The six-year scheme covers all Hungary's film support measures, including the Hungarian film tax incentive. It is designed to promote the development of film culture in Hungary. The European Commission found that the scheme is compatible with the cultural derogation of the EC Treaty, in line with the 2001 Cinema Communication rules concerning aid to film production. The Hungarian authorities will implement any changes that may be required after the expiry of the Cinema Communication.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/17/2008 05:37:00 PM] #
"Texting without borders": European Commission plans ending roaming rip-offs for text messages abroad
The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in the EU cost over 10 times more than domestic short messages (SMS), show figures released today by the European Commission. The average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was €0.29 according to the European Regulators’ Group (ERG), but can be as high as €0.80 for travellers from Belgium. Calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered. The European Commission will therefore start working on measures to ensure that consumers benefit from a truly single market for mobile text services. The European Commission will also seek to put an end to "bill shocks" that can hit roaming customers using a mobile connection to surf the Internet. New measures could be proposed by the European Commission to the European Parliament and the EU Council in early autumn.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/15/2008 02:00:00 PM] #
Roaming: High Prices of SMS & Data Services in Europe
EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding: "What we want to achieve is simple: Sending text messages or downloading other data via a mobile phone while being in another EU country should not be substantially more expensive than at home. This is the logic of Europe's borderless single market that we created more than 50 years ago and from which the mobile industry has enormously benefited. Consumers should feel at ease when sending a text message from the beaches of Spain or when skiing in the mountains of Austria. Higher roaming charges abroad must be justified by additional costs of operators, or they will have to disappear."
[European Commission Memo]
[posted @ 7/15/2008 01:56:00 PM] #
European Commission evaluates the implementation of EU law on attacks against information systems in EU Member States
Vice-President Barrot, European Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, has welcomed the good level of implementation of Framework Decision 2005/222 in a large majority of the EU Member States, but at the same time expressed his concern that six EU Member States have still not presented any implementation measures.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/10/2008 12:16:00 PM] #
European Commission welcomes European Parliament vote to strengthen the EU's Single Market for Telecoms but important questions remain open
Yesterday evening, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament voted on the European Commission's proposals to reform the EU Telecom rules. Even though the final view of the European Parliament will only be known once the Plenary has voted on the European Commission proposal – which is expected to take place on 3 September 2008 – the votes in ITRE and IMCO are important steps towards shaping the final legislative texts to be adopted by the European Parliament and the EU Council.
[European Commission Memo]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:58:00 PM] #
State aid: European Commission approves €141 million aid scheme to increase broadband availability in rural Germany
The European Commission has approved under the EC Treaty state aid rules a €141 million scheme to help bring broadband to rural areas of Germany that currently do not have access. The scheme is aimed at closing the gap in access to affordable broadband services between rural and urban areas. The European Commission found that the scheme provides the right incentives to achieve its objectives and that the competition between broadband service providers will be further strengthened.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:52:00 PM] #
State aid: European Commission approves €7 million grant to increase broadband availability in mountainous and isolated areas of Alto Adige in Italy
The European Commission has approved under the EC Treaty state aid rules a €7 million grant to help bring broadband to areas of Italy in Alto Adige that currently do not have access. The support is aimed at narrowing the gap of access to affordable broadband services between mountainous and urban areas. The European Commission found that the public support is justified by the benefits it brings to consumers and by the existence ofe safeguards put in place to preserve competition. This measure complements previous support to broadband in Alto Adige worth €6.9 million which the European Commission approved on 10 October 2007.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:49:00 PM] #
Nine editors-in-chief mull future of written press and media pluralism with European Commission
EU Media Commissioner Viviane Reding meets nine editors-in-chief of European newspapers such as Le Monde (France) and Lidové Noviny (Czech Republic) in what is becoming a staple high-level dialogue on the health of print media. On the agenda: Is the press maintaining high editorial standards online or is there a rush to be first with the news at all costs? Are print journalists being forced to take on too many roles in the multi-platform world of print, web, podcast and video clip and if so, is quality suffering? Do editors-in-chief from old and new EU Member States have any common views on media pluralism that could help the European Commission in its quest to devise indicators for measuring media pluralism? How could public funding of online activities of broadcasters come into conflict with freedom of the press?
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:46:00 PM] #
Mergers: European Commission clears Nokia's proposed acquisition of digital map provider NAVTEQ
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of NAVTEQ of the US by Nokia of Finland. NAVTEQ is a provider of navigable digital map databases and Nokia mainly produces mobile telephones. After an in-depth examination, launched in March 2008, the European Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:40:00 PM] #
EDPS Opinion on access to EU documents: a right balance between public access and data protection has to be secured
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an Opinion on the European Commission's proposal aimed at reviewing the rules on public access to documents held by EU institutions. The Opinion focuses on an amended provision dealing with the relation between public access to documents and the protection of personal data. Although the EDPS welcomes the European Commission's intention to clarify the delicate interaction between public access and data protection, he feels that the substance of the proposed amendment fails to provide the appropriate answer.
[European Data Protection Supervisor Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:33:00 PM] #
The EU Roaming Regulation – One Year On
30 June is the anniversary of the EU Roaming Regulation, which entered into force on 30 June 2007. Since then, the introduction of the Eurotariff has led to savings of up to 60% for consumers using their mobile phone to make and receive calls abroad within the EU (roaming). They will benefit from further reductions by 30 August as prices will be capped at €0.46 for making calls and €0.22 for receiving calls for the coming year. The European Commission is now assessing whether there have been satisfactory developments in the prices of data roaming (including SMS and MMS) before deciding on whether the Regulation needs to be extended to also cover these services. A deadline set by European Commissioner Reding in February to the mobile industry for voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages and mobile data services expired 30 June.
[European Commission Memo]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:29:00 PM] #
Mergers: European Commission authorises proposed joint venture between STMicroelectronics and NXP
The European Commission has authorised under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed joint venture between the French/Italian group STMicroelectronics and the Dutch company NXP. The European Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:25:00 PM] #
Internet phone calls getting popular in European homes
An EU-wide survey of 27,000 households has revealed the emergence of new consumption patterns in telecoms services in Europe. Technological progress and competition have brought more choice to European consumers; 24% of households have given up their fixed telephone in favour of mobile phones while 22% of them are using their computer from home to make phone calls over the Internet. In an increasing number of EU Member States, European households are using wireless access to connect to the Internet, via mobile or satellite networks. Meanwhile, 29% of European households buy bundled telecoms and media packages, an increase of nearly 10% since last year. Nevertheless, the top priority for consumers in this fast evolving environment remains the quality of services.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:23:00 PM] #
High prices and lack of transparency source of anxiety for data roaming customers
Use of mobile data services within individual EU Member States is growing much faster than cross border data roaming services, says a Connect2Roam study carried out for the European Commission. This is because mobile operators are introducing aggressive retail rates to compete with existing broadband offers. However, use of data roaming services remains limited as consumers are discouraged by extremely high charges when compared to national prices, as well as a lack of transparency related to the pricing by volume of data (Megabytes) used. High-volume users are susceptible to bill shocks if, for example, they surf the internet for long periods when using their datacard connection on a laptop computer.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:20:00 PM] #
Mergers: European Commission approves proposed acquisition of Horizon Technology Group by Avnet
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Horizon Technology Group of Ireland by the US-based company Avnet, both distributors of information technology products. The European Commission concluded that the concentration would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:18:00 PM] #
Telecoms rules: implementation progresses in Bulgaria and Germany
The implementation of EU Telecom rules continues to improve across the EU. For the first time, the European Commission has been able to close an infringement procedure against Bulgaria, following steps taken to ensure the independence of the national authorities responsible for regulation in the field of telecoms. The 2002 EU Telecoms Framework Directive requires that national regulators should be legally and functionally independent. The European Commission also welcomes a decision by the German Federal Administrative Court confirming the powers of the German telecoms regulator (the Bundesnetzagentur) in the mobile termination market, which brings German regulatory practice in line with EU Telecoms rules. According to the Access Directive, which is part of the 2002 EU Telecoms rules, national regulatory authorities need to have clearly defined powers to regulate also the market for mobile termination rates.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:12:00 PM] #
Lower charges, greater consistency, more competition: European Commission consults on bringing down mobile phone tariffs in Europe
Aiming to spur competition among operators and lower phone charges for European consumers, the European Commission starts a public consultation on the future regulation of "voice call termination rates" in the EU based on a draft European Commission Recommendation on termination rates. Voice call termination rates are the wholesale tariffs charged by the operator of a customer receiving a phone call to the operator of the caller's network. Included in everyone's phone bill, and therefore eventually paid by the consumer, these tariffs are determined by the intervention of national telecoms regulators. At the moment the decisions of the national telecoms regulators result in very divergent rates across the EU. Mobile termination rates range from €0.02/min (in Cyprus) to over €0.18/min (in Bulgaria) and are 9 times higher than fixed line termination rates (on average €0.0057/min for local call termination). This distorts competition between operators from different countries and between fixed line and mobile phone operators. The public consultation on this proposal will be open until 3 September 2008.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:08:00 PM] #
Mergers: European Commission clears proposed acquisition of Premiere by News Corp, subject to conditions
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Germany's pay-TV operator Premiere AG by News Corporation (News Corp) of the US, subject to commitments which ensure third party access to Premiere's satellite platform. The commitments address concerns that the proposed acquisition may strengthen Premiere's dominant position in the pay-TV market in Germany. In view of the commitments offered by News Corp, the European Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 05:01:00 PM] #
European Commissioner Viviane Reding on Europe's Way to the High Speed Internet
Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media: Europe's Way to the High Speed Internet - Why Effective Network Competition is the Freeway to the Future, ECTA Annual Conference, Brussels, Belgium, 25 June 2008
[Speech]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:55:00 PM] #
"Aho Report" on EU High-Tech Research: A Wake-up Call for Innovation in Europe, says Commissioner Reding
Europe has started doing better in high-tech research but still has a lot more to do, particularly to capitalise on the results. This is the conclusion of the independent expert report, chaired by former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho, that analysed the effectiveness of Information Society research under the EU's 6th Framework Programme for Research and Development. Although Europe has considerably improved its high-tech research, with the European Commission taking the lead in boosting Micro Computer and Nano-Electronic research, it now needs to move up a gear to bridge the innovation gap with other parts of the world.
[European Commission Memo]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:50:00 PM] #
European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy on empowering consumers by promoting access to the 21st Century Market
Charlie McCreevy, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services: Empowering consumers by promoting access to the 21st Century Market, eBay's Call for Action on access to on-line markets, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium, 24 June 2008
[Speech]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:45:00 PM] #
EDPS Opinion on safer Internet for children: data protection is an essential prerequisite to the safety of children online
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an Opinion on the proposed multiannual Community program on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies, which was presented by the European Commission in February 2008. The EDPS fully supports the general orientations of the program aiming at more efficiently protecting children using the Internet, while adapting to the evolution of new technologies. He stresses the fact that the protection of children's data is an essential first step in guaranteeing more safety and prevention of abuse on the Internet. Data protection considerations should also apply to all persons who are connected in some way with the information circulating on the network to prevent illegal content and harmful conduct (e.g. person reported as suspect, reporting person, victim of abuse).
[European Data Protection Supervisor Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:42:00 PM] #
Gap between domestic and cross-border e-commerce grows wider, says EU report
EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced the results of a new EU wide survey on e-commerce and cross border trade. The figures show that even though e-commerce is taking off at national level, cross-border e-commerce is failing to keep pace. From 2006 to 2008, the share of all EU consumers that have bought at least one item over the internet has increased significantly (from 27% to 33%) whilst cross border e-commerce is stable (6% to 7%). The pattern is similar for those with internet access at home - 56% of consumers with internet at home have made a purchase (in any country including their own) by e-commerce compared to 50% in 2006, while only 13% (of those with internet access at home) made a cross-border e-commerce purchase compared to 12% in 2006.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:38:00 PM] #
European Commission sets out 5 priorities for consumer policy in a digital age
EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva set out five priority areas for action for consumer policy in the digital age. These include: a single, simple set of consumer contract laws, the need to reconsider restrictions imposed by suppliers on distribution over the internet, a critical assessment of the use of business models based on geographical discrimination online, clamping down on the "next generation" of unfair commercial practices that are emerging online; and addressing critical privacy issues, in particular the conditions under which consumers give informed consent for the use of their personal data. The overall aim is to open up the European Internal Market through e-commerce to deliver the full benefits to consumers.
[European Commission Press Release]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:32:00 PM] #
Frequently Asked Questions on e-commerce in the European Union – Eurobarometer results
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:29:00 PM] #
European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva: Key Challenges for Consumer Policy in the Digital Age
Meglena Kuneva, European Consumer Commissioner: Key Challenges for Consumer Policy in the Digital Age, Roundtable on Digital Issues, London, UK, 20 June 2008
[Speech]
[posted @ 7/08/2008 04:21:00 PM] #