BASF produces and sells mainly speciality chemicals and other chemical products although it is also active in the health, food, oil and gas sectors. La Commission autorise le rachat de Quaker par Pepsico La Commission europ enne a autoris ce jour le projet de rachat de Quaker Oats Company par Pepsico Incorporated, deux soci t s am ricaines, en application des r gles de l'Union europ enne sur le contr le des concentrations. The European Commission has cleared an operation by which Shell Erneuerbare Energien GmbH will acquire joint control in an existing joint venture between Siemens AG and E.ONEnergie AG in the field of solar energy. The acquisition does not create any competition problems as the parties will face strong competition in the relevant markets. The European Commission today adopted a series of action plans to integrate the protection of biodiversity into EU agricultural, fishery, environment and development and co-operation policies.
Rich biodiversity is important as it provides the raw materials that our society needs.
It is essential for the long-term sustainability of agriculture and fisheries and it is the basis for many industrial processes and the production of new medicines. The aim of the action plans is to stop losses in wildlife, ecosystems, varieties of crops, domestic animals and fish. The plans define concrete actions and measures and specify measurable targets to ensure a reversal of the current trend. The plans stem from the European Community Biodiversity Strategy adopted in 1998 where the Commission promised to spell out precisely how it would achieve the objectives of the strategy, and implement the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted in Rio in 1992. The European Commission has issued a consultation paper setting out the institution's initial views on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development.